A Leicestershire author is relaunching his best selling series of crime novels, after a production company secured the rights to adapt them for television.
Mark Wright, whose author name is M.P Wright, is relaunching his highly acclaimed ‘Windrush Noir Detective Series’ with brand new editions and striking cover art by London artist Geoffrey Grandfield.
The move comes after UK production company Wilson Worldwide Productions secured the rights to adapt the books for TV. They have signed up Killing Eve writer Isis Davis to make the adaptations.
Mr Wright told the Leicester Times that although he couldn’t confirm exact details of the development, he was looking forward to the possibility of his novels being brought to life on the small screen at some point in the future.
“There are so many really really great young black actors and actresses that could really make these stories their own in the future. Hopefully. That’s what I would like”, said the successful author who lives in Sileby.
“People love the characters in this series, and I’m really blessed with the reviews and reaction I’ve had. However, I’ve kind of let go of these books now and there needs to be new blood that takes it on and brings it forward to that next part of the journey”, he added. “Although I can’t say much about it at the moment, it’s a prospect which excites me”.
Mr Wright’s ‘Ellington series’ is set in Bristol in the 1960s and ’70s, and explores attitudes towards race, racism, and the experiences of men and women coming to the UK from the West Indies, through the prism of crime noir.
The five book series, follows Barbadian ex-cop Joseph Tremaine ‘JT’ Ellington as he reluctantly turns to private detective work after arriving in the UK. JT must unravel deadly conspiracies and corruptions within Bristol’s nightlife whilst trying to keep the ghosts of his own past at bay.
The books have been republished with striking new cover art featuring the black protagonist, something which Mr Wright has long fought for.
He describes himself as someone who has “a deep seated social anger towards racism and all forms of bigotry”.
“One of the other reasons for the relaunch, is that I’d long fought to get black representation on the covers of the books because they are essentially about black people”, said Mr Wright.
“We fought long and hard to achieve that, and it’s been beautifully created by Geoff Grandfield, who’s worked on covers for the kind of writers that I really love – American Noir writers like Walter Mosely.
“We were lucky to get him. He’s a difficult man to pin down, but he liked the books, and he’s come up with the really iconic and beautiful covers on the books, which are available soon”, he added.
M.P Wright’s republished series will be available to buy from stores, including Waterstones and W H Smith, on June 30.
To find out more, visit: https://www.marjacq.com/m-p-wright.html
