Just Kids the award-winning 2010 memoir by singer Patti Smith is being turned into a limited television series by US channel Showtime, the network has announced. The book chronicles Smith’s relationship with artist and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, whom she lived with in New York from 1967 to 1974.

Patti SmithPatti Smith’s Just Kids is being adapted for the small screen by Showtime.

Smith herself will be scripting the series along with ‘Penny Dreadful’ creator John Logan who will also co-produce. In a statement announcing the adaptation Smith said, "A limited series on Showtime will allow us to explore the characters more deeply, enabling us to develop stories beyond the book and allow a measure of unorthodox presentation."

"The medium of a television limited series offers narrative freedom and a chance to expand upon the themes of the book,” the singer added. Smith has recently announced that a sequel to the book, titled M Train, will be released on October 6th.

More: View our Patti Smith gallery.

Just Kids has so far been translated into more than 40 languages and became a New York Times best-seller. it was also the recipient of the 2010 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Speaking about the upcoming series Showtime president David Nevins described the book as ‘one of my favourite memoirs of all time.’

"Not only is it a fascinating portrait of artists coming of age, but it’s also an inspiring story of friendship, love and endurance,” Nevins added. “I’m so thrilled that Patti Smith will bring her unique voice to writing the scripts along with the gifted John Logan, who has been doing such a phenomenal job with 'Penny Dreadful' for us."