Most authors hope that one day their book will be adapted into a movie or a series on Netflix or HBO. I’ve never met an author who could not envision their book on the big screen. As a book publicist, I’ve worked with authors whose book was optioned by Hollywood after we obtained a higher profile with publicity or when they won an award. The question is how does an author go about intentionally getting that movie deal?
Interview with two screenplay writers, Oliver Tuthill and Tara Walker
There are numerous paths authors can take to get their book adapted into a movie. I recently spoke with two screenplay writers, Oliver Tuthill and Tara Walker, and they offered terrific advice for authors interested in pursuing this path.
Scott Lorenz: Can you give me examples of books that were adapted into screenplays and made it onto the movie screen?
Oliver Tuthill and Tara Walker: Robert Bloch wrote a novel in 1960 called Psycho and Alfred Hitchcock had it adapted into a screenplay. It became the most famous movie of Hitchcock’s career. Louisa May Alcott’s novel, Little Women, has been made into feature films on three different occasions. Most recently, in 2019, Greta Gerwig adapted it into a screenplay, and the popular film created a resurgence of interest in the story.
Another well-known adaptation of a novel was Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code written for the screen by Akiva Goldsman which did 760 million at the box office worldwide. George R.R. Martin’s novels, Game ofThrones, became one of the biggest television series hits ever, when adapted for television. One of the most popular novelists alive is Stephen King, and screenplay writer Frank Darabont adapted King’s novella into the Shawshank Redemption, which was a monumental success. These are just some of the examples of writers who have been very successful, and this is a difficult endeavor.
Scott Lorenz: What kind of strategy can a book author use to have a book adapted into a screenplay?
Oliver Tuthill and Tara Walker: There is a method that every writer can follow that can allow for the opportunity for your book to be turned into a screenplay, then a film.
First, you do need to have a finished book, and assuming you do, your next step would be to find a professional screenplay writer with whom you could work to adapt your novel into script form. Professional screenplay writers are highly skilled professionals, who have spent many years, if not decades, honing their craft. Once you find a screenplay writer to work with you, the author must realize that a screenplay is going to be approximately 90 to 100 minutes in length, so it is impossible to cover every dramatic event in your book. The screenplay writer will work with you to include the highlights of your book to make it accessible as a cinematic experience, to be viewed within an hour and a half to two hours.
Scott Lorenz: Let’s just say that you have hired a screenplay writer to adapt your book into a screenplay. Now what?
Oliver Tuthill and Tara Walker: If you’re lucky, you might have hired a screenplay writer who also works within the industry as a film producer. In this case, the producer can represent your screenplay and try to find a production company who would be interested in producing it. Most successful screenplay writers are represented by a literary agent in Hollywood, with whom they can submit the screenplay. Then, their agent will submit the screenplays to production companies who are constantly looking for new screenplays to produce into feature films.
Most producers looking for new screenplays are much more likely to produce scripts that have been adapted from a book. Another option furthering your screenplay toward being produced, would be to enter it into film festival competitions. A producer could see it in this venue and might like it enough to option the screenplay from the author. An example of this was when writer Evan Daugherty submitted his script, Snow White & the Huntsman, to the Script Pipeline script competition. His script won the competition, and as a result, he sold Snow White & the Huntsman to Universal for $3.25 million.
It was one of the biggest studio spec sales of all time, and its success turned Evan into one of the most sought-after writers in Hollywood. The film was also very successful and has grossed $450 million worldwide.
Scott Lorenz: Can my book authors expect to get paid over 3 million dollars when selling their screenplays to movie studios?
Oliver Tuthill and Tara Walker: It is possible, but you would need a very good sales agent to help you close the deal. Also, a bidding war between film companies would be an ideal situation for the writer to make more money. As an example, Joe Eszterhas, who wrote Basic Instinct, sold his spec script for 3 million to Carolco Pictures. A spec script is a screenplay that an author writes without receiving payment upfront. Bill Marsilii and Terry Rossio were paid 5 million for their script, Deja Vu, which was also a spec script.
Scott Lorenz: This sounds exciting! How can people get in touch with you if they want help adapting their books into screenplays?
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
“The library marketplace is made up of almost 120,000 locations and is divided into many segments. In addition to the more than 16,500 public libraries and their branches, there are medical libraries, hospital libraries, military libraries, niche libraries, and more,” explained Brian Jud, Executive Director of APSS, formerly SPAN and founder of Bookselling University.
So, what does this mean for you? A prime opportunity for you as an author to expand your reach, build your brand, and sell more books. Here are some handy tips on how to get your books into libraries.
1. Do Your Research – Think like a Librarian!
Check out the websites of various public libraries to find out what you need to do to get your book into circulation. You may also call or visit them and speak to the head librarians or the departments that relate to your specific book genre.
With WorldCat, you can search your community libraries as well as other local and national libraries to browse their collections. This can give you an idea of what types of books a certain library may want.
3. Be Friendly and Enthusiastic
Whether you consult the libraries in-person, via phone, or email, be polite. Also, show some excitement so that they see your passion for your work and remember you when it comes time to select new books.
4. Design a Sell Sheet
At its core, a sell sheet is a one-page advertisement of your book. Make sure it includes its title, cover, publisher, a brief description, ISBNs, available formats, and pricing. Don’t forget a blurb about why it may appeal to library patrons and mention if your book is already in a library too. Librarians like to see they are in good company.
“Sell what the content in your book does for the readers—what are the benefits to them,” said Jud. He explained that people don’t actually care about your book. Retailers display them to increase profits. Media hosts want a good show. Librarians want to support their patrons. As long as you appeal to the right motive, you’ll sell more books.
5. Organize an Author Reading or Book Signing
If you offer to organize an event like an author reading or book signing, everyone will win. You’ll boost your exposure while the library will get free programming. If you go this route, you’ll need to promote your event to ensure a good turnout.
6. Get Reviews
Great book reviews can speak volumes about your book and you as an author. Before you try to get your book into libraries, ensure you have them. Librarians want to see that others admire your book before they take the plunge and circulate it. A published review in a journal like Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, or Midwest Book Review can help establish credibility as well.
7. Get Involved in the Library Community
The reality is that many libraries like to fill their shelves with books that are popular, even on a local level. That’s why it’s wise to get out in your community and participate in local events and speaking engagements. Join local organizations, volunteer, and take any TV or radio opportunity that comes your way. Also, make sure you have a stellar social media presence.
8. Attend the ALA Annual Conference
The American Library Association hosts an annual library conference. If you’re serious about getting your book into libraries, it may be worthwhile to attend and mingle librarians. The 2021 conference will be held virtually this year on June 21-23. On Twitter follow @ALALibriary to keep up with daily posts and opportunities.
9. Check Out Writer’s Digest Advice
Writer’s Digest asked four Indie authors for their tips on how to get books into libraries. You don’t have to be an Indie author to take advantage of them. Be sure to check out this article before you get started.
10. Buy a Book
Self-Publisher’s Toolkit is a helpful book that serves as a two-in-one resource that shows you how to self-publish a book and then market it to Libraries. The author says, “Libraries are a $30+ billion segment often overlooked by self-publishers.” https://www.eseinc1.com/product-page
11. Use a Service
Don’t be afraid to use a service to help you get your book into libraries. Here are several to consider.
Baker & Taylor: Baker & Taylor has been around for over 180 years and distributes books to public libraries and schools. Contact Baker & Taylor to find out how they can assist you.
Ingram Content Group: An online self-publishing company, Ingram Content Group can allow you to print and distribute your book to libraries. Call or email them for more information.
Buy a Library Database: Curated by a fellow author, Eric Simmons compiled a database of Libraries you can contact directly. Over 100 authors and publishing houses are using the Library Contacts Database to get their books into Libraries. Simmons’ tool, which has enabled him to get his titles into over 130 Libraries worldwide, is the best deal in publishing! Just BUY IT!
The Bottom Line: Once you get into one library, you’ll find it much easier to get into others. When your book is in several libraries, you’ll build trust among readers, increase exposure, and ultimately sell more copies.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
If you’re an author, you owe it to yourself to check out this list of book festivals and fairs that authors could attend for 2025. These events are an excellent way for authors to meet book buyers and reviewers, interact with fellow authors and publishers, meet your readers and find new ones too. As an author you can network with book industry leaders, locate the help you need, such as a publicist or book editor, and learn what’s new in the marketplace.
Book fairs usually want speakers. By volunteering to speak, authors not only gain great exposure but can also add that appearance to their resume and press releases. One of my author clients was a member of a panel of authors at a Southern Book Festival. I issued a press release about it and added it to her accomplishments on her bio. Not only is she a respected author but she’s now an author admired by her peers. It’s these little things that all add up in the minds of reviewers and the media when they decide who they will write about. If you want to land a panel slot or speaking gig you must plan ahead; dates for panel participants, speakers and autograph sessions are usually arranged months in advance.
ABAA Virtual Book Fair: California Edition, February 6-8, 2025, Online. Open continuously from 12 pm ET on Thursday until 7 pm ET on Saturday. https://fairs.abaa.org/
Savannah Book Festival, February 6-9, 2025, Savannah, GA. The Savannah Book Festival has been around since 2008. It offers live streaming sessions with leading authors. https://www.savannahbookfestival.org/
AWP Conference and Bookfair, March 26-29, 2025, Philadelphia, PA. At the AWP Conference and Bookfair, you’ll find hundreds of authors, publishers, and exhibitors. There will be panel discussions and a keynote speaker. https://www.awpwriter.org/AWP/AWP/Conference-Bookfair/Overview.aspx
Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, March 28-30, 2025, New Orleans, LA. Created in 2003, the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival helps educate the community on HIV/AIDS. It brings together writers, thinkers, and spokespeople. https://www.sasfest.org/
SleuthFest, May 14-18, 2025, St. Petersburg, FL. SleuthFest is an annual conference for mystery, suspense, and thriller writers. There’s a Guest of Honor Gala, Fla-Mingle cocktail party and Razzle Dazzle drawing. https://sleuthfest.com/
American Library Association Annual Conference, June 26-30, 2025, Philadelphia. Over 25,000 experts in the industry will help you take your career to new heights. https://2025.alaannual.org/
Writers at Woody Point, August 17-23, 2025, Woody Point, Newfoundland. Travel to Canada and immerse yourself in the talent that lies across the border. https://www.writersatwoodypoint.com/
Printers Row Lit Fest, September 6-7, 2025, Chicago, IL. This is a large book fair with more than 150,000 book lover attendees. https://printersrowlitfest.org
The South Dakota Festival of Books, September 26-28, 2025, Brookings, SD. It connects more than 4,000 attendees and more than 50 noteworthy authors, scholars, and publishers. http://sdhumanities.org/festival-of-books/
Decatur Book Festival, October 3-4, 2025, Decatur, GA. This is the largest independent book festival in the country. Over the years, over 1000 authors and hundreds of thousands of people have attended this event in downtown Decatur. https://decaturbookfestival.com/
The Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair, October 18-19, 2025, Seattle, WA. The Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair features exhibitors from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. https://www.seattlebookfair.com/
The Southern Festival of Books, October 18-19, 2025, Nashville, TN. The Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word is among the oldest literary festivals in the country, annually welcoming hundreds of authors and thousands of visitors to downtown Nashville each October. The festival, a program of Humanities Tennessee, is free and includes performance stages, food trucks, and loads of publishers and booksellers. https://www.sofestofbooks.org/
The Texas Book Festival, November 8-9, 2025, Austin, TX. Founded in 1955, this festival includes over 275 authors as well as over 100 exhibitors. https://texasbookfestival.org/
The Bottom Line: Take a break from your pen and attend one of these top book fairs and festivals. You won’t regret it!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
You’ve finally finished your book and are ready to get it into the hands of the reader. You’ve crafted each sentence with great intention, choosing each word to communicate your meaning. This manuscript has spent countless hours with your eyes on it and multiple people have read it for you. You’ve rewritten and revised, incorporated their suggestions and there couldn’t possibly be anything else that needs changing or correcting.
Is it still necessary to hire a professional editor or proofreader?
What if the editor has a different vision from you and suggests sweeping changes to your work? What if the editor doesn’t like, or even worse, doesn’t understand your book?
Writing a book is an amazing accomplishment, one that less than 1% of the world’s population will ever manage to do. Given the amount of time, energy, and creativity you’ve invested to bring your ideas to life, your finished manuscript is of high personal value. Your work could even be life changing for some readers, if it can reach them. Capturing an audience is no picnic and whether you are publishing traditionally or self-publishing, the competition is fierce.
At this point, your manuscript is like a raw diamond. A diamond in its natural, raw state is full of potential, both in beauty and in value. Yet without taking it to a gem expert, it can be difficult to know how much more value could be added with precise cutting and polishing. Professional gemcutters spend years honing their craft and know exactly what to do to bring forth the maximum beauty of the diamond and increase its market value.
Like gemcutters, editors and proofreaders are experts with a refined skill set. They can evaluate your book and make recommendations about which editing processes the manuscript should undergo. Their extensive training allows them to view your book differently than a casual reader and identify errors or issues with the flow, organization, or plot of the story.
“All manuscripts need something,” says author Edward Renehan. As a book publicist, I’ve seen time and again where the attention of a professional editor has changed a good book into a brilliant one. Hiring an editor is like hiring a personal trainer; it’s still you, just faster, tighter, and more trim. Whether you’re getting a developmental edit, copyedit, or proofread, a professional editor knows how to identify your vision for your work and suggest changes to accomplish that vision.
Most importantly, they are on your team. The editor’s goal is to increase the value and marketability of your work—to cut, and polish in ways that make it shine even more brightly. In an article for Publisher’s Weekly, editor Leila Sales says, “We are as invested in the success of your book as you are. Furthermore, remember this: if we sign up books that don’t perform well, that reflects poorly on us as editors. The future of our careers depends on the success of the books we edit. We are never trying to sabotage your book, because we are emotionally and financially invested in how well it does.”
Regardless of your publishing path, one of the best ways to promote your book is to get reviews. In my experience, if your book has a number of noticeable errors many reviewers will find it difficult to look past them and give a fair review of the entire work. It makes the reading more difficult and creates a poor impression. Even if the reviewer knows that it’s a galley copy or ARC and hasn’t been final proofed, a manuscript in need of editing or proofreading simply will not get as strong or positive reviews.
As a third-party endorsement of your work, reviews are critical for promotion and marketing efforts. They give the potential buyer assurance the book they may buy is worthwhile. Professional editing of your work will take your work to the next level, enabling you to get the best reviews possible from your reviewers. Better reviews increase the likelihood of getting your book the attention and audience it deserves.
The Bottom Line: Let your finished work shine! Hire a professional editor or proofreader to polish your book, bring forth its maximum beauty, and increase its market value.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
Book Title Generator is the one book every author should read before publishing their book.
There’s an old saying that fisherman use—“You have to hook ‘em before you can cook ‘em.” The same holds true for book titles! Picture yourself walking through a bookstore where book spines resemble wallpaper or scrolling through endless titles on Amazon or other bookselling websites. All too often those few words in a book title are the difference between further interest, and a sale, or getting left out in the cold.
That’s why I wrote a book laying out a proven strategy for crafting a buyer grabbing title. Book Title Generator makes sure the painstaking work writing a book will get that all-important final touch, a winning title worthy of publication. I created a multi-prong strategy by urging the use of high-tech tools, researching bestsellers by genre and choosing the vital “title keywords” which get a book ranked on search engines and Amazon.
Having seen and experienced the pitfalls of book marketing, I wanted Book Title Generator to usher one through the reality maze of numbers, alliterations, idioms, keywords and everything else I know must be considered in your quest for the perfect book title. I chronicled how a number of famous books began with poor titles and how, with a new title, they rose to prominence.
As a student and lover of book titles with three decades of book marketing experience, I wanted to impress on the reader the vital aspects of shepherding your book towards bestseller status. I designed Book Title Generator for authors and publishers as a surefire method to uncover that coveted, memorable, and winning book title!
“Book Title Generator is an indispensable, first-rate adjunct to the art of writing—and selling—your book.” —Dr. Grady Harp, Amazon Top 50 Hall of Fame Reviewer, 5 Stars
“I get HUNDREDS of books a year from hopeful authors. The title has to catch my attention or I pass. If I were an author I’d read Book Title Generator.” —Chris Cordani, Executive Producer, Money Matters on WABC-AM, New York, 5 Stars
“Authors owe it to themselves to ‘turn-every-stone’ to make sure they have the best possible book title. It’s critical to the success of any book… unless you are already famous… then it doesn’t matter.” —Mike Ball, Erma Bombeck Award-Winning Author, 5 Stars
The Bottom Line: Do not name your book before studying Book Title Generator.” Take advantage of my hard-won knowledge by knowing all the rules in what a high-tech game is now. Get one over on the competition by starting out ahead.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!