Unpublished novel sparks streaming gold rush

An unpublished novel about a 1960s housewife who secretly circulates erotic fiction through Tupperware parties has set off a fierce battle for television rights, highlighting a growing appetite among streamers and production companies for stories by female authors.

- FPJ News Service

Wet Ink, a novel by the 33-year-old London-based author Abigail Avis, is not scheduled to be published until spring 2027. Yet industry insiders say it has already triggered a heated auction for its screen adaptation, with six major production companies vying for the rights, The Guardian reports.

Dubbed "Tupperware erotica" by those close to the deal, the novel has become the latest example of a broader trend: books by female writers attracting intense competition as producers hunt for bankable, globally marketable stories in an increasingly crowded streaming landscape.

The contest for the TV rights follows an earlier battle over the book's publishing rights, which were ultimately secured by Hodder & Stoughton, owned by Hachette UK, for a six-figure sum. The publisher is now planning a global marketing blitz.