Norwalk author's first novel to be a movie
By JENNIFER GRATHWOL | Thursday December 13 2007, 5:07pm
NORWALK
NORWALK
A novel was the just the beginning of the story for Norwalk's Terri Lynn.
Her first book, "They said, 'You'll Never Amount to Anything': Words
Can Make or Break" will be made into a movie next summer.
Lynn is also the featured author for Soldiers' Angels, a non-profit
organization that supports tens of thousands of American soldiers
overseas.
"Of the book, of the film -- Soldiers' Angels is what I'm most proud of,"
Lynn said. Her 24-year old son, Joey, is serving in Afghanistan with the
82nd Airborne.
Lynn is donating a portion of the proceeds from the book and the
upcoming film to Soldier's Angels.
Military life is just one of the many real-life issues in Lynn's
emotionally-charged novel.
In August 2004, after years of trying on and off to begin a book, Lynn
enrolled in course for writing children's books.
Working from home as a medical transcriptionist, Lynn said she took
the course and began the book in her spare time.
As she began developing the characters and plotline, it became clear to
Lynn that her story had grown beyond a children's book.
"The story just evolved and I threw myself into it," Lynn said.
Two months after sending her finished manuscript to Dorrance
Publishing, Lynn received a reply.
"I remember reading that letter and I couldn't believe it," she said.
Dorrance wanted to publish her novel.
For all of her life experience and sudden literary success, Lynn is a
down-to-earth woman with a warm smile.
"I read the book and loved it," Jan Gonzales of Sandusky said. "It is the
kind that is hard to put down."
Crystal Luberda of Sandusky agreed.
"The story has a lot of twists and turns and keeps you holding on,"
Luberda said. "As I was reading it, I thought someone should make a
movie out of this."
Pittsburgh-based producer Ray Nikolaison also agreed.
Still fresh off the press, Lynn's novel-turned-movie will start filming in
Chicago early next summer. The film's budget is expected to be between
$1.5 million and $2 million.
Nikolaison, producer with Reel Frog Films L.L.C., said a Los Angeles
studio has expressed interest in putting the film together as a
made-for-TV movie.
"They saw the book and were very excited about," Nikolaison said. "We
should be hearing pretty soon about that."
Nikolaison said they are also in talks with Charlie Matthau, son of the
late Academy Award-winning actor Walter Matthau, to direct the film.
The cast of the film is already set to include Lana Wood, sister of the
late actress Natalie Wood, along with Dan Haggerty, Dick Van Patten,
Jimmy Van Patten and D.J. Perry.
"The best part about it was writing (the book)," Lynn said. "It's real --
it shows the real emotion."
For information on how to buy a copy of Lynn's novel, visit her Web site
at terrilynnbook.com.
Lynn said that she left the book open for a sequel, but hasn't begun
work on one just yet.
Her first book, "They said, 'You'll Never Amount to Anything': Words
Can Make or Break" will be made into a movie next summer.
Lynn is also the featured author for Soldiers' Angels, a non-profit
organization that supports tens of thousands of American soldiers
overseas.
"Of the book, of the film -- Soldiers' Angels is what I'm most proud of,"
Lynn said. Her 24-year old son, Joey, is serving in Afghanistan with the
82nd Airborne.
Lynn is donating a portion of the proceeds from the book and the
upcoming film to Soldier's Angels.
Military life is just one of the many real-life issues in Lynn's
emotionally-charged novel.
In August 2004, after years of trying on and off to begin a book, Lynn
enrolled in course for writing children's books.
Working from home as a medical transcriptionist, Lynn said she took
the course and began the book in her spare time.
As she began developing the characters and plotline, it became clear to
Lynn that her story had grown beyond a children's book.
"The story just evolved and I threw myself into it," Lynn said.
Two months after sending her finished manuscript to Dorrance
Publishing, Lynn received a reply.
"I remember reading that letter and I couldn't believe it," she said.
Dorrance wanted to publish her novel.
For all of her life experience and sudden literary success, Lynn is a
down-to-earth woman with a warm smile.
"I read the book and loved it," Jan Gonzales of Sandusky said. "It is the
kind that is hard to put down."
Crystal Luberda of Sandusky agreed.
"The story has a lot of twists and turns and keeps you holding on,"
Luberda said. "As I was reading it, I thought someone should make a
movie out of this."
Pittsburgh-based producer Ray Nikolaison also agreed.
Still fresh off the press, Lynn's novel-turned-movie will start filming in
Chicago early next summer. The film's budget is expected to be between
$1.5 million and $2 million.
Nikolaison, producer with Reel Frog Films L.L.C., said a Los Angeles
studio has expressed interest in putting the film together as a
made-for-TV movie.
"They saw the book and were very excited about," Nikolaison said. "We
should be hearing pretty soon about that."
Nikolaison said they are also in talks with Charlie Matthau, son of the
late Academy Award-winning actor Walter Matthau, to direct the film.
The cast of the film is already set to include Lana Wood, sister of the
late actress Natalie Wood, along with Dan Haggerty, Dick Van Patten,
Jimmy Van Patten and D.J. Perry.
"The best part about it was writing (the book)," Lynn said. "It's real --
it shows the real emotion."
For information on how to buy a copy of Lynn's novel, visit her Web site
at terrilynnbook.com.
Lynn said that she left the book open for a sequel, but hasn't begun
work on one just yet.
To see more click on url.
www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2007/12/14/front/519859.txt
www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2007/12/14/front/519859.txt
