Movie Mogul

Sonya and I wanted to wait to see how this came out before I talked about it here, but now we know, so I can.

So, the story goes something like this:

Drollerie Press, which has accepted Sister Night, Sister Moonsuggested that all of us Drollerie authors post our news at Publisher’s Marketplace. Good publicity. I thought, yeah, and I did this.

That made me think about whether or not we should do it for the Cats Curious deal. I asked Sonya if we should post a blurb about Hulk Herculesthere. Sonya said yes, so I did that too, and went on my merry way, back to teaching, writing, and snow management.

Flash forward to last Friday night. It’s been a hectic day at the radio ranch, so after work on Friday night I decide to look at my email and see if there’s anything I need to take note of. There is an unusual message from Sonya, to the effect that a woman has called her to ask about how to get in touch with me, if I have an agent, and would I be interested in selling movie rights to Hulk Hercules. Our first inclination was, riiiigggghhhhtttt. We were thinking this was something shady. I mean, where would they have heard of our book, and why would they be interested in it?

Detective work ensued. Sonya backtracked the number left on her answer machine. Shock! It was a legitimate production agency…Jane Startz Productions. As you can see from the link, Jane Startz has been responsible for Ella Enchanted, The Baby Sitters Club specials, and The Indian in the Cupboard. They’ve just settled with Judy Blume for adoption of her books. They wanted to look at Hulk Hercules to see if it could be developed into a film. They found the deal on Publisher’s Marketplace, and decided it looked like a potentially good project to develop.

Pardon me for a moment… WWWHHHHHHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Okay, I’m better now. It’s just that I’m so new to this stuff, when the adrenaline hits, you go with it.

Sounds good, right? There’s a small problem. The contract has been signed, and the book will be written. WILLbe written. Not is written right now. Shoot. There’s also a lot this writer has to do before she settles down to Hulk Hercules. That’s why it’s deadline to Cats Curious is December 1st, and I’m trying to get some time to write it next fall out of the college.

Here’s the good news. Jane Startz is willing to wait. We’ll send the book to them and see what they think when it’s done. Both Cat’s Curious and I stand to gain something by this IF they buy the movie rights. Being ethical sorts, Sonya and I are both going to work out terms. I wouldn’t be writing the book if she hadn’t come up with the concept, and of course I’m writing the book. So we’re partnering in, if it happens.

Of course, I’m going to keep trying to get an agent. I hope to have one by then, because I need someone who knows more about these things than I do, especially if they actually make us an offer.

You know, I’ve been seriously trying to do the writer thing since last year’s Wiscon. I expected the successes that I’ve had. I think one novella and one novel are good efforts for 9 months, and I think that my agent search has been successful overall, as I’ve had some good nibbles. THIS, however, came out of left field. I never expected this. I expected this maybe, in the long run, after I’d written a successful book and it’d sold lots of copies. Based on Sonya’s idea and my conceptualization of it? Now that’s luck. Beginner’s luck.

I thought I would share the story. Even if they don’t option our book, I have something to look forward to, just to send it off and see. The world is my oyster with three kinds of sauce.

Catherine B)

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.