This week, we’re featuring the upcoming novel The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson. The book is set for release in September … but it’s already got a movie deal in the works!
Here is the news from Publisher’s Weekly:
The one manuscript that all the scouts seem to be talking about is a children’s trilogy called The Familiars by Adam Epstein and Andrew Jacobson. Howie Sanders at UTA is shopping the film rights and, although he confirmed he’s been “getting a lot of calls,” he’s looking to get galleys into producers’ hands before closing any deals. Barbara Lalicki at Harper Children’s acquired the book over the weekend in a pre-empt from Markus Hoffman at Regal Literary. In the first book, after three young wizard apprentices are kidnapped by the evil queen of a distant land, it is up to their familiars, their magical animal companions — a street smart alley cat, a precocious blue jay, and a bumbling tree frog — to save them.
And here’s more about the movie from The Hollywood Reporter:
Sony Pictures Animation has picked up the rights to “The Familiars,” an upcoming children’s fantasy book series written by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson.
Sam Raimi and Josh Donen are in negotiations to produce via their Stars Road Entertainment banner. Epstein and Jacobson also will write the script.
The writers’ literary agent, Markus Hoffmann of Regal Literary, submitted a partial manuscript plus a detailed chapter outline for the first book as well as short synopses for the second and third volumes during the Book Expo America convention, where HarperCollins Children’s pre-emptively acquired North American rights to the series.
The series is said to offer a franchise set in a compelling world rich in detail. In the first book, after three young wizard apprentices are kidnapped by the evil queen of a distant land, it is up to their familiars, their magical animal companions — a street smart alley cat, a precocious blue jay, and a bumbling tree frog — to save them
Read more about The Familiars here, and tune in tomorrow for Part 1 of our exclusive interview with Adam & Andrew!
Novel Novice 
a movie?? wow can’t wait to read it and watch it.