In a remarkable display of pre-publication hype, television executives have engaged in a fierce auction for the screen rights to an unpublished novel dubbed 'Tupperware erotica', a full three years before the book is set to hit shelves.
The Novel That Sparked a Frenzy
The author, Abigail Avis, 33, has penned a hotly anticipated story titled 'Wet Ink'. The narrative, set in 1960s London, follows Mitzy Barlow, a housewife and mother-of-two trapped in a monotonous and loveless marriage. Seeking an escape, Mitzy begins hosting Tupperware parties, a common side hustle for women in the post-war era.
However, her venture takes a clandestine turn. Each night, she channels her frustrations into writing explicit sexual fantasies in a journal. She soon begins using the Tupperware parties as a cover, secretly smuggling her erotic stories to friends and neighbours by stashing the pages inside the plastic containers. Writing under the pseudonym 'Queen B', her popularity soars, but so does the dilemma between her secret success and the potential scandal of being exposed.
Auction Wars for Publishing and Screen Rights
The excitement around the manuscript ignited not one, but two major bidding wars. First, publishers fought for the honour, with Hodder and Stoughton, part of Hachette UK, securing the rights for a reported six-figure sum.
Even before the ink dried on that deal, a second battle commenced. Six major production companies entered an auction for the television rights, captivated by the unique premise and its global appeal. Industry insiders note the novel is part of a growing trend where streamers and producers aggressively seek out female-authored stories with strong, relatable themes and international sales potential.
The victorious bidder was Kudos, a leading production company under the Banijay UK umbrella. Kudos is behind a diverse slate of hit shows, from the reality TV giant 'Big Brother' to the critically acclaimed drama 'Peaky Blinders'.
Production Plans and Author Background
Karen Wilson, Joint Managing Director of Kudos, expressed her enthusiasm, stating: '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.'
Abigail Avis, a former English Literature student and teacher who later held a fellowship with The Royal Literary Fund, conceived the idea during her children's midnight feeds. Her agent, Hayley Steed, described the unprecedented reaction to the book, saying: 'Within mere hours we were turning down international pre-empts and it has broken agency records around the globe.'
Steed praised the novel's broad appeal, calling it 'the perfect bookclub read - an empowering call to arms, a warm story of female community and friendship, and just the right amount of naughtiness'.
While readers must wait until spring 2027 to purchase 'Wet Ink', television development is now underway, proving that a compelling story about secret desires and plastic containers can cause a major stir in the entertainment industry long before its official release.
