YA Author's Adult Debut Optioned for TV

Indie producer Skywild Pictures has secured the television adaptation rights for "The Treasure Hunters Club," the first adult murder mystery novel by popular YA author Tom Ryan. Published by Simon and Schuster, the book centers on three individuals drawn to the secluded coastal town of Maple Bay in pursuit of hidden pirate treasure.

Their quest takes a dark turn as they clash with each other and a local legend, leading to a series of new bodies piling up. Natalie Urquhart of Skywild Pictures highlighted the story's originality, rich mystery, and character-driven momentum as ideal for an episodic series.

Skywild Pictures is also developing TV adaptations for "Our Little Secret" by Edward Kay and Mikhael Klassen-Kay, and "The Affinities" by Robert Charles Wilson. This strategic move aims to bolster Canada's contribution to the Hollywood page-to-screen pipeline, following successes like the "Heated Rivalry" series.

Angela Jennings, president of Skywild, stated that the selected projects align with the company's vision for ambitious, collaborative, and well-told stories. "Our Little Secret" involves high school seniors planning revenge, while "The Affinities" is a near-future sci-fi novel about social media segregation.