Photos via BarbaraHinske.com

There are 40 original movies slated for Hallmark’s iconic Christmas programming event this year, and one in particular is sure to warm your heart this holiday season! The Christmas Club, starring Camerson Mathison and Elizabeth Mitchell, tells the inspiring story of random acts of kindness, friendship and love — and it’s set to premiere during the 10th Anniversary of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup. Lolly Christmas chatted with Barbara Hinske, the author of the novella on which the film is based, about the writing process and being on the festive set as her imagination came to life — read what she had to say below!

Can you tell me more about The Christmas Club?
An elderly woman slips on the ice and her hard-earned Christmas Club money is lost to the wind. Two strangers come to her aid and a series of pay-it-forward, random acts of kindness is set in motion.

What inspired the story?
A sermon I heard many years ago contained the story of a stranger helping someone recover money that had blown out of their hands and centered on the theme of doing kind things for people in nice ways. Anonymous kindness is sometimes the nicest approach and that idea stuck with me because I — like many of us — love to be acknowledged for doing something generous. I expanded and fictionalized this story but kept the main theme intact.

Over the years, I’ve heard from authors who have talked about writing the ending of their book first…or the middle. How did you approach The Christmas Club?
I generally write a book from beginning to end, but if I find myself stuck by writer’s block, I’ll move to a chapter that I know I’ll have fun writing. I think all authors have types of scenes that they love to write and others that are more of a struggle.

Mitchell and Mathison in THE CHRISTMAS CLUB
Photo: Crown Media

Your novel takes place in 1952 but, Hallmark has given it a modern spin, and Cameron Mathison and Elizabeth Mitchell are leading the film. Did you have a hand in the casting or the time period revision?
I didn’t have a hand in casting or script writing, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Cameron and Elizabeth (and Gabriel Rose, as Gertrude) are perfect and Julie Sherman Wolfe did a brilliant job on the adaptation. She included some twists and turns I wish I’d thought of!

Over the summer, you shared some photos from the set of the movie on social media — what was it like literally stepping into your own story and watching the characters come to life?
I can’t tell you how thrilling the whole experience was. Every cast and crew member were the epitome of professionalism and kindness to me and everyone else. I got teary many times, seeing on the monitor those beautiful actors actually saying words I wrote! Plus — they put my husband and me in the background in the scenes filmed at Baked Expectations. I’m sitting with Gertrude, eating cheesecake. Fun!!

Do you have any more plans for continuing the series or, perhaps, writing more Christmas novels–or holiday stories in general?
I definitely have other projects in development. Before I return to Christmas stories, I’m putting out a love story between Garth, a seeing eye dog, and Emily, his newly-blind handler. It’s the story of how they come together and half of my profits will go to the Foundation for Blind Children.

The Christmas Club is going to resonate with so many people and, for many, will be the book or film that becomes part of their holiday traditions. What’s your favorite Christmas book?
The Christmas Carol. I love the theme of redemption that runs through this book. I frequently write about characters with redemptive paths, so this story line resonates with me.

This is the 10th Anniversary of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas programming event, which is so thrilling! What do you hope readers and viewers take away from The Christmas Club?
I hope they come away with a renewed sense of the generosity of the human spirit and belief in the irresistible pull of love. A small act of kindness can change someone’s day. If you can change someone’s day, you can change their life. Changed lives can change our world for the better.

You’ll be doing a couple of guest blogs for LollyChristmas.com, which I’m really excited about! Do you want to give a sneak peek of what Hallmarkies and fans of your work can expect?
I’m writing about my dream coming true when my screen rights were purchased by Hallmark and I’m sharing some behind-the-scenes scoop from my week on location during filming of the movie.

Watch The Christmas Club when it premieres on Hallmark Channel on November 27th at 8pm/7c and check out Hinske’s novella, The Christmas Club, by visiting www.barbarahinske.com!

Stay merry!