Remarkable stories that I’ve had the honor of bringing to the screen.
Books
Optioned Books
Waiting for the Barbarians
by J.M. Coetzee
(Viking Press, 1980)
Recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature, J. M. Coetzee is internationally acclaimed for his profound explorations of injustice, complicity, and human morality within historical and often allegorical contexts. His novel Waiting for the Barbarians, published by Viking Press in 1980, remains one of his most influential works.
Taking its title from a 1904 poem by Constantine P. Cavafy—originally written in Greek (Περιμένοντας τους Βαρβάρους)—the novel presents a haunting meditation on empire, fear, and the erosion of ethical boundaries in the face of authoritarian power. Waiting for the Barbarians continues to resonate as a stark reflection on state violence and moral resistance.
The Dinner
by Herman Koch, translated by Sam Garrett
Original title: Het Dinner
(Anthos, 2009; English edition: Hogarth, 2012)
Originally published in Dutch as Het Diner (Anthos, 2009), The Dinner became an international literary sensation, translated into over 40 languages and selling millions of copies worldwide. The English edition, translated by Sam Garrett (Hogarth, 2012), became a New York Times bestseller and was named one of The Wall Street Journal’s Ten Best Books of the Year. Set over the course of a tense dinner between two couples, the novel explores themes of morality, privilege, and complicity with chilling precision.
In Development
El Día Que Aprendí Que No Sé Amar
by Aura García-Junco
(Seix Barral, Editorial Planeta Mexicana, 2021)
Named by Granta magazine as one of the twenty-five most exciting writers under thirty-five in the Spanish-speaking world, Aura García-Junco has emerged as a bold and genre-defying voice in contemporary literature. Her work blends philosophical inquiry with deeply personal narratives, often exploring identity, intimacy, and self-invention through experimental form.
We are currently developing an adaptation of her acclaimed novel El Día Que Aprendí Que No Sé Amar (The Day I Learned I Don’t Know How to Love), originally published by Seix Barral / Editorial Planeta Mexicana in 2021.
In Development
What It Is
by Sara Torres
Original title: Lo Que Hay
(Reservoir Books, Penguin Random House, 2022)
A bold and intimate debut, Lo Que Hay was selected as one of the best debut novels of the year by El Cultural and received the prestigious Javier Morote Award for Best Emerging Author. Blending autofiction with poetic vulnerability, the novel explores grief, identity, and queer desire in the wake of a life-changing loss. Torres’s voice has been praised for its emotional precision and radical honesty, establishing her as one of the most compelling new literary voices in contemporary Spanish literature.
In Development
The Dream of the Celt
by Mario Vargas Llosa
Original title: El Sueño del Celta
(Alfaguara, 2010); English edition: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2012)
In this subtle and enlightening novel, Nobel Prize Winner Mario Vargas Llosa brings to life the extraordinarily complex and controversial character of human rights pioneer Roger Casement, who despite dedicating his life to improving the plight of oppressed peoples around the world, was ultimately executed for his involvement in Northern Ireland. A vibrant and provocative work that pushes the boundaries of the historical novel.
In Development
Adhara and the Secret of the Cenote
by Justin Jaquith and Adhara Pérez
Unpublished manuscript
While visiting their great-grandmother in the Yucatán Peninsula, Adhara, an autistic teen with a genius-level IQ Adhara, her young sister Camila, and tech whiz Tiko discover aliens are attempting contact with them through bizarre electromagnetic phenomena. They learn their interdimensional bonds are failing, threatening to destroy both Earth and the alien world. Teaming up with the young aliens, called zooids, the kids must reactivate three "pylons" along the Gulf of Mexico, in Veracruz, Houston, and Bacalar. Their alliance, combining Adhara's intellect, Tiko's inventions, Camila's bravery, and the zooids' quantum abilities, leads them through action-packed missions to save both worlds.
Published Books
Contemos
by Olga Segura, illustrations by Clara Spinassi
(Cali’s Books, 2024)
I’m thrilled to invite you into the joyful world of Contemos—a playful, rechargeable sound book that turns learning into a celebration! Inspired by the beloved Latin American nursery rhyme “Un Elefante Se Balanceaba”, I created this Spanish-language book to bring numbers to life with dancing elephants, rhythmic repetition, and irresistible music.
Contemos invites children to count, sing, and move along as each elephant joins the fun—sharing the heartwarming message of teamwork, community, and collective joy. With every page, kids develop early number skills and Spanish-language confidence, all while dancing and giggling to the beat.
This sound book is more than just a tool for learning—it’s a celebration of culture, heritage, connection, and childhood wonder.
I want to bring culture, counting, and joy into your child's hands—one dancing elephant at a time!