Hey, hi everyone.

Welcome to our monday gossip session.

We gather here every other monday So not every monday every other monday at

12 noon eastern time we talk about all the things happening in the british

world and The bookish community.

Normally it's the trio, but we have all friends.

Okay.

Group text friends.

They're out of the group text and they're on the live with us.

And I'm really excited to have them here, but just in case you're

joining us for the first time, I'm Victoria from Biblio lifestyle.

I'm Laura from what to read next podcast.

I'm Francesca from Under the Covers.

Do I go, I'm Becky from Too Stupid to Live, as you I'm Kelly from Boobies

and Newbies Podcast, and I'm an author.

Yes, and guess what, fun fact, we are all on Substack.

So, link in the video's description to join us on Substack.

We're writing amazing things and doing lovely things over there.

So if you find one of us, you'll find us all because we recommend each

other because that's what friends do.

Okay, so friends in a group chat and friends in content creation, but anyway.

Today we're talking all things bookish gossip live news and just

all the happenings and we have a lot going on today I have my notes.

Okay cue card ready to go and One of the topics we want to kind of cover before

we get you know Pictures up on screen is the fact that there's a growing

trend of historical Romance authors so historical romance authors who seem to be

losing their contracts coming to an end.

There's no renewal We even have a situation in With author Nora Roberts.

So Nora Roberts is a very popular author.

I just put up on screen.

If you're listening, a screen grab from an interview she did with the AP.

So AP news.

com.

I'll have the source.

In the video's description the link to the article but essentially, after

250 books in of historical romance She's been releasing four books a year.

She's a fast writer She actually feels like she does not see herself

as part of the romance genre anymore Laura, what is your take on laura

roberts, but just also historical?

historical romance authors not getting contract renewals and all the happenings

So I guess there are two separate things.

Nora writes romance, romantic suspense, fantasy, and all deserving daughters.

She does, she may have written some historical, I don't think so, but

she has written two, mainly romance.

But we have historical romance being a trend that's been, it's been not

selling, I guess, to critical publishers and it's not selling so well, so

they're not renewing contracts.

They're moving toward paranormal fantasy, or paranormal romanticity,

or paranormal rom coms, or rom coms.

And so a lot of our historical authors are being asked to go and switch

genres or trying to sell contracts.

So we've seen Sam McLean selling women's fiction.

We see Eva Eva Lee and Sophie Jordan selling romanticy.

We saw some authors who are like, okay, I'm going to move indie.

I'm going to just going to start.

continue to publish historical moments because I'm passionate about it, but

I'm going to move to Indie route.

So historical moments are not getting also that one of the things

is the move away from mass market.

A lot of these historical moments come in mass market paperbacks and many

stores are not filling those slots.

And so they're moving to trade paperbacks and those are more expensive.

And maybe the market is just like, not, doesn't understand, but it's

a, it's market trends is a lot of conversations about like, do.

It's a book talk.

They want to read historical moments to define the actual, like,

part of it, even though they're a great genre there's a lot of like,

discrimination for historical moments.

What do you think, Fran, because we do have historical romance, but then

we also have OGs in the romance genre, like Nora Roberts, who's also saying she

doesn't feel like she belongs anymore.

So clearly a lot is changing.

What are you thinking?

So on the historical romance aspect, I, Actually, what I think is we're

seeing a change in publishing that also happened with paranormal romance in the

2000s, so I don't think it's as much of a trend of people don't want to buy it.

It's just that what the traditional publishers are putting out.

It's not what the people that read that genre want to read.

So I don't think that they're publishing the right historical romances that

The readers actually want to read.

I think the fact that they moved away from mass market and the pricing

changes also makes a difference.

But I think in general, they're going in.

a particular direction with the ones that they do publish.

And I think that does have an impact on the ones that they sell.

But you do see some Indies historical romance authors doing

quite well on Indie publishing.

So I think that we're probably going to see more of that in my opinion.

But I feel like people that write historical romance are not as I don't

see them as open as going indie.

I think this is probably going to push them in that direction.

And there's going to be a lag in time for that to happen, like

there was with Paranormal Romance.

So when publishing pretty much cut releasing any Paranormal

Romance, there was still a demand and there were no books.

And then slowly you could see those authors going indie.

I think that probably that will be faster now than it was before.

But I think that definitely there is a disconnect.

And I think that disconnect is probably what Laura was saying

because they are really chasing the book talk trend and they really

want to like mark it to whatever the book talk girlies are reading.

And you don't really see that as much with historical romance.

So I think that if they find one big booktalker that starts

pushing historical romance, they'll probably change their tune.

But I'm actually more excited to see historical romance go indie

and get a variety of stories versus just like the, they can pretty much

all fit in a box when it comes to the traditionally published ones.

Now, on the Nora Roberts ask.

I am a little I am shocked but also not shocked like Nora Roberts is kind

of like the OG romance author and at the same time I'm not shocked to see

that she's not identifying with the genre in a way because of All of the

tropey things like everything has to be marketable to a trope in romance

right now And that's not how she writes.

I think she writes It's very much a romance, but not picking it apart

for what tropes does this fit into?

So I think that's probably harder to sell to the audience

that they're trying to appeal.

Again, in my opinion, this is, both of these is because of the book talk trend.

Right.

Is that a good thing?

I don't know.

I mean, I think we'll have to wait, we'll have to wait to see.

But Becky, what are your thoughts on historical romance, but also Nora Roberts?

Yeah, I have a few thoughts.

One is, it seems like.

With book talk and how fast book talk goes, it feels like publishers are making

very quick decisions before, like, kind of reflecting on like, oh, is this true?

Because like book talk moves so fast, trends move so fast.

And when you have something like Bridgertons, like when that comes back

in, Five years or however long it takes.

They're going to be kind of, regretting that choice because people will probably

be into historical fiction again.

And I just think like I think there's like there's TikTok and like

there's the rest of society who is just like, what do we do with this?

You know what I mean?

And I feel like publishers are kind of like that.

And to an extent, maybe even Nora Roberts, too.

It's so interesting because like I have so much respect for Nora Roberts.

I love Nora Roberts books because sometimes they, it is

just like after, I don't know.

I feel like we're all reading the writers who have read Nora Roberts, who were

inspired by Nora Roberts and have kind of changed some of the conventions.

So when you read Nora Roberts, you kind of see like, Oh, it's going

a different route or it's bringing in this or it's bringing in that.

And yeah, I can understand cause I don't want to say it's.

I don't want to blame it on like age, you know what I mean?

But like, yeah, I know a lot of people say my mom reads Nora Roberts and like.

And not, and it's like, it's interesting because it's generational, but there

is also kind of format wise too.

So yeah, I was, I feel kind of rude saying that because I love Nora

Roberts and like age doesn't matter.

It really doesn't matter.

But like, Here's the thing, right?

We have our family members who've been reading classics for generations

and our grandparents and everyone, and then we came and now we're

reading it and I'm like, come.

But I hear you though, but I had to throw in the classics because

I mean, we're still fighting over Jane Austen 250 years later.

Yeah.

You're still reading Jane Austen?

But anyway, Kelly, what are your thoughts on all the happenings with historical

romance and of course Laura Roberts?

Well, first of all, I cut my teeth on reading Nora Roberts library

books when I was like 18, 19.

Those were some of the first romances I read.

And it's always interesting to me.

to, between I know between Becky and I we've interviewed so many authors

and talked to them and asked them like, well, who were your influences

and what romance did you read?

What was your first introduction to romance and Nora Roberts?

And along with like Dan Hellsteel and Julia Quinn and Diana Quincy,

like you're very up high on the list.

of answers we hear and it's because we didn't have a book talk.

I hate to be that person that's like back in my day.

It's true, like ever since I turned 30, I swear there's a lot of back in my day.

Wait till you get to 40, 40, 40 o'clock.

We're like, I'm

coming to the 40 club.

It's happening soon.

But I just feel like So, depending on when you kind of started reading

romance you see this big shift change of like, what was going on then?

And so what romance books were coming out then.

So for example, like when I started reading romance circa

like 2008, 2009 there were a lot of historical mass paperbacks.

However, a lot of them were also from, 10 years ago at that point.

And a lot of the ones that I was reading were contemporary romance.

Versus, say, my mom, who, when romance she first started reading

romance, really all she had to go off of was historical romance.

So it really is interesting just kind of like seeing the different generational

changes between like what was publishing then, what was very popular then, to see

now that you hear they're losing contracts for something that was the thing to write.

10, 15, 20 years ago.

So I don't know.

I feel like every trend is, it's always changing.

And I understand, I guess, to some degree where publishers are coming from, in

that I think there's always this push to stay ahead of like what's coming next.

And it's hard when you have something like a book talk that's changed things so

exponentially, where one year, I remember, in 2023, hockey romance was popping off

to the point where I thought about writing a hockey romance and then realized I

know absolutely nothing about hockey.

So I decided to write a baseball romance and then lo and behold, 2024 became

like the year of baseball romance, but not because of me, just because there

were so many people who at the same time decided that they were going to write.

baseball romance.

And now I see Cowboys coming back.

So I mean, it really is one of those things where people

are trying to, I think, write.

to trend and write to trope.

And Nora Roberts is not one of those people.

Like, Nora Roberts was never one of those people.

She was a, she was and is a storyteller.

Through and through.

I, to this day, reread her Bride Quartet series every year.

So I'm really interested to see.

Kind of what Francesca was saying, where we go next with

historical romance, because I don't think it's going to go away.

But I do think you're going to see people still wanting to read it, especially

with something like Bridgerton.

Every four years they want a new season.

But it is interesting to know, too, that Bridgerton didn't Boost

the sales of historical romance.

Like I think people hoped it would and thought it would, it

boosted the sales of Bridgerton.

So you saw like a lot more people reading Julia Quinn's books and

specifically Bridgerton, but it didn't, and I've talked about this

with historical romance authors.

It didn't have the wide effect that I think a lot of people were wanting,

which is disappointing to say the least.

Sure.

You would hope you know that what I say the high tide raises all boats kind of

vibes It just didn't work out in this instance Anyways, if you are just joining

us welcome, we're doing or bookish gossip live show We're just talking about all

things happening in the bookish world.

We're talking about Historical romance authors not getting contract renewals

not getting new contracts, but also simultaneously a heavy hitter in romance.

Nora roberts also saying she doesn't feel like she belongs to the genre anymore

again I'll include Links to all the sources in the video's description Now

this one is just going to be a quick fire.

So just Spit your feelings and thoughts on this one, and I

wanna talk about Colleen Hoover.

Okay.

Colleen Hoover, according to People magazine has returned to Instagram

after deactivating her account, so she deactivated on January 22nd.

And she returned on February 12th.

This is by a people magazine.

Again links will be in the video's description cause

we cite all sources here.

And on her return, all images that had to do with Blake Lively

and Justin Baldoni and just the film in general have been MIA.

So, okay.

Quick, fine, one sentence.

What are your thoughts?

Thoughts on Colleen Hoover reactivating her Instagram profile.

I will start by saying, sis, you don't have to be here.

You are rich.

I just want to remind you, you are legit rich.

Be here.

Just take the break.

Just disappear.

Real life is fun.

You can afford to do real life.

I can't afford to do real life.

So join me live at 12.

Laura, what are your thoughts on Colleen Hoover again?

Retire.

Yeah.

Fran.

Same, I feel like she doesn't need to be involved in the mess, just

leave it alone, cause this just looks worse, like just stay out of it.

That's what I say.

Becky?

At the very least, take a vacation and or please stop using a reputation

management company to tell you what to do.

It's clear that's what's going on.

Kelly, what are your thoughts?

I could not care less.

But I will say I am like both thoroughly enjoying the drama surrounding everything,

but also kind of like over it at the same time, like we're still talking about this.

I don't know.

I'm just like.

It's I'm over it.

We are talking about it.

So if you're just joining us live, how do you feel about Colleen

Hoover returning to Instagram?

Do you believe like us she can retire now?

I'm saying she's rich.

Go do your pray love fire the reputation people They're saying it because she

returned A little under a month after scrubbing her account of all photos

and all references of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Let us know your thoughts

in the comments But also if you had thoughts on the laura roberts of it all

we'd love to hear your thoughts as well So please share them in the comments.

Okay.

Next up is another fandom kind of thing I'm guessing folks won't

probably y'all won't probably have a lot of opinions on this.

But anyways Again, people magazine announces twilight is

celebrating its 20th anniversary With three collectible editions.

Okay Let me know.

How do you feel?

Let me get a big picture.

This is what the publisher little brown had released This is the vibe

they're going For these new 20th editions, gorgeously designed slip

cases, gorgeously designed books.

Of course, you're going to get the bookmark.

You're probably going to get foil on the, what do you call it?

The design.

Let me know, how do you all feel about this collectible edition?

I know the last time we all gathered, We also talked about the collectible

edition market and is this a money grab and what are our thoughts on it?

But yeah, another rapid fire.

How do you feel about twilight?

I'm like, look, it's a money grab.

I'm always here for a money grab.

It looks beautiful.

Will I buy it?

I don't know.

I mean, I really didn't pick teams during this time.

I was too old.

I felt like this was past my time.

Did I read the books?

Yes.

Are they okay?

They're okay.

Okay.

Did I watch the movies?

Yes.

Is it okay?

Watch it with your teenagers, maybe.

Laura, what do you think?

I have not read, watched anything.

It passed my, I was in rehab at that time when they came out.

So if that tells you something.

So do not, it just passed it.

I still have not watched them 20 years later and maybe

I'll watch them for Substack.

So maybe I'll create play content for this.

There we go.

Fran, what do you think?

A couple of thoughts.

I'm actually, like, I actually enjoyed the whole fandom of it.

When the I started reading them when the first movie came out.

I was actually on vacation in Italy and I happened to pick up the book

because it was at every like rest area on the highway that you would stop.

And I'm like, this book is everywhere.

Okay, I'm going to read it.

So I did read it.

I did enjoy them.

Like you said, like they were good books.

They were fine.

The movies were fine.

They were enjoyable.

But I have thoughts on the design because if there is anything that

twilight is not Pink and flowery.

Yes.

I am.

Sorry.

What the hell is that?

Like make it black background with some red flowers I can go for that.

What is that?

That is the most anti twilight vibe.

Okay, hold on.

Anyone watching this live, I see you all, but it's okay.

If you're at work, if you're in the cubicle, if you're watching from

the bushes, it's fine, but if you have a little free second, just

look at the screen and drop in the chat, let us know your thoughts on.

The cover design.

So Fran, I have to jump in.

I agree with you.

I love a money grab.

I wouldn't want it to be black just because the original

book club was, were black.

I am team, make it more wintry themed because I'm looking at this and I'm

getting spring, summer, fall, spring, summer, groundbreaking where are the hoa

hoa vibes, where are the trees and the fog, trying to make it classic, I think.

They're trying to make it classic.

You chose the wrong season!

You chose the wrong season!

It's not spring.

Florals for spring?

Groundbreaking.

Like, what are you doing?

Where are your florals?

Yeah, I know.

Becky, what are your thoughts?

Yeah, I'm kind of just like, whoever designed that book,

like, did they read Twilight?

Like, do they know Twilight?

Like, I feel like it was, I mean, that feels like it's more for Jane Austen

historical romance than Twilight.

That is all to say, a part of me is like, I kind of agree with you guys about

how, like, the okayness of Twilight, like, I read it, I, and I enjoyed it,

saw the movies, but I think it's like impossible to deny the impact it's made

on culture, on reading romance, and getting, I mean, it ignited so many

people, like, every time I have an author or a romance reader on my show.

Like their first foray is Twilight.

And I think it's like hard to not deny its impact.

So when I see that, it just looks so like, I don't know, like.

You picked the first design off of Canva.

Do you know what I mean?

Sorry, that's so rude.

No, it's not!

It's not him, huh?

I am dead.

Kelly, what are your thoughts?

So, I, this was like my intro into reading romance.

Like, I, for whatever thoughts I have about Twilight, or anybody has

about Twilight, whether it's you know, great literature or whatever.

This was definitely like my first introduction into the world of romance.

And the following year was when I started reading adult romance.

I agree this color design, I mean the colors, the design, it just, it is

not fit for this particular series.

And I, but I feel like it kind of taps into We see them doing all of

the the classics and Jane Austen and putting this beautiful binding on them.

And look I am, it gets me, like, it gets me.

I all want to pick up a copy of Frankenstein because I see

this beautiful cover on it.

And it's also a little bit romanticy because we do see a lot of that design

with romanticy, which is hot right now.

So I do get I need to crack the code.

You crack the code.

Romanticy is the vibe they are going for.

They want to get this new romanticy audience and not to bring it back to

Jane Austen because y'all have listened to me rant about it on Substack.

I have a dedicated video on YouTube about it.

I did it in another live, but I think.

Actually, they're trying to attract the new Romanticy crowd.

Maybe Gen D folks who might have missed it.

Cause obviously they weren't around.

And then now Gen Alpha maybe get some of them.

Twilight twilight!

Even when they're little, they're saying twilight.

But I love how That's Romanticy font.

Like, I feel like I know that font.

It's swirly, all caps.

No, I get that.

I get that.

It's very interesting.

That we can all agree on one thing and it's profound impact on

reading So not for nothing because like I said twilight was okay.

I'm not here dishing out five stars or whatever, but I, we would be remiss not

to mention just how it really ignited reading and it got folks to read.

It's one of those books.

So yeah, Twilight is 20 years old.

This is how I know I'm really getting old because I felt like I was really old.

Back in my age, we read.

I remember back in my day, I remember going to the midnight screening

of the first movie at our recently opened movie theater in town.

It was my senior year of high school was when the first movie came out.

So, and there was nobody there because nobody really knew it.

Yet, by the time I went to the midnight premiere of the second

movie, though, that was really packed.

Listen, when that book came out, I was a whole adult with a

whole bunch of responsibilities.

And I was just like, huh?

And then to Fran's point, it was the same thing.

The movie came out and I was like, okay, you know what?

Let me just give it a read.

And it was a good binge again.

It was a week.

It was a great binge.

It was a weekend.

I actually think the weather was bad too, cause I was indoors all weekend.

It was great.

So again, Twilight really made folks read.

Y'all let us know in the comments, your thoughts on the cover design.

But we're just going to move on next to the next headline real quick.

It really doesn't need much discussion sunrise on the reaping.

The audio book is to be narrated by Yellowstone star, Jefferson white,

just in case you're not familiar.

This is a highly anticipated latest book in the hunger game series, which

will be available March 18th, 2025.

It will also be told from the point of view of Hamish.

So we're going to get Hamish's.

Point of view and yes, this yellowstone star will narrate the audio book.

So yeah I don't know this person.

I don't watch yellowstone I don't know this name, but I am looking forward to

sunrise on the reaping So just so you know newsworthy that's what's next But what we

need to talk about that is conversation worthy is our next headline this time

I got the news from vulture again.

I'll include links to all the sources in the video's description So the headline

reads a court of thorns and roses tv series Doesn't survive valentine's day.

I'm going to read it cause it's really short, but I also have it

up on screen just because I'm like, yes, look, I'm quoting the people.

So this is from vulture.

Oops.

Nevermind.

After a year's long situation ship, Hulu decided not to seal the deal

and is no longer developing Sarah J masses, a quarter of thorns

and roses into a scripted series.

Vulture has confirmed news broke on Valentine's weekend.

A. K. A. It was the worst news for a time all about roses and romance reps for 20th

television and Hulu declined to comment.

The show has been in development since 2021 with outlanders Ronald anymore

originally hired as the show runner.

Just last year there was a rumor that the series was canceled.

However, the streamer confirmed our Qatar was still in

development in February, 2024.

Variety reports that Mass hopes to shop the series elsewhere

as Disney has the rights to the series through to summer 2025.

The ball is now in another studio's court and they have all

summer to prepare for a battle.

Y'all let me know what you think about Sarah J Mass

series at Qatar being canceled.

I find it interesting.

She wants to go around immediately to shop it once the holding period has ended.

Okay.

I'm just like what is going on?

Why is this being canceled?

Why does she have to shop it elsewhere?

Is it a creative thing?

Is it, we're not aligning on the vision.

Why is it taking so long?

I'm sure fans of ACOTAR aren't pleased.

Laura, what do you think?

So same thing happened to Jennifer Armitra.

I think she had a similar issue with Hulu.

They canceled the show.

The From Blood and Ash was picked up by Amazon.

So there's probably something to be said.

Hulu, Disney might have vision.

They might have some They might not agree on the vision of the book

and what their brand looks like.

Just, I read Disney High and it's a really good book to hear about

the Disney, how the brand is doing.

So it might be something to be said, but I think there's creative difference

between Sarah J Maas and The vision, and then there's also the expectation

of the audience of how this needs to go.

And you're going to disappoint the audience chances are.

So yeah.

What do you think, Fran?

So I am probably the one that's going to say this time that I could care less.

I read the first book, didn't like it, didn't continue.

So I am like not the Sarah J Maas person here at all.

And I'm kind of over hearing about it all the time, whether it's her books

or even like all the chatter that's been going on about this going into

a production for being a TV series.

So in a way, I'm like, okay, finally, there's some resolution,

but I'm also not surprised that she's gonna shop around immediately.

Like that's very on brand.

Okay, what do you think?

I mean, I have a lot of thoughts on this.

And especially because like, whatever, I'm out in LA and trying to Pursue, whatever.

I feel like it all comes down to people and I can, I'll take, I could explain

this in an entirety of like 45 minutes.

I just think people don't know what to do with female characters

enjoying sex and female characters having sex and portraying sex from a

feminine female gaze point of view.

So the reason why I think that Maybe it didn't do as well as

because you see like kind of pitch.

I imagine this is just pitch decks are landing on the CEO of Disney and all of

these like executives and they're all like dudes who have like all their only job

is to just save money and not Spend money and to appease, board members and they

just see it and they just laugh it off.

And like, I think that like, I know that I'm sure that things are trickling

down from other levels, but I just think that it all, maybe I could be wrong.

It all boils down to no one takes the genre seriously.

And, like, I feel like if this were George r. Martin's Court of Thorns and

Roses, it absolutely would be greenlit.

And I think that's the issue.

Wow.

Kelly, what are your thoughts?

Yeah, I can speak to this a few different ways.

Becky and I have both worked in film and television.

And so I really, I do agree with that in that it all comes down to money.

Like a lot, all of the time in television, like always, whether

you want to acknowledge it or not.

That is always, if you ask any question of like, well, why did they make this choice?

Or why did this happen?

Or why was this person cast?

It's always about money, right?

And we're speaking from experience on that.

Like it is always about the money.

And I do think that if it was a male driven lead in this show or hypothetical

adaptation that they were going to make about this, if it was not.

sold as romance, but rather fantasy or science fiction,

that would make a difference.

I think if the author was male, that would make a difference.

There, we see a lot of like high fantasy do well with like

stuff like game of thrones.

But I also think that's kind of an anomaly, like I don't think that

romance not romance specifically, but I don't think romanticy is having

the same drive in film and television that it is in book form, and it's

because it's expensive, right?

I, that's exactly it.

I think it's too expensive, and that's why they turned it down.

I think that's what it comes down to.

So for Becky and Kelly, who have this experience, So my question is because my

first gut reaction because i'm listening to y'all i'm like, well, I trust y'all

this makes sense But folks would argue this would be a big money maker, and

I know it's within the fandom and the romance romanticy community, but you

think there's a disconnect between how the book community perceives it and what they

see as big and what they love and she's a beloved author versus what translates

to like, general population being like, I think it would still do well.

Like if they made it, I think it would still do well, but a lot

of people who are in film and television that have the money.

To produce things who have the money to buy the intellectual property to

then make it are usually a very similar demographic across the board, and that

is older white men, and I don't think.

that it's, I mean, it's selfish of them, but it's like, I don't

think it speaks to like them.

And because of that, they don't necessarily connect with

like the popularity aspect.

Like just see how long it took for something like Bridgerton to come around.

Like we, we didn't have.

A lot of, and that was at the helm of women, like, so I mean it really wasn't

being pushed for, and when they made it people were like, huh, wow, I guess a lot

of people like this, even though romance readers have been screaming it from the

rooftops for years, so I don't know why there's this massive disconnect but I kind

of wish the reason it wasn't being made was more of the fact that there are a lot

of Readers, writers, bookish people out there who of their own accord canceled

Sarah J Maas, like, several years ago.

Definitely.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Myself being one of them.

But I don't, I, that's not the reason.

And that's kind of like Sort of the disappointing thing to

me is like, Oh, I wish this was cancelled for the right reasons.

Like, I wish that was the reason it was cancelled, and not just, Oh,

we don't think romance will sell.

Again.

Yeah.

What about you, Becky?

I mean, in my mind I'm like, Old white rich men, they love money.

It's not just like how are we letting the money grab go?

But Becky, I feel like to your point, old, rich white men love money.

And I think that comes with a fear of spending money.

And I think that is what is dictating Hollywood right now.

We just had a pandemic.

We just had two strikes.

People are scared to spend money.

And I think that like they're only looking at like intellectual

property that they know.

will sell.

And I just think like right now, like even like, I don't know,

like there, there are a lot less productions happening in LA right now.

A lot of people don't have jobs.

And like, it kind of correlates when you see an actor who's the

star of a TV show, doing an audio book, it kind of correlates.

Like, I feel like you see big star, if you see big stars doing commercials

or big stars doing, taking jobs.

Podcasts, like I feel like there's a, there is so much less

content being made right now.

And there's a lot of people are out of work.

It's an interesting time to say the least.

And it's so, it just, I don't know, it just doesn't surprise me that people

are going to be stingy with their money, especially when it comes to.

new ideas.

Even if it is already been, even if those ideas have already been

published in a popular book series Hollywood tends to be the opposite

of what book publishing tries to be.

Book publishing tries to stay ahead.

Hollywood likes to recycle what's already worked.

Yeah.

And they've seen, Oh, I mean, that's why we see so many remakes.

We're seeing Yeah.

Then make live action how to train your dragon because people

liked how to train your dragon.

Did anybody ask for live action how to train your dragon?

Probably not.

So, they know what's worked and they just say, that's what audience is like.

So we're going to give it to them again.

Yeah, that makes sense.

And if you're just joining us, we are talking about a court of thorns and roses.

The TV series does not survive Valentine's day.

Essentially the deal with Hulu has been falling through.

It just so happened.

Vulture wrote this on Valentine's weekend and what a time to do that.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments on this one.

I will end on this topic by saying.

Book to screen adaptations are having a heyday at the Oscars, okay?

I did a separate video on that, so needless to say, Hollywood,

people, publishing, I don't know.

Y'all need to get with it, because publishing is doing the thing,

even though we see them making changes that we're questioning too.

But ACOTAR is proven, whether you love it or not, and whether

we support the author or not.

That is what it is.

To your point, Victoria, I will say, just like having taken meetings, there are

people working at all sorts of production companies who find these properties, who

find these books, and will champion them.

Like, I know them, my brother does it, and they just get shut

down by one person at the top.

So it's like, I don't think it's necessarily like everyone in Hollywood.

I think it's just the decision makers who are just saying yes, no.

Yes.

Whatever.

Yeah.

So, yeah.

So there, it's, so it isn't to say that like LA is full of

people who are just like, No.

No.

And also, noteworthy, it's Disney Hulu and I've tried working with them and

they're very particular about their brand.

Let's just say that.

Yeah.

They cast Lizzie McGuire!

Like, I'm so mad about this Lizzie McGuire because it was not grown

up, it was too grown up for Disney.

I'm like, put her in Lulu!

I was one of the college girls watching it at 11 o'clock at night, that series.

Me too.

Please, so if you do want to hear about the Disney High, it's an

audiobook and non fiction about the rise and fame of the Disney Channel

and it actually goes over the Disney brand and all the different things.

It's really engaging.

It talks about all the Disney stars.

If you have not watched Disney, you definitely, you can learn all about Hannah

Montana Suite Live with Zack and Cody and all the peoples and stuff like that.

It's great.

It's a great place to understand from the Disney, from the Mickey Mouse

Club to actually to what it's now and how their brand actually looks.

I wouldn't be surprised if this also got, like, developed somewhere else.

Like, I don't know.

It will.

I think it will.

It will.

I don't know what they have in place in terms of, like, how long they

can retain rights to that property, or if, like, they have to sell it.

Number 25.

It said it in the article.

They have rights until they sell it.

Oh.

It's just going to go and sell it again.

Oh.

Yeah.

She's taking lunches right now.

She's at lunch right now.

For the expiration date, one past midnight.

Okay.

Let's do it.

It's either going to go to Amazon, HBO, like let's think about, well, we'll see.

We'll see.

Anyways, everyone, we are going over to Substack.

We're going to be continuing the party on Substack for the after show.

So again, there is a link to Substack in the video's description.

If you're watching on YouTube, I think it translates to Facebook and other places.

But just click the sub stack link.

We'll be going live in five.

But before we hop off here I just want to remind you laura francesca and I

will be going live this thursday at 12 noon eastern time We'll be sharing

book recommendations About books about black joy next week thursday.

We're going to be doing locked room mysteries and then We're going live

again the week after that to do spring reading guide We're going to be sharing

recommendations with you as well because again We go live 12 noon Eastern time.

So, do the conversions join us then.

And again, use the links in the videos descriptions to connect with us.

And we are going over to Substack.

Alrighty, everyone.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Thanks for joining me on this episode of The Watcherinex Podcast.

If you enjoy our bookish conversations and want more recommendations, don't forget

to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Also, head on over to The Watcherinex blog for a list of

books mentioned in today's show.

Happy reading!