Ever since Unleashing Mr. Darcy came to the Hallmark Channel for the first time, I have been a huge fan of Teri Wilson. With the fourth movie connected with her books and characters premiering on the Hallmark network tonight (December 15th, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries), I am honored to be able to feature her yet again on my site.
RH: Since we last chatted, the sequel to Unleashing Mr. Darcy has made it to the Hallmark network. What was your involvement in this process of bringing the Darcy series to the Hallmark network?
TW: The executive producer for Unleashing Mr. Darcy is a longtime family friend of my literary agent. My agent felt like the book was a great fit for Hallmark, so she asked her producer friend to pitch it to them as a personal favor. The rest is history, I guess. We’ve since done three more films together for the Hallmark Channel. I’ve always been a huge Hallmark fan, and I’m thrilled to pieces to have my stories on the network. Once the books are optioned, I really don’t have much to do with the actual movie-making process. But I’ve been on set for all the movies and have tiny cameos in each one.
from Marrying Mr. Darcy
Do you believe there is any chance for a third installment of the Darcy series?
I don’t really know. The second Darcy film was a direct result of the fans continually asking Hallmark for a continuation of the Darcy story, so a lot of it depends on if it’s something the viewers want. I know everyone involved with the Darcy movies would love to do a third one. We’re all ready.
I was so excited to see your Christmas book finally making its way to Hallmark this year! What can you tell us about the process of your book Sleigh Bell Sweethearts making its way to the film Northern Lights of Christmas?
Yes, I feel like this movie has kind of been a long time coming because it was first optioned two years ago. I think it just took a while to get the script ready, but we had wonderful screenwriters—the same writers who wrote the script for Marrying Mr. Darcy, in fact. And I think the movie is going to be really fun. It was also a more complicated film because we had a lot of special effects due to the airplane scenes and the Aurora Borealis. Plus the reindeer! Reindeer actors are harder to come by than doggy actors.
With Corey
I believe you were again on set for this Hallmark movie. What was that experience like and how did it compare to the other set experiences?
Yes, I’ve been on set for all four of my Hallmark movies. Northern Lights of Christmas was a bit different because it was filmed in Northern Ontario, whereas the others were produced in Vancouver. So being on set for this film was my first time visiting that part of Canada. It was also my first time to see fake snow being used on set, which was really, really fun. They blow it out of these big, noisy blowers and it looks like foam. The foam dissolves into fertilizer, which is great for the environment.
With Ashley
I loved being able to meet Ashley Williams on set because she’s always been one of my favorite Hallmark actresses and I’m thrilled to have her in one of my movies! I’m also really happy that Corey Sevier plays the romantic hero in this movie because he was also in another of my Hallmark films – The Art of Us. He’s such a lovely person and it was great to see him again. I do wish I’d been able to meet the reindeer, but I wasn’t there on the days the animals were being filmed. Just like my other Hallmark movies, I have a cameo in Northern Lights of Christmas. It’s in the very first minute of the film, during the airport scene, so keep an eye out for me!
What other books do you have coming up (or recently out) that you would like to mention?
I have a brand-new book out called The Accidental Beauty Queen, which is a really fun romantic comedy with a Miss Congeniality-meets-Parent-Trap kind of vibe. It’s about a shy librarian who ends up taking her identical twin sister’s place in a beauty pageant and of course, lots of hijinks ensue, plus some romance! And I’m excited to say that I’m currently writing a book for Hallmark Publishing, but I can’t really share the specifics right now. (But look for an announcement about that sometime next year!)
Any other potential movie deals that you can mention (even just generally without specifics)?
There’s been some film interest from multiple sources for The Accidental Beauty Queen, and the executive producer from my Hallmark movies is always pitching my books to the network, but nothing definitive at this time. *fingers crossed*
How on earth do you manage your busy schedule? I am constantly amazed at how you keep up with everything!
I honestly don’t know. I look at all the projects I was involved in this year and I wonder the same thing. Hahaha. Actually, I just love what I do so much that it doesn’t seem like work. I’m very passionate about stories, books, films and of course the Hallmark Channel.
Corey Sevier, Ashley Williams Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Iden Ford
Having read a couple of your books now, I can say that you definitely have a knack for writing contemporary romances in what I would call an almost older, more sentimental style. Why do you think that style has become so popular in a world of romance novels that attempt to be edgy and even more shocking?
That’s an interesting comment, and I really haven’t thought of my writing in that way before, but I think you’re correct. I have a heart for classic themes and older, beloved stories, so in a lot of my books, I’m trying to put a new, modern spin on stories readers have loved for generations. What makes my books more contemporary is really the humor instead of edginess, because as any of my friends would tell you, I’m the opposite of edgy. I’m a girly girl who loves dogs, cupcakes, knitting and books. I think this style of romance will always be popular because the books are feel-good stories that put a smile on readers’ faces. I love writing them because it’s important to me to put something positive out into the world, and what’s more positive than a love story?
How will you be celebrating Christmas this year?
My husband and I will be going to stay with my parents for Christmas, along with my step-sister and her husband. I’m sure we’ll eat too much food and play a lot of board games, which is our family tradition. My son, Cameron, won’t be home for Christmas this year. He is an English teacher in Seoul, South Korea, which is obviously very far away. We’ll miss him, but we visited him recently (in September) and had such a wonderful time. Korea is beautiful.
I’ll also be hosting a viewing party for Northern Lights of Christmas on the 15th!
Teri’s Dog, Bliss
Whenever I see an update from Teri on social media, I invariably find myself smiling. In addition to promoting her books, she is regularly discussing her love for her dog, Bliss, her infatuation with the royal family, and the fact that she is a princess in disguise (she does look essentially regal with a tiara on her head). Now that I have had the opportunity to dive into her books for myself, I understand why she is such an acclaimed author. I already knew she was a marvelous woman with limitless gifts and abilities, and it looks like Hallmark adores her as much as I do. She is one of the most natural “fits” with this network for obvious reasons, and I am anxious to see many more collaborations between her and the network.
I hope that everyone in the U.S. tunes into the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Network tonight (12/15) for the premiere of Northern Lights of Christmas. (Canadian viewers will get to watch this movie on Super Channel Heart & Home December 21st.) Additionally, I extend an invitation to all my readers to visit Teri’s links below and consider supporting her via social media and/or purchasing one of her books for your reading pleasure. Teri is one of the most vivacious, loyal, upbeat authors I have come to know, and her talent is undeniably profound. I am eternally grateful to Hallmark for introducing me to this diamond-studded woman, and I look forward to supporting her career for many years to come!
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