This heart-warming tale serves as a reminder that kindness and goodwill still exist amidst harsh realities.
The life of Tyro author Shawn Werner took a turn for the better this week as a result of an act of kindness from TikTok users.
Shawn, a resident of Texas, was having a book signing at a local supermarket when Red, a content creator who uses the @internetfamouslol handle on the social media platform, noticed his stall.
Red was moved by the dejected look in the emerging author’s eyes as he passed by his stall and decided to turn back. His video, which has been viewed over 17.9 million times, chronicled the encounter.
Red took some time to engage Shawn in a conversation about his book and even bought a few copies. The change in Shawn’s demeanour throughout the interaction was visibly uplifting.
Red added, ‘I don’t know this person and there’s no sponsorship here. It was purely an act of kindness towards a stranger inspired by the countless times I worked hard without acknowledgment’.
The video ended with Shawn autographing a book meant to be a prize for a giveaway on TikTok, a tactic that seemed to work wonders.
After the video was posted on July 2, thousands of Red’s followers pledged to purchase a copy of the book themselves.
Just a week later, the book went on to top Amazon’s bestseller list.
Leigh Howard And The Ghosts Of Simmons-Pierce Manor, a tale about a teenage girl and her experiences with a ghost suffering from multiple personality disorder, quickly climbed the bestseller charts, propelling Shawn to BookTok stardom.
Various members of the literary community such as book club members, teachers, fellow authors and even an audiobook producer have reached out to express interest and support in his work.
In the wake of this newfound success, Shawn made his own TikTok account to convey his gratitude.
‘I’m immensely grateful for the love and kindness shown in Red’s video,’ Shawn admitted in his video. ‘It’s totally unexpected, and I’m in awe. I’m at a loss for words at the moment.’
One respondent praised Shawn, saying, ‘You deserve all the kindness! Can’t wait to see your success story.’
While another added, ‘I couldn’t hold back my tears. This act of pure kindness.’
‘The internet can indeed be a beautiful place’ another user chimed in, a sentiment shared by many others.
