Less Than Two Months Out – Where The Ley Lines Meet Is Making Moves – The Value Of Cross-Over Fans

It’s been a quiet week for WTLLM. It’s been floating in the low hundreds in Amazon rankings while its siblings have sat comfortably in the top hundred.

So I was thrilled to come in from the cold winter morning, having fed Claire and Honey,

to find the kids back all together playing in the best seller land of Amazon’s Humorous Sci-Fi:

Another Big Foot sighting which will change again in an hour. So I better own it while I can.

Thank you readers and BRW for publishing and reading my books. You have blessed me countless times over.

But one cannot rest on their laurels. Now that the epic story is complete(?), what’s next?

Last night I watched an excellent movie – The Tomorrow War – starring Chris Pratt, on Amazon. While the story is completely different from anything in The Claire Saga, this film has a comparable thrills and emotional feel to parts of that series, especially the last book, WTLLM. Chris’ lead, Dan Forester, loves his family above all else, and is compelled into a situation where the future of humanity is left in his hands and he and a crew of rag tag but talented misfits must save the world as against a naturally superior and overwhelming alien onslaught.

Chris P would make an excellent Jimmy Moran. Just saying.

Back when JRR Tolkien wrote LOTR, or CS Lewis wrote CON, writers of epic fantasy series didn’t consider how their stories would translate into films. Most people found their non-physical entertainment between the covers of books.

However, modern epic literary series like the Harry Potter and GOT were written and translated into films in fairly close and sometimes parallel proximity.

With JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the first book dropped in 1997, the first film in 2001. The final book was released in 2007 and the final film in 2011.

There is always changes in any adaptation, even with Harry Potter:

https://www.looper.com/53622/small-details-harry-potter-true-fans-understand/

Harry Potter and the Adaptation from Novel to Film

However, according to my AI, “Copilot,” there was definitely cross-pollination between readers and viewers:

“The Harry Potter film adaptations, while widely praised by viewers and critics alike, did not always capture every detail from J.K. Rowling’s beloved books. Devoted fans, affectionately known as Potterheads, often expressed their disappointment when the movies deviated from the novels or omitted certain elements¹. However, the films did introduce many people to the magical world of Hogwarts, and for some, this cinematic experience served as a gateway to exploring the original books.

Here are some observations related to the impact of the films on book readership:

1. Increased Interest: The movies undoubtedly piqued curiosity about the wizarding universe. Viewers who enjoyed the films were often inspired to delve deeper into the rich lore by picking up the books.
2. Book Superiority: Many fans found that the books offered a more immersive experience. With greater depth, side stories, and character development, the novels—especially from Goblet of Fire onward—enriched the magical journey beyond what the films could convey².
3. Book-to-Movie Changes: While the films made certain alterations for runtime and visual storytelling, some fans appreciated these adaptations, while others lamented the deviations. The books remained the ultimate source of the complete Harry Potter saga¹.
4. Complex Themes: The books explored themes like friendship, sacrifice, and the battle between good and evil in greater detail. Readers gained a deeper understanding of the characters’ motivations and the intricacies of the magical world³.

Interestingly, some of the actors who portrayed iconic characters, such as Michael Gambon (Dumbledore), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), and the Phelps twins (Fred and George Weasley), admitted to not having read the books at all. Their experiences were shaped solely by the film scripts and performances⁴.”

In summary, while the films introduced countless viewers to the enchanting realm of Harry Potter, the books remain an essential and magical journey for those seeking the full Hogwarts experience. “

Similarly, George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones saga – A Song Of Ice and Fire – began life with A Game of Thrones in 1996, and like TCS, was an anticipated Trilogy, that included A Clash of Kings in 1998, A Storm of Swords in 2000, before expanding into a five book saga which included A Feast of Crows in 2005 and A Dance With Dragons in 2011. The eight seasons of the magnificent HBO film adaptation began in 2011 and ended in 2019. 

The GOT statistics for film and books are staggering:

https://www.statista.com/topics/4187/game-of-thrones/#topicOverview

And even some of the film actors read the books:

https://movieweb.com/game-of-thrones-actors-who-read-the-books/#alfie-allen

It is impossible to ignore the impact of the modern day cross-pollination between almost simultaneous released book series and films, which have actually added to the success of both, because they created cross-over fans who either read the books and then watched the films, or vice-a-versa.

That is what I’m shooting for with The Claire Saga. I want people to read my books. If translating them into a streaming film or episodic series piques the interest of people who normally don’t reach for a book until they fall in love with a character or story, then so be it.

The characters and storyline – and clever dialogue – of TCS were tailor made for film.

Dear Hollywood. Claire The Mule, and her mystical crew, together with their epic story now completed in the five volume series The Claire Saga, is your next huge blockbuster.

Maybe I need to add a few middle initials to my name- TPA McCaffrey.

(Let’s see who can guess my middle names.)

But while I am focused on getting the coasts to catch wind of The Claire Saga, the weekend has again arrived and that requires me attend to needs of the magical mule that started it all.

So, I better get at it.

But first a cuddle of a couple of kitties and my rounds.

You fine, five readers get to your errands. But now that the Super Bowl is behind us, and MLB opening day is not until March 28th, can I recommend that you all make the most out of that sports viewing vacuum and read or re-read Books 1 through 4 of The Claire Saga, so that you are all ready to read how it all ends(?) on April 16, 2024, when Where The Ley Lines Meet hits the shelves.

You see, at some point, someone told Hollywood about a cool series of books that led to Harry Potter and GOT being snapped up and produced. So Claire needs everyone to spread the word around water coolers and restaurant tables.

But no matter what we all get up to today, let us make it a great one.