Notes App Fanfiction Lands Seven-Figure film Deal After Bestseller status
London – A fantasy novel born from notes app scribblings has become a publishing phenomenon, securing a seven-figure film deal following its success as a bestseller. Alchemised, the sequel to author Sen Lin Yu’s self-published Manacled, is captivating readers and sparking intense online reactions, wiht fans openly sharing emotional responses on platforms like TikTok.
Sen initially wrote Manacled on a notes app, a process they described as “literally traumatic,” comparing it to assembling ”two 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzles…to build a new puzzle that somehow makes sense.” They even stated, “I would rather be shot,” than repeat the experience, according to a Tumblr post from last year. The sequel, Alchemised, continues the story and has quickly garnered a devoted following.
The author’s work is deeply influenced by personal history and feminist scholarship. Sen, who is half japanese, drew inspiration from their family’s experience during World War II – specifically, their maternal grandmother and extended family’s internment – to explore narratives often “omitted from the narrative” surrounding the war.They aimed to challenge simplistic “good guys” versus “bad guys” portrayals. Influential texts included Svetlana Alexievich’s The Unwomanly Face of War and Katrine Kielos’s Who Cooked Adam Smith’s Dinner?, informing Sen’s depiction of women’s vital, frequently enough overlooked roles during wartime, such as staffing hospitals, providing field medical care, and maintaining essential logistical support.
The success of Manacled and now Alchemised – published by Penguin at £25 – has generated notable excitement within Sen’s fanbase. Many are expressing profound emotional connections to the story, with TikTok videos showcasing dramatic reactions to the book’s conclusion becoming a popular trend.
