Yes it has taken me weeks to write this blog post because November was chaotic, but I am still super excited! When I was writing Dog Rose Dirt I often pictured it as a TV show (I watch enough of them, after all) and it's incredibly thrilling to see it take a step towards becoming one. Back in July, I was lucky enough to have a zoom meeting with the brilliant people at Gaumont and they had so many excellent ideas on how a TV series would work - listening to them talk about the book was absolutely one of my favourite moments in my writing career so far.
SO let's have a little look at the press release!
"The rights to Dog Rose Dirt, the gripping novel from award-winning writer Jen Williams, have been snapped up by Gaumont UK. The UK arm of leading global production company Gaumont has secured the rights to the crime thriller to be developed into a drama series.
Dog Rose Dirt, which was first published earlier this year to rave reviews, is a complex and dark psychological thriller told through the eyes of a young woman whose dead mother’s secret past comes to light through a series of letters to a serial killer.
With a background in fantasy novels, Williams’ first crime novel puts an interesting and original spin on a traditional thriller. The development will be led by executive producer Alison Jackson (Tin Star, Ashes to Ashes, Hunted), who heads Gaumont’s growing UK subsidiary, based in London.
The enthralling character driven story with an intensely twisted narrative and fronted by a strong female lead attracted Gaumont UK to Dog Rose Dirt, aligning with their burgeoning slate of titles that encompass stories with grit, complex female protagonists and with a uniquely British twist. Gaumont UK CEO and executive producer Alison Jackson said: “The captivating and chilling narrative of Jen Williams’ Dog Rose Dirt will no doubt attract audiences in the UK and worldwide, and with incredibly intriguing characters, we’re really looking forward to bringing the novel to life on screen. Fresh perspectives are key to Gaumont UK’s mission, and we’re always looking to discover unique talent to work with creatively."
You can still nab the cute little hardback of Dog Rose Dirt if you want a Christmas present for yourself, or you can preorder the paperback, which is out on the 20th of January in the UK. Exciting times!
