Andy Briggs part of UK delegation to Red Sea Film Festival

Acclaimed screenwriter Andy Briggs was part of a group of UK producers, distributors and sales agents attending this year’s Red Sea International Film Festival, looking to increase the number of UK-Saudi film co-productions.

The aims of the delegation was to foster relationships between UK filmmakers and Saudi talents; to increase the number of UK films at the festival; and to attract UK filmmakers to shoot in the country, including at Neom and AlUla.

Andy was specifically there ‘to network’ and find partners for a TARZAN TV series, which will be made as a fully digital production by his production company The Shingle Media. He commented, ‘the technological growth coming out of the region is very appealing.’

Andy directed the short proof of concept for TARZAN using cutting-edge virtual production, in partnership with Red Bull.

About Andy Briggs

Andy is a screenwriter, graphic novelist, and author – writing on movie projects such as JUDGE DREDD and FREDDY VS JASON and FOREVERMAN for Paramount Pictures, Spiderman creator Stan Lee and legendary producer Robert Evans. He has worked on TV projects for Syfy, Netflix, ITV, and Amazon and is working extensively between the UK, USA, and China.

CROWHURST, written by Andy, was released by StudioCanal in the UK, followed by SUPERVIZED (Lionsgate) and the critically claimed ground-breaking LE ROI BÂTARD (THE BASTARD KING) in France, with the English release currently on the festival circuit (Andy directed David Oyelowo for the English narration which Andy wrote). The screenplay was nominated for the prestigious natural history Jackson Wild Award, won Wildscreen’s Panda in the Pocket Award, and was nominated for numerous awards: WCSFP – World Congress of Science & Factual; International Wildlife Film Festival; Santa Barbara International Film Festival; Diagonale – Festival des österreichischen Films; Blue Water Film Festival 2022; and #LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival.

He worked on Warner Bros.’ animated AQUAMAN – while at the same time landing an eight-book deal with Oxford University Press for HERO.COM and VILLAIN.NET. His comics and graphic novels include MADISON DARK, RITUAL, and DINOCORPS. 

Andy wrote and Executive Produced LEGENDARY (starring Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins), the first successful independent UK/Chinese co-production.

He created SECRET AGENTS, an innovative transmedia interactive spy experience for children, at the Discover Centre, Stratford.

Andy has written over 30 books and graphic novels published in the UK and around the world, and has ghost written for notable celebrities. He rebooted the classic character TARZAN, with a series of contemporary books. His latest series of middle grade novels – THE INVENTORY – and DRONE RACER – are published by Scholastic. 2019 saw his debut novel for adults, CTRL+S, published by Orion.

He has co-founded SHINGLE MEDIA, a production company and is producing their first feature film, NANCY’S BOY (with Sky Movies), and is developing the TARZAN TV show in partnership with Red Bull.

He is currently running the writer’s rooms for MBC’s newest productions: KARATE and FEAR.

Visit Andy’s website

Follow Andy on X (previously Twitter) and Instagram

Avon signs three more books with ‘Queen Of Feelgood Novels’ Sue Moorcroft

Credit: Silvia Rosado Photography

Avon Books (HarperCollins) has bought three more novels from award-winning romance novelist Sue Moorcroft. Helen Huthwaite, Publisher at Avon, struck the deal for World English Language rights with Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann Literary Agency. The new contract will take Sue’s publishing up until the end of 2024, covering three seasonal romances: two Christmas novels, and one for Summer.

Publisher Helen Huthwaite said: ‘It is the most tremendous privilege to work with Sue, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see our happy publishing partnership continue to flourish with this new deal. I can’t sing Sue’s praises highly enough and I know her readers feel the same way too. I am so looking forward to getting these new books into their hands!’

Sue Moorcroft said: ‘The Avon team is such a joy to work with, and their knowledge of the commercial fiction market so thorough, I know that my books are in good hands. With Helen Huthwaite as my editor, I can only go from strength to strength. It was a happy day when my agent Juliet Pickering found me a home at Avon.’

Agent Juliet Pickering said: ‘Sue’s novels only get more compelling, absorbing, and romantic! I’m delighted to have this new deal with Avon in place as we work together to grow Sue’s wonderful successes and enthusiastic readership’.

About Sue Moorcroft

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author, and her books have been #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US, Canada and Italy. She has won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary. She’s a vice president of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and past vice-chair.

Praise for Sue Moorcroft

‘Evocative, Engaging and gloriously romantic.’ – Cathy Bramley

‘Sue Moorcroft delivers great stories time after time.’ – Milly Johnson

‘Sue’s novels are the perfect escape. You’re guaranteed a warm and sunny read whatever the weather.’ – Bella Osborne

‘Sue’s writing sparkles like the summer sun..’ – Sheila O’Flanagan

‘Sue Moorcroft is the Queen of Christmas feelgood novels.’ – Rachel Howdle, The Independent

Visit Sue’s website

Follow Sue on Twitter and Instagram

BFLA Open Week: Top Tips On Signing With An Agent - What to Ask About, Look For And Expect

Written by Kate Burke

• When querying agents, please let them know if you have had an offer of representation or are taking meetings with other agents. Once you have signed with an agent, do let any other agents in the mix know. It’s a courtesy that all agents appreciate!

• Before signing with an agent, do feel free to ask questions about the agent and their client list, and about the wider agency/ team (ie, who handles translation and film & tv rights) or, if the agency doesn't have these departments, ask who handles their translation and media rights. These are valuable rights, often key to an author’s income, so fine to probe about who will be handling them and what the submission plan is for your book in that area.

• Take your time before signing with an agent. An agent should never impose a deadline an author or put you under pressure to sign. If they want to work with a client, they'll wait for them to make an informed decision. There is no hurry!

• Look through the proposed agency/client agreement first before signing. Feel free to ask questions before signing anything. Don’t move forward with an agent without an agreement – this should be a mutual commitment and there should be something in writing to confirm it!

• Never pay an agent. We work on commission only! An agent should never ask you for any money up front.

• Have a call, Zoom or meeting with an agent before signing with them to discuss the editorial process and next steps (working together on shaping your project and getting it ready for submission etc). Be wary of agents who don't edit! Even if your project/work/manuscript is really polished, an agent should work closely with you on getting it ready for submission to publishers. This is how the professional relationship between the two of you develops and it also shows that they’re invested in selling it.

Blake Friedmann Literary Agency Launches Second Online Open Week For Writers

From Monday, 6th of March, we will, once again, be opening our virtual doors with a week dedicated to demystifying publishing and agenting, and supporting writers seeking representation. We will be running live #AskAgent sessions, sharing agent blogs on a variety of agenting and publishing topics, and running book giveaways across our social media accounts between the 6th and 10th of March.

Our aim is to offer helpful insights into what an agent does, how to navigate the submission process to find an agent, how an author and agent work together, understanding the publication process, earning income as an author through the sale of rights (translation, film & TV, audio and book), and how to get into the agenting or publishing industry. All of our book agents (Isobel Dixon, Juliet Pickering, Kate Burke and Sian Ellis-Martin) along with our Media and Translation Rights colleagues will be involved throughout the week, and the team hopes to answer as many questions as possible from writers (published or querying) or anyone wanting to get into the industry.

Alongside this, we will be offering three writers a 20-minute feedback meeting (online) on their submission packages in April. More information on how to submit for this opportunity will be revealed during the week on our social media accounts and on our website.

Kate Burke said: ‘Last year’s Open Week was fantastic in terms of hearing from writers, sharing information and chatting to people interested in getting into our industry. I hope we managed to help people on their publishing journey in some way and, as we mentioned last year, our plan is to run this Open Week annually as our industry is constantly changing and facing fresh challenges. At Blake Friedmann we are committed to supporting writers who feel that the publishing industry is inaccessible to them. It’s clear – from social media and what our agents hear when they give talks at schools, writers’ groups, conferences and festivals – that people have a lot of questions about what agents actually do and how it all works in terms of money, deals and rights, so, hopefully, this Open Week will help clarify much of that. Our goal is to be as transparent and accessible as possible, and we look forward to the first week of March!’

More details about the Open Week and new, daily content will be shared on our website and on our social media channels, using the hashtag #BFLAOpenWeek, throughout the week of 6th of March. This author-focused endeavour follows our ongoing Carole Blake Open Doors Project launched in 2017.