Roper's debut optioned for TV series

Headline non-fiction editor Richard Roper’s debut Something to Live For (Orion) has been optioned for TV by Expectation.

The novel was snapped up for publication last year by Orion who pre-empted the “uplit” novel in a six-figure deal within 48 hours of submission. Production company Expectation has acquired rights from Jonathan Sissons at Peters Fraser & Dunlop (PFD) on behalf of Laura Williams at Greene & Heaton, with the book slated for a television drama series.

Something to Live For is billed as “a heart-warming and bittersweet story that explores the particular sadness of loneliness in a big city, and one man’s attempts to let go of the past and start his life afresh”. It will be published by Orion on 27th June.

Roper is a non-fiction editor at Headline, where he works with authors such as James Acaster, Joel Dommett, Andrew O’Neill and Frank Turner. Something to Live For was inspired by an article he read about people whose job it is to follow up after people die alone.

Roper said of the Expectation team: “Their enthusiasm for Something to Live For is really exciting, and I'm thrilled they're going to be the team bringing the book to the screen.”

Creative director of drama at Expectation Kirstie Macdonald added: “I’m thrilled to be developing Something To Live For. I was immediately hooked by the book’s unique premise and Richard’s deeply moving evocation of the need for human connection. It’s a life-affirming, utterly engrossing piece of fiction, and I can’t wait to tell that story on the screen.” 

Expectation launched in London in February 2017 as a multi-genre, independent production company covering both non-scripted and scripted programming across comedy, factual, factual drama, entertainment, and drama genres.