Proving that authors can be self-published and still reach the dizzy heights of having their book turned into a film, comes this extraordinary news… 
When Hugh Howey published his novel on Amazon.com, he was delighted when it sold well but was convinced it would soon disappear from their top 100 list.
However, it did not. Instead Wool continued to sell and within six months had sold 140,000 e-book copies, attracting 600 reviews.
As The Bookseller reports, Wool – described as ‘a high-concept novel set in a stark future; the air outside is no longer breathable, so the last community on Earth lives underground in an enormous silo’ – was then picked up by Century, a division of Random House in the UK. Meanwhile Twentieth Century Fox has bought the film rights.
Editorial Director Jack Fogg is quoted as saying: “Wool drew me in from the first page… what really captivated was the book’s compassion and care for its characters.”
Incredibly the self-published edition of Wool is still currently on sale at Amazon.co.uk for £3.08 but Century’s own e-book will be available from June. Century will publish Wool in hardback in January 2013 with an Arrow paperback in August.
Foreign rights have been sold to Spain, Brazil, Tailwan, Poland and China with further offers pending.
Writing on his blog, a delighted Hugh says: “Do you know what this means? Oh, man, so much. I’m absolutely giddy over here thinking about this. I’m thrilled.”
We at The Magazine intend to download the book now for some summer reading and are already looking forward to seeing the film!
Find out more: Click on the photo above to read some fantastic blogs from Hugh Howey at www.hughhowey.com
