October Newsletter from Kim

It's that time of year when the leaves are falling,  the fireplace crackles and we bundle in sweaters.  October. This year, I'm feverishly at work to bring lighthearted entertainment to my readers. We deserve it this year. Announcing ROMANCING the HOLIDAYS With New York Times Bestselling Authors, USA Today Bestselling Authors, and Award-Winning Authors, Romancing the Holidays is sure to make your hearts light and maybe even curl some toes with  romance. This has been a tough year for America. In an effort to provide some  happiness and light entertainment, I decided to put together a Box Set of Christmas Romance Stories. NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY Bestselling, & Award-Winning Authors The season of Mistletoe and Christmas Cookies is almost upon us and  we are proud to bring you 12 Holiday Romances! Snuggle up by the fire and enjoy this season like never before. From Sizzling to Sweet, From Maui to Washington D.C., all our Romances have page-turning love stories and Christmas at its finest. A Portion of the Proceeds go to www.Cancer.org Kimmy's Korner You know I love to write about Hawaii... My contribution to this anthology of 12 novellas is Maui Kalikimaka, a 25,000 word novella, that guest stars Pepper from The Dream Jumper Series. It's the story of Lena Patterson and Kalani Shipton, who meet when they are both invited to spend Christmas on Maui with friends because of unfortunate circumstances. Single mom, Lena, is lonely and needs a good distraction this Christmas, seeing her ex-husband has the children. Kalani has been evacuated from his home on The Big Island as Kilauea's lava advances towards his residence. The two Kona residents met once before when Kalani had had more than his share to drink at a party and when Lena was very much still married. With his drinking days behind him, Kalani, the dashing coffee farmer, finds himself smitten with the other single house guest in the Maui beachfront mansion belonging to his friend and Pepper Scully's boyfriend, Jake.  Realizing he and Lena are made for each other, Kalani makes a sober effort to woo the pretty jewelry maker. But, Lena is cautious and not interested in getting involved with a playboy with a bad reputation. Especially because they'll return to the wagging tongues of a small town at the end of the Christmas holiday. And that is just ONE of the stories! Check out the other stories and our descriptions at: AMAZON Barnes & Noble Kobo iTunes The set is just 99 cents for 12 Feel-Good Christmas Love Stories!  And we included Holiday Recipes like cookies, fail-safe turkey & gravy and party appetizers! Non-Holiday/Christmas Info... I just got back from Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention, this year held in Toronto Canada. Although I'm not a mystery writer, per say, rubbing shoulders with Blake Crouch, Mary Kubica, Shari LaPena, Louise Penny, Kathy Reichs, and hordes of other Bestselling Authors made me want to add more mystery to my books. I had the opportunity to be on a panel about Romantic Suspense with Heather Graham, the Paranormal Romantic Suspense Author, and that was wonderful. I loved that woman's floor length cheetah coat, probably as much as Alexandra Sokoloff loved a large gold necklace I wore at her talk about writing dark subjects. Toronto was fantastic and I even got to wear my movie producer hat for a meeting to get interest in Dream Jumper - The Movie. I went on a GHOST WALK in Toronto and while a college kid in a black cape with a lantern told ghost stories to us under our umbrellas, I realized how lucky Seattle is to have an underground tour and ghost hunt. We stood outside in the pouring rain looking at buildings thought to be haunted. It was fun to go out on a dark, rainy night to listen to ghost stories with a bunch of librarians, but I wanted something more authentic. I'd hoped to go  inside the buildings, at least get a little tap on the shoulder from the beyond. The highlight of the tour was this dog fountain that shone brightly  in the center of a dark park, from a block off. All the dogs of all breeds had  water coming from their mouths and were eyeing a bone at the top of the fountain. It was beautiful! And Now... For those dark, rainy evenings when you curl up by the fireplace with a good book. CIDER RUM PUNCH 8 fluid ounces of dark rum 3 fluid ounces of lemon juice 4 flued ounces of simple syrup (adjust to taste) 12 fluid ounces of apple cider 4 fluid ounces of water 4 fluid ounces of Club Soda 4 fluid ounces of Angostura Bitters Add apple wheels as a garnish For me, this month is all about promo for ROMANCING the HOLIDAYS with Crista McHugh, Jami Davenport, Kathi Daley, Misty Evans/Adrienne Girodano, Allie Boniface, Rebecca J. Clarke, Kim Hornsby, Tess Thompson, Savanna Grey, Lori Leger, Jacki Delecki and Carmine Valentine. We are hoping to achieve USA TODAY Bestselling  status, and keeping our fingers crossed. Enjoy October, everyone, with the gorgeous turning leaves, cooler  temps, sweater season and soups and stews on the stove. And be looking for ROMANCING the HOLIDAYS to be delivered to your inbox on November 14th. Just go on over to your favorite etailer to buy a presale copy or click the above link for Amazon. Think Happy Thoughts! Kim KIM HORNSBY is an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author who lives in Seattle, writing Suspense and Romance. Find her on Amazon to see how she opened shows for Jamie Foxx and The Smother's Brothers in Hawaii, then became a novelist. Sign up for Kim's Newsletter to get info on FREE books, new book launches and Kim News! www.bit.ly/KimHNews

Bouchercon 2017 - Speaking & Ghost Hunting

Bouchercon is The World Mystery Conference for writers and readers held every year in a new venue. Last year it was New Orleans, this year it is Toronto, Canada and takes place October 12th to 15th, eh?

I'm going!

For several reasons:

1. I like Canada
2. I can visit my sister in Toronto
3. I need to get out of my messy house
4. I want to be surrounded by mystery/suspense writers

I was accepted to speak on a panel Saturday October 14th at 2:30 called Fraught with Romance along with Heather Graham (!) and before that hour, I intend to soak up all the information about mystery writing I possibly can. I love mystery, love to write mystery, and love to read mystery, so this won't be a bad thing at all.
I also have an important meeting on Thursday in Toronto that I can't tell you about for another week. We'll see how the meeting goes, then I can reveal what it was. Let's just say it has to do with my new career as the producer of a movie. A movie that is the adaptation of my bestseller seen to the right here...

I'm headed to TO early, to spend Thanksgiving with my sister, will write on Tuesday and Wednesday to finish my Christmas Romance that goes into my newly published-for-presale box set Romancing the Holidays. 
Then Thursday, I'll hit the subway, head to the Sheraton Center with a box full of books and attend workshops. Insert important meeting here at 3 pm.
Thursday night, I'm thinking of going to U of T for Hart Hanson's event for his hit crime novel --The Driver. The talk is called Scribbling for a Living. I loved the book, and Hart is a great speaker, having loads of interesting things to say as the show runner/creator of the TV show Bones.

Ghost hunting in Seattle

Friday, back to the Sheraton Center to soak up anything that's leaking.
Saturday is my big day back at the conference, including the talk at 2:30 and a book signing after. I'm not sure I have any Canadian fans but I'll be there with a pen in hand.
That night, I'm signed up for the ghost walk tour and I'm excited about that! You know I love that stuff. I'll report back if I get any taps on the shoulders. Or feel an entity enter my body.

Things to remember in Canada:

16 degrees is 60 F
Loonies are dollars, Twoonies are two dollars. The Canadian dollar is worth only .80 US so yes, have that extra drink, buy a T shirt.
Be extra polite. They will be.
Toronto is NOT the country's capital but still pretty cool.
Asking for a toilet or bathroom? Say washroom.

If you're going to Bouchercon2017, have fun and be sure if you see and recognize me, come up and say hi. I look like this:


KIM HORNSBY is a Canadian who now lives in Seattle, writing Suspense and Romance. Find her on Amazon at her Author Site and read how she once opened shows for Jamie Foxx and The Smother's Brothers.
While there, consider supporting Breast Cancer Research by buying Romancing the Holidays.

Dancing With The Stars- Armchair Dance Judge!

I used to mourn the absence of The Bachelor and curse the beginning of Dancing With the Stars but I've done a flip lately. I'm not sure what that says about me maturing or growing into being a dance fan, but when DWTS began last night, I was jubilant.
Continue if you don't care that I got the names wrong on this first night of figuring out who is who.

I hadn't really researched the lineup ahead of time so was surprised to see Debbie Gibson from the 80's, the guy from Hamilton, the Lachey's (being treated like one person,) and that tiny gal with the violin who my teenage daughter watches on YouTube.

I'm going to love this season, I know.

Cheryl Burke is back and being punished for some reason.

Vanessa Lachey and Maks

Last night they scored her partner (one of the only guys with dance chops) Terrell Owens really low and as we sat sipping our chardonnay, my hubby and I wondered WTF. He's good. Granted, he went first but come on Len, Carrie Ann and Bruno! Next week, he'll earn at least a 7 or 8, I'm sure.
Did anyone notice that Barbara Cocoran of Shark Tank, sounded like she was trying to deflect lack of dance talent with cougar fun? Too much. She did what women have been fighting against for years. She objectified someone to gain favor. She went for her pro, Keeto, as a sexy object. BC did everything but take him down in the missionary reverse right there on the dance floor in a display of horny promo. Tone it down, Babs. Please. No deal to you.
Nick Lachey was in the boy band that couldn't dance, he said, and it kind of showed, but time will tell. He's funny and fun and might stick around long enough, just to see his wife, Vanessa Lachey go to the finals because she's that good and a proud MAMA of 3 children!

Lindsey Stirling, the elfish violinist who tours and dances and wears crazy costumes and hair, was a delight to watch as well. Matched with the returning genius of Mark Ballas, she's destined to go far.

Victoria Arlen and Val

I loved watching the gal who was basically in a vegetative state for years, came out of it and ended in a wheelchair for many more years and now walks. Not only walks but she's on DWTS! Victoria Arlen will be a fan fav for sure. I love these stories of determination and so do the producers on this show. Watch Victoria Arlen.
Can't wait to see what next week brings! Nikki Bella, Derek Fisher, Terrell Owens, Debbie Gibson, Frankie Muniz, Drew Scott, Sasha Pieterse and more!
I can't critique everyone but as people get eliminated, this armchair dance judge and her hubby will be able to keep up.

Go here for real names and info on last night's show.

What to do on Maui!

Maui - NO KA OI (Is the Best)

Me and kids at Hyatt with flamingos

Having lived on Maui for over a decade, I often get asked to recommend hotels, beaches, restaurants. Although the restaurants change every few years, the beaches do not. I try my best to keep up on the changes by visiting yearly :)

Here are some tips for Maui, if you’re planning a vaca to the Valley Isle this winter.

Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen.

When you get off the plane and get your car, consider going to Costco on the left if you’ll be making meals in a condo. It’s cheaper than Safeway on the West side.

Kmart is also a great stop for beach shoes, towels, snacks and snorkel stuff too.

We always make these two stops to load up.

Whale Season is January to March, not usually before or after, no matter what is said. Whale watches are usually successful. They are out there jumping, breeding, birthing but you can catch awesome glimpses of them from the Pali (cliffs) on the drive from the airport to the west side of Maui. Just don’t stop all traffic trying to turn left on that twisty road. Another great place to view whales is on the far north side of the island before the road gets treacherous to navigate.

http://www.hawaiiweb.com/maui/kahakuloa-head.html

Beaches for young kids

Westside Baby Beach – Lahaina  - Off north front St. is beach access (look for the blue sign) near “Jesus Coming Soon” Sign. Park on street and walk in to a sheltered long, beach facing Lanai.  Very calm, shallow with nice view of Lahaina harbor and Lanai.  Not good snorkeling but at high tide it’s possible. No toilets or tables but there is a shower.  All beaches in Hawaii are public and must have access. This is a great map of the west side.

http://www.mauicondohomes.com/maps_maui/lahainakaanapalihonokowai.htm

Baby Beach – Sprecklesville – near Kahului Airport.  Take road to Paia/Hana but just before Paia turn left before big, modern sub-division.  This will be after turn to go up Haleakala.  Drive down road towards ocean and turn right to parking behind beach.  The beach is in front of Maui Golf and Country Club and parking is a bit tricky to find but it’s a good secluded beach for kids if the wind is blowing off shore.  There is a natural jetty that protects the shoreline from waves.

Wailea beaches are good too on most winter days.  Try next to the Intercontinental Hotel where there is a public beach access sign and excellent parking. Good snorkeling in there and restrooms. (I once took a young woman scuba diving there who had no use of her arms and legs!  It was tricky but rewarding!)

Kapalua Bay

Kapalua Bay has a lovely little beach but you must get there before noon to get parking. The access is north of the Napili Kai Beach club. Good parking and restrooms.  The best snorkeling is on the right side of the protected bay, just as the rocks start to disappear on the surface. Experienced snorkelers will love going around point to the north in amongst the rocks.  It’s a long way but gorgeous if the visibility is good. Turtles hang in here.

Airport Beach, north of Kaanapali is now called something Hawaiian but it has great parking, rest rooms, showers and a good enough stretch of coral parallel to shore to snorkel. Just north of Black Rock, across from the Sugar Cane train station, turn towards the ocean. This beach can have surf but on a calm day it’s wonderful.

Black Rock is wonderful because of the sea turtles who seem to hang there daily. If the surf is crashing in on Kaanapali Beach in front of the Sheraton, don’t bother.

Try parking at the 12 free spots just north of the valet parking for Kaanapali Beach Hotel.

Olowalu Stop for Goodies

Mile 14 marker at Olowalu can be very good snorkeling although the beach is close to the highway.

Tide differences in Hawaii are only 2-3 feet so low tide isn’t really an issue.

Restaurants – These change with the seasons but we like the Hula Grill on Kaanapali Beach at Whalers Village (lots of paid parking).  The kids can play in the grassy area if you get a table on the edge.  The Barefoot Bar next door has a sand floor which is fun too and you can get good pu pus (appetizers) there.  Sunset is visible and they have live music. We used to let our young son play with his trucks under the table while we listened to music.

Go to Kaanapali Beach Hotel for a drink and appetizers. The hula show at 7 is free and super fun. Friday night is kids’ hula. Very cute to watch. This hotel is a wonderful throw back to the old Hawaiian style. Love it. The restaurant is very good too.

Hailiimaille General Store if you are over near Kahalui or Sprecklesville at lunch.  It’s out of the way but renowned and a fun, funky place. If you’re over on that side go watch the surfers past Paia .

Cheeseburger in Paradise with once teenage son

Avoid Front Street for meals if you can – it’s really pricey.  Although Cheeseburger in Paradise is fun if you don’t mind paying $12 for a burger.  Longhi’s is world famous for pasta. I like Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahaina or Mala, next door. Also Cezanne's.

Hard Rock Café or Bubba Gumps is good for kids at the north end of Lahaina at Front St.

Thai restaurants on Maui are good too. I like Siam Thai Cuisine in Wailuku if you’re over there at the Iao Valley.  I like the walk around the Iao Needle.  It shows you the true Hawaiian foliage and jungle feel of the islands.  Wailuku is most like old Hawaii and the Iao Theatre is a fabulous old theatre featuring plays, on Market street.

Makawao Malasadas

If you’re in Makawao or upcountry at lunch or dinner  Poli’s Mexican is great food and kid friendly.  Makawao is a cowboy/ artsy town with lots of art in galleries.

Kihei has a Poli’s too - at Sugar Beach (north Kihei).

For finer dining and a real treat we love the Plantation House Restaurant on the Kapalua Golf Course – go at sunset.  Food is exceptional and kids are welcome.

Drinks at the Grand Wailea in Kihei, The Ritz in Kapalua, or The Hyatt Hotel is fun.

The Hyatt pool is fabulous for kids and adults!! Take the kids to see the penguins and flamingos and let them swim in the kiddie pool while you have a Mai Tai. Parking at the back of the hotel is free.

Parasailing just off Kaanapali Beach in front of Leilani’s at Whaler’s Village is great.  It’s a happy face parachute.  Not scary at all. They have a tandem set up so you can go with your child.

I think Condos are essential with kids

Look online for deals

We like Lahaina side because that’s where I lived.  The weather can be nicer, depending on time of year. 

North of Lahaina (Kaanapali to Kapalua) April-October sunny and nice but rainy in winter.  Recently I’ve stayed at Maui Eldorado which I found online somewhere.  We stayed in a beautiful 1 bedroom looking at one of the 3 pools and facing the ocean.  You have to walk through the golf course to get to Whalers village and the beach but we loved it and the price was right.

Napili is kind of secluded and too far away from stuff we like to do but cooler for sleeping and more quiet than anything in Lahaina.

Kihei is the other tourist side - down south and has lots of good condos. Families love Kihei for the beaches.  

Kamaole Sands condos are clean and nicely appointed.  Few are actually on the ocean side of the road.  You’ll go to the beach every day and be out in the car anyhow so ocean view may not be essential.

A rental car is absolutely necessary.  Public transportation is poor at best.

If you’re staying in Kaanapali at one of the large hotels, there is a nice boardwalk along the beach connecting to Whaler’s Village.

Sharks – There are VERY few shark attacks in the Hawaiian islands. The water is very safe. That said, stay out of murky surf at sunset, just in case. If you find yourself eye to eye with a shark, feel free to hook the eyes and dig. 

Do an introductory scuba dive while there.  Off a boat is more fun, easier and cost effective than from a beach. You'll see so much and have a wonderful time.

Souvenirs at Hilo Hatties or ABC stores. Cheaper.

The Road to Hana

The trip to Hana is fantastic but difficult with small children because of the long drive.  It’s very winding and twisty and car sicky.  There are lots of pullouts and waterfalls to look at along the way.  Start very early and zoom on through or be prepared to be on a long string of cars trying to get to Hana. Visit the general store while in Hana. George Harrison used to live a few miles down the road. If you save the sightseeing for the way home, you’ll beat everyone else. 

Go the extra few miles to Oheo Gulch or Seven Sacred Pools and if you have time I highly recommend the hike up to the waterfall through the bamboo forest.  The black sand beach is interesting at the Black Sand Beach Park with a nice walk along the cliffs.

Don’t drive the southerly back way to Kihei even though it looks shorter. It’s not. The road is very bad and a rental car company will not come if you have a breakdown.

If you love to hike –Haleakala Crater is wonderful!  Try to get as far as you can into the crater so you can really experience the desolation inside.  Sturdy shoes necessary as well as warm clothes.  Two months before going, enter your name in the monthly lottery to get a cabin (very, very rustic) in the crater.  There are 3 cabins in the crater that hold about 12 people on bunks and are found through the park service. Sleeping bag necessary.

The Ocean Center in Maalaea is a good rainy day activity with kids.

While on Maui, read THE DREAM JUMPER'S PROMISE. 
It's a mystery suspense novel, set on the West Side of Maui and is scheduled to begin shooting for the film version in 2018.
Find it here on Amazon

Have fun and try not to do too much while on Maui. Relaxing is as important as seeing everything.

 

Kim

KIM HORNSBY is an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author who lives in Seattle, writing Suspense and Romance. Find her on Amazon to see how she opened shows for Jamie Foxx and The Smother's Brothers in Hawaii, then became a novelist.

Sign up for Kim's Newsletter to get info on FREE books, new book launches and Kim News!

www.bit.ly/KimHNews

Interview with Jamey Dunn

Jamey Dunn is a character from my Dream Jumper Series, someone I find infinitely interesting. He lives in my head, yes, but sometimes I'm surprised by what he comes up with. Sometimes I don't consciously give him the answers to questions. Jamey made his first appearance in book 1 of the series...

The Dream Jumper's Promise

A Husband Goes Missing, An Old Boyfriend Surfaces, The Dreams Begin... 

Tina Green's husband is presumed dead from a Maui surfing accident and now she's being haunted by otherwordly dreams. When former boyfriend, Jamey Dunn, turns up at her Lahaina dive shop and offers to help,she can't believe his preposterous claim -- he can enter dreams. As James deciphers her dreams, the mystery unravels for Jamey, Tina, and her best friend, Noble. But secrets, lies, and heartbreak rise to the ugly surface and soon we realize that no one is entirely who they seem. One person is an impostor, one, a traitor and one is flirting with insanity.

Jamey Dunn Interview (conducted just before the book begins)

Tell us a bit about who you are. 

My name is Jamey Dunn. I’m a former Seattle cop and current Special Forces American soldier, stationed in Afghanistan, now on extended leave. I can’t tell you what I do over there and I know people joke about saying because then I’d have to kill you, but in my case it’s almost true. If you knew there’d be hell to pay on my end and maybe some deprogramming from a guy called Milton, so let’s just leave it at that. Moving on.

Where were you raised? 

I was born and raised in Carnation, Washington, a small town on the Tolt River east of Seattle. It’s really pretty there with snow-capped mountains in the distance on a clear day. Mostly farming. Lots of red barns, miles of crops, winding roads, friendly people. I lived in the same house my whole life and my Pops still lives there on the river on ten acres. It’s kind of a rundown house now but when anyone drives up they’re invited inside for a cup of coffee at our big kitchen table. Pops will chew your ear off with questions about yourself. (smiles) He might even get out the Scrabble board so don’t go inside if you don’t have time for a visit.

Family members? 

I have a younger sister, Jenny, who is a great mom and accountant, and two older brothers. Gavin works for Microsoft and Robert lives in San Francisco and is married to a lawyer. He’s a stay at home dad. Pops, is seventy and raised us four kids after my mom walked out on us when I was five and Jenny was two. Pops is the backbone of the family and all that we are is because of him. We grew up swimming in the river behind the house, making forts with wood that drifted in to our beach and running wild all over the town. It was a great life. Poor Jenny with us older brothers. She turned out tough. Married a really wimpy guy and she bosses him around like nobody’s business.

Did you attend college? 

I tried. See I have this ability to read people way beyond what others can do. I call it hyper-intuition. I’m different. My life has been a wild ride trying to deal with knowing what people are going to say before they say it. Same with school. I knew test answers, most times, before I thought about what the question meant. I dropped out of college after one semester and went to the Seattle Police Academy where I thought my ‘gift’ would be put to better use than if I became a communications major. It was a good place to land for a long time.

Are you athletic? 

Well (laughs) I guess you could say I’m athletic. When I’m over in the Sandbox I train obsessively in the gym because it’s good to be in shape and there's not much else to do while waiting for a mission. But, I could never really play team sports for the same reason college didn’t work. I had this unfair advantage of knowing what was going to happen half the time. It isn’t exact, but still. It was a matter of ethics. Even when I was decorated as a policeman, I felt shitty, like I’d used skills other people didn’t have. Back to athletics--I like to challenge myself, work on personal best times. It takes the place of sex. (laughs) Not many dating prospects in Afghanistan.

Did you always want to be a cop?

No. I had dreams of wanting to be an astronaut and stuff but you have to remember that I had this intuition and these visions early. Since I was five, I guess. Five or six. And it was scary. I always knew I was different. My Uncle Don had it too and he was a cop, so by the time I was a teenager, I thought I’d follow in his footsteps. And before you ask if I’d always wanted to be a soldier, I never wanted to be a soldier. I still don’t. They drafted me sort of forcibly if you can call guilt forcibly. They have me by the short hairs to work for them. After my divorce it seemed like I should do something with my life rather than hang around Carnation and stare at my ex-wife and daughters, so I put everything I had into finding…Hey, tricky! I almost told you what I do over there in Afghanistan. You are very good, you know that. And I don’t mind telling you that I see a chunk of money coming your way in the next year. See how handy that intuition is? I’m like a walking fortune cookie. (laughs)

Tell us about Tina, your former girlfriend? 

I'm going to have to plead the 5th on that one. Her life is private and it's kind of painful for me to talk about her. I made a huge mistake and lost her. But, I'm told you can pick up a copy of The Dream Jumper's Promise and get the full skinny on what I did and how I tried to correct my mistake.

If you had one thing to tell your twenty-year-old self, what would it be? 

Don't worry so much. You won't be alone forever.

THE DREAM JUMPER'S PROMISE

Screenwriting Soul-Sucking Coverage

I took up screenwriting this summer and in my typical "I Can Do Anything I Set My Mind To" optimism, I ended up with what I believed to be a pretty good script!
I was the author of the book, I knew the characters better than anyone having lived with them in my head for about seven years, and I knew the critical plot points like no one's business.
Granted, it was just a spec script, not a REAL script, but still, I was happy with the final result and was patting myself on the back by the first week of August for a job well done.

I had my agent read it, she had some suggestions, I re-worked it and in the meantime, I had a friend read who knows scripts. She had a good idea and I reworked it again. Easy fix!
I sent the script to two screenwriter friends who've studied the fine art for years, one who's had a  movie on the Lifetime Channel, and more suggestions were made. I deftly incorporated their ideas into the script. Then I gave it to my dear friend and Editor Extraordinaire, Christine, who is known as the Editor Devil. The critique she gave was fantastic, mostly praising the script, but suggesting a few small changes to make the thing read better for prospective actors etc. Stronger verbs, take out weak words etc. Love her brain!
Then, on the advice of a screenwriter, I sent the screenplay off for coverage to a reputable company that was having a mid-summer sale. I wanted a script doctor to give me an honest opinion of the marketability of the script. This place has a check list they use to determine if a script works so I was confident that I'd at least get my $100 worth with that checklist.
I paid extra for expedited service and waited.
The coverage came back exactly 3 days later as promised and was somewhat brutal. How can something be somewhat brutal, you ask? The checklist was completed but the comments were harsh.
Here's the deal: I know this is a strange concept, (dream entering) a difficult paranormal ability but dreams have to be the main focus of the story.
The woman who critiqued the merit of the screenplay had Googled me and the book and basically told me to keep it a book. Her wording was harsh. She said it didn't work as a screenplay. I hadn't told her that it was an adaptation but maybe in her confusion about dream jumping she looked me up and saw that The Dream Jumper's Promise was a book. And a successful one, at that.I Googled her to better understand how much credibility to give her opinions.
Her advice was taken with a grain of salt. She called my protag a pill-popping alcoholic who she did not like. I understand there are people who don't realize that lots of women take anti-depressants and still drink alcohol. Yes, Tina does that. She's in crisis.
Over the next few days, I whittled down her insults and confusion and made some changes to the script but didn't follow what she said is a Hollywood rule to not include flashbacks (unless they involve the protagonist) and dreams. If there is some such rule, try to tell Slumdog Millionaire, or Casablanca. And no dreams, she said, or at least take out most of them.
The Dream Jumper's Promise is about a guy who can enter dreams and uses them to solve a mystery. Yes, the woman, Tina, is the protagonist and it's her journey we follow, but Jamey is an integral part of the story and the dreams are characters themselves. The flashbacks are absolutely essential for us to understand him.
After getting out of the fetal position, I realized that this script will appeal to people who understood Inception, loved The Time Traveler's Wife, were intrigued by Momento. The story is not a cakewalk and I wrote it that way purposely. I want the reader/audience to be kept in a state of confusion.
I did a few minor changes on the script, things I felt were solid advice and not an opinion, and sent off what I'm hoping is the final script edits before a real screenwriter takes the thing and turns it into Academy Award Winning material. The coverage lady said I'm not a screenwriter and the script reads like a novel. (I'd purposely added description on the advice of everyone who read it!)
I never intended to be the final writer on this story for film. Never! I want someone great to be hired. Then they will read the book and write their vision of what would make a fantastic film script.
As you've realized by now (if you're still reading) I needed to vent. It's now a week since I went into the fetal position (metaphorically) and I see the coverage for what it was. I did get $100 out of what I got back and even if I don't take her up on fixing the screenplay for a fee, I found a place for her words (harsh though they were) in my brain.
Somewhere in there was a lesson and I hope I absorbed it.
The coverage gave the script a PASS which I took to mean that she gave it a passing grade (Yipee- but so not true) and she said I'd never get a producer to read past the first page.
The irony is that the books are optioned and filming begins next year. Lucky me.

My Dream HAS Come True!

I'm trying to be really professional this week, displaying just the right amount of excitement but it's difficult to contain my enthusiasm.

My novel, THE DREAM JUMPER'S PROMISE, is optioned for film.

That means a film production company has paid me money and signed a contract to reserve the book (all three in the series, actually) for a set amount of time while they prepare to begin pre-production to make the first book into a feature film.
This is a dream come true. I've been working on getting this story to a big screen for over a year and now it looks very good.

There is no doubt in my mind that the company who optioned my books will go into pre-production with this project in the next months. They are very serious about making this film. I know this because when I first met the president of the company in May, she'd just finished reading the first book and was a HUGE fan.

Luckily, at the time, I had no idea who she was and promptly gave her the next two books, thinking she was simply a reader fan. She read the second one in the next two days and we talked about Jamey and Tina and their struggle to get back to each other and Jamey's gift of entering dreams, which ruins his life sometimes. We were simply having a reader/writer conversation about my book. I was at an exclusive conference in Spokane Washington called Connecting Writers with Hollywood, hobnobbing with Hollywood people who'd flown in to teach, connect with prospective clients and listen to pitches. I'd arrived knowing my manager, JD wanted me to meet someone and was hoping to drum up some interest in my book series, not realizing the drum had sounded, someone answered the call and I was talking to her as I answered questions about the first book.

On the recommendation of J D deWitt, who represents this series and introduced me to the film people (and happens to run the conference-- CWWH), I came home and proceeded to write the screenplay for the first book and was glad I'd taken classes in screen writing AND had a friend who's a produced screenwriter with advice and how-to books! Of course, I had to go to Maui to write on my friend, Lynn's, deck for my inspiration. I wrote the spec screenplay, came home to work on polishing it and finally submitted it to JD and some others who know more than I do about screenwriting.

Cut to mid-July, the Pacific Northwest Writers' Association Conference in Spokane Washington, and the president/producer flew in with JD specifically to talk with me. Over margaritas and enchiladas we discussed the books, what was my fondest wish if it went to the big screen, and all three of us agreed it would best translate to a feature film, not a Netflix series to be watched on a phone. The scenery is too lush, too visual to be reduced that way.

We were on the same page, and I left that dinner knowing the producer would honor the story I'd written and wanted to make a gorgeous, compelling film. I can't tell you the particulars of how I know this without betraying private conversations but if you believe in amazing connections between women, you'll understand my confidence that I can trust this woman even though she is a business woman first. I know she won't change my characters drastically, or the location, or the story line.
At that dinner meeting, JD listened, added her ideas, directed the business conversation and represented my books like the pro she is. I'm in awe of this process, and her, and how it all came about like three ends of a rope coming together to form a beautiful knot.

We had a verbal agreement. Cut to the last days of July when the contract came through, honoring everything we talked about, giving me everything I ever dreamed of for this book and dispelling all doubts I had about handing over my baby to these people. With a few tweaks, the contract was signed and now I am an author with a book optioned by an Indie Film Company.


5 X 5 Media is best known for reality TV like Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Fashion Star, and The Rock's Wakeup Call as well as a TNT weekly tv show with Dwayne Johnson, The Hero. They always planned to head into film production for features and now they will, with my book.
This project was not taken to the studios like Sony, Paramount, Universal etc by 5 X 5 because of the possibility it might be optioned and never made, taking a place on some shelf like hundreds of other possible screenplays that mega studios had optioned, paid money for, and let fall by the wayside. THE DREAM JUMPER'S PROMISE does not need $20 million but only a few million because there are no huge crowd scenes, no special effects, no location changes. The whole story takes place on Maui except for some flashback scenes of Kandahar, Afghanistan that can be done on a set. Having an Indie Film Company at the helm would insure the story stayed true, the film got made and the people who believe in this story, will be in the driver's seat.

In the next year, I hope to learn a hell of a lot about this process, if they let me. I've made a good case why they should at least let me lurk, having been a scuba instructor on Maui and having a direct link to movie people in Hawaii because of my entertainment connections. Regardless, I plan to document this process every step of the way on this blog so if you want to keep up to date on the making of the film, I suggest you follow my blog at the very least. Look to the right to the follow button.


Here's my social media info too where I very actively announce everything:

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And if you're interested in checking out the little book that is in the Development Stage of a Feature Film (I'm capitalizing everything that sounds cool!) pick up a copy of THE DREAM JUMPER'S PROMISE here for only .99 this month.
In September the price goes up.

Kim's Amazon Page

KIM HORNSBY is the Author of Award-Winning The Dream Jumper's Promise available on Amazon Books. She is a Bestselling Supernatural Suspense Author who lives in the Seattle area where she writes during the rainy months.