EXCLUSIVE: Marissa Jo Cerar (Black Cake) is developing the E.L. Westbury novel Drowning in Paper Flowers for TV, with Jenna Bush Hager and Ben Spector of Thousand Voices, as well as Universal Global Television.

The recently re-released novel follows Ruby Powell, a middle-aged housewife living in Dallas, who outwardly appears perfect—wealthy, beautiful, and respected in her community. However, the truth reveals a woman struggling with dissatisfaction in her marriage, a sense of inadequacy as a mother, and an addiction to anti-anxiety medication due to recurring nightmares. Her teenage daughter resents her, and her 6-year-old son suffers from PTSD after a past kidnapping. When Ruby is no longer able to separate the truth from the lies of her carefully created facade, she faces a nightmare involving an affair, a dead body, and a lifelong secret.

“I’m so excited to collaborate with this incredible team,” shared Cerar. “Meeting Ms. Westbury was like catching up with an old friend, and I can’t wait to bring Ruby and Ivy to the screen in a killer, female-forward thriller that is, somewhat shockingly, deeply personal to me.”

Added Bush Hager, “We are thrilled to partner with UGT to adapt Drowning in Paper Flowers. Erika wrote a page-turning thriller, set in my home state of Texas, with shocking twists and characters who leap off the page. Ben and I have been dying to work with Marissa Jo ever since she adapted one of my favorite books, Black Cake, and are so thrilled that MJ had her own personal connection to the material.”

Westbury is the author of Drowning in Paper Flowers, her breakout novel and traditional publishing debut. Originally self-published in December 2024, the domestic thriller gained a following, building a readership before sparking a highly competitive auction and ultimately selling to Atria Books in a major seven-figure deal in North America. UK and Commonwealth rights have sold to Orion (Hachette UK), with translation rights acquired in six languages to date. Atria and Orion just launched Drowning in Paper Flowers on August 11. Westbury is represented by WME. 

Cerar began her career as a writer-producer on shows such as Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, Fox’s Shots Fired, and Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. She is an NAACP Image Award and two-time Humanitas Prize-winning writer for the two series she created and served as showrunner: ABC’s Women Of The Movement and most recently, Hulu’s Black Cake, her adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s best-selling novel. Cerar has projects in development at Hulu, UTV, and Paramount TV. She is repped by CAA, Heroes and Villains Entertainment, and Myman Greenspan.

Bush Hager and Thousand Voices, who are represented by UTA, have a first-look deal with Universal Studio Group.