Ami McKay's novel The Birth House being adapted for TV
Television rights to Ami McKay's bestselling historical novel The Birth House have been picked up by Canadian producers Sherry White and Kerri MacDonald and Vancouver-based production company Omnifilm Entertainment Ltd.
The Birth House takes place on Canada's east coast during the First World War. It follows a young midwife's apprentice, Dora Rare, who finds herself fighting to protect the rights of young women upon the arrival of a brash, young medical doctor.
The novel was defended by Debbie Travis on the 2011 edition of Canada Reads.
McKay was raised in Indiana and now lives in Nova Scotia. In a press release, McKay praised her new collaborators for their "bold and fresh" vision.
"I can't wait to see them bring the characters and stories of The Birth House to this vibrant medium and share it with a wider audience," said McKay.
"I'm honoured and humbled to have this project come about in a time where we're seeing women's voices rise around the world — in art, in media, in politics, in protest, in solidarity and in hope."
White's credits include writing the feature film Maudie, as well as writing and producing the CBC television series Little Dog. MacDonald was recently a writer and producer on Little Dog and story coordinator for Republic of Doyle.
The Birth House is one of three of McKay's bestselling novels. She's also the author of The Virgin Cure and The Witches of New York.
She recently published the novella Half Spent Was the Night. Her memoir, Daughter of Family G., is coming out in fall 2019.