Behind-the-Scenes of an Adaptation
And how our publishing company got started!
Behind the Scenes
In March 2021, I was editing essays for our now-defunct Moms Don’t Have Time to Write essay platform when a fabulous piece came in on submission about online exercise. I loved the writer’s voice. Who was this woman Alisha Fernandez Miranda!?
After publishing the essay, I asked Alisha if she’d talk. Back then, I was hosting my podcast, an events series, and an online book club, but in the back of my head I’d been contemplating becoming a publisher. This was exactly the type of story I wanted to uplift. After interviewing hundreds of authors I admired, I wanted to do something more to help. What if I launched a publishing company with this author?
What’s the worst that could happen? I thought. I’d fail trying to help authors? I was okay with that.
By July 19, 2021, I’d put together a mission statement and goals.
Mission
To produce exceptional, accessible, mainstream literary content in fiction and memoir that moves and connects us all.
Tagline
Telling it like it is.
A Few Goals
To pick the books worth making time for.
To establish new voices as literary superstars.
To shine a light on women’s decisions, life choices, and interior lives.
To entertain and delight readers while making them think.
To treat authors like rock stars.
To try new things without fear of failure.
Alisha trusted us and came on board with her memoir, then called The 40-Year-Old Intern, about the year in her life as a married mom when she left her big-deal job to take four internships. It would be our first book. A lot happened behind the scenes those first two years. At times, I regretted my decision (it was hard!), but I kept going.
The pride I felt when Alisha’s book came out on February 7, 2023 surpassed the pride I felt when my own first book was published. My What If Year got coverage from GMA, People magazine, and more. It was beyond exciting. We had done it, together, against all odds. We then published Alisha’s debut novel, Someone’s Gotta Give, on August 5, 2025, which became a USA Today bestseller.
So, when I was sitting shotgun in the car last month, Kyle driving, and got a text with a Deadline article announcing that America Ferrera had optioned and would star in My What If Year, I screamed and then literally sat back in my seat, dropped my phone on my lap, and smiled.
What if? You only know when you try.
Here’s Alisha’s take on hearing the news herself.
The Screen Adaptation of My What If Year
Embarking on My What If Year – both the actual year and the book – involved asking myself a lot of difficult questions. What about my life was making me unhappy? How far was I willing to push out of …
Media alert: Tune in today to The View — the hosts will be giving away copies of My What If Year. We can cheer together.
More Screens
The show “Lucky,” based on the Reese’s Book Club selected novel by Marissa Stapley, debuted last week. We hosted Marissa and Showrunner Cassie Pappas at Zibby’s Bookshop to discuss.
Our booksellers recommend some fabulous books to prep for their adaptations.
Event alert: Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee star in Late Fame, a film about a poet turned post office worker whose work is rediscovered decades later. My husband Kyle’s production company, Morning Moon, is one of the producers. Join acclaimed director Kent Jones and Kyle at Zibby’s Bookshop on August 13th at 6 pm! The film, which premiered in Venice, comes out August 7th.
Reading Recs
Check out the Zibby’s Bookshop bestsellers this week! How many have you read?
Isn’t this nuts? Two of my recent Instagram book recommendation reels received 610K and 504K views respectively. That’s more than a million views! Who says people aren’t reading!? Check out which I suggested!
Here are 20 reads organized by where they take you, which I wrote for Katie Couric Media. Click here.
Check out the 13 titles I curated by emotion (a la Zibby’s Bookshop) for The Newsworthy podcast.
Have you seen my Most Anticipated Summer Reads from April? Stay tuned: my Fall Most Anticipated List drops right here on August 2nd!
The Between Chapters Substack has five new wonderful essays up!
If you want to connect with other people going through similar chapters, I’ve launched a WhatsApp Between Chapters community with groups devoted to career, grief, reinvention, relationships, illness, and parenthood. Join here. Let’s talk.
What’s your favorite recent adaptation?! Mine is The Idea of You adapted from Robinne Lee’s novel. By the way, weekend retreaters on our upcoming Santa Monica Retreat will be treated to a special movie screening! Stay tuned for a special offer from my brother Teddy’s movie from Black Bear Pictures: Spa Weekend!
Warmly,
Zibby
It's amazing what you've accomplished in such a short time!
Alisha is the best! I love her writing.