A fierce television bidding war has erupted over the rights to an unpublished novel dubbed "Tupperware erotica," underscoring a booming market for stories by female authors. The book, titled Wet Ink by London-based writer Abigail Avis, is not due for publication until spring 2027, yet its small-screen potential has already sparked intense competition.
The Novel Sparking a Frenzy
The forthcoming novel is set in 1960s London and follows Mitzy Barlow, a housewife and mother-of-two trapped in a loveless marriage and the crushing monotony of suburban life. To earn extra money, she begins hosting Tupperware parties, a ubiquitous social event of the era. However, Mitzy secretly nurtures a talent for writing erotic fantasies as an escape from her bleak reality.
Writing under the pseudonym Queen B, her confidence grows. She ingeniously begins using her Tupperware sales as a cover, smuggling her steamy stories to customers by concealing them inside the iconic airtight containers. The plot thickens as her secret literary success forces her to confront a dangerous dilemma: whether to pursue a radically different life, risking exposure and accusations of indecency.
A Lucrative Chain of Auctions
The television rights auction saw six major production companies battling for the project. This frenzy mirrors the earlier contest for the publishing rights, which were secured by Hodder & Stoughton (part of Hachette UK) for a six-figure sum. The publisher is already planning a global marketing campaign for the book's eventual release.
Ultimately, the TV rights were won by Kudos, a Banijay UK company behind hits like Netflix's The House of Guinness and the BBC's This Town. Karen Wilson, Joint Managing Director of Kudos, stated: "We are thrilled to have acquired the rights to Abigail’s novel. She is a brilliantly talented writer, and Wet Ink is a must read. We cannot wait to get started on developing it into a TV series for both the UK and international market."
Part of a Major Industry Trend
Industry insiders note that the demand for Wet Ink is a clear sign of the relentless hunt for fresh, bankable content, especially with the rise of global streaming services. There is a pronounced trend of books by female writers becoming the subject of ferocious auctions, sometimes before they are even finished.
In one remarkable parallel case, a different unfinished book has already received 21 offers, with the field narrowed to a final ten "glittery producers." Another debut novel, Death’s a Bitch by Eloise Rodger, was also acquired after intense international competition earlier this year.
Abigail Avis's agent, Hayley Steed, said the reaction to Wet Ink was unprecedented: "Within mere hours we were turning down international pre-empts and it has broken agency records around the globe. Abigail has written a book that encapsulates the perfect bookclub read; an empowering call to arms, a warm story of female community and friendship, and just the right amount of naughtiness." Avis, a former English literature teacher, conceived the idea during her children's midnight feeds.
