Transitioning from sharing videos on social media to securing a two-book deal is not the conventional route in publishing, but that’s exactly how Katie Siegel, 27, made it happen. Her viral TikTok series, Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective, led to a contract with Kensington Books Publishing, and her debut book was hailed as “a rollicking debut” by The New York Times. After the success of her second book, Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher, which follows her twenty-something protagonist, Siegel is now working on a third novel, Out of the Loop, for Crooked Lane Books. She resides in the New Brunswick area, where she was raised.
How did you begin sharing stories on social media?
I started making videos for YouTube in late 2019. I soon noticed the explosive growth of TikTok. My first content there was a blend of skits I wrote and humorous moments with friends. During the pandemic, I had plenty of free time. I launched a TikTok series called Dear Liisphyra, which evolved into a podcast that I still produce. Initially, it featured a still image of a radio with my voice narrating the story.
Then I began inviting friends to act out the scripts I wrote, which led to my first TikTok video series, Lavinia Uada Isn’t Afraid of Ghosts. From there, I embraced creating video stories, and my next series was Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective.
How did the book deal come about, and how has it impacted your career?
The editor didn’t approach me solely because of my large TikTok following. She often emphasizes, “If we didn’t believe you could write, we wouldn’t have made the book.” Having a substantial following isn’t always sufficient.
At that time, I was working in a public relations email job. With the book deal, I was fortunate enough to quit that position and focus entirely on writing.
As for my future, I don’t have a specific endpoint in mind. I have aspirations, but the industry landscape is continually changing, and that’s beyond my control. The ways people enter the industry today differ greatly from five years ago. It still feels like the Wild West, and I’m just trying to make my presence known.
Currently, I’m working on my latest book, Out of the Loop. The idea of what happens after someone escapes a time loop has fascinated me for a while, and I’m grateful to Crooked Lane for allowing me to explore that theme further.
How has your New Jersey upbringing influenced your writing?
All my books are set in New Jersey. I write about what I know—the experience of navigating between New Jersey and New York. NJ Transit is almost a character in the first Charlotte book. However, I’m not trying to create a guidebook to New Jersey; I often invent towns. For instance, Charlotte’s hometown is called Frenchham, New Jersey. Many places in New Jersey are named after Governor Livingston, and his wife was named Susanna French—just a little convoluted nod to the state’s history.
Will there be more sequels featuring Charlotte Illes?
I’m not ready to say goodbye to Charlotte just yet. While the decision isn’t entirely in my hands, I have more ideas for her character. I believe her upcoming chapters will be just as exciting, if not more so, than the first ones.
