Wright Words: Spic and Span Fiction

My latest syndicated column. Enjoy!

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Wright Words: Spic and Span Fiction

When I'm not writing, I'm often reading. There are so many incredibly talented authors out there that I consider the local Barnes and Noble to be a writer's university. New ideas about composition, character development, point of view, and the other aspects of telling a good story occur to me while reading someone else's good work.

I never deliberately copy another writer's style or incorporate elements of a novel I read into a novel I write. I just expect that what I read and what I write will sort of mix in my subconscious and give me a richer palette the next time I set out to paint a story.

Lately, some of what I've been reading has taught me something that I have resolved not to do. Ever.

Mark the date and save this text. I will never use foul, crude, disgusting language or create explicit images of sex or graphic violence.

That statement probably doesn't surprise people who know me personally or even just know a lot about me. I was raised in a family and culture where purity of thought, speech, and action are moral issues. Here is a surprise for you, though. My values and beliefs are part of the reason I won't write from the gutter but the main reason is something much more worldly.

I want people to buy my books. I want them to read one and then go out and buy all of the other ones. I want them to tell all of their friends about the great new writer they discovered.

The question I have asked and answered is this: who is more likely to be offended, the reader who has to wade through prose that she finds offensive or the one who is disappointed that the book doesn't include a good sex scene?

For hundreds of years, authors found ways to write about every aspect of life. Any fundamental conflict, tense or romantic situation, or other intense scene that a modern writer describes with crude language has a similar version written with clean, carefully chosen words.

My first novel, The James Miracle , includes a horrible car accident, several heated arguments and tense family scenes.

Christmas Jars is about an abandoned baby who grows up to lose the woman who raised her. She is robbed, cheated, betrayed, and suffers another terrible personal loss.

The siblings in The Wednesday Letters argue and reconcile and deal with the death of their parents without saying anything much cruder than “Shut up”. The book includes other intense scenes and physical confrontations that might have been “easier” to describe had I used vulgarity.

The most recent novel, Recovering Charles , manages - with polite language - to describe three romantic relationships, several arguments, and the death and destruction that Katrina inflicted on New Orleans .

There is obviously a market for R-rated books and I have nothing against those who write them. But this writer hopes to make a living sticking with PG material. I trust my readers to use my words to build mental images that they find appropriate. I'm certainly not the only “clean” writer in the industry, but, if I were, that would be OK with me.

What do you think? Am I a prude pushing my standards on my readers? Have you ever put down a book because it was too vulgar? Too clean? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Coming up for air

So the rush to my July 1 deadline continues. It's going to be very, very close. But considering the big cheese of all big cheeses at my new publisher emailed me yesterday and reminded me not to be late, I have a feeling I'll find a way to make the deadline. Even if it means checking into a hotel again.

I did, however, want to quickly mention two things before disappearing.

1. The cover for The Cross Gardener (ta da!) was approved last night. It's still mind boggling to me that decisions like this are made so far in advance. The book, still being written of course, has a cover, marketing copy, a summary, and a release date. March 2, 2010. Now that's planning!

The cover may seem a tad plain at first glance because it's always hard to envision the special effects. But my name and the title will be embossed in gold. As will the border, of course. Also, the fence in the middle will be embossed and shiny. Very cool! The sales and marketing people are all aflutter.

2. On a totally unrelated note, my wife's fledgling photography biz now has a web site. It's going live this week. Check it out!

Back I go into seclusion...

Update from the mountains of West Virginia

Greetings from the sticks! Despite the Great Laptop Disaster of March 2009, I'm back at the secluded cabin in WV for a few days of heavy duty writing. Right now you're wondering, didn't that guy just finish a book?

Technically yes. A few weeks ago I finished my last book (for now) with Shadow Mountain. They've been wonderful to me and I'll always owe them for giving my career wings. Simply put: I wouldn't be a full-time writer without their faith and dedication to the stories I've wanted to tell. I look forward to publishing certain titles with them again soon.

But in the meantime, new challenged await! I've recently agreed to publish my next two novels with the powerhouse of publishing, Penguin. That is, of course, the good news.

The bad news? They want to launch my first ever spring book next year, which means I have to deliver my next manuscript (much longer than Christmas Jars Reunion) on July 1st. Yikes!

The new book will be called The Cross Gardener and, believe it or not, we already have a release date: March 2, 2010. Just 274 days away!

And that, my friends, explains why I drove to the mountains of West Virginia to once again lock myself away and write until my fingers bleed. I'm very excited about the story and message of the new book, but it won't be easy.

Because I'm going to be totally consumed for the next month, I'm going to disappear from Facebook completely and, with the exception of urgent matters, from e-mail as well. As my sweet wife told me this morning, "Time to go to work, honey."

Thanks to all of you for being so supportive. I'm eternally grateful to you for giving my stories life by reading the books and embracing the messages.

Before saying goodbye for now, you might enjoy the latest episode of Jason's Cheesy Web Videos, shot in NYC at Book Expo yesterday. As usual, it's not great film making, but it might interest you if you've always wondered what the biggest book convention in the world looks like.



A final note, I've been having problems with my Facebook account lately (who hasn't, right?) so I will probably close it and start over. Please join my fan page if you haven't already by clicking here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Jason-Wright/23765971605

Off we go!

Covers released for the two fall books

It's not even June yet, but already my Christmas Jars publisher is releasing the covers for my two fall titles. (Christmas Jars Reunion and Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle)

It seems early, doesn't it? Believe it or not, the marketing and buzz-building for Christmas titles has been in full swing for over a month now. Posters, bookmarks, fliers, etc. are all being printed and distributed to bookstores and distributors all over the country. It definitely take a village to write, edit, promote and sell a book...

A bigantuan shout-out to Ben Sowards, uber-gifted illustrator of the children's book. He's what every artist should want to be when they grow up. Also a ginormiant thanks to Sheryl Dickert Smith, graphic designer extraordinaire of CJ, WL, RC, and now CJR.

You two crazy kids are amazingly talented!

We have a winner!

Win a fictional steakhouse

Haven't you always wanted to own your very own restaurant bearing your very own name? Now's your chance.

All you have to do is e-mail a minimum of ten friends, introduce them to my books, invite them to join my e-mail list, or ask them to buy an autographed copy of Recovering Charles, or tell them what you think of my hair, whatever trips your trigger...

Then come back here and post a comment below that says "Mission Accomplished!" along with your name. (We're going on the honor system here, people!)

I'll pick a winner at random on May 1st from among everyone who participates, and that person (wild animals, vegetables, minerals and Kim are ineligible) will name a steakhouse that appears in my new novel, A Christmas Jars Reunion, coming this fall.

Got it?

1. Tell ten friends.

2. Come back to the blog and tell me "Mission Accomplished".

3. Wait for good news on May 1st.

4. You could own a fictional steakhouse. Tasty!

Weekend with the Wrights Wrap-up

Kim and Pete's Excellent Adventure has come to a close. Did we kill each other? Did we get along? Did we become BFF's?

We'll let the video do the talking:

Wright Words: Pass the Grace, Please

Recently I was asked to write a column from time-to-time. After much hemming and hawing I finally agreed. Columns will appear here and on several other websites around the web. Below is my first. Hope you enjoy!

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Wright Words: Pass the Grace, Please

Sunday morning. 9:17 AM. I'm 30 miles from home and racing to a chapel I'm unfamiliar with for a ward conference. A work zone approaches and out of the corner of my tired eye, I see a town police officer sitting behind some bushes holding what I hope is a sophisticated high-tech water gun.

It wasn't.

Did I receive a traffic ticket? Yes. Was it of the speeding variety? Yes. Did Officer Fife care that I was dressed in a suit and obviously racing to the aid of my beloved brothers and sisters in need? Not so much.

But that didn't stop me from asking for grace.

A few weeks later I put the same suit back on and appeared in an historic courthouse just a country mile from the scene of my crime. After watching half-a-dozen other hardened traffic criminals make their pleas for leniency, I was convinced my excuses were…well…better.

In fact, my entire strategy was can't-miss. I took my place at the defendant's table when summoned and prepped to make my case for grace.

“How do you plead?” The Judge asked.

“Your Honor, can I plead ‘guilty' to speeding, but ‘not guilty' to the severity of the speeding?”

His mouth said, “Excuse me?” But his face said, “Whatchoo talkin' ‘bout Willis?”

I explained how I'd been late for church in an area I'm unfamiliar with. I told him how careful I'd been that morning on the way to court, driving the exact speed limit through the same trap to gauge average MPH, and how I'd been blown off the road by a school bus and a man I judged too old to even hold a license. I even made a premeditated, well-rehearsed joke that five others in the courtroom thought was rather funny. Unfortunately for me, none of them were wearing black robes and grandpa glasses.

My appearance that day ended without the grace I so desperately sought, but with a pit stop at the court clerk's office to pay a hefty fine.

As I drove home that day—very slowly—I pondered my life's near-constant quest for grace. It seems I'm always asking others to grant it, but am I so quick to pass it on myself?

Perhaps you've sometimes fallen into the same trap.

Ever been late on a credit card payment and gotten the dreaded phone call? Without fail we seem to respond with the same universal line: “Grace, please?”

We're late returning a movie, a library book or a rental car: “Grace, please?”

Who hasn't missed a turn, an exit, or rolled through a stop sign and impeded the path of another car, only to fire off an apologetic wave of the hand and a sheepish grin. The grin itself is pleasant and quiet, but if it could it would scream through the car window, “Hey buddy! A little grace, eh? I'm in a hurry/lost/from-out-of-town/my-wife-is-pregnant/fill-in-the-blank.”

Or maybe like me you've missed a deadline for a project at work, a homework assignment or a new manuscript: What's the refrain? “Grace, please?”

It's part of life. It's who we are. It's how the plan of happiness was designed. It is that word, “grace”, that allows us to embrace repentance, change our minds and choices, and taste life's sweet second chances.

Why then when my children make a mistake, despite the fact that I made the same missteps at their age, am I often too slow to extend grace? Especially since heaven and the neighbors know I'm asking for it myself when the sun on trash day rises and sets with the cans still sitting at the side of the house—full.

Mrs. Wright has heard it before: "I'm sorry dear, it won't happen again. A little grace, please?" Fortunately for me, my wife isn't nearly as slow to pass the grace as I am.

Yes, we all want grace. Leniency. A fresh shot. An opportunity to forgive and forget, right? Except in my case it's more like, “You do the forgiving, I'll do the forgetting, thank you very much.”

How about you?

I wish I could promise that my expensive trip to ward conference—the talks were lovely, by the way—had changed my understanding of grace forever and I'm a better man for it. Nah. But I do think I'm trying just little harder to pass the grace more quickly and more often. Maybe we all could.

Because we can't expect everyone to pass it to us if we're not willing to pass it back, can we?

Contest winner weekend approaches

Remember when we gave away a trip to VA to spend a wacky weekend with my family?

This weekend we're finally going to welcome the winning couple to Woodstock. Last night I sent Kim an email tying up a few loose ends and asking if they had any special requests, allergies, etc. This was her reply. It seemed worth posting :)

Jason,

That sounds fantastic. We will be bringing two large steamer type trunks, two garment bags and two full size suitcases, plus assorted carry ons. We can always strap the luggage to the roof of your mini cooper. My husband after all is a fireman and he is good with knots! We are also taking our rat terrier dog Tobi with us. She has a bladder contol problem and needs her meds. We couldn't leave her at home. Does the B&B allow pets with diapers? Also you asked about allergies and stuff...I can't be inside for more than an hour at a time because I a break out in hives. Pete has a clinical body odor problem that he is very sensitive about. He gets nervous about it but we usually carry lots of baby powder and sprays with us. My husband and I are strict Vegans and do not eat anything produced by an animal but I am sure that won't be a problem. We eat a lot of grasses, wildflowers and things you probably have growing around the house. We prefer to be nude most of the time as we are Naturalists but we understand that not everyone likes this so we will keep most of our clothes on. We must be bare foot all of the time though. We have to feel the Earth between our toes. That's okay with you, right? We probably won't be attending church with you as we only worship Mother Earth. As far as the truck goes...you can keep it, we'd prefer the mini cooper. It is easier for me to drive. Pete did not think it would be a good idea for him to drive your truck as he has a warrant out for his arrest in Fairfax County,Virginia. Trust us it's no big deal.... Please don't make a fuss over us. We don't require much. We are very simple people.

Jason's Cheesy Web Videos - Episode #11

Jason's Cheesy Web Videos - Episode #10

A powerful, life-changing Christmas Jars miracle

I had the privilege of speaking on Saturday (3/28) at the Virginia Alpha Delta Kappa convention at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA. The dinner gala's theme was "Jars of Giving" and everyone who attended received a copy of Christmas Jars and a decorated mason jar with a Christmas Jars label. All were challenged to go home and begin filling the jar immediately. Everyone accepted!

The evening was truly fantastic and the 330 attendees embraced the origin and miracle of the Christmas Jar with all their hearts.

But the most amazing part of the evening wasn't on the agenda. With no planning at all, after my remarks, one of the organizers stepped to the podium and asked if I thought it would be OK to give the evening's donations to the families of two employees that were shot and killed at the resort just a week earlier. "Wonderful idea," I said. The rest agreed.

Jars were filled throughout the evening, and by the next morning the ladies of ADK had raised over $3,000 in cash and divided it between two jars. Yesterday morning the jars were presented to the GM of the hotel. He accepted them on behalf of the entire Homestead family with tears in his eyes. The jars were given to the two families earlier today.

Then moments ago I received the following email. It put tears in my eyes. It just might do the same for you.

From Michael Stinnett, Hot Springs, VA:

I am not very good at writing these, but my father was murdered last week along with another employee at his place of work. I was attending the viewing of the other employee killed when the GM of my hotel approuched me and handed me one of these jars. Inside was over $1500 that a fraternity had collected who did not even know who we where. Also included was an autographed copy of Christmas Jars.

I do not have words and only hope that one day when things are better I can do the same for someone else who is going through a hard time. Thank you.

Michael, to the contrary, I think you found the perfect words. We will all be praying for your family.

Oh brother, where art thou?

So I'm minding my own business today (ie. finding reasons not to work) when a good friend, Michael A., e-mails and asks why I haven't updated my blog in so long. Among other loving words of chastisement he writes: "Aren't you finishing your new book now? Why don't you put up something up about it?"

Good thinkin', here's your update!

Writing Christmas Jars sequel.
Way behind schedule.
Title will be announced soon.
Polishing manuscript for children's book.
Way behind schedule.
Title will be announced soon.
Negotiating final details of new 2-book contract with new publisher.
Details soon.
Have a cold and need to get better.
Way behind schedule!

And there you have it. Happy Michael? ;) (You know I love ya like a brotha!)

'It was probably the best Christmas Eve I have EVER had'

One of our longest stories, and worth every word!

Name withheld

I am a member of an international organization that allows women from all religious faiths to get together in small groups and study different books in the bible. At one of our meetings back in September I met an amazing 46-year-old woman named Victoria who had quite the story.

Victoria had just been given custody of her "grandchildren" as she called them and she was required to move out of her apartment and into a home to accommodate the children. One night at class she mentioned that she had prayed that she might get her hands on some home appliances that were needed in the home and because she did not have the funds to buy them herself, she had asked God for guidance in obtaining them.

Victoria has never had any children so when her best friend died a few years ago, she took her friend's daughter under her wing and treated her as if she was her own.

This adopted daughter had two little girls of her own, 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 years of age. Unfortunately, the adopted daughter had been arrested for child abuse and was sent to prison for 3 years, so that is why Victoria was given custody of the “grandchildren”.

Someone from church gave Victoria a home to rent but she had to supply the appliances and take care of the utilities. My husband Erich and I have owned a residential remodeling company for over 19 years so when I heard that she needed appliances I thought that I should help her out. I knew that my mother had a used, working stove in her garage so after our study I found my mom who also attends our study group and asked her if I could have the stove to donate to Victoria. I also said that I would try to find the other appliances through my vendors. Mom said she would help me out and suggested that we see what else we could do for her. We were able to find a refrigerator, stove, dryer and microwave then delivered and installed them over the Thanksgiving holiday. I didn't question why the home was as cold as it was when we were there because we just figuring that it was because we had all the doors open as we moved the appliances in. We came to find out a few weeks later that the utility company wouldn't turn the heat on until she paid a back payment and a deposit, which totaled $350. She did not have the extra funds to pay the bill so they could not move in until that was taken care of.

On December 23rd I got a call from Victoria asking me how I was recovering from a recent shoulder surgery and during the call I asked if she was going to Christmas Eve service at her church the following day. She told me that her church did not hold a Christmas Eve service, which surprised me. My 21-year-old daughter Lindsey overheard the discussion and motioned to me to invite her to our church and also offered to go pick her and the 2 grandchildren up because I had to work the service before the one we were going to attend. I made the offer to Victoria but she said she had to work and didn't think that it would work out. I told her she could call me up till 1:30 the next day in case she changed her mind.

Well, at 1:30 after I had arrived at church, I got a voice mail from Victoria stating that she was fixing the girls hair and could be ready if the offer was still good. I called my daughter Lindsey and asked if she could call her back to find out where she lived so she could pick them up. I received a text from Lindsey a little later saying that she was on her way to church with all 3 of them. She also told me that the little girls were not going to have any presents under the tree because Victoria did not have the funds. Lindsey sent her older sister Christine a text telling her to go to the store to get some coloring books and crayons for the girls.

We have a Christmas Eve tradition at our house of friends and relatives coming over after service to enjoy food and listen to my stepfather Ken read “The Night Before Christmas”. Lindsey invited Victoria and the girls to come back to our house after the church service, and Victoria agreed. When Lindsey walked into the church with one child on either side of her holding their hands, knowing they had not met before that night, it melted my heart. Victoria was following behind them. After the service I headed to pick up the food to take back to my house.

I couldn't get out of my head the thought of no gifts for those children the next morning so I went to Drugmart and headed down the toy aisle. I spent $200 of my Christmas Jar money and overfilled the cart. I also picked out stockings and stocking stuffers so that Santa could put them at the end of their beds, which is another family Christmas tradition. I finally headed home where everyone was waiting. My two girls were on the floor coloring with the little ones and Victoria was mingling with strangers who quickly became friends. I unloaded presents and assigned wrapping duties to 3 of the ladies which all took place in the living room. Each girl was to have a bag of gifts that Victoria was to unload after the girls went to bed so that they saw that Santa had not forgotten about them! My mom had called me saying she was on her way over to our house so I filled her in on what was taking place. She and Ken stopped at CVS and bought more gifts for the girls, which were brought into the house in a big Christmas bag. They explained to the little girls that Santa had stopped by and dropped off some gifts for them, which they eagerly opened with the biggest eyes you have EVER seen!

In the meantime, Erich and I talked privately while everyone was busy and decided to take the $300 which was the rest of our Christmas Jar money and give it to Victoria in a check so that she could pay her utility bill to get the heat turned on. I had told Victoria's story to my Guest Services Team at the church where I attend and had someone give me $50 to give to her anonymously so the check was actually for the whole $350 that she needed! We wrapped the check up as a gift for Victoria to open Christmas morning. My mom also gave me a check for $100 that I wrapped, part of her Christmas Jar money, so that Victoria could buy herself something.

Santa delivered a good Christmas to all of us. It was probably the best Christmas Eve I have EVER had. Watching the two little girls with bright, wide eyes, wearing their new princess jewelry and listening to Ken read “The Night Before Christmas” was indescribable. God put these people in my life for a reason. We were all able to contribute love that night to 3 individuals who needed to see that someone cared. The heat was finally turned on 2 weeks ago after repairs to her new home were made following a freezing pipe incident. Victoria sent me a photo of the two girls eating their first lunch on the kitchen floor in their new home. Talk about God's blessing! I thank Jason Wright for writing the Christmas Jars and my sister Laurie for insisting that I read his book! Everyone needs to have a Christmas Jar!!!

'i am 17 years old and i recieved a christmas jar 5 days before christmas'

my name is tori, i am 17 years old and i recieved a christmas jar 5 days before christmas. one day, i was hard at work when a group of women walked up to me and handed me a heavy jar and a book that was named 'christmas jar.' i was confused and wasn't sure how to react. i politely said thank you and merry christmas. when i opened the jar after the women had left i soon realized what i had recieved. i was filled with joy and couldn't believe it happend to me, of all people. a friend of mine that i work with noticed the look on my face and asked why i seemed so 'joyful' i explained to her what had just happend and she couldn't believe it either. i later shared that gift of joy with my coworker who couldn't really afford to buy her family anything for christmas. but, the most joyful feeling i got out of the whole thing was sharing it with others and seeing the joy on their faces during the holiday season.

'I prayed that God would lead me to just the right person'

Christmas was nearly two months ago, and still the stories trickle in. What a wonderful blessing for all of us to enjoy these long into the new year.

December 2008 was my 2nd year to do a Christmas Jar and each time I put money into the jar throughout the year, I prayed that God would lead me to just the right person... I continued to pray as Christmas Eve drew near. A couple days before Christmas Eve, God had a woman cross my path that shared with me how she would be soooooo glad when Christmas was over. She went on to say that her husband committed suicide on December 28, 2007 and she can hardly stand Christmas as it was such a painful time for her and her children.

Immediately I knew who God wanted me to give my Christmas Jar to. I was able to leave the jar and a copy of the book for her to find. I had someone who was with her when she found the jar and book tell me that as soon as she saw it she began crying and asked who did this. The person with her said that she couldn’t say.

A couple of days after Christmas, I saw her and the first thing she said to me was "you won’t believe what happened to me." She went on to tell me about her Christmas Jar and how she was so down and had prayed that very morning telling God that she felt so alone and that he had left her and didn’t love her. She said she prayed and asked God to show her His love in a real way and then she went into work and found the Christmas Jar. She said she was speechless and all she could do was cry and say thank you God for showing me that you have not forgotten me and that you do love me.

It was all I could do to listen and not giveaway that I had given her the jar. I felt so blessed that God would let me hear how her Christmas Jar had impacted her.

Meet Jason's favorite bookseller

I know, I know, I shouldn't pick a favorite, but I just can't help it when it comes to Laurie Paisley at Barnes & Noble in Carmel, Indiana. She's probably responsible for more Christmas Jars being given away than any other person alive!

Here she is making her big debut in the BN Studio. She was honored to be among the very few booksellers across the country selected to video blog from her store. Congrats, Laurie! And thanks for more than just supporting the books, thanks for being such a terrific friend...

'I will pray for them forever'

I say this practically every time I post a new CJ miracle, but this one means something extra to me because it was actually printed in the paper. Hope Jensen would be so proud!

This story was a 1/23/09 letter to the editor in the "Southside Messenger", our local paper.

My husband William passed away on December 7, 2008. I notified Social Security and was told that I was entitled to his November check. The check was never deposited, so I called again. The agent said the check was returned, no reason given, but a form would be mailed out for me to claim the check. No form arrived after 2 weeks so I called again, and was told that I could go to Farmville and fill out the form, and was then notified that it would take 30 to 60 days to receive it. We, as many people, rely on our Social Security check each month. So here I was without money.

On Sunday morning I was leaving for church and found a bag by my car, it looked like a Christmas gift bag. I looked in to see if it had been blown by the wind, but there was a jar and a book. I thought someone left me a jar of candy and a book for Christmas. Upon putting it on the passenger seat I realized it was very heavy. Lifting the jar to see what sort of candy was so heavy, I saw that the jar was filled with money. My heart began to sing. I brought the jar to church with me and showed everyone, but nobody said that they had given me this wonderful present. I will admit that I could not wait until the service was over to get home and count the miracle money jar. It held over $500!

I then read the book and learned the story of the Christmas Jar. It is money saved in a jar, starting on the day after Christmas and then given to someone in need. It is given with love and caring. Of course I don‚t know who gave me the wonderful gift, but obviously God told them of my problem.

So I would like to thank the person or persons responsible and I will pray for them forever.

A Christmas Jars miracle you can actually watch

I had never seen this until yesterday. Thanks to my brother, Jeff, for posting it on YouTube. Talk about a jar coming to the right family at the right time!

A long-awaited update on Christmas Jars, The Movie

It's the most common question at signings, speeches, and even by e-mail. "When's the movie coming out?"

I've been dragging my feet on providing an update in hopes for better news. But alas, I've decided that sometimes even a little bad news is better than no news at all...

Many of you have astutely noticed, and remembered, that the 2006 paperback edition of Christmas Jars had the words "Coming as a major motion picture in 2008" splashed across the top of the back cover. At the time we thought that was true. The rights had been optioned, the option exercised, and an independent filmmaker was set to guide the movie to the silver screen.

A beautiful script was even written by the very talented storyteller, Academy Award-winning director Kieth Merrill. Of course Kieth was also set to direct. The Executive Producer was Barry McLerran, an outstanding executive and project manager.

We were on our way! But a funny thing happened on the way to your local multiplex.... Hollywood.

Turns out making a movie is a time-consuming and often frustrating process with more bumpy starts and stops than a 30-year old Fiat. But I've learned this is common in Hollywood. Very few movies get a script, funding, stars, locations and rolling cameras without investing years of sweat equity first.

So during a slowdown in the fundraising phase, the company originally set-up to make the movie optioned the rights to a brand new studio, Audience Alliance, which was co-founded by Kieth. After a brief hiccup, we were once again ready to get Christmas Jars into production!

And then another not-so-funny thing happened.... The economy pulled a Titanic and left investors reevaluating their interest in the fairly risky world of movie making. So after bringing a casting director on board and scouting for locations in gorgeous places like Nashville, Tennessee, the film was once again put on hold.

And that's where we stand today. We'd hoped that Christmas Jars would begin filming in January and February of this year. First the winter scenes, then the spring scenes, then post-production and a fall release. Given the reality of the calendar, and no stars being attached the project yet, that's a nearly impossible schedule now. Our best hope is probably for a 2010 release.

But let's end with some good news. I have read the script and it's wonderful. In some ways it's even better than the book! I have no doubt that Kieth and his new studio will make a powerful film that will stand the test of time and inspire millions to start Christmas Jars of their own.

Is it disappointing that the film has been delayed? Absolutely. But the important thing is to make the film right, to have the best people involved, and to stay true to the spirit of the jar.

Thanks so much for your patience. I know how much we were all hoping to see the film sooner than later, but I promise you that you will not -- will not! -- be disappointed with the finished product.

Also, as a side-note, we have serious interest from someone to bring Recovering Charles to the big screen. I'll give you details as they develop.