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Guest blogger and First Book supporter Mindy Klasky is the author of six fantasy novels, including the award-winning, best-selling The Glasswrights’ Apprentice and numerous short stories. Her latest trilogy, The Jane Madison Series, chronicles a love-struck D.C. librarian who discovers she’s a witch. Visit www.mindyklasky.com to learn more about Mindy’s work and her support of First Book.
January is the classic time to make resolutions, to set goals, to build new ways of living for the fresh year. This January, however, I find myself facing a tremendously exciting possibility that is totally, completely, one hundred percent beyond my ability to control, no matter how strict I am with resolutions: the transition of my Jane Madison series of books (Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft, Sorcery and the Single Girl, and Magic and the Modern Girl) from novel to film.
Many authors dream of the day that Hollywood comes knocking. We imagine sitting on sets, watching our favorite actors take on the roles that we originally created. We dream of red carpet premieres, with searchlights sweeping the skies. We crave glory, fame, and a golden Oscar.
The reality, of course, is a bit different.
I first learned that a producer was interested in acquiring the Jane Madison rights by email. Okay, by email, voice mail, and by (missed) IM – I was out of town, and my agent was desperately trying to reach me with the great news. When I finally connected up with him, he gave me all the details: a producer for a small studio had found Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft at her local bookstore. She read it. She loved it. She wrote him the sort of glowing letter that warms the cockles of any author’s heart. And she offered to “option” the “property.” (Those words! They sounded so glamorous! So Hollywood! Right away, I felt an overwhelming urge to have my people call her people…)
After the initial rush of excitement wore off, we settled down to the hard business of reducing dreams, hopes, and expectations to stark legal language. I worked as a lawyer before I became a writer, and I’ve read through my fair share of contracts. I pored over the producer’s words, nit-picking here, asking for clarification there.
My agent consulted with colleagues, to make sure that we were getting the best possible deal. We pushed on some points; we caved on others. And after weeks of negotiating, we ended up with a signed, sealed, and delivered agreement.
TwinStar Entertainment has optioned all three volumes of the Jane Madison series. They have paid me a (relatively) small amount of money to reserve the right to turn my librarian-witch novels into a television series, a made-for-TV movie, or a major motion picture.
They have one year to decide if they’re going forward with the project. At the end of a year, they can “re-up” for another year, paying me another (relatively) small amount of money. If, at any time during the term of the contract they decide they will produce the TV series or movie, then they pay me an agreed-upon sum, and production goes forward. I have very little say about how the stories are adapted for their television or movie life.
It all sounds so simple. So easy. As if I could wake up, set my Tivo, and record my novels-turned-to-blockbuster-movies any day now.
Of course, fame and fortune are never easy. The vast majority of projects that are optioned never get made. Those that do get made often change the names of characters, or change the circumstances of the plot, so that they’re only vaguely recognizable, compared to the original novels. Successful, accurate, enjoyable adaptations are remarkable because they are so rare.
And yet, I find myself hoping. And waiting. The first option year expires in the spring of 2009 – I’ll learn then whether the production company is going to exercise, extend, or abandon its option. It’s hard to type with crossed fingers, but I manage to do so – hoping, all the time, that Jane Madison will make her transformation to a screen near you!
I don’t promise to have answers, but feel free to ask questions about this deal in the comments!
Happy New Year -
Mindy
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