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SALT LAKE CITY — Author Charlie Holmberg has a lot coming her way. Expecting her second baby this summer, she’s also releasing her fifth book and, oh yeah: Disney just bought the movie rights to her "Paper Magician" series.
“The Hollywood Reporter” broke the news recently that Disney had nabbed the movie rights to the trilogy. According to the outlet, Allison Shearmur — executive producer on the Hunger Games movies, producer on Disney's live-action “Cinderella” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” — is “on board” to produce the story.
Following this news, we reached out to Utah born-and-raised Holmberg to talk to her about her writing career, creating "The Paper Magician" series, along with what she could say about the deal.
So, first off, tell me a little about yourself. I see you're a BYU grad and that you now live in Utah. Where are you originally from, etc.?
“I was born and raised in Midvale, Utah! I’ve been in Utah all my life, save for a two-year stint in Moscow, Idaho. (Which is where I wrote ‘The Paper Magician!’)”
What drew you to writing?
“Honestly? Here’s my geek showing — it was an anime I watched when I was 13 called “The Vision of Escaflowne.” I’d never watched anything with a storyline that grabbed me as much as that one did, and it made me want to write my own stories.”
What inspired "The Paper Magician" series?
“'The Paper Magician' series started with the idea of having someone be able to manipulate origami. I had a vision of the character (who later became Emery Thane) and envisioned him as a side character to another story. After letting the idea simmer for a while, however, I decided to just turn it into the central premise of the book. I did want the paper magic to be part of a bigger magic system, so I brainstormed what I could relate to paper to make the story bigger. I eventually came up with man-made materials (rubber, glass, etc.).”
What was your writing process like?
“For ‘The Paper Magician,’ I had just finished reading Blake Snyder’s ‘Save the Cat’ — a screenwriting book. He has a fantastic beat-sheet and uses note cards to storyboard his movies. I outlined 'The Paper Magician' the same way. (I’m a big outliner. I like to know what’s going to happen before I write it.) I wrote the first draft [excluding the outline] in about a month, which was really quick for me.”
Did you set out with a trilogy in mind?“I didn’t, actually. I’m generally a standalone writer, but when I finish a book I like to ponder on what would happen next. Turns out the story had a lot more to say, and so a trilogy was born.”
What do you think in the series resonates with readers?
“From what I hear, it’s that the book isn’t a heavy fantasy, and so non-fantasy readers can enjoy it, and that the magic system is different and relatable. Though, honestly, [designer] Ryan Hobson did a fantastic job on the cover and I know a lot of people pick it up solely for that reason!”
It's been bought by Disney now. Can you share anything about how that came about?
“I have really good people on my side.”
What was your reaction?
“When I heard Disney was considering the book, I was floored. I mean, this is Disney. Do you get bigger than Disney? It was certainly a huge boost to my self-esteem! A lot of hoping and praying followed, and I’m basically giddy as a school girl in new tights, so to speak.”
Are you able to say what your role will be in the film, if any, at this point?
“I think it’s safe to say that if Disney chooses to go forward with a movie, it will be entirely out of my hands.”
Can you talk about why you agreed to the sale?
“Because: Disney.”
What are you most excited for? What do you hope for?
“The idea of seeing something I created being blown up for the big screen! I’m excited to see how the tale changes, and seeing my characters in ‘real life’ would be mind-blowing. I’ve always wanted to share my stories with the world, and this is a sure-fire way to get that done.”
Anything else you can add about that?
“Probably not, ha. For the most part, I know just as much as everyone else. ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ article about the deal really caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting an announcement like that.”
You've said you put a lot of work out there that's been rejected, but you finally made it! Do you have advice for aspiring writers?“Finish your book. Sounds simple, but most aspiring writers never finish a novel. Set a daily word count for yourself and finish those stories!”
Anything else generally?
“I just want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me in this adventure and made the books what they are today. Ultimately, this really is a team effort.
“Also, my fifth book, ‘Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet,’ releases June 28 from 47North (about a week before the due date for my second child, yikes!).”
