Unpublished Novel 'Wet Ink' Sparks Fierce Bidding War for TV Adaptation
Wet Ink, a forthcoming novel by London-based author Abigail Avis, 33, has triggered a heated auction for its television rights ahead of its scheduled publication in spring 2027.
The story focuses on Mitzy Barlow, a 1960s London housewife who hosts Tupperware parties and secretly writes erotic stories under the pen name Queen B, smuggling her tales in airtight containers.
Six major production companies competed fiercely for the TV rights, with Kudos (Banijay UK) ultimately securing the project. Kudos plans to develop Wet Ink into a series targeting both UK and international markets. The company is known for producing Netflix’s The House of Guinness and BBC’s This Town and SAS Rogue Heroes.
Publishing rights for Wet Ink were acquired by Hodder & Stoughton (Hachette UK) for a six-figure fee, with a comprehensive global marketing campaign arranged.
This contest reflects a wider industry trend of aggressive bidding wars for female-authored titles, as streamers and production firms aim to capitalize on bankable, globally appealing content.
An example of this trend is the 21 offers received for another rights contest, narrowed down to the final 10 bidders, highlighting intense market activity.
Earlier this year, Eloise Rodger’s Death’s a Bitch was acquired by a Banijay-backed producer amid international interest, further illustrating the competitive landscape for rights acquisitions.
