Anyone who religiously follows my interviews understands how much I adore featuring the writers and those behind-the-scenes on my site. Nevertheless, it can be a struggle at times to connect due to scheduling conflicts and the general busyness of real life. A couple of years ago at least, a lovely Heartie by the name of Donna Cohen began requesting that I interview one of the writers of When Calls the Heart, Derek Thompson. I wasn’t opposed to it, and nor was he, but making contact was a truly challenging situation. When I attended the Hearties Family Reunion this past fall, Donna found me at the Jamestown Set Tour and insisted the I come and meet Derek which, of course, I quite happily did. After he and I exchanged information, we decided an interview would definitely happen. However, because of the explosiveness of the season five finale and the fact that Derek himself penned that incredible episode, he and I both decided that waiting until season six production was underway was a better option. Thankfully, this highly anticipated interview has ultimately occurred, and I am thrilled to share it with my readers today!

RH: Why/How did you decide to become a writer in the entertainment business? What kind of training did you have for this profession?

DK: I’ve always loved movies and TV, but I didn’t think I could ever make a career out of it. I’m from a smaller town and didn’t know anyone in the entertainment business, so I just wrote stories for myself… and I was okay with that. But years later, while I was in graduate school, I took an elective class in screenwriting (just for fun). I fell in love with it and eventually signed up for a screenwriting program in Vancouver.

Arctic Air Season 1

It looks like you got your start on Arctic Air. Though I have not seen the show, I have spoken with a number of people who were part of the cast, and I am aware of the significance of the show. How did you get involved with the show, and what did you enjoy most about your time with that show? Also, it looks like you had a number of different titles on that show. What was your writing journey like with that show?

It was an amazing experience. Pascale Hutton was one of the leads, so it’s been great to write for her again. Getting the job involved a lot of luck. I was in my final week of film school when one of my instructors (Kat Montagu) called me and said she’d recommended me to a colleague for a writers’ assistant/script coordinator job on a new show called Arctic Air (a one-hour drama about northern bush pilots). Their assistant had quit a few days earlier and they needed to fill the job quickly. It was pretty crazy at first; I didn’t really know what I was doing, but the writers were inviting and supportive (and patient). By the second season, the showrunners gave me a shot at writing a script and by the third season they bumped me up to story editor and I wrote two more. I loved writing for that show and learned a lot about a part of Canada I knew so little about. (Whenever I run into that assistant who quit, I feel like hugging him.)

You then moved on to Cedar Cove, which was your first experience with Hallmark (I believe). How did you get connected with that show, and what was your experience like? Again, what was your writing journey like with that show?

One of my agent’s clients was already working on Cedar Cove… I think that’s how my name was put into the mix. I liked the challenge of Cedar Cove because the emphasis was heavily on character (rather than plot). It was an important learning experience for me. Another great group of writers who taught me a lot.

When Calls the Heart set

You are now a writer on When Calls the Heart. How did that come about? What was the first show you wrote, and what are your memories of it?

I had just finished my contract on Cedar Cove when the phone rang about When Calls the Heart. I was in a hotel room in Toronto… I had no idea they were even looking for writers. The phone interview went really well. We talked a lot about sawmills (because the new showrunners had planned to close the mine for good and bring a sawmill to “Coal Valley”). I used to work in sawmills and they seemed to like that I knew lumber jargon.

My first episode was early in Season two (some people call it the “Homestead” episode). I remember thinking it was going to be a good episode even when we were brainstorming ideas. It was a reunion episode for Elizabeth and Jack, and he was finally able to show her the school he built for her. Then they spent time together on the homestead looking after the children. I think that was an important turn for them. It obviously meant a lot to the fans. I get a lot of questions about that episode.

How does the group of writers decide who will write what episode?

The showrunner (our boss) decides who writes each episode. Sometimes we write them on our own and other times as a team.

When Calls the Heart set

What is your all-time favorite scene that you wrote for When Calls the Heart?

I couldn’t pick one. I honestly enjoyed them all. We have great actors and directors. I’m always amazed by what they do with our words.

(But if I had to pick one scene, it would be the evening scene in the Homestead episode between Jack/Elizabeth.)

With his wife

Being a guy, how hard is it to write from a female character’s perspective?

Hard. I’m constantly asking my wife whether or not a woman would say this…. Or how she would react if someone said that. She tells me it’s made me a better listener…

How do the writers deal with last-minute script changes? Does that happen frequently when shooting When Calls The Heart?

It happens all the time. Usually one of the writers is a point person for last-minute changes. The changes might come from the director or an actor… or a note from the network. Whatever it is, we address it as soon as possible and our production team makes sure everyone has the revised pages before shooting begins.

Do you have any rituals you practice when writing?

I try to just get through a scene without overthinking it or torturing myself. The first pass is always going to be terrible. All the good stuff comes in the revisions.

I also eat a lot of almonds (the healthy kind that are covered in chocolate).

With Daniel Lissing

In the upcoming season six, do you have a favorite episode/scene? Without spoiling anything, what can you tell us about that episode or scene? Why is it a favorite?

As we all know, Season five was a difficult season for the fans, cast, and crew. We lost an important member of our cast. While we support his decision, it was extremely difficult for everyone. We tried to move forward in a way that was fair and true to our fans. That said, we believe Season six is a rebirth. We want to give the fans exactly what made them fall in love with the show in the first place.

Why do you believe this show has resonated with viewers so much?

It’s a snapshot of what we all strive to be. Caring and honest. I think life can be challenging and cruel but When Calls the Heart takes us to a happier place. Hallmark and MPCA {Motion Picture Corporation of America} should be very proud of this type of programming. Years from now, when my career is behind me, I’ll be most proud of the five years I spent writing stories that gave people comfort when they needed it.

When Calls the Heart set

What is it like working with the cast and crew of this show? Any special connections you have made as a result of the show?

So many special connections. I was lucky enough to be the writer on set for two seasons, so I spent a lot of time with our amazing cast and crew. I don’t think we could’ve asked for a better bunch.

Everyone genuinely cares about this show. The crew doesn’t just punch the clock and the actors don’t just show up and say their lines; they connect to the stories and question anything that sounds out of character. What stuck with me was the unique “look” each actor gave when something was wrong with the script. Erin {Krakow} would shoot me a look across the schoolhouse and I’d know the line wasn’t working. Lori {Loughlin} would look at the script with a smile and I could tell she had an idea for the ending. Jack Wagner would narrow his eyes and shout, “Where’s Darren?!” — He called me Darren, just to mess with me (I think).

Great cast and crew — and many fond memories.

Do you have plans to do other things besides writing? Are you looking at writing for other shows, movies, books, scripts, plays, etc?

I’m working on a few movie projects at the moment and I have a terrible novel in my top drawer that I’ve been working on for years (a procrastination tool, mostly). I love TV, though. It never bores me. Every day is different.

When Calls the Heart season wrap party

How difficult is it to write a period piece as opposed to a modern piece?

It’s a challenge, but it’s also fun to research. Learning the frontier lingo was a steep learning curve. I have to give a lot of credit to Robin Bernheim, who was showrunner on Seasons two through four. She showed up the first week (when we were all new to the show) and used all sorts of cool lingo from that period. I had no idea what she was saying and realized I’d better spend a few evenings on google to catch up!

When you have time to yourself, what do you like to do to unwind?

I enjoy music. I dabble with the guitar and piano whenever I can. I love watching movies I’ve seen a hundred times. Very relaxing. And lately, our new puppy is keeping us busy.

With Erin Krakow

Had it not been for the tenacity and assistance of Donna, I believe it is safe to say that this interview would never have happened, so I absolutely thank her from the bottom of my heart for all her labor on my behalf. Moreover, the fact that Derek never grew weary of hearing from me and continued to be kind and circumspect in all his interactions is another thing that worked in his favor. Derek maintains the standard writer persona in that he is unpretentious and does not ever want to snatch the limelight from the actors whom he considers the genuine stars of the show. He is perfectly content to execute his job with skill and professionalism and then return to his “normal” life without ever attempting to draw undue attention to himself. He is always ready and willing to praise the other writers, producers, directors, actors, and anyone else involved, but in his wildest dreams, I venture to say he never expected an interviewer like me nor the devoted Hearties to shower such praise upon him for his obvious skills in formulating such beloved stories. There is no doubt in my mind that he is endlessly grateful to everyone who has lent their support to this phenomenal show over the past few years, and I think all of us anticipate many more seasons to come in the future. Moreover, I tend to think there is the chance we may witness more of his upstanding work featured in next year’s spin-off series, When Hope Calls. 

While we all breathlessly await the When Calls the Heart Christmas movie and season six of this auspicious show, I invite everyone to check out Derek’s links below and consider following him where applicable. While his credits may not have given him the sort of prestige that others tend to receive who work on more noteworthy, celebrated shows on network and cable television, there is no skepticism in anyone’s minds concerning the profound giftedness Derek possesses as he continues to produce content that irradiates the screen and entertains us Hearties to the very core. His allegiance to quality storytelling, stimulating dialogue, and intriguing characterizations are obvious representations of his innate abilities to weave every element of screenwriting together in what can only be categorized as expert writing. Derek is a decidedly talented young man, and I can hardly wait to see what the future holds for him as he continues to follow his heart in this business and produce exceptional work that rivals those of more decorated writers in his field. In my humble opinion, Hallmark is blessed to have such a profoundly capable writer who works effectively with his entire team to consistently present such emotional, inspirational, uplifting shows like When Calls the Heart to its loyal fan base!

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