Denver, CO
GUARD THIS became my bestselling novel of 2026 even though it was originally published in 2021. A tidal wave of 1990s nostalgia, fueled by Gen Z, BookTok, and a fascination with the Ryan Murphy series Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, gave the novel an unexpected second life.
GUARD THIS is an experiment in autofiction inspired by my experiences working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where I befriended a group of artists, musicians, and other creatives.
As interest in 90s nostalgia and the NYC art scene surged, younger readers discovered my novel in surprising numbers.
When I noticed accelerating sales in early 2026, I did not raise the price, Instead, I leaned into the momentum with two targeted ebook promotions: a $4.20 sale in late April followed by a $5.55 sale for Cinco de Mayo (which I extended through all of May).
The sales data revealed a dramatic shift in who was buying the book. It was impossible to ignore the metrics and demographics. BookTok recommendations and Gen Z's growing obsession with 90s culture resulted in an influx of younger readers and first-time book buyers seeking stories set in mid-90s NYC.
I lowered the price point for all my ebooks. My shifted pricing philosophy is to make my books affordable and accessible to younger readers, aspiring writers, and recent college grads. The results were both humbling and enlightening.
I'm grateful for the support that came out of nowhere. Gen Z gets a ton of crap, but I’m fortunate many of those new readers (Millennials and Zillennials too!) took a chance on a jaded Gen X writer like myself.
Listen to this podcast interview clip where I discuss the wild and unexpected journey GUARD THIS took in 2026:
Read GUARD THIS or any of my other novels and books.
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