Title: Born into the Children of God
Author: Natacha Tormey
Publisher: Harper Element
Genre: Memoir
First released in 2014, Born into the Children of God tells the story of Natacha Tormey, who was born into a religious cult known as The Children of God and never expected to live to adulthood. At age eighteen, she escaped, but then faced a world that she had no understanding of. Tormey’s book is currently enjoying its first week on the New York Times bestseller list in the category of ebook nonfiction.
When asked what contributed to the book’s success, Tormey said: “A few months ago I realized authors these days must grab the bull by the horn when it comes to marketing their books, as publishers generally only run a campaign when the book is launched. I ran several social media marketing campaigns and it paid off in the end. I also strongly recommend that authors set aside a budget each month to invest into marketing. It doesn’t have to be a large amount, but it helps get the word out. Also, don’t hesitate to ask your publisher for free books, as online giveaways always go down well with your readers.”
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
