Reading has returned. There are more people that want to read, and the variety of books available is starting to feel a bit too small. Both the movie and the television industries are taking advantage of best-sellers, cranking out series after series and movie after movie based on some of the best-selling books: J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the Twilight Saga, and Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. The movies were block-busters, thanks in large part to the fans of the books themselves. The TV shows Friday Night Lights, Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, and Sex and the City were all based on novels. Do not forget The Game of Thrones. These shows have fared so well that the books they were based on are selling because of the shows themselves.
But there’s another side to this formula that both writers and publishers can take advantage of: the tie-in book. You know all those fans who wish they could relive a series that’s no longer being shown on air? Or all those couch potatoes looking for a fresh take on their once favourite movie? Well, as an author you can take advantage of this and write a tie-in.
A tie-in book is a novelty book that is somehow related to another entity: a TV show or a movie. Tie-in books come in all shapes and sizes, and can even include gimmicks such as sound or background/special effects. Tie-in books boost book sales by banking on the success of whatever it is you’re doing a tie-in with.
How to Write a Tie-in Book
Like any book, it’s best to start with an inspiration. Look around the neighbourhood, and ask people what they usually watch, or what they’d like to see again. It may be a show they used to watch or a recently released movie. The Internet is also a good place to search, since people are constantly looking for a different take on a popular show or movie.
Once you have your target show or movie, start doing research. Research for a tie-in book involves watching the TV show or the movie itself. You can also look at other materials, even other tie-in books, to see what sort of angle you can use to differentiate your material from what’s already out there. You should also look at who you’re targeting for your book. If it’s for fans of a certain series or movie, then you should consult with them for more ideas on how you can improve your tie-in book.
After you’ve done your research on the series or the movie itself, you can start talking to whoever owns the licences for that particular show or movie. You need their approval on both your angle and your final manuscript before you can go to a publisher.
Keep in touch with the people you’ve talked to so far before you send your manuscript to a publisher. If you don’t have any idea of how your tie-in book should look, it’s best to talk to fans and the license holder of the show or movie so you can get ideas.
