Namina Forna’s fantasy novel, The Gilded Ones, will be adapted into a film, by Makeready. The Gilded Ones is the first book in a planned trilogy titled The Deathless Series, and is currently at the top of Amazon’s fantasy list.

Forna’s book is a feminist, WestAfrican-inspired fantasy about the journey of a young girl to self-empowerment.

Here’s a summary of the book from its publisher: “Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity—and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki—near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be—not even Deka herself.”

Forna was born in Sierra Leone West Africa and raised in Los Angles. She is a finalist of the NBC/Universal Writers on the Verge program. She was also one of the top 50 for the Nicholl Fellowship, and one of the top 10 in her category at the Austin Fellowship Screenwriting Competition.

Congratulations, Forna!