A few weeks ago I got a call from a reporter from a leading entertainment magazine and she asked me if I thought the next Hunger Games would come from a self-published author. In other words, would the next book that gets turned into a big movie be a book that doesn’t come from a traditional publisher? I told her I did not have a crystal ball, but it sure seems likely that would happen.
Since then the evidence is mounting. Shortly after my conversation with the reporter, Variety ran an article titled, Hollywood snaps up hot ebook titles. You can read the complete article on line by clicking here.
Variety magazine says……as hot ebooks continue to go mainstream, Hollywood will surely continue to pay attention.
Tagline Productions is shopping this story as TV show.
The other significant development is that in the last month two titles from Author Solutions imprints have signed shopping deals with significant production companies in Hollywood.
The first one was a book titled Searching for Sassy: An L.A. Phone Psychic’s Tales of Life, Lust & Love” written by author Alyson Mead. She signed a deal with Tagline Pictures, the producers behind the hit USA Network television series “PSYCH” with a first-look deal at NBC Universal’s Universal Cable Productions, to develop her book, “as a potential television series. The book was first discovered at the ASI Book-to-Screen Pitchfest event in New York City.
The second book is Mustang Miracle written by Humberto G. Garcia. George Lopez and his production company, Travieso Productions, are attached to this compelling nonfiction book. “Mustang Miracle,” originally self-published through ASI’s AuthorHouse imprint, chronicles the journey of five young Mexican Americans who, through the game of golf, overcome the challenges of racism and poverty in 1950s Texas. While working as caddies at a local resort, the boys help found their own high school golf team, and with inferior equipment and no formal training, go on to become the 1957 Texas State High School golf champions.
George said in the release, “This story fits right in with our company’s goal to make quality entertainment that crosses all cultural barriers.”
Will it be the next Hunger Games? Who knows. The important thing is these two authors had the opportunity to pitch their books as an idea for film or television and it worked. That is the most important thing to remember during these times of change in publishing. As I have said many times, everyone will not be successful, but everyone will have the opportunity to be successful…as an author and in Hollywood.
…..everyone will not be successful, but everyone will have the opportunity to be successful.
