Los Angeles-based Articulus Entertainment has optioned the rights to the bestsellers A Dirty Job from Christopher Moore and The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson.

Articulus principal Steven Sawalich will take the lead as producer on both projects. Sawalich previously directed and produced Music Within starring Michael Sheen.

A Dirty Job is styled as a “hilarious and entertaining” tale of one man’s quest to find out the meaning of death and won the 2006 Quill Award for Best General.

The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid also came out in 2006 and takes a nostalgic look at Bryson’s childhood in Des Moines in the 1950s.

“We are excited to acquire the rights to these two terrific books,” Sawalich said. “Christopher Moore and Bill Bryson each have their own unique voices and have created works with identifiable characters that we are looking forward to developing into features.”

Sawalich is managed by Thruline Entertainment.