Adapting a book into a screenplay is very challenging because it requires transitioning from a literary medium to a visual medium focused on external action. It also involves shrinking a large book into a standard-size script and requires significant cuts to scenes, subplots, and characters while maintaining the story’s core themes.
The first book I adapted into a screenplay was Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka, a five-series sci-fi thriller. That book won many literary awards. I submitted the screenplay to movie agents, who suggested further amendments, and stated it was ‘too ambitious.” Reasons given were that there were too many characters and that it would be costly to produce.
I removed a series and changed the name to ZEEKA AND THE ZOMBIES II. It placed as a finalist in the 13Horror.com Film & Screenplay Contest in September 2025.
I have submitted it to another competition
Every script entered into that competition is read by either a producer, manager, or agent. They do not use “readers” or “regular people.”
They go right to the source, and can make a difference; they can option your script, buy it, set up a meeting, or go straight to the studio with it.
I then adapted one of my romance novels, THE GIFT OF LOVE, into a screenplay.
This is a Clean Contemporary Romance story set in the beautiful Caribbean. he book gives us an insight into greed, bribery, and kidnapping by a heartless man. The heroine in the story never gave up, although she was considered insane by those she knew well. She was consistently told by all, including her husband, that she never had a child. Her only resort was to turn to her first love for help in locating her lost daughter.
It has been selected as a Quarterfinalist in the prestigious Stage 32 + DramaBox Screenwriting Competition (April 2026), adding another milestone to Brenda’s Literary Journey.
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