This time last year, I was in despair. A production company had optioned, and then hijacked, my bestselling novel The Dirty Girls Social Club. They’d changed everything I loved about my own book, and turned it into something I no longer recognized, something that went against my morals and values as a person in every way.
On top of that, I had been represented on that deal by a literary agent with no experience with TV and film contracts. I’d signed a deal that a seasoned entertainment lawyer I later hired told me was the worst deal he’d ever seen in his life.
“To put it simply,” he told me, “you’re screwed.”
For a tiny amount of money, that production company could have bought the rights to the best-known work of my life — a work by many estimates valued in the millions of dollars if done right for film or TV — forever.
I meditated long and hard on this heartbreak. On my own stupidity. I prayed. A lot. I soul-searched, and tried to figure out why I’d ended up where I was. The answers were as clear as they were discomforting. I’d been arrogant. Greedy. And far too trusting for all the wrong reasons. I realized, with a shock of awakening, that this had all happened for a reason. I had some lessons I needed to learn. God was clear on that.
I learned them. Painfully. I let the book go. I mean, really let it go. I moved on. I made peace with the loss just as you might a death.
Two weeks ago, the option expired. The production company had the choice to buy the rights forever, for next to nothing. To my great surprise, considering the bad blood among all the people involved, they did not. I’d half expected to get a check at midnight, just to put me “in my place” for objecting to what they’d done to my work. But they did not.
They gave me back the rights.
This was huge.
People close to me know that I had all but given up on ever seeing the rights again. But now, here I am, in full possession of them again, and much better prepared to move forward.
Happily, the story is still in great demand for the big and small screen. I’m fielding calls from big names on it. This time, I’m taking my time. This time, I’m doing all the homework that needs to be done before moving forward with anyone.
This time, we’ll be doing this my way, and it will be beautiful, and it will succeed.
I am grateful for the hardships and conflicts of the past year. I would never have learned so much without them. I am also grateful to the production company for doing the right thing and giving me my book back. It was a grand and gorgeous gesture, and one that won’t be forgotten. I suspect this year hasn’t been hard just for me, but also for the head of that company, who has gone through hell for her own reasons. I wish her well, and sincerely hope for blessings and happiness to come to her.
Things are moving quickly. I’ll keep you all updated. We’ve been waiting a long time for this to happen. Eight long years. But this time, it will.
Watch.
xo Alisa Valdes
