Katherine H. Brown

Mary Poppins inspired retelling meets steampunk in the most delightful way. A former orphan returns to London equipped with unique new skills and fresh determination to set free other girls like herself from a life of poverty and hopelessness, only to find she may have to trade her own freedom for theirs in a last act of service to the man who has controlled her life for the last five years, overcoming a series of obstacles that turns friends to enemies and enemies to friends in the most unexpected turn of events.

Target Audiences:

A Spoonful of Gunpowder features characters from various age groups and walks of life, from street orphans to Queen Victoria. While the main character is around age 22, the book was written with the ability to appeal to any age group from the older lovers of the original Mary Poppins characters which are alluded to with much fondness, to younger generations to whom science fiction and action appeal. This film, once translate from between the covers of the book, may appeal to anyone from age 12 and up but especially young adults and adults looking to experience the nostalgia of a childhood film in a delightfully unique new way. A strong female lead character on a mission will turn the heads of women far and wide while the inventions, gadgets, and flare of the gentleman and capable criminals alike will not leave boys or men disappointed.

Film Comps:

1) As Around the World in 80 Days (2004) exhibits a plethora of steampunk vehicles, so too does A Spoonful of Gunpowder give the opportunity to bring imaginative futuristic technology that speaks to all of our geeky sides to life. From steam-powered umbrellas to steam carriages bedecked in the softest cloth, to airships that would make a pirate drool, the opportunity for masterful on-screen delight soars throughout this entertaining and adventurous story.

2) A few key buildings as backdrops and you are immersed in the setting of The Three Musketeers (2011). Add in literal fleets of airships and you have an adventure brewing at every moment. In similar manner, A Spoonful of Gunpowder makes it simple to use relatively few iconic backdrops in order to create the sense of foggy Victorian London such as Buckingham Palace, a few grand marble halls, a lone orphanage, or dank tunnels to carry the characters through the pages without needing to search heaven and earth for film locations.

3) Take your pick of the two captivating Sherlock Holmes films (2009 and 2011), I certainly couldn't choose between them. What is not to love about our direct detective, a faithful side character, and a game of wits to win the day!? All of this, plus the delectable wardrobes of the era make Sherlock Holmes an excellent comp for the witty steampunk romp through London and countryside for Anna-Marie, her orphan charges, and Ambrose the jolly airship captain. Viewers love to take a front row seat and play detective to see if they can figure things out before the big reveal and A Spoonful of Gunpowder provides just that opportunity!

I love to read retellings of fairy tales and had long toyed with the idea of writing one of my own when one day the idea of Mary Poppins flying into London with her steampowered umbrellla drove out all thoughts of Beauty and the Beast or Snow White. I could just imagine her many gadgets, instead of magic, and combined with the idea of a steampunk wardrobe, I knew I had to write it. What I didn't realize, was that this book would become my best selling novel, and the first of four books in my most popular series for years running!

A Spoonful of Gunpowder is a dynamite option for a film and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to share it with you. I've been writing and publising for multiple years and of every book or series that I've written, nothing has so quickly found a continuing audience of readers as this book. The screenplay itself was produced as a result of the novel winning 3rd place in a Texas Book to Film Festival, an award coveted by many. A beloved character from the childhood of so many, combined with a completely reimagined seductive steampunk storyline, and exciting nods to the many iconic characters that people are familiar with makes A Spoonful of Gunpowder an instant adventure fit for film.

I want to watch it.

Readers want to watch it.

Do you want to watch it?

One person literally mentioned to me that she was dying to see it as a cirque de sole or movie theater performance. Since then, multiple readers of the novel heard about the screenplay and were thrilled to know that they might one day get to watch a favorite story on screen. Another fan hailed the book as being a cross between Mary Poppins and Tomb Raider, another exceedingly popular franchise. Obsessed. Hooked. Delighted. All are phrases I've heard or seen in reviews of the novel by the same name.

On its own, the screenplay has wond the following awards and accolades:

• Hollywood Indie Festival: Semi-Finalist
• Indie Vegas Film Festival: Finalist
• Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards: Selected
• Cambridge Script Festival: Finalist
• New York Screenplay Competition: Honorable Mention
• London International Screenwriting Competition: Semi-Finalist

As an author, avid reader, and a woman who loves to relax at night after a busy day with a toddler 6-year-old by unwinding in front of the television with my husband, I am confident of one thing: retellings are IN. It's like people can't get enough. Everyone wants to put their own spin on the classics. But that's the thing, isn't it? They are classics for a reason: people LOVE them.

A partnership between any film company or producer and myself/this screenplay could be a fantastic opportunity as we work toward making this film goal a reality.

I won't even mention how fun it would be; okay, I mentioned it.

Beyond that?

A Spoonful of Gunpowder has the potential to be a popular family film as it encompasses action, mystery, witty comedy, and sweet romance.

Producers would be able to choose easy to film locations for the majority of the film by throwing in a few token London landmarks in key places to set the scene. The potential for imaginative props is endless with the detailed descriptions of the steampunk devices and automatons sprinkled throughout the story, and steampunk costumes likewise are something that the public are typically thrilled about and yet are not overly expensive to create or borrow from similar time-period films.

Because the subject matter has the ability to resonate with so many, it is likely that any number of actors or actresses would be excited to become part of bringing A Spoonful of Gunpowder to life, giving life to iconic characters for entirely new generations.

A large number of the scenes include only three to five of the main characters which is a plus for production costs and filming schedules, as well.

Though as with any author's work, I'm certain there are areas for improvement, I fully believe the immersive writing, detailed character conversations, word-painted scenes and scenery, as well as descriptions of the attire and attitudes of the characters give an excellent jumping off point for the script to be turned into a cinematic joy!

I am currently most interested in script option/sale for A Spoonful of Gunpowder, or literary representation in order to facilitate the option/sale of the script. If it is helpful to know, there are three more books written with book 2 easily ready to be purchased for screenplay/script conversion and sale / option as well (A Spoonful of Madness).