Facebook Ad Targeting for Fiction Authors in 2026

One of the most frustrating moments for fiction authors running ads is realizing that the exact author you want to target… simply isn’t available. This happens constantly on platforms like Facebook Ads. An author may be dominating bestseller lists, trending on BookTok, or selling millions of copies, and yet they don’t exist as a selectable targeting option.

According to author coach Rebecca Hamilton, this is one of the most common reasons authors believe ads “don’t work,” when in reality, they’re just approaching audience building incorrectly. This misunderstanding often shows up alongside other performance issues authors attribute to broken ads, even when the underlying systems are functioning exactly as designed, a pattern explored further in Why Most Authors Think Their FB Ads Are Broken in 2026 blog post.

The good news? If an author isn’t targetable, their readers almost always are. just under different signals.

This post walks through practical, reliable ways to find targeting ideas for fiction book ads, even when platforms limit your options. These are foundational methods Rebecca teaches authors building scalable ad systems, not short-term hacks.

⚠️ Note: This post covers basic audience-building strategies. Advanced targeting, layering, and scaling methods are intentionally excluded. If you want help with those, you can join our FB group for authors, where we help authors scale their careers everyday.

 

Start With the Right Mindset: You’re Targeting Readers, Not Authors

A common mistake is treating ad targeting like a direct author-to-author match. Instead, ask this question:

Would someone who enjoys books by this author also enjoy the book I’m advertising?

That shift alone opens up far more viable audiences and prevents authors from chasing short-term results instead of building systems that compound. Many authors who struggle here are also experiencing delayed conversions without realizing it, readers often need multiple touchpoints before buying. This is what we call a The Delayed Buyer Effect.

1. Look to Established Authors (Especially Pre-2015)

Authors who were well-known before 2015 are far more likely to be selectable targets on Facebook Ads. Why? Because Facebook’s interest graph relies heavily on long-term data accumulation.

That doesn’t mean newer bestselling authors aren’t valuable. it just means they’re less reliable as direct targets. Use these older, established names as anchor audiences, then expand outward.

2. Use Google and AI, Not Bestseller Lists, for Discovery

Bestseller lists show what’s selling right now, but ad platforms don’t update targeting options in real time. A more effective method is using Google and AI searches like:

• “Fantasy authors”

• “Romance novelists”

• “Sci-fi fantasy writers”

These searches surface collated lists from multiple sources, and many of the authors listed there are selectable as ad interests. This approach often produces stronger targeting pools than Amazon or Apple charts alone, especially when paired with a clear understanding of whether your book is positioned to convert. (something Rebecca encourages authors to assess using the 5 questions to answer to ensure marketability).

3. Mine Goodreads Listopia (With Strategy)

Goodreads Listopia lists can be useful, if you focus on lists with high vote counts. High engagement usually correlates with:

• Longer-term popularity

• Better recognition by ad platforms

This doesn’t guarantee availability, but it significantly increases your odds.

4. Still Check Bestseller Lists (With Context)

Amazon, Nook, and iBooks bestseller lists are not useless, they’re just incomplete. They’re especially helpful for:

• AMS ads

• BookBub ads

• Understanding platform-specific genre strength

However, keep in mind that some platforms price popular authors higher, which can impact profitability.

5. Use Ad Platform Suggestions Carefully

Facebook will often suggest related interests once you add an author, but never add them blindly.

Research first. A target doesn’t need to be perfect, it needs to be compatible. For example:

• Readers of high-heat contemporary romance often also read high-heat fantasy.

• Small-town romance audiences often overlap with “brother’s best friend” or “friends-to-lovers” tropes.

Think in terms of reader behavior, not rigid genre labels.

6. AMS Ads: Use Tools, But Trust Data

For AMS ads, certain third-party tools can help surface targeting ideas. However:

• Always validate with performance metrics

• Be aware of attribution limitations

• Understand your Lifetime Reader Value

Many authors misinterpret AMS performance because they expect immediate, clean attribution. In reality, AMS often works best when paired with other traffic sources and refreshed strategically rather than constantly.

We discussed this balance more in blog post about facebook ads for authors, and how often should they need to be refreshed in 2026?

7. Use “Also Boughts” Strategically (If at All)

Looking at your own “also boughts” can provide insight, but Rebecca Hamilton personally avoids relying on this method.

Because fast sales ≠ scalable strategy.

Facebook Ads are often better for immediate traction, while AMS ads work best when used intentionally for long-term positioning, not short-term spikes. Your mileage may vary, but strategy should always come first.

8. Learn From Reader Communities

You can’t directly target Facebook Groups with ads, but you can observe them. Reader groups reveal:

• Which authors are mentioned repeatedly

• Which tropes generate discussion

• Which books readers emotionally respond to

Use this insight to identify adjacent authors and interests that are targetable.

This research also applies to:

• AMS

• BookBub

• Newsletter targeting

9. Expand With Adjacent Interests

When author targeting is limited, interest-based targeting becomes powerful. Examples:

• Fantasy → mythology, Dungeons & Dragons, epic TV series

• Romance → trope-based interests, reading communities

• Thriller → true crime podcasts, investigative journalism

The goal is relevance.

10. The Truth About Lookalike Audiences

In Rebecca Hamilton’s experience, lookalike audiences rarely perform well for books. What does work?

• Retargeting readers who engaged with your ads or page

• Warm audiences built over time

Boosted posts can help only if you already have an organic following, or you’re supporting a new release Otherwise, they’re often inefficient.

Pro Tips From the Field

Pro Tip #1:
Different genres perform better on different platforms. For wide authors, this matters.

For example:

• Romance often performs well on iBooks

• Speculative fiction may face less competition on Nook

• Amazon remains strong for both

Pro Tip #2:
Test authors individually before combining them into larger audiences. Keep a running list of:

• Author names

• Platform

• Performance notes

This saves time and improves results long-term.

Finding effective targeting ideas it’s about understanding reader behavior, platform limitations, and strategic testing.

Start broad. Test intentionally. Optimize based on data.

And if you’re ready to move beyond basic methods into advanced audience strategy, Rebecca Hamilton and the Six Figure Author Coach team are here to help!