Amanda Hockings own story is one very particular to our age in which the written word is treated with a casual contempt by that over-arching monolith that is the internet. No longer are writers subject to the scrutiny of an experienced editor. No, in age where books are not read but, rather, viewed upon mobile electronic devices, one may publish ones own work, with no oversight and for little or no money. Of course, without a team of marketing professionals, things seldom go terribly well for individuals, irrespective of individual talent and rewards are typically meagre. In this case, however, Hocking has defied the typical cult of poverty, going on to sell millions of copies of her books and going on to sell her romantic science-fiction through the traditional print press. Her recent
Trylle Trilogy has already met with form approval from her strong existing fanbase and the movie-rights have been optioned for the big-screen by no less a group than Media Rights Capital. In addition, MRC don't appear to be inclined to sit on the rights for long and have selected District 9 co-writer,
Terri Tatchell (wife of writing partner and director Neill Blomkamp) to adapt the best-selling novels for the screen. Speaking to the
New York Times, Tatchell said of the project:
"Amanda has created such a fresh, unique, fabulous world, and I am absolutely dead set on bringing it to the screen without compromising any of that.
Tatchell was nominated for an Academy Award for her work on District 9, and will be looking for similair success in her first feature length film as a solo writer.