Anna Todd’s famous romance saga, “After,” raised the intriguing question of what comes next following its success. As the 10th anniversary of the beloved series unfolds, Todd reflects on the journey that began on Oct. 21, 2014. With no formal publishing background but a passion for storytelling, she ventured into the world of Wattpad, which led to her massive follower base intrigued by the love story of Tessa and Hardin.
Over the course of a decade, Todd released five books, sold 12 million copies worldwide and saw multiple film adaptations and several graphic novels based on the “After” series. However, the accomplished author has since shifted her focus from “After” to other projects like her “Brightest Stars” trilogy and “The Spring Girls.” Progressing further, she inaugurated her production company, Frayed Pages Media, and secured a deal for her imprint with Wattpad.
VIP+
Despite moving on, Todd maintains a burning zeal for “After.” In commemoration of the 10th anniversary, she spoke candidly to Variety about her first novel series, the future, and her foray into Hollywood through screen adaptations of her projects and those of Colleen Hoover, another renowned author, such as “Regretting You.”
How do you feel about the 10th anniversary of “After”?
Todd describes the celebrations as nostalgic, evoking memories of her first steps into the publishing industry. While discussions of the revamp and new cover for the book kindled this sentiment, it was the throwback messages from her readers that truly evoked nostalgia. Tales of first discovering the love story, how it had inspired people over time and transformed their lives, cast her back to the time when she was in her 20s writing the book and how much her life has altered since then.
With retrospective wisdom, would you approach “After” differently?
Retrospectively, Todd feels she would make a few alterations in representing the female characters more authentically. However, she maintains she wouldn’t have softened Hardin’s character as his flaws were integral to the narrative. She also wishes she was more aware of female friendships when she wrote the series. She argues times have changed, and we are now reading and writing differently, which could have enriched the series. Regardless, she notes she is proud of the story that resonated with so many people.
How has the production aspect of your career unfolded since “After” and its first film adaptation?
Todd’s unexpected entry into producing with the first film adaptation of “After” was a steep learning curve. Wanting to actively contribute to the process, not merely posting updates on social media, she dived headlong into behind-the-scenes details, contributing to casting decisions and locations. Her instincts driven by her intimate understanding of the characters and the narrative often brought unexpected but successful results.
Whether suggesting shifts in camera positions or changes
Credit: variety.com
