My Writing Corner : When Hollywood Comes Calling

Last week I introduced you to Karilyn Bentley and her book The Shadowheart Curse and mentioned she had a just been given a wonderful opportunity -- a movie might be made of one of her books. Of course I wanted to know more, so she is back with us this week to tell us about her experience.

Tell us how the movie project involving The Shadowheart Curse came about.

Unbeknownst to me, the movie director contacted my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, and said that he liked my Demon Huntress series, needed a writer who could write demons, and wanted me to write a book based on his idea that would be turned into a movie. My publisher set up a call and the director gave me his idea for the movie. While he gave me the main plot and several scenes, he left a lot to my imagination, like some aspects of the characters and the ending. I had to write a synopsis that he approved, then write the book according to the synopsis. There are ten books in the DeadlyTen series, most of them are horror (the director is a horror movie director), but mine is a romance that features a ghost and a medium. The director will turn the book into a movie. If you're interested in livestreaming the making of the movie, go to https://deadlyten.com and sign up to watch.

Had you ever thought about writing a movie script?
No, I never have so being asked to write a book that would be turned into a movie was pretty cool!

What were some of the challenges of writing a movie script as opposed to writing the novel?

Well, I'm not writing the movie script. I wrote the book based on the director's idea and he'll then turn that book into a movie. It's pretty exciting!!

Were there any changes that you can discuss that readers might look for in the movie?

I do not know the answer to this yet. They haven't started filming (should start in September or October) so I'm not sure what will be different. I don't have a say-so in the movie. But am assuming the director will change some things.

Were you on the set as the movie was being filmed?

I wish! But no, I'm not invited. I've never been to Italy and would love to see it (both the book and the movie are set in Italy). But everyone is able to stream the making of the movie by going to https://deadlyten.com and clicking on the signup button in the right corner. So it'll be like we're all on set! The movie is supposed to start filming in September or October. Two of the ten DeadlyTen movies have already filmed and the rest will be filmed this fall.

When will it be available to viewers?

All ten movies will be available on Amazon streaming on 2/14/20.

Would you do it again?

Yes! I was surprised to discover I really enjoyed writing someone else's idea. It's been a fun experience for me!

Is there anything else you would like to add about your experience?

I learned a lot about myself. I'm a pantser, but I used a synopsis for this book and writing that way worked (for once). I'm also the slowest writer on the planet, but managed to write the book in six weeks (then sent it off to my beta readers, then edited the heck out of it before sending it to my editor, so I guess that was really around eight weeks). It was a lot of fun and I'd do it again!

BLURB:

Escaping New York after a client’s untimely death, medium Adrianna Sinclair flees to her family property in Italy. All she wants is to avoid ghosts, but an attractive one tempts her in ways she never knew possible. Luca Fausto has been trapped on the Romani property for over a century for a crime he didn’t commit. Adrianna may be the answer to breaking the curse that keeps him bound. Standing in their way is a demonic spirit's plan for revenge. Will they prevail or will Luca be cursed to the shadows forever?

EXCERPT:

Lights drew her attention to the opposite wing of the mill, where a man stood staring at her window. At her. Breath caught in her lungs as she froze.

But only for a brief moment until she realized it wasn’t a man, at least not a living one. Her breath escaped on a whoosh of relief. Intuition whispered the man was the spirit who’d watched her last night.

The one from her dream.

Shadows clung to his body, ghostly fingers releasing as he stepped into the dim slash of moonlight. Lights flickered from behind him, like the dying gasps of sputtering candles. Dressed in a white shirt with an old-fashioned high collar, sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms, and dark trousers, he reminded her of a working man in a World War I photograph. As if he had removed his coat and tie and rolled up his sleeves to get to work.

Except the men in those photos didn’t sport the wide-eyed, happy look of this man. Ghost. Whatever. Yeah, he wasn’t the only one surprised. She’d sworn never to see a ghost again, yet there stood a ghost, captured by her gaze. The man was hot, in an old-fashioned way. At least he didn’t sport a handle-bar moustache.

He gestured to her, his hand beckoning in a “come here” motion.

She squeezed the bridge of her nose. Was she actually thinking of heading his way? Judging by the way her feet pointed toward the door, she’d already decided. Dammit. She might not want to see a ghost or speak to a spirit, but past experience told her if she ignored them, they ramped up the annoying factor.

How bad could it be to talk to an attractive spirit?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amzn.com/B07TBBZXZC

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shadowheart-curse-karilyn-bentley/1132821747

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-shadowheart-curse/id1473825800

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-shadowheart-curse

Where to find Karilyn:

Website: www.karilynbentley.com

Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley