THE TIMES I KNEW I WAS GAY BY ELEANOR CREWES

THE TIMES I KNEW I WAS GAY BY ELEANOR CREWES

TITLE: The Times I Knew I Was Gay

PUBLISHER: LITTLE, BROWN BOOK GROUP

CREATORS: ELEANOR CREWES

THIS SHOULD BE A: SERIES

AGE RANGE: MID SCHOOL +

POTENTIAL NETFLIX TAGS: British TV Shows, Drama, Gay and Lesbian Dramas, Teen Drama, Teen TV Shows,

BOX ART: Striking teenage girl with short red hair on a yellow background.

IT’S LIKE: Heartstopper, My Mad Fat Diary, Skins

TAG LINE: “Sometimes, You Just Know”

LOGLINE: Ellie is a teenager on her way to university, navigating her confusing sexuality amidst the growing pains and drama of adolescence.

LONGER LOGLINE: Ellie always knew she was different. Contrary and creative, she wore black, obsessed over Willow in Buffy and somehow just doesn’t really like boys, no matter how hard she tries, and wow, she tries. As she grows up, so does her fears and a deep sense of unbelonging. The Times I Knew I was Gay follows Ellie from closeted confusion to navigating the London lesbian scene. From her first communion to her first girlfriend via a swathe of self-denial, awkward encounters and everyday courage, Ellie's journey is a tender and funny story of self discovery and acceptance.

CONTEXT: I encouraged Eleanor to produce her first zine and sell it at Gosh!. She’s been building her career ever since. Aside from Times I Knew I Was Gay she’s also published her first mid-grade graphic novel The Accidental Witch (perhaps another title of interest). She’s smart, articulate and enthusiastic. The only downside is that TIKIWG is quite thin in terms of content, it’s a series of vignettes that build to a whole and it’d need fleshing out. Perhaps pairing Eleanor with, or passing the reigns over to a writer who could expand upon Ellie’s story.

THE PITCH: Unique looking female lead in a queer coming of age episodic series.

IF I WERE DOING IT: I’d tonally look towards My Mad Fat Diary with an older Ellie narrating. Perhaps find a way to include Eleanor’s art into some sequences. I’d make this a 2010’s period piece, lovely opportunities to mine the musical culture and court the newly nostalgic, newly adult audience whilst not being so far removed in time that it alienates a modern teenage audience. I’d look towards style cues from shows like Heartstopper, Euphoria and Skins that whilst different in content, share some of the thematic DNA.

REVIEWS: The Quietus, gscene, Goodreads, Broken Frontier

ARTISTS WEBSITE: https://www.eleanorcrewesillustration.co.uk/

AGENT DETAILS: Unknown

RIGHTS STATUS: Unknown