Gorilla X Press

Where is there an untapped pool of money sufficient to fund substantive gorilla conservation? Probably not in book sales. But how about ticket, download, or subscription sales from film and television spinoffs? Tourism to film and television shooting locations is also one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry. Visits to New Zealand surged by 40% in the wake of the Lord of the Rings Films while the Harry Potter series is estimated to have directed $13 million of tourist traffic to the Alnwick Castle area. So why not Gabon, which also has amazing wildlife, beautiful beaches, and year round sun? Film and television branded merchandize is also a multi-billion dollar industry annually.

The odds of spinning a novel into a mega-successful film or television franchise is low. But the cost of entry, my time, is also low relative to the potential upside. And you don’t need a megahit to generate enough money to have a substantive gorilla conservation impact. That’s why I’ve spent the last two years developing Gorilla Guerillas, a thriller series that follows the exploits of two sisters who grew up at a fictionalized gorilla research site in Gabon. What’s stronger then Girl Power? Girilla Power! Book I, My Name is Freedom, goes on sale in September 2021, with subsequent books dropping every few months for the next year. Pre-order here.

As a vehicle for publishing these novels, I’ve established my own book Imprint, Gorilla X Press. In the future, I plan to expand beyond thrillers to other fiction and non-fiction markets. Children’s books are particularly attractive, both because of children’s natural affinity for gorillas and because of the lucrative market for branded children’s clothes, games and toys. Gorilla-X-themed teddy bears, anyone? I’m also actively looking to publish work by other authors. So, if you’re interested in writing something about gorillas or you’re an artist or animator who likes the idea of collaborating on a gorilla story, drop me a line. This is all a big experiment and I’m flexible about taking it in whatever direction works. Gorilla graphic novel, anyone?