As the vast majority of my readers know, there is nothing that fascinates me more than highlighting those behind-the-scenes with respect to film and TV. The Hallmark network has aided so many authors in the pursuit of their wildest and sometimes unvoiced dreams. Who wouldn’t want one of their cherished books be made into a movie? Well, Jenny Hale’s book Coming Home For Christmas is next on the docket.  Again, while I have not read the book, I am thrilled that Jenny was willing to take some time to answer a few questions about her part in this next “Countdown to Christmas” movie!

RH: Why did you decide to become an author? I understand you weren’t going to be until one of your friends suggested it. What were you studying to become?

JH: I like to say that the job as an author found me, not the other way around. I went to college to be a teacher and I taught elementary school for eighteen years. I was reading a novel one night, as I love to do, and I told my husband, “I think I could write one of these,” so I got my computer and tried. The first attempt was awful, but I started to read about writing and to teach myself what I’d done wrong. Then I tried again. That second book was Coming Home for Christmas. I only wanted to publish it as a hobby—for fun! But I kept writing, and by the time I got a contract, I realized that I was still going! As for the friend’s suggestion, I used to write poems and things in college and she said, “Watch out for this one; she’s going to be an author one day.” It completely took me by surprise and I never thought about it again until I started writing years later.

Many of your books are Christmas-themed. Any reason why?

Christmas is such a festive time, full of family, love, and giving. I just find it the perfect setting for my type of stories.

Your book Coming Home For Christmas has made it to the Hallmark Channel in movie form this Christmas. How did that happen?

A screenwriter out in LA approached me. She’d found the book on Amazon and thought it would be great for Hallmark. It was one of those right-place-right-time moments.

Once the deal was done, did you have any interaction with the cast/crew?

I spoke with one of the actresses a little bit. 🙂

Did you get to see the film ahead of time? Do you know of any of the major changes they made from the book version?

I haven’t seen the film, but I’ve read the script! As always, the timeframe doesn’t allow all of the book to come through in the movie because it would be a million hours long, but I was happy with the changes and tweaks to my original story.

What do you hope people will take away from reading the book and/or watching the movie Coming Home For Christmas?

Pippa said it best: “You will blink, literally blink, and you will be standing on the edge of life wondering what you’ve done with yours.”

I’d like people to take away the idea that we are only given a select number of moments and we should live them to the fullest.

Any other upcoming books/works you can mention?

I’m under contract for four more! I’m currently working on a summer book to be released in 2018, and I have another summer and two more Christmas stories on the horizon.

When you do have free time, what do you like to do?

Read.

In this world of so many millions of books to choose from, what is your best advice to authors if they want to be successful in this business?

Be precise and persistent. Do your part. Make sure your work is the very best you can make it and keep an organized schedule so you don’t fall behind. Lastly, find an amazing publisher. Don’t settle.

As usual, Hallmark has illuminated the absolute best of the best, and Jenny rightfully joins the ranks of the positive people who continue to unselfishly and humbly contribute to this network that has almost single-handedly resurrected and revitalized the art form known as “Rom-Com.” Furthermore, when it comes to Christmas, I can unequivocally state that no one does it better. In fact, no one even comes close. And now Jenny is luxuriating in her well-deserved moment in the spotlight, and I, for one, hope this is not the last time we will see her work on this beloved network. Her advice is spot on; her stories are idyllic; and most of all, she is not afraid to share her heart and the charitable messages of her soul that resonate with so many of us, especially at this festive time of year. Jenny is yet another bright light who often lives in the shrouded background, but I adore the fact that I can exhibit her true spirit so that all of us eager and vibrant Hallmark fans can get a brief and unblemished glimpse of her talent and zeal!

So please, if you have not read any of Jenny’s writings, consider checking out her links below if you are so inclined (I certainly did, and I look forward to cozying up with one of her stories soon). But more importantly, be sure to tune to the Hallmark Channel tomorrow (November 18th) evening and savor the premiere of yet another holiday classic in the making known as Coming Home For Christmas. Jenny is living proof that no one knows what may be around the next corner or the next fork in the road, and if you keep your nose to the proverbial grindstone, those visions of sugarplums may one day become reality!

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{Picture Credit: Crown Media Press and Jenny Hale}