The fires in L.A. were an awful way to start the year, he tells us.
We are a long way from the craziness of 2022.
The big literary titles are really struggling, says the producer.
The London Book FairDavid Levenson/Getty Images
But Thomas notes that the market feels resilient and says her diary is stuffed full of meetings.
Weve not had any big ticket items that have stalled, she adds.
In a funny way, the constraints of the past couple of years allow IP to break through.
Grove Press/Picador
Theres noMinistry of TimeorLessons in Chemistrythis year.
Its witty and racy with lots of emotion, centering on the British university experience.
Once that broke down, many books that are great limited series came through.
That financial model doesnt really work now, and people just want more episodes.
Its not 100 episodes anymore, but it is not limited series.
She says the current sweet spot is finding books that can provide around three seasons of roughly 35 episodes.
These are interesting deals, she says.
There is life in the genre, though.
Going further back, think movies includingThe Dead Poets Society,Cruel IntentionsandKill Your Darlings.
They feel a book adaptation is a surer thing in a risk-averse market.
Most attendees are here to connection and meet people from the book world.
Traditional agents would say they dont wait for LBF anymore, she adds.
The business carries on through the year.
