Katie Siegel’s latest book, Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher, was published this summer. Photo: Courtesy of Katie Siegel
Going from posting videos on social media to scoring a two-book deal isn’t the traditional publishing path, but that’s how Katie Siegel, 27, did it. Her popular TikTok series, Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective, landed her a contract with Kensington Books Publishing; the New York Times called her 2023 book of the same name “a rollicking debut.” Now, after publishing her second book, Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher, about her 20-something heroine, she’s writing a third novel, Out of the Loop, for Crooked Lane Books. She lives in the New Brunswick area, where she grew up.
How did you start telling stories on social media?
I started out making videos for YouTube in late 2019. Then I noticed that TikTok was really popping off. The first content I posted there was a mix of skits I wrote and funny situations with friends. It was the pandemic, so I had a lot of free time. I started a TikTok series, Dear Liisphyra, which I turned into a podcast that I still do now. But that was just a still image of a radio, with my voice telling the story.
Then I started asking friends to act out the scripts I wrote. That led to the first video series I did for TikTok, Lavinia Uada Isn’t Afraid of Ghosts. I leaned into creating video stories. My next series was Charlotte Illes is Not a Detective.
How did the book deal come about and how did landing it change the trajectory of your career?
The editor didn’t approach me just because I had a lot of TikTok followers who love the series. She always says, “If we didn’t think you could write, we wouldn’t have made the book.” A large following is not always enough.
At the time, I was working for a company in sort of a public-relations email job. With the book deal, I was able to quit that job to focus on writing the books, which I was very fortunate and privileged to be able to do.
As for the future, I don’t have an end point. I have things I want to do, but the landscape is always changing, and that’s not in your control. The way people broke into the industry even five years ago is different from how people are breaking in now. It’s still such a Wild West. The moves I’ve been making and still am making are just trying to put myself out there.
Currently, I am working on my latest book, Out of the Loop. The whole concept of what happens after someone leaves a time loop has interested me for a while. I’m grateful to Crooked Lane for letting me explore that more.
How has your Jersey upbringing influenced you?
All my books take place in New Jersey. I stuck to what I know, the experience of going back and forth between New Jersey and New York. NJ Transit is a main character in the first Charlotte book. I’m not trying to write a guidebook to New Jersey, though; I make up a lot of the towns. Charlotte’s hometown is called Frenchham, New Jersey. Literally everything is named Livingston in New Jersey, after Governor Livingston, and his wife was named Susanna French. Just a little convoluted nod to New Jersey.
Are there more Charlotte Illes sequels in your future?
I’m not ready to put Charlotte to rest just yet. The decision isn’t all in my hands, but I do have more ideas for her. I think her next chapters will be just as exciting as the first, if not more.
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