But for those adapting books for TV or film, there can often be challenges too, especially if the source material already has a big fanbase.
Writer Justin Young, who has adapted Crookhaven for the screen, tells the BBC his “big project” before this show was Sanditon, which attempted to complete an unfinished Jane Austen novel.
“If you want to meet people who are protective, it’s Jane Austen fans,” Young jokes.
When you start adapting a book for TV, “you have to accept quite early on that they are such different genres”, he says.
“When I first started writing for television, the thing that was so shocking to me was how much story you need for television. It’s unbelievable, it’s like a machine. Every five to 10 minutes you’ve got to give the audience a big surprise, you’ve got to keep developing stories,” he explains.
Young says that while the cast is primarily made up of young actors, “these kids are sophisticated” and the show is aimed at all ages.
“Never throughout the development have I ever thought of writing for kids – we wanted to create something the whole family could watch together,” he adds.
Laniado also hopes that families can sit down together to watch Crookhaven.
“I feel like there are a lot of shows targeted for specific audiences but I feel like this show engages everyone, really – anyone will be able to see themselves in that world,” she says.
Young hopes the audience particularly connects with the show’s young stars, who are all relatively new to acting.
“I’d be watching audition tapes in the kitchen and my kids, who are 10 and 13, would be staring over my shoulder – they were starstruck by these actors.”
He adds: “It’s really important for the health of the industry to keep new blood coming in and I think it’s so exciting and energising for us to work with people who are right at the beginning of their careers and have that excitement, passion and energy.”
Crookhaven begins on BBC One and CBBC on Sunday, 22 March, and the full series will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from this date.