Ep 06: What the Emmys Tell Us About Book-to-Streaming Adaptations (with Gary Goldstein)

This week, Sophie and Rudi look at the streaming adaptation landscape through the lens of this year’s Emmy nominations, BookTok's role in the rise of streaming adaptations, and the process behind adapting a book with author, screenwriter, and LA Times contributor Gary Goldstein. Before that conversation, Sophie and Rudi chat about what adaptations made the cut for the Emmy Award nominations (02:23), (including two series they’ve covered on the podcast, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” and “The Testaments”), Rudi shares a brief recommendation for why you should go see Olivia Wilde’s new movie “The Invite” (10:22), and they reveal why “Heated Rivalry" was absent from the Emmy nods (12:00). Then, Gary Goldstein joins the show (16:03) to discuss his recent LA Times article, “Thanks to BookTok, authors are the new ‘rock stars.’ And Hollywood is taking notice,” why streamers are latching on to book adaptations, and his experience adapting the “Flower Shop Mysteries” book series into a TV movie series for Hallmark. Next week, we’re discussing Christopher Nolan’s star-studded adaptation of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey.” It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays. Follow us on Instagram: @itwasabookfirstpod TikTok: @itwasabookfirst YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast Email: itwasabookfirst@gmail.com Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg Guest: Gary Goldstein Editing: Rudi Greenberg Social media: Sophie Vershbow Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto Website: Kevin Pfab