Ginny Baird's Blog: The Story Behind the Story... - Posts Tagged "am-reading"

Many moons ago, when I was a kid of not more than fourteen, my high school headmaster called me into his office to ask what I was considering as a career. At that point in my young life, I had no ambitions beyond my study of boys. Naturally, I didn’t say this in reply, and I was astonished when Dr. Fox recommended I become a writer. It turned out my English teacher had shared a volume of poetry with him that I’d written for a school assignment, and he thought it was quite good. My parents, however, were less than enthusiastic about my embarking on a path to poverty, suggesting I pursue a more practical profession. Though I did for a time, that old seed had already been planted.

Fast forward to several years later, when upon exiting a job in international development to become a full-time mom, I became plagued by recurring nightmares. Not one to take such matters lying down (ha-ha), I read several dream analysis books until I diagnosed my ailment. I had a “novel” inside me, which was dying to get out, and the personalities I'd dreamt of were my characters. Problem solved, I set out to write that book in a rapid fury, only to discover I’d have a devil of a time selling it. Finally, my little spy thriller found a home with a small Australian press that was on the leading edge of electronic publishing. In year 2000, that novel released in e-book (which meant on floppy disk) and print-on-demand. Its sequel saw publication six months later.

Unfortunately, in the day before e-readers, there wasn’t much of a market for e-books of any sort, and so—despite winning a few modest awards—those early books tanked. The first one did, nonetheless, catch the eye of a German film producer, who contacted me about it, asking me to send the script. While I’d never written a screenplay before, this sounded like too big of an opportunity to pass up! And so, I did a lot of self-educating the old fashioned way, meaning at the library and bookstore, as the Internet was still in its fledgling stages. The producer sadly passed, but since I’d written the screenplay anyway, I decided to enter it in the Nicholl Fellowship competition, sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Though I didn’t place or final, an extremely kindhearted judge sent me a handwritten note saying, “Top ten percent. Don’t stop writing.”

Wow! That was cool, and frankly so much more than I’d hoped for. And, that wee bit of encouragement spurred my ambition. By then, I’d sold a romance novel to Kensington Books in New York, and had a second one in the queue to be published. Romance was fun! Romance was hopeful! And, I loved adding humor to my stories. SO, why not try my hand at a romantic comedy screenplay? I seriously had nothing to lose, apart from a lot of postage, since all queries were sent by snail mail in those days, and scripts were mailed hard copy with some weird rule about only inserting two brads in the three-hole-punched paper.

The screenplay I wrote was called “All I Want for Christmas” about a child who asks Santa for a new mommy for Christmas, then wakes up to find one on her living room sofa—much to her bachelor dad’s surprise. By then, it was 2003, and I actually got interest in the script! It was (different producers told me) perfect for Hallmark! I signed an option. Yay! It got walked in. Yay! Nothing ever happened. Oh, well. Then the same project got optioned again, and again. Eventually, several times… Soon, I had a manager in LA and next an agent in New York City. I wrote more screenplays, and, well… The results were disappointingly the same. No matter how great a project is, it’s very difficult to get it set up for film. Those in the industry know this. I knew it, too. But, after a while, being human and all, I began to get discouraged.

Right around that time (2011), indie publishing came along, just as I was considering renewing my novel-writing career. I’d written a new romance I’d planned to pitch to publishers, but author friends urged me to consider releasing it on my own instead. Since this seemed like a good way to test the waters after my fiction-writing hiatus, I dipped my toe in gently with the two novels I’d regained rights to from the New York publisher, which had since closed that line. Then, I thought of my screenplays! Those poor little lost pups, with so much love and promise inside them—and yet nowhere to go. It wouldn’t be too much work to convert some of those to novellas. And so, I began with what ultimately became Books 1, 2, and 3 in my Holiday Brides Series and Books 1, 2, and 3 in my companion novella series, Summer Grooms.

These stories were a little different from most romance books out there in 2012 in that they were very sweet, with clean language, no love scenes, and a wholesome family feel, although they were clearly targeted toward adults. The books were, essentially, Hallmark-style novellas, and, luckily, they found their audience. When I discovered the readership for sweeter romances was broader than I’d originally anticipated, I decided to write more of them. And then, last year, a groundbreaking event occurred. I learned that Hallmark had opened a publishing division! This seemed almost too good to be true, and also such a great fit for my work and my brand.

I submitted to them immediately, and though my first concept wasn’t exactly what they were looking for, they enthusiastically accepted my second idea, which sent me over the moon! I’m totally thrilled to have my Christmas novel, An Unforgettable Christmas, releasing from Hallmark Publishing on September 24, 2019. It’s a really fun and romantic story, which is very close to my heart, as some of its elements are based on my family and also my Puerto Rican heritage on my mother’s side. There’s no guarantee that the book will become a Hallmark Channel movie, but the distinct possibility is there. I’ll be crossing fingers and toes, and hoping for the very best in that regard!

Meanwhile, it’s pretty amazing to think that my initial ambition of writing for Hallmark in 2003 will finally come to fruition in 2019. Yes. Sixteen years later! So, my message to all you struggling writers out there is the same as what that generous contest judge said to me. “Don’t stop writing.” The only sure way you won’t succeed is by giving up. Happy New Year, friends! Here's wishing you great health and happiness in 2019. May your fondest dreams come true. <3

Today I have the privilege of sharing a character interview with the hero and heroine from On Christmas Avenue, Clark Creek County Sheriff, Evan Clark, and fundraising expert Mary Ward, from Richmond. Clark Creek’s mayor, Connie Clark (who happens to be Evan’s mom), does the honors in asking the questions.

“Okay, kids.” Connie gives a welcoming smile. “Which of you wants to get started?”

Evan gestures. “Ladies first…”

“Oh no,” Mary says. “You! Absolutely. Clark Creek is your town.”

“Was my town.” He rolls his eyes toward Mary then playfully states, “Until this woman took it over.”

“What?”

“Not that I minded.” He chuckles.

“Oh, but you did mind,” Mary quips. “Quite a lot, as I recall.”

Evan tips is hat to disguise his broad grin. “Maybe so, at the outset.”

Connie redirects. “Okay, then. Mary! Let’s start with you. What would you say was your favorite part of being in Clark Creek during the story?”

“Apart from the parade? Which was outstanding, thanks to the help of many, many groups and individuals—I would say…” She darts a shy glance at Evan. “The people.”

“People?” He laughs warmly. “Come on now. You’ve got to give more than that. Let’s talk specifics here. What about what you said at the end when—”

“Evan. Shh!” She lowers her eyebrows at him. “No spoilers.”

“That’s hardly a ‘spoiler’ in the genre.”

Mary groans, but it’s all in good fun.

“Okay. Fair point.” He gazes innocently out his office window, which is barely visible with all the Christmas decorations in the way. Even his coat rack is wound tightly with Christmas lights.

“So, Evan,” Connie prods, absorbing the holiday cheer. “You’re big into Christmas all of a sudden.”

“Mom.” He shakes his head.

“Your transformation was my favorite part of the story, speaking as your mother and someone who loves the holidays.” Connie shares a conspiratorial wink with Mary. “He wasn’t always the way he was when you met him. So Scrooge-like. As a boy, he nearly trampled over his brothers stampeding down the stairs on Christmas morning.”

Evan holds up both hands. “I did not stampede.”

“You most certainly did,” Connie says with a haughty air. She smiles at Mary. “He wanted to see what Santa’d brought him first.”

“Ev-van.” Mary grins with delight and he blows out a breath.

“Okay, fine. I mean, maybe.”

“So then, Evan,” Connie continues. “What was your favorite part of the action in On Christmas Avenue? Can you point to a particular scene?”

“Hmm, there were many, but I’m thinking…” He rubs his cheek then his eyes twinkle at Mary. “The first time I met a certain ‘Christmas Consultant’. Sheerly for the surprise factor.”

Mary laughs and ribs lightly. “Well. You could have fooled me.”

His eyebrows arch. “Maybe I didn’t know until I knew? Later.”

Mary tilts her chin. “And when exactly was that?”

“I’d hate to ruin any reveals for our readers.”

“Nope.” Mary grins. “We can’t do that.”

“And you, Mary?” Connie asks. “Any other favorite bits besides the parade and the, ahem…” She sends her son a knowing look. “…‘people’?”

Mary pauses in thought. “The ice skating was fun! Except for kind of when it wasn’t. I wasn’t so hot at that.” She giggles at the memory. “Same with the horseback riding.”

“I was partial to the dancing,” Evan says, his voice going husky.

“In the gazebo?” Mary blushes. “Yeah. That was special.”

“Still,” Connie says. “You two had so much to remedy! Including all those last-minute disasters having to do with the parade.”

Mary grimaces. “Things did get a little touch and go there for a while.”

“Very dicey,” Evan concurs. “No doubt.”

Mary squares her shoulders. “We just had to have faith it would all work out.”

“Yeah, but.” Evan sets his chin. “Everyone has to work for their happy endings. Those don’t just get handed out to folks like platters of my dad’s world-famous turkey stuffing.”

Connie sighs at the mention of her husband’s signature dish. “It is pretty delicious. Isn’t it?”

“The best!” Mary says. “And there’s a recipe for it included at the end of the book.”

Connie waves goodbye. “I’m afraid that’s all the time we have. But thanks tons for being here. We hope you’ll stop by Clark Creek this Christmas to see what we’re all about. The town…the lights…the snow. The parade!” She waxes dreamy. “And the romance, of course.”

“And, once you arrive,” Evan chimes in. “Please stay for a while.”

“Yeah,” beckons Mary. “Come along and join the fun. Every day is an adventure—down to the very last page. While it’s a fictional story, it can certainly sweep you away. I know it did me.”

“You know-ho-ho…” Evan bellows out his very best Santa laugh then winks at Mary. “I’m a big fan of the novel myself.”

© Ginny Baird 2021

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