Former Canberra Raiders player Luke Bateman has recently made waves on TikTok after securing a two-book publishing deal with Atria and Simon and Schuster Australia. The social media platform hosts the BookTok community, where book enthusiasts share videos about their favourite reads—Bateman himself has amassed nearly 179,000 followers by showcasing his literary interests.
Just a month after engaging with followers through book-related content, Bateman announced his publishing milestone, exclaiming, “This is a childhood dream come true.” Emotional and reflective, he shared that upon receiving the call about the deal, he was overwhelmed with joy, breaking down in tears. His upcoming project is described as an epic fantasy novel.
The announcement elicited a varied response from social media users, with some expressing confusion as to how he secured a deal without a finished manuscript. One comment questioned the fairness of publishers offering deals based on a brief period of activity, while another sarcastically remarked that aspiring authors simply needed “dreams” to land a book deal. In response to the backlash, Bateman asserted that he had a clear vision and was grateful for the opportunity to fulfil a dream that he cherishes deeply.
While some comments appeared to be rooted in jealousy, others, including representatives from QBD Books Australia and Spotify Australia, congratulated him on his achievement. Critiques were also directed at the publishers involved, questioning their decision-making processes.
Anthea Bariamis, who secured Bateman’s international rights for Atria, clarified her reasons for pursuing him. After discovering Bateman on social media and recognising his passion for literature, she contacted his agent. Following an extensive meeting where he pitched his fantasy series, Bariamis requested a writing sample, which may have contributed to the decision to offer him a two-book deal.
Julian Novitz, a senior lecturer in media and communications, noted the rarity of such a deal for a first-time author, especially within the fiction genre. Since making the announcement, Bateman has posted additional videos on TikTok that are unrelated to his book deal.
Bateman, who hung up his boots in 2019 after 71 matches with the Raiders, has also appeared on the 2023 season of The Bachelor, marking a significant transition from sports to the literary world.