Rise Literary is heightening its book-to-screen ambitions through a new advisory partnership and publishing imprint with TV producer Joy Gorman.
Gorman, whose credits include 13 Reasons Why and Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Little House on the Prairie, joins the team in a consulting capacity to offer insights to the Rise Literary team and CEO Kristen McGuiness on creative development and strategy for the publisher’s slate of books. The goal is to leverage opportunities for more projects even before publication as well as source books from stories that were initially conceived for the screen.
As part of this working relationship, Rise Literary has also launched a publishing imprint with Gorman’s Joy Coalition with sales and distribution through Simon & Schuster. The imprint will connect TV and film IP with trade publication, ebook, and audiobook opportunities with national and international distribution.
Rise Literary and Joy Coalition’s first collaboration will be on the upcoming suspense novel, The Revenge Party, by Emily Paulson, releasing May 2026.
“As Rise continues to elevate our authors to best sellers and changemakers, we are working to create real momentum for books across all media,” McGuiness said in a statement. “Few publishers have figured out how to maximize the book to screen pipeline but Joy’s incredible track record as an adaptation expert makes her the perfect guide to navigating new ways to develop material for the screen and from the screen.”
Added Gorman: “I’m so impressed by what Kristen and the team at Rise have built. It’s an innovative publishing entity that allows authors, especially women, to champion their own stories, many who may have otherwise been overlooked. This is an opportunity to place Rise IP with Career Producers who get projects made with the care they deserve, as well as provide new pathways for storytellers in response to the contraction in the traditional Hollywood business model.”
This evolving strategy in regards to book adaptations is not new, but it is becoming more common. Deadline previously reported on how companies like Temple Hill and Alloy Entertainment have found success with similar cross-pollination strategies, often sourcing books from stories that started on the screen and putting projects in development before the books are published.
Rise Literary is a hybrid book publisher that focuses on book coaching and publishing for emerging writers. The company has a distribution partnership with Simon & Schuster.
Joy Coalition is currently in post-production on Netflix’s reimagining of Little House on the Prairie, which is set to debut on the platform later this year. Gorman also executive produced four seasons of 13 Reasons Why, as well as multiple seasons of Hulu’s Unprisoned and Apple TV’s Home Before Dark. Since launching her production company in 2022, Gorman has focused on premium content that centers on social topics and works with policy experts and philanthropic organizations.
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