I Have Amazing, Exciting Author News!

Posted on by Bryn Donovan
champagne glasses and city lights - hallmark movies based on books

Last night around midnight, I checked my inbox and shrieked at the top of my lungs. Mr. Donovan came running—“What! What’s wrong?”

But I was reacting to amazing news!

It was an email from a producer at the Hallmark Channel. 

Now as some of you know, before my novel Her Knight at the Museum was even published in 2024, it was optioned for a Hallmark movie. In case you’re wondering how that happened: after the publishing deal was announced in Publishers Marketplace, the producer got the original manuscript from my agent.

author Bryn Donovan wearing sequins and holding a glass of champagne Save

I knew a few of the producers at the Hallmark Channel, just a little bit, because I used to work there. I’d even gone to lunch with this particular producer a couple of times. (She came down to the first floor to meet the person who always sent a congratulatory email when a movie was ready to air. Apparently I was the only one doing that, but I thought it was a normal thing to do! Finishing a movie is a huge deal!)

But I never pitched the story to anyone at Hallmark. I assumed my story was too spicy for them to option, and I was wrong about that. 

There are many Hallmark movies based on books.

I knew it wouldn’t be that crazy if mine was one of them. But I also knew that a lot of projects get optioned, only to quietly slip out of development.

I never spend a lot of time thinking about things that are out of my control. People would ask me if the movie was going to happen, and I would say honestly, “I don’t know! I hope so!” But I think maybe as time went on, I began to assume that my story had been set aside. I knew another production company had asked about the rights, at least.

HER KNIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, a spicy romcom book by Bryn Donovan. Who says chivalry’s dead? Read the romance about the medieval knight who comes to life in modern times. Learn more (click button) Save

But in the email yesterday, the producer said they would be shooting the movie this summer!

It’s really happening! I can still hardly believe it!

They’ll be shooting in Vancouver, and I can visit the set! A lot of Hallmark movies are shot in Vancouver and other places in Canada, for financial reasons. It’s not just Hallmark movies, either. Early in my career, I was on a sound stage in Vancouver for a TV commercial shoot. A crazy thing happened there, but I’m going to save that story for my book.

Because here’s the other wild thing. I’m writing a romance that takes place, basically, during the making of a Hallmark movie! I interviewed a few producers prior to writing the opening chapters, so that I could make it at least a tiny bit realistic. But now I have an amazing opportunity to make it very real!

I don’t know much else at this point…

I don’t know which actors have been cast, though I can’t wait to see. I bet they’ll be wonderful!

I don’t know if I get to be an extra, but you can bet that I’m going to ask.

I don’t know when it will premiere, though I would say autumn of this year is a good guess.

I’m curious about whether they will change the title, though there’s been no mention of that so far.

I don’t know how much it will veer from the book, other than the obvious fact that the steamy scenes won’t be included. (Everyone says that steamy scenes should always be necessary to the story, but I am the first to admit that this story works just fine if you skip them.)

I’ve edited other books that became Hallmark movies, so I know how much the stories can change out of necessity. I have no problem with that! I trust them to keep the vibe of the characters and the story…and honestly, it’s very sweet, light, and Hallmark-y to begin with. 

But here’s what I do know!

I do know how much I’ll get paid, and for me and my husband—two full-time freelance book editors—it’s a nice payday.

I do know that I’m going to ask the publisher to add the “soon to be a Hallmark movie!” line to the book’s product description on websites.

And I do know that I’m going to host a little watch party for the premiere! Not a virtual event, but a real party with cake and decorations. 

 

 

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Can you imagine a book you wrote as a movie?

If you’re a fiction writer, do you ever try screenwriting? Or do I have some screenwriters among my readers?

I’d love to hear all your thoughts about this! 

Thank you, as always, for subscribing to the blog and sharing so much support! I appreciate you! 

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100 thoughts on “I Have Amazing, Exciting Author News!”

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Kay, I’m sorry—my earlier response didn’t come through! Thank you! I am already starting to feel shy about asking to be an extra. But hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask, right? 🙂 Hope everything is going well with you!

  10. IslaFinch says:

    Ohhhhmygoooooosshhhh, Bryn!!! This is SUCH exciting news 🥳 I can’t wait to see it (& see if I can pick out the changes they make for the adaptation lol). Congratulations for this milestone!! This is probably almost every author’s dream 🤩 and YOU DID IT!!

    To answer your question—yes. I have absolutely dreamed about the book I’m working on being turned into a movie. Every now and then, we have our critique group do some fun projects (to keep the spark of inspiration burning) and we once did a “fake casting” for the future (Dream) movie adaptations of our books. I even made a slide slow 😂

    I made my own little dream come true by inserting the plot and characters from one of my other books (the half-dragon girl) into my contemporary romance as a fictional movie in that book 😂 and one of those characters starred in that movie. It was so much fun to include that.

    Ahh! I hope you celebrate all week long. Three cheers from the PNW!

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      ISLA! I have NO idea why a few of my replies didn’t go through last week! I love the idea of dream casting a novel. That sounds so inspiring. And oh my gosh—that is very fun, making your characters star in a movie in another book. 🙂 I love things like that!

  12. Remi Dayle says:

    WOW WOW WOW!!! CONGRATULATIONS 🎉
    So very happy for you. Can’t wait to watch it! I’m pretty sure there is not a single Hallmark production that I have not watched at least once. Lol I’m sure I will watch yours. Again congratulations. We can always hope and dream and some of us. It actually comes true for. Hoping maybe one day one of mine will make it. Their fingers crossed. 🤞🏻

  14. Jeanne B Lawson says:

    I am so excited for you! You are reminding me that dreams do come true – we just don’t what day they will arrive in our Inbox. Please keep us posted. I want to read all the juicy details.

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Hi Jeanne! Oh, I love how you put that (“dreams do come true – we just don’t what day they will arrive in our inbox.”) It’s so true! I will share some behind the scenes stuff!

  15. Remi Dayle says:

    And by the way, I was trying to print out your master lists so that I could have them handy while I’m working rather than having to keep opening the electronic versions when I finally realized that they were in your book. Ha ha just wasn’t paying close enough attention I guess. Anyway, I ordered your book the other day and it arrives today. I appreciate your time and effort creating the master list because I’m quite good at it myself, but there are many many many times when I get stuck on using the same thing over and over.
    I’m constantly going back over my work trying to come up with variations and once I found your lists online, they have helped save a bit of time with me not needing to rack my brain for variety.

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Oh, that is funny! Yes, some lists are on the blog but also in the book (and the lists are often more comprehensive in the book!) They started out as lists I made for myself, because I start using the same things over and over, too. Thank you for getting the book! I’m so glad it’s useful!

  16. Elliott Bradbury says:

    AHHHHHHHHHHH SCREAMING YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!! I do hope there will be a way for those of us who don’t have cable/satellite to watch online <3 And/or DVD eventually!

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Hi Elliott! That’s so funny—AHHHHHHHHHHHH is exactly what I said! I know sometimes these do come out on DVD, so hopefully that will happen here! Fingers crossed!

  17. Christine says:

    I’m so excited and happy for you! You’ll have to give us all regular updates on how it’s going and all the behind the scenes stuff! Now I get to brag that my editor is not only a NY Times bestseller, but also has a movie based on her book!

  20. Rick says:

    Congrats Bryn! It’s so nice when good things happen to good people! I know from your blog how had you work and how much you care about helping other writers – great to see your work being rewarded!

  24. Gera Jones says:

    Congratulations, Bryn! You so deserve this! I am partial way through Her Knight at the Museum and I am loving it. What a great thing! A movie! You so deserve this!

    Gera

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Gera, thank you! And thank you for all your support. I truly appreciate it. I am so glad you are enjoying Her Knight at the Museum! It’ll be fun to see who they get to play Griffin and Emily!

  27. Roland Clarke says:

    Congratulations, Bryn! The icing on the cake of everything that you and your husband have done so far. You deserve this.

    I briefly worked in the TV industry as my first wife was a fledgling screenwriter. I haven’t tried to use any of the experiences in my writing… even the bad ones. Just my experiences as an equestrian journalist in my only novel.

  28. Trisha says:

    I can’t wait to see this movie! The book was great, I’m sure the movie will be fantastic as well. Congratulations!

  30. rlmerrillauthor says:

    HUGE NEWS! I’m so excited for you. I had an actor friend ask me recently for a short screenplay of one of my stories and I was like uhhhhh I’ve never done that. I should. I also was told to write up a treatment for one of my series by another actor friend. Not sure if I’m just overwhelmed or too afraid to try it, but yeah, I haven’t. I should. I try not to should on myself, but I feel like this is a should moment. Can’t wait to hear deets on your movie! tee hee I get to say YOUR MOVIE ahahaha.

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Thank you RL! Oh, that is interesting about the screenplay! I haven’t done it before, either…I developed the basic storylines for a couple of the movies and other people ran with them. But I am interested in trying it, too! MY MOVIE hahaha!

  32. Colleen Guyton says:

    This is so exciting! I would be screaming too! Yea! Enjoy every moment, you deserve it so much! I hope many more come! ~Cheers!!

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Hi Nancy! I have to apologize—a few of my comments didn’t go through last week. THANK YOU! I am sure, too, that Hallmark will do a great job. I appreciate the good wishes!

  38. Sandy Parker says:

    Wow, Bryn. Congratulations. That’s wonderful news. This is a dream of mine when I watch those sweet Hallmark romances: to have a novel covered by them. Is there any luck for an Australian novel? They would have to take out the spicy bits. LOL

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Sandy, I don’t know if they ever adapt Austalian novels, but I wouldn’t be surprised! They’ll be taking out the spicy bits in mine, but they do that all the time. 🙂 Thank you!

  40. David Nelson says:

    Congratulations. I’m an aspiring screenwriter, having written an as-yet unpublished short film script. I’m wanting to try and adapt a few of my own books to screenplay format, but I gotta do some more reading up on that. But again, congratulations.

  41. paulalimput says:

    I’m sure it will be well worth the long wait you’ve had. What a wonderful and exciting time to look forward to. Congratulations and well done. xx

  46. Kate says:

    Delighted to read this news, Bryn. It’s fantastic. Congratulations and very well deserved. I can’t wait to see the film come out.

  47. Andrea says:

    Oh my gosh congratulations!!!

    I must admit I’m always nervous about the editing of book –> movie. I’ve been burned so many times. I’m glad you’re working with people who will keep the essence of your story! That has to be such a relief. Please keep us posted, I can’t wait to hear more about it!

    • Bryn Donovan says:

      Hi Andrea! Yes, as you say, it’s nice to not have to worry—I know the movie will have the same vibe as the book. Thank you! I hope everything’s going well with you!

  48. Jan Fosbinder says:

    Bravo…Take a bow…I’m so happy and excited for you. As the say…Good things come to those who wait. Yay For You!!!!

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