FlipNarrative option The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
FlipNarrative has optioned best-selling author Shannon Chakraborty’s latest novel “The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi,” which is the first of a trilogy published by Harper Voyager and a New York Times bestseller. We are currently developing the IP into a multi-season series and gaming platform.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is an epic tale of a notorious Muslim pirate captain who’s survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and an actual demon, before retiring to a life of piety. That is until she and her crew are forced into one last adventure—embarking on a mission across the Indian Ocean battling a supernatural world they never knew existed. From the first page of Shannon Chakraborty’s novel we were enthralled by the rich tapestry of love, lust, magic, violence, benevolence and struggle. Shannon’s stories have always found a way to enthrall our imaginations with adventure and the supernatural. What makes her craft particularly engaging is how she manages to weave political, cultural and social subtexts into these fantastical tales.
Waleed Zuaiter, CEO of FlipNarrative, stated, “With The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, we are given a rare insight into the melting pot that is the 12th century Indian Ocean. The array of cultures who traversed those waters; Arabs, Africans, Asians and Europeans all taking opportunities wherever possible to make their fortunes. None so more than Amina al-Sirafi, the anti-hero we never knew we needed. Shannon has created a character in Amina that is so richly flawed that it’s impossible not to relate to her. Someone who went against the tide by refusing to accept the chains the world shackles women with; who seized an opportunity that would never usually be offered to her, and excelled to gain respect from her peers and fear from her enemies. Our vision to adapt this story to an episodic series enables us to explore these characters, historical contexts and social themes that Shannon so beautifully depicts in this novel.”
Shannon Chakraborty (left), author of the New York Times best-selling Daevabad series and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
"I'm delighted to work with FlipNarrative on adapting The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi,” says Shannon Chakraborty. “This story is desperately dear to my heart and from the very beginning of my conversations with Joana, Waleed, and Shaun, their passion about the characters—about both Amina's swashbuckling wiles and struggles with motherhood—resonated so clearly, as did their desire to use the story as a showcase for the region and celebrate the cultures and history that inspired it."
Shannon Chakraborty is the critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of The Daevabad Trilogy and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. Her work has been translated into over a dozen languages and nominated for the Hugo, Locus, World Fantasy, Crawford, and Astounding awards. She is represented by Echo Lake Entertainment on behalf of Azantian Literary.
Socotra Island, just one of the incredible MENA settings in The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
While a major part of this story may be entrenched in the fantastical, other parts are very real. The geographical landscape may seem other-worldly but it’s just showcasing the strange real beauty of the Middle East and Indian Ocean that is very rarely depicted in script or on screen. Shannon is an avid student of history and politics and the accurate contexts that she threads in with subtlety blur the lines between fact and fiction. Her portrayal of the effects of the Crusades; sexual taboos; limitations on education; and the lengths women had to go to be recognized as equals; all of these themes were as relevant during that period as they are today.
The FlipNarrative team of Waleed Zuaiter, Joana Zuaiter, Shaun-Dean Thomas, Amelia Bryant and Amin El Gamal are privileged and inspired to be involved in this epic universe that Shannon is creating. The similar world views and aspirations for correcting the narrative is something we share with Shannon, not just as authentic representatives of the region, but as a team of global citizens with Palestinian, Lebanese, Fijian, American, South African and Egyptian ethnicities. This diverse creative synergy is the ideal foundation to build this world that all our collective imaginations could get lost in. Here’s to fair winds and calm seas on this voyage together.
For press or general inquiries about this particular IP, please email shaun@flipnarrative.com