Would you rewrite parts of the first KD books if they get picked up for tv adaptations before they get turned into scripts?
This crops up a lot, so I decided to burst that bubble.
Amount of influence you have as a writer when you work is optioned for film or tv: Zero.
Zero. None. Nada.
Cases like J.K. Rowling, where she was able to exert a lot of control over the script, are exceptionally rare. She was a runaway bestseller, and her adaptation is the exception, not the norm.
So if KD series went into production, and they decided to mash Magic Bites and Magic Burns together, make Curran into a dragon, and have Kate engage in random sex with every marginally attractive male, there would be absolutely nothing we could do about it. They buy the rights to play in the world as they see fit. If you are very lucky, the studio will respect material, but they might not. We would not be consulted. We would not be working on the script. We would not be able to influence the casting.
If you want to see what happens when the script goes terribly wrong, see Percy Jackson movies. Kid 2 is a fan of the books, and I thought she might go into convulsions in the theater.
We had KD optioned for years, meaning there was a small studio attached to the project, and they shopped it to larger studios, trying to get the budget for a pilot. At some point they sent a summary over. It was so simplified that any traces of what made the world unique were gone, and when I pointed it out, it was explained to me that these were visual people and that the studio only had a few minutes to pitch things.
It is highly unlikely that our work will ever be adapted to screen. As an aside, Patty Briggs’ series was optioned recently. She is a very kind person, and Gordon and I are very happy for her.
I’m curious as to how HA felt about publishing on Kindle Unlimited after they used it for Fated Blades. Did it bring in new readers who weren’t familiar with them? Did it cut into sales? What was the reader response?
That’s an interesting question and the answer to all three is yes. Yes, it brought in new readers; yes, it cut into sales but not by a large margin; and yes, the readers liked the book. Statistically, Amazon accounts for a very large chunk of ebooks sold, and theoretically KU sales offset the loss resulting from exclusivity.
However, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions. Publishing accounting is a long-term thing. We are going to revisit numbers a year from publication and see where we stand. A year is long enough to see what promotions Amazon is running, how they affect sales, and whether or not it is worth it do work through Amazon publishing arm in the future.
Is there any chance Subterranean Press will do special editions for Hidden Legacy?
No. It is my understanding that Subterranean Press is focusing more on publishing original work, and I doubt Avon would be receptive to the collector edition.
Well, I am a negative Nancy today. Heh.
Update: Please do not speculate about other authors’ personal lives on the blog. Thank you.
Re: “Fated Blades” and Kindle Unlimited.
I was not familiar with your books until I read “Fated Blades” through Kindle Unlimited. I have bought all your books, including “Fated Blades”. Looking forward to all new books, especially Hugh’s 2nd book.
welcome to BDH! you’ll never be disappointed 🙂
never change your mind mid writing and post without checking
???? No one need know
I must say, I’m kinda glad that Kate won’t be going to the movies/TV. You guys deserve the recognition, but it is my favorite series, and I just couldn’t stand to see it butchered. I’m actually quite anxious about Patricia Briggs stuff being done, she’s up there as one of my top authors. It just never seems to go well.
^^this…. nothing compares with the world they build in our heads with their words……
if you want to see what happenes when they completely loose the plot look up the Harry Dresden TV series, it was done by syfy so i had so much hope.
Good thing about Kindle Unlimited… If you read the contract it clearly states that it is only exclusive for 90 days.
Hi Travis, which contract are you referring to? ????
I’m referring to the Kindle Unlimited Contract that you agree to when publishing on Kindle Unlimited. It is a 90 day clause.
Moderator R Last time I had a lawyer review the rules and regulations of KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited, he informed me it only required you not offer the title up for sale on any platform other than Kindle for 90 days. After that period, you were required to offer similar pricing, I.e. 6.99 on Kindle, 6.99 on Barnes and Noble. As long as you respected that 90 days, you could leave it on KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited but still offer on other platforms.
???? I won’t presume to speak on House Andrew’s contracts since it’s not for me to do so and I haven’t seen them, but the project they have in KU currently, which is Fated Blades, was also published with Montlake, who are the Amazon publishing company.
It’s not just an external project signed up for the standard KU contract ????.
I hear ya. I know for normal Indie authors like little old me, we have to use every single loophole we can!
You just have to be sure to charge EXACTLY the same price or Amazon will sue you.
Also, as long as you don’t charge a different price at another publishing venue, after that 90 days, it can be kept on Kindle Unlimited and go up for sale on a multi-platform distributer like Smashwords.
When they made a TV show based on Dave Barry’s writing, and someone asked him how much control he had over it, he replied something like, “I have complete editorial control over how I spend the royalty checks.”
I’m a reader and LOVE my books and my authors.. and I guess I’m protective in that I don’t like seeing people attempt to make TV or Movies from them, because they never do them justice to how I see these wonderfully written stories and characters in my mind. To hear that Mercy Thompson is up for TV, makes me feel sad…. just look what they did to Julia Quinns books… nothing ever wins for me if I’ve read and enjoyed the books… And so honestly, VERY glad KD won’t get adapted, because your writing is already a movie in my head, and NOTHING can make it better.
I actually have very little interest in a screen adaptation of these beloved series. I learned this when I heard about Mercy Thompson possibly being adapted. I LOVE those books, and I just know that the show won’t do them justice. I’ve been reading and rereading them for so long, I’m not sure I even WANT someone else’s image of the characters to replace the one that already exists in my head. Don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly happy for Briggs and that she could see lots of revenue from the show. I just don’t know if I want to watch it. And I feel the same way about KD. If HA got a deal for show I’d cheer them on and be delighted for them…just not sure I would actually want to watch it. Wow that was a long comment haha.
I read this many years ago,
They give me the money, I give them the book. Having input into the adaptation would be kind of like selling a house and coming back three years later and saying, ‘Paint it this color!’
Robert B. Parker
What does Kid 2 think of the new PJ series coming? I am cautiously optimistic!
“Well, I am a negative Nancy today. Heh.”
I didn’t see anything negative in ANYTHING you said.
I saw you laying out the facts as you know them.
Which are gross and possibly negative but they are not under your umbrella of control.
I am however somewhat bummed because based on your statement it’s a horrible beast that has many many many stupids (pretty standard).
Especially since there are so many examples of how divergence from an excellent source material goes down the drain
Not to mention the notable huge successes into the billions and billions of $ where the source material was religiously adhered to … I’m thinking specifically of the LotR books into movies …granted this is the exception not the rule.
We all know there would be some transitional losses/changes (both positive & negative) due to the inherent differences in the mediums … which I almost never give negative points for that & often give + points when they are creative with these difficulties come up with clever workarounds/nods to source.
I don’t work in either your industry or the MP industry…at best my SME is under the umbrella of what ILM Industrial Light & Magic would be responsible for. So forgive my overly optimistic belief that if KD universe was adapted that they would have your vision as close to priority 1 as possible (or 2 behind “making money” as 1).
I might have misunderstood the whole convert book to screenplay “thing” as well because to my understanding George RR Martin had a high level of control with his GoT adaptation…granted a lot of the press that came off of his high level of control mostly made him look like an unfocused looney toon that really didn’t know where he was going. It probably doesn’t equate exactly to your position because iirc he was a screenwriter first then as a side he wrote some books that were optioned and since he was somewhat in the industry he retained some non standard power/control.
You are writers with I assume little desire to be involved with La La Land unless they want to roll many many dump trucks of money to your door. I am sure that you have pride in your hard work but realistically that probably just prevents you from giving away option rights for a lower % than your obvious (to us) worth.
Stay strong … don’t discount your work …a screen transition while it would be awesome … that would only be the case if your original story was preserved &/or any changes were because you self identified/agreed to the modification.
You two are the ultimate SME of the KD universe.
Thanks for the overview of the process.
I will continue to live in an unrealistic fantasy world where you hard work is given the respect it deserves. You work is as valued as Tolkien or Herbert or other such iconic authors. Granted it gets “grouped” under more commonplace genre types which are at times such pale shadows of your what your vision has created.
As a secondary note…
Fated Blades still isn’t available in my local library…
Originally I think that was because Amazon/exclusive thing.
But as time goes along I think it’s because my library employees either aren’t getting it offered as a purchase option, or Amazon is still doing everything they can to funnel purchase through them … or … dunno.
I will send in a request to them to add to shelves …again … maybe it will show up if they look harder now … It’s odd though because they have some sort of Amazon Kindle agreement going.
Have you made a request for them to buy the hard copy of Fated Blades? I suggest you get all your friends to request your local library to purchase the hard copy and Dollars to Donuts it will appear.
I have requested but things slip through the cracks.
Personally I rarely go to library for hard copy ..I buy those for myself.
I have requested the ebook version of things most often so much more convenient and environmentally responsible.
What are these friend things you speak of??? I don’t have time for cat herding!
LoL …the more friends you have the more they ask for help/favors.
I read the Patty Briggs fb post regarding her option…
It’s so funny that she said EXACTLY the same thing Ilona did …we have no input re cast & script etc etc etc.
It was picked up by Amazon … I hope they don’t film it in the Tri-Cities & surrounding towns (Finley/Benton City) which is the area that Patty set the Mercyverse in … These towns are already going down the tubes as Californians escape the the messes they made there.
I went to see a reading by Jennifer Weiner shortly after she sold the film rights to In Her Shoes. Her response to an audience question about how much input she had into the film production was, “When you sell your book to Hollywood, your last creative act is signing your name on the check they give you.”
You are such amazing authors with a large fanbase who appreciates everything you do!! Thank you for the new worlds, new characters and adventures you’ve introduced to us! So don’t be such a “negative Nancy” (or a “Karen”) too often or for too long because your followers (including myself) are rabid for anything & every crumb you have to offer!
I’d love to see any of your works adapted for film. Sometimes adaptations wind up being great even if they deviate from the source material. And, if the adaptation is “not good” there will still be more exposure and I’ll always have the fantastic books and narrations to go back to.
My son loved the Percy Jackson books, and I enjoyed them as well. The movie was a travesty, my son was horrified, and I thought it was really poorly done. He tends to give a scene by scene critique of the movie while it’s running. What was changed from the book, what was new, etc. It was almost unrecognizable from the books. I certainly recommend the books but not the movie.
Oo, if we’re talking about publishing questions, I have one (I don’t *think* I’ve submitted it before even though it’s been rattling in my head for awhile–if I have, my apologies!). How are traditional publishers reacting to more and more both new and established authors turning to self-publishing?
Mod R, there’s a snippet somewhere of Kate indicating that she’s aware Julie is in Atlanta. This is the Knight Ryder timeline. I have looked everywhere and just am not finding it. Can you provide the link? Thank you.
What you want is Sandra https://ilona-andrews.com/2021/sandra/ 🙂
TY!! ❤️
Why I hated the TV adaption of Harry Dresden in a nut shell. About the only thing they kept was a few of the names, and that he is a wizard.
Yes, that one was so bad!!!
It’s always interesting to peek behind the curtain of the business of writing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Ilona Andrews, for the post.
You can be Negative Nancy all you want as my mother has total ownership of Negative Nelly. It goes like this: Me: mother, what would you like for breakfast? Mother: grits and eggs. Me: ok. And I cook. Later: why did you make grits and eggs? I wanted cereal or waffles Etc etc etc ????
Glad your house is reaching completion. Loved the mural of ????
Good morning House Andrews!
I apologize if my post under the wall art mural created any headache with regards to this post &/or screenplay adaptations.
I loved the “Pop” title
Your sense of humor is great.
I feel that you might have created this post because of my comment.
Consider me Popped but with a core of living in the fantasy described above where you laugh & laugh & laugh all the way to the bank & still feel good about how your book babies will portrayed and then you get a second wave like you described that happened to Butcher after his syfy adaptation pile of meh.
They couldn’t even bother to make Murphy short or (quasi)blonde … not to mention that in the visual adaptation she seemed weak if my memory is correct.
Another good example of smh casting choices is Tom Cruise the micro man as Jack Reacher(6’5” iirc) … I think if Tom went blonde it would have been better to cast him as Murphy in Dresden files ha ha ha.
Have a good weekend!
My gold standard for “how different can they get?” is the film version of The Beastmaster, high sword and scorcery with Marc Singer in a loincloth, vs. Andre Norton’s The Beast Master, high science fiction set in the far future with spaceships, a destroyed Earth, etc.
As a roommate at the time said, the only things the same were the names and the ferrets.
Scuse, names OF the ferrets. Been so long, I forgot that they also changed the protagonist’s name.
I remember that…film.
I didn’t know that there was a book.
While I wouldn’t say it was highbrow media it was creative and entertaining.
The animal wrangling with the bird, tiger & ferets had to generate all sorts of headaches.