Because of my devotion to all things Hallmark, my readers are now going to be noticing more posts regarding Hallmark Publishing, including reviews of their delightful books and interviews with their gifted authors. And it just so happens that the third Hallmark book I was privileged to read is based on a beloved Hallmark movie, Moonlight In Vermont. This is a movie that is near to my heart as I was able to screen and review the movie here. And now having read the book, I am ecstatic to not only share my thoughts on this fantastic novelization, but I also am sharing my intriguing interview with the author, Kacy Cross.

RH: Why did you decide to become an author? How did you get started?

KC: I’ve always loved books and have written down the stories in my head since elementary school. When I decided to start trying to get my stories published, I entered a lot of contests and open calls for submissions.

What was your first officially published work?

This is my first book as Kacy Cross.

Lacey Chabert, Carlo Marks Credit: Copyright 2017 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

Tell us about how you got involved with Hallmark Publishing and how you were selected to write the book Moonlight in Vermont.

I answered an open call from the editor, who was looking for authors to write movie novelizations and it sounded fun. It was!

Before you wrote this book, had you seen the movie? Are you a regular Hallmark viewer?

I had not seen the movie, but I’m a huge fan of the star Lacey Chabert, and thus became a fan of the movie. I watched it probably twenty times in the course of writing the book, so it helps that she is so great in it! I have a day job and a family, plus I’m active at my church so I don’t watch a lot of TV. Now that I’ve learned how much fun Hallmark movies are, I have started watching the channel more.

If someone has seen the movie, why will they enjoy this book? If someone has not seen the movie, why will they enjoy the book?

I think anyone can enjoy the book! The book goes more in-depth than what you see on the screen, delving into the emotions and thoughts of the characters, so you get a different perspective than in the movie. Plus, there is a bonus epilogue that extends the story past the end of the movie. Fans will want to find out what happens to Derek and Fiona next! If you haven’t seen the movie, you’ll love this story of a fast-paced real estate broker who is forced to slow down in rural Vermont with a chef she spontaneously asks to be her fake boyfriend.

Carlo Marks, Lacey Chabert Credit: Copyright 2017 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

Is there a character in Moonlight in Vermont with whom you most identify? Why?

I like them all, but I really identified with Angela. She knew what she wanted and went after it, which is what I do too.

What has been the reception to this book? What kind of feedback are you getting from readers?

The reviews are wonderful. Everyone seems like how I brought the story to life and that I stuck to the light, fluffy, feel-good vibe they associate with the movie.

Family Photo on set of Moonlight in Vermont. with Lacey Chabert, Rebecca Staab, Keith MacKechnie from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation!

Any other upcoming works you can mention?

I have a submission in with Hallmark for an original book (not based on a movie). Cross your fingers that they’ll like it enough to let me write it for them!

What is your preferred genre to write? To read? What genre to find more challenging to read and/or write?

I like writing contemporary books as I think it fits my voice the best, but I read all genres, especially historical and fantasy. I want an escape from every day when I read, but I don’t think I could write either of those genres—though I’ve never tried, honestly.

What do you like to do in your free time when not writing?

I don’t have a lot of free time, but I do enjoy watching movies with my husband and playing games with my kids on their Wii.

————————————————————————————————————————

Moonlight in Vermont by Kacy Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was sent a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

I am an avid Hallmark Channel supporter/watcher, and I even had the opportunity to view this movie in advance of its release date. I was enchanted with the movie, and I anticipated that the book would be equally as charming. And indeed, Hallmark and the author exceeded my expectations in every way. The style remained true to the story of the film, and it was such a joy to relive all the things that I adored about this delightful Hallmark story.

This is the third of the Hallmark books I have had the opportunity to read, and the author did something that I wasn’t expecting, and it only enhanced my enjoyment of this tale. All too often, Hallmark movies focus on just the main couple and sometimes even just the leading lady. In this story, there is a secondary couple that received some quality screen time, but even so, the movie was unable to examine that secondary relationship in more than a cursory fashion.

Throughout this book, the author demonstrated her adeptness at telling the story from the point of view of the various characters. I never struggled with attempting to figure out whose perspective I was reading at any given moment, and I was incredibly pleased that she focused on all four characters as much as she was able. I found myself reexamining what I knew about the movie and comprehending things in a different way than I had previously. I felt as though I gained an accurate and intuitive peek at the vantage point of each character, and I even found myself moving beyond my own observations from the movie. I was immensely gratified at the depth and detail the author provided for each character. Indeed, she has a definite knack for utilizing the literary device of descriptive, judgment-free point of view, and I hope to see more books authored by her in the future.

In short, if you loved the movie, you’ll adore the book. And if you haven’t seen the movie, I recommend reading the book first because you are certain to gain a sense of who the characters genuinely are which will only enrich your understanding and enjoyment of the film.

View all my reviews

While this is the first book that Kacy Cross has published, I have no doubt this will not be her last. As a reviewer, I have read a wide assortment of books, and typically, I am able to analyze and recognize an author’s style and ability for the written word before I’ve even finished reading the first chapter. In the case of Kacy, I was immediately transported to this familiar world that Hallmark created so beautifully on the screen, for her adaptation was an absolute masterpiece. Kacy was able to take the written word and paint not only pictures of the characters and their environment, but she was able to probe deeply into the very psyche of the four main characters in the book. It is no surprise that Angela is a character with whom she identified closely because I discerned that she added some introspective details to this character the movie was only able to suggest. Kacy definitely possesses an innate aptitude for writing from various perspectives while not passing judgment on the characters themselves, and that is something that I do not always perceive in authors, especially those who are relatively new to the writing community. 

So please take a moment and check out Kacy at the link below and consider liking her Facebook page. As she begins this journey with Hallmark Publishing, I hope that my outstanding readers will consider supporting her career in whatever way they are able. Moreover, if you are so inclined, feel free to pick up your own copy of Moonlight In Vermont at the link below. I want to thank both Hallmark Publishing and Kacy Cross for their time, dedication, and support.

FOLLOW KACY

Facebook

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT

Carlo Marks, Lacey Chabert Credit: Copyright 2017 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

Spread the love

Tweet