November 2, 2025 • 23 mins
In this heartwarming episode of Christmas MuVies Spotlight, hosts Pam and Dawn welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury to discuss her brand-new holiday novel, The Christmas Ring, and its highly anticipated theatrical film adaptation of the same name.
Karen shares the inspiration behind this touching Christmas story, her experience seeing her words come to life on the big screen, and the timeless message of faith, love, and redemption that shines through her work. Join us for a heartfelt conversation filled with holiday spirit, creative insight, and a few behind-the-scenes surprises from one of America’s most beloved storytellers.
✨ The Christmas Ring—both the book and the film—remind us that some rings hold more than memories… they hold miracles.
Karen shares the inspiration behind this touching Christmas story, her experience seeing her words come to life on the big screen, and the timeless message of faith, love, and redemption that shines through her work. Join us for a heartfelt conversation filled with holiday spirit, creative insight, and a few behind-the-scenes surprises from one of America’s most beloved storytellers.
✨ The Christmas Ring—both the book and the film—remind us that some rings hold more than memories… they hold miracles.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Hello, and welcome to the special edition of Christmas Movie Spotlight.
I'm your host Don Mac and I'm here with my friend,
my colleague, and my co host, Pam. Hey, Pam, how are.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You jingle bells? Oh? Oh, hey, Don okay, folks.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I think I'm hallucinating or something like. I must be
in a dream that I dreamed that Pam was singing
jingle bells.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
And oh not me.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Sheece never sing anything even remotely christmasy in the all
the years I've known her, But I've heard her say
back lot am I dream mean?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Right now? Hello?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Hello?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Hello?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Is this thing on, Helen?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You know what it must be. You know how you
used to make the one we used to make phone
calls on landlines and you'd get it interrupted somebody.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
At the interference.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Oh you think interference?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I think it was interference.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Your alter egos out there sounds exactly like you. My god?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
What are you? Are you starting?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I mean, is there anything I can do?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
You need help?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I don't never lose his words here, So this is I'm.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Just like, I don't know if I need to ask you.
Do you need some help? Is there is there something
going on I'm not aware of but I will say,
for what it's worth, it's it's nice to hear you singing,
humming or jingle bells or something some sentiment of the season.
Considering we are in the season and I've been let
on Christmas spirit for what weeks now, So I mean, hey, glad.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
You look, I think that you injected me with it.
I don't know from even from as far away as
you are.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Oh my gosh, well, you know what I figured after
all this time, six seasons, if I haven't started rubbing
off on you in some kind of way, then you know,
what are we even doing?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Right?
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Oh my gosh, well, I all funny aside, today's interview
is one of the most special interviews that we I
think have ever done. At least I think so opinion only,
but they're all special in their own way.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
But right, but I get what you're saying. I agree
with you.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
So yeah, we And I'm always in shock anyway with
all the guests, the amazing guests that we've had through
the seasons. But Karen Kingsbury is like the epitome of
Christian fiction authors. She's like the biggest of our.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Time, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
And not only is she the biggest Christian fiction author.
A lot of people have read her material Believers Unbelievers,
and she's one of the few that has had her
books turned into movies and that's huge. And so yeah,
I'm talking about Karen Kingsbury. She is our special guest
(03:26):
for today's interview. And it was beyond delightful to speak
to her, to get her, you know, her take on
the movie, the book, all of the things, and then
just to hear her share her faith in terms of
how it you know, it is a huge part or
the part the key to her writing and what an
(03:48):
inspiration she was.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yes, absolutely, I just really enjoyed speaking with her, and
she is an inspiration to myself and I'm sure many others,
and she gave some great advice and so we would
love for you to listen to this interview. And before
we do that, she wrote a beautiful holiday movie. It's
(04:13):
called The Christmas Ring and it's based off the book,
and the book has already been released, but you can
watch The Christmas Ring in theaters starting November seventh.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Yes, and I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
It's if it's like anything like her other works that
she's previously released, it's going to be phenomenal and adding
the whole Christmas message and the component there, what a
beautiful story is going to be. And we are so
excited and honored to bring you our interview now with
Karen Kingsbury.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Enjoy the show. Hi, Karen, Welcome to Christmas Movie Spotlight.
We are so happy to have you with us today.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Well, thank you for having me. This is going to
be fun.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Oh, I think so. We're counting on it now. You've
written so many beloved novels. What originally inspired you to
start writing stories at Touch Hearts and Uplift Readers.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Well, I've always wanted to be a novelist ever since
I was probably five years old. But I took a
Plan B and did journalism for a while, and you know,
wrote for the newspaper, the La Times in La and
sometimes I was doing crime stories, sometimes the heartfelt story,
and I always was drawn to the emotion. So before
we had our first child in the late eighties, we
(05:36):
were praying for a way that I could be home
and it was like, maybe it's time to go back
to Plan A and be an author.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Now.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
At the time, I actually had not hadn't read a
book that could have all four elements of story, and
that's what I would say. People might call it Christian fiction,
but it's inspirational fiction. It's spiritual, it's life changing, and
it's you know, any author should be able to tell
you the physical, intellectual, and emotional parts of a story,
but you know, I can have the spiritual. And that's
(06:05):
something whether you're running away from God, toward God, whatever,
it's still there and it makes for a deeper story.
And I was, you know, wrote the first one and
then I had six that followed before things started really
taking off. But I would hear from people. They would say, wow,
you know, this changed my life. It made me want
to call my mom and make things right, or you know,
a myriad of things. And I realized this depth, like
(06:28):
writing a deeper story really really was what God had
had me here for that I was supposed to do that.
And it's been nothing but a blessing to see and
hear from people how their lives were touched and changed
by the power of a story. I feel like I
have very little to do with it to that end.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
You know, when I think about how God has used
you to tell stories, they're not just stories, they're stories
that matter, their stories that resonate, and I think everyone
that has read any one of your books can equally
claim as a master storyteller. You have just you have
impacted so many lives in what you do, and I know, personally,
(07:07):
I'm grateful for that, and I'm glad that you followed that.
What God had in store for you.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Well, thank you. That means so much. And it's really
you know, I just got done with an event that
I had here in Franklin, Tennessee for five hundred women.
Was a fall in Franklin kind of event, and I
got to talk to so many I mean pretty much
all of them over the course of four days. And
hearing this like over and over reminds me again like
I have just this sort of small part. The Lord
(07:35):
puts a story on my heart, but he has your
heart and mind, and only he could do that, Like
I would never be able to connect with these people.
I would never be able to do anything to give
them hope. But then there's this story that God gives me,
and if I just write it, it's a joy to
write it. It's a joy to hear from people who
say that it mattered, because it's that, you know, it's
that kind of affirmation or confirmation that God is in it.
(07:58):
He's in the details, and it's all his.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
So when you sit down to start a novel, what
usually comes to you first the characters, the plot or
the message.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
You know, used to pub with the plot comes first.
It sort of all happens at once in a way,
you know, the Lord gives it to me like a movie,
So it's very visual in my in my head, and
I can kind of hear it and see it and
feel what's going on, and then it's my job to
kind of be the transcriber to put it on the page.
But sometimes honestly, it's it's a title that will come first.
(08:32):
With the Christmas Ring that's out now, Like this is
the very first time where my writing partner Tyler Russell,
and I wrote the script and started the movie process,
and then I wrote the book because I know, you know,
I knew that we were all going to need more
in detail than what I was going to be able
to give somebody in the movie, and so I just
carved out eight days and I said, I've got to
(08:52):
write it. So I had the title and I knew
the characters at that point, but the story of of
you know, a lost ring that was lost currently but
was from the family line all the way back to
World War two and D Day just felt compelling, and
so yeah, it usually starts, usually starts with like a storyline.
The characters kind of come to life pretty quickly in
(09:13):
my head, and then I outlined. You have to outline,
you know, for me, so with the movie already being done, first,
I had an outline and it was much much simpler
to go ahead and just write the story and fill
in the details.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Well, it's funny because I was. That was kind of
my next question of do you ever write with a
visual or cinematic approach in your mind? And does it
because a lot of readers will say it feels like
movies when they're they're reading your books. So does it
run like a like a tape in your head when
(09:48):
you see that like with the movie?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Well, I write so quickly, and that's again just think
Lord for that because we raise six kids and now
we have grandkids, and I wouldn't be able to spend
a year in a book. I would just not be
able to be an author because I always wanted them
to come first. And so I'll sit down and I
you know, have my laptop and a blanket over my lap,
and I'll put some you know, inspirational instrumental music on
(10:12):
in my headphones. And now I settle into the story,
and it is I'm tuning into a picture already in process,
like it's a movie already in progress in my head,
and I am just capturing it and I'm crying where
it's sad and laughing where it's funny. My husband thinks
i'm you know, in the beginning, he would be like, honey,
bring them back, just backspace, delete, they don't have to die,
(10:34):
you know whatever, you know, Like I'd be laughing out
loud and he'd just shake his head like you're crazy.
But yeah, it's always been just so visual for me,
and when I feel like the first reader, and now
with movies, it's like I feel like I got to
be the first person to see it. And then when
I see it on the screen, it's like, that's exactly
(10:54):
if we're making it, That's exactly what I was picturing.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Well, you know, the stories that you writing, if they
impact you in that way, I can only imagine how
the reader, when they receive it, are responding to that.
And why do you think that the themes of faith, family,
and redemption resonate so strongly with readers.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
You know, even when even if a person says I
don't relate to any of that, I don't have a
family if it's good, or I don't have a faith
or whatever, they still have and there's something inside of
them that longs for it. And even if that family
becomes the neighbors in your cul de sac. We're meant.
We're created to have connection and relationship with people. We're
(11:38):
human and we need that interaction. So for me, it's
finding the broken story and applying the love and grace
and calling of Jesus on there on their lives. Even
if they don't even if the characters don't know him
and don't even have an interest in him, there's still
something that goes deeper. And I think that's why people,
(11:59):
you know, least twenty five to thirty percent of my
readers aren't believers, don't consider themselves believers, but they're drawn
to the deeper story and the spiritual elements in what
I write. So it just shows you that there is
literally a longing that's woven into our very hearts and
souls to have a deeper relationship with God and with
each other. And you know it doesn't My books don't
(12:20):
always have a happy ending, but they always have hope.
And I think that's been an important message too for
readers that they say, well, you know, let's use the book.
Summer for instance, was a story that was one of
the Baxter books, and a baby has ended zephale And
and you don't survive in encephally and the baby lived
one hour, but the miracle was the one hour. And
(12:42):
I had so many people write to me and say
thank you that the baby didn't live because I've got
to show real you have to show the way. It
can't be all sugarcoated. You know, God, God meets us
in the depth of our pain, not necessarily giving us
this perfect path. That's just not the case for any
of us. We're going to have trouble. I just think
that we're drawn to it because it's really it's really
(13:03):
what our life and human experience is, and whether we
recognize it or not, this helps tap into that.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, I know, you balance realism and hope in your stories.
And I've made touch somebody that didn't even realize that
was going to happen when they started reading your book,
and then I think you probably have a fan for
life at that point because they're going to continue reading
the next book, and the next book and the next book.
(13:35):
How long do these characters and stories live in your
head once you're done writing them.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Well, they're always there. I mean, you know, they're like
friends almost in some ways, like family that I can
if I were to if assignment came to me to
write a sequel on any book I'd ever written, I
would just need to cozy up with that book and
rekindle my relationship with those characters, and I'd easily be
able to know what they're doing today. They're very real
(14:05):
to me and much like kids, you know, you're cheering
loudest for the one on the stage or the one
on the field. And so this season with the Christmas
Ring releasing and book form, and this is the very
first time that I've had a book that it's before
it released, So today is actually the release day it'll
be out. It's out three weeks before the movie comes out,
(14:26):
but it's already on its fourth print run, and that's
never happened. So I do think that there's this real again.
It's the perfect mix of at Christmas, we really long
to find renewed relationships. We want redemption and forgiveness and hope.
And we're kind of at the end of the year, right,
so we're saying what went right and what do I
(14:47):
want to do better next year? So a perfect time
to have a story like The Christmas Ring. And I
think that people will are going to be drawn to
those characters and to the story that comes in through
the back door of the heart that with the Christmas
Ring movie or book, you're not going to. You want
to be entertained. That's why you pick up a book.
You want to be taken away into another place and
(15:09):
watch someone else fall in love and go through the
highs and lows and find reconciliation. So you pick up
the book and what happens is in the process, this
beautiful truth comes in through the back door of your
heart and it's wide open because you're just reading someone
else's story. And then you walk away touched and changed.
You know, like you're right, Like just what you said.
(15:29):
People want to get the next one because they want
to have that experience again, like no one's shouting at
them or banging them over the head with a Bible
or telling them they're going to hell or this is
not the message. The books that speak that message that
are nonfiction. There's a place for those that's not what
I do. God's called me to love people through the
(15:50):
power of story that comes in through the back door
of the heart.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
That's beautifully sad. And speaking of the Christmas Ring, we
have to talk a little bit about this movie, and
without giving too much away, how would you best describe
this movie for viewers who are you maybe going to
read the book or go see the movie or both,
And without giving too much away, we don't want to
(16:17):
give too many spoilers.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
No, I know it and it's hard for this. Vanessa
Mayfield is a military widow whose husband passed in serving
the country in action four years earlier, and she is
searching for an heirloom that has been in the family
since d Day World War Two, and her great grandfather
found it this Christmas ring, and she lost it, and
(16:39):
she lost it while skiing with her daughter. So now
she steps into antique shops just hoping maybe she could
go to the jewelry section and find it. And on
this particular day, as the story starts, she's dropped her
daughter off at college and it's just her now, and
she steps into Miller's antiques and she meets Ben Miller.
He and his father run the shop, and they strike
up a friendship, and five months later he is coming
(17:00):
to They live in Marietta, Georgia, and then the story
takes place really in Columbus, two hours south. So he
goes to Columbus. Now it's Christmas time and he's looking
for antiques for the story. Now, little do we know,
and unbeknownst to anybody, his dad, Howard Miller, who's played
by Kelsey Grammer in the movie, has found what he's
always looked for, the diamond in the rough, a small
(17:22):
antique ring that it's worth far more than anyone thought,
including Vanessa. And now no one knows that what he's
found just very well might be the treasure that she's
been looking for for years. And this then becomes a
problem because he's already got a buyer lined up.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
That is the intrigue.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Oh my gosh, it just sounds absolutely amazing and sweet
and just encompasses everything that you put into your books
and in your storytelling. It's going to be a beautiful story.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Thank you. I'm so excited and I get to see
it with five hundred women who attended my Fallen Franklin event,
and they were just so touch. It's just nothing like
you've written the book and you have the movie. It's
been turned into the theaters. Everyone's got it. And now
you watch five hundred people watch a movie for the
first time, first audience, and they gave it a three
(18:18):
minute standing ovation, Like I don't. I was just so
I couldn't go on the stage and just point up
all the Lord tell him and you know, thank them,
and they could just take their seats. But they loved it,
and you know, that's what we want, right. So one
of our family contents was to see a Christmas movie.
You know, when we were growing up, my dad would
take us to the theater and we would see a
(18:39):
Christmas movie as a family. And I think we've lost
that and this is why we're only having it in
theaters and it starts November six. That people are getting
their tickets now so they can get great seats, just
like if you were to go to a concert, only
great seats are the same price. So that's great. They're
putting it on the calendar and they're saying, I'm building
my early Christmas around this moment, and they're wearing their
(19:03):
they're planning to wear their Christmas sweaters or I had
a few people who've written in and said, we're all
going to go on Christmas pj's. It's going to be
a fun, fun thing for people, and yes, they'll walk
away with hearts that are ready for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
I love that so much inspiration in so many different ways.
And you are just meant to do this, and that's
all there is to it. Think what advice would you
give to us firing writers who want to tell me meaningful,
faith based stories like you do well?
Speaker 4 (19:32):
And you know you have to be be close to
the Lord, stay close to him, be in the Word.
You know, the Word of God is live and active,
and you know, I think it's easy, you know, for
someone who maybe grew up in the church or what
not to think, oh, I should read my Bible and
check the box, you know, But it isn't like that.
It's it's it's a love letter from the Lord, and
it's different every time we read it, depending on where
(19:54):
we're at. He speaks to us. So stay connected to
the source, right because the source that's where we get
our stories. The deep stories that will change hearts and
touch lives come from His presence. Be in his presence.
That's the first thing. And then the second thing, be
like I try to be a detective of the emotions.
So while I'm out and about it may feel like
a regular day, I'm just running an errands or dropping
(20:17):
something off or whatnot. But I'm looking for the things
that trigger a tsunami of emotion in me that God
wanted me to see or hear, so that it might
be the beginning an impetus for a story. And so
be aware of what's happening around you and what God's
calling you to write. And then the next thing really
is write it. I'll often say people say, well, how
do I do? How do I write a book? And
(20:38):
I always say, write it. Just you should be reading
and that'll help you to know, like you know how
a flow and rhythm of a story should go. But
you start by writing it, and for me that means
outlining it and then writing it. And then once you
have that book, now you have something to sell. So
like The Christmas Ring, I did not have a contract
for that book. Normally I would, but it was all
(20:58):
so fast, So I wrote the book where like I say,
we're in the midst of the early pre production for
the movie. And then I called my agent. Having an agent,
it's a good idea, getting an agent. Went to have
a book to show them, and I showed him and
he was able to get a contract for Thomas Nelson
to have it. There were a few publishers that did
want it, which is nice. But when you're new and
(21:21):
you're just starting out, you just need to have something
to show people. So don't let don't say, well, I'm
not I don't know if i can do it. I
don't know if I'm good enough, I don't know if
I have enough training. You don't need that. Tell the
story that God has put in your heart and then
you'll know what to do with it next.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Excellent, excellent advice. I just you know, I picture in
my head at times of writing a book, but I'm
not any near even do an outline. So I'll have
to take your advice for myself as well. And maybe,
who knows, you might get a book on me someday,
and then I'll have you to think and I'll stand
(22:00):
on the stage and thank God and I'll thank Karen.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
Oh. I love that it's happened before. I have had
readers written in and said I wrote a book. I
did it, you know I did. I wrote them outline.
The next thing about outlining is if you don't like it,
you can change it around a lot easier when it's
in an outline phase. But then you know after you
read this book, so like the outline a lot, and
then you'll put your book will follow there you go.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Thank you for that well, and thank you for joining
us again today. We know you're extremely busy, so we
will wrap now, and because we will not talk to
you before the holidays, we want to wish you happy
and blessed holidays ahead.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
Thank you so much. I appreciate that, and Merry Christmas
to both of you, and enjoyed. It's a time to
be stilled, and you've got to find the still moments
and as you do, God will show you what's next.
So hopefully a part of that will be go see
the Christmas ring, get the book. It doesn't matter which
work when you do that, but you'll be touched.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Thank you so much, Mary, Chris, thanks to you as well.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
Thank you all right, by bye bye bye bye.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Thank you so much for tuning in to our latest
episode of Christmas Movie Spotlight. Don't forget. You can find
our podcast on iHeartRadio, Spotify, iTunes, Spreaker, and more. Just
search Christmas Movie Spotlight spelled m u v i e s.
Speaker 5 (23:22):
For even more, visit us online at christmasmoviespotlight dot com.
Follow us on our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
Follow at Christmas Movie Spotlight and on X Follow us
at Christmas Movies, which would be.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
X M A S m u v i e s.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Until next time, stay merry and we'll see you again
real soon
Hello, and welcome to the special edition of Christmas Movie Spotlight.
I'm your host Don Mac and I'm here with my friend,
my colleague, and my co host, Pam. Hey, Pam, how are.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You jingle bells? Oh? Oh, hey, Don okay, folks.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I think I'm hallucinating or something like. I must be
in a dream that I dreamed that Pam was singing
jingle bells.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
And oh not me.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Sheece never sing anything even remotely christmasy in the all
the years I've known her, But I've heard her say
back lot am I dream mean?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Right now? Hello?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Hello?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Hello?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Is this thing on, Helen?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You know what it must be. You know how you
used to make the one we used to make phone
calls on landlines and you'd get it interrupted somebody.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
At the interference.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Oh you think interference?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I think it was interference.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Your alter egos out there sounds exactly like you. My god?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
What are you? Are you starting?
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I mean, is there anything I can do?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
You need help?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I don't never lose his words here, So this is I'm.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Just like, I don't know if I need to ask you.
Do you need some help? Is there is there something
going on I'm not aware of but I will say,
for what it's worth, it's it's nice to hear you singing,
humming or jingle bells or something some sentiment of the season.
Considering we are in the season and I've been let
on Christmas spirit for what weeks now, So I mean, hey, glad.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
You look, I think that you injected me with it.
I don't know from even from as far away as
you are.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Oh my gosh, well, you know what I figured after
all this time, six seasons, if I haven't started rubbing
off on you in some kind of way, then you know,
what are we even doing?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Right?
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Oh my gosh, well, I all funny aside, today's interview
is one of the most special interviews that we I
think have ever done. At least I think so opinion only,
but they're all special in their own way.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
But right, but I get what you're saying. I agree
with you.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
So yeah, we And I'm always in shock anyway with
all the guests, the amazing guests that we've had through
the seasons. But Karen Kingsbury is like the epitome of
Christian fiction authors. She's like the biggest of our.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Time, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
And not only is she the biggest Christian fiction author.
A lot of people have read her material Believers Unbelievers,
and she's one of the few that has had her
books turned into movies and that's huge. And so yeah,
I'm talking about Karen Kingsbury. She is our special guest
(03:26):
for today's interview. And it was beyond delightful to speak
to her, to get her, you know, her take on
the movie, the book, all of the things, and then
just to hear her share her faith in terms of
how it you know, it is a huge part or
the part the key to her writing and what an
(03:48):
inspiration she was.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yes, absolutely, I just really enjoyed speaking with her, and
she is an inspiration to myself and I'm sure many others,
and she gave some great advice and so we would
love for you to listen to this interview. And before
we do that, she wrote a beautiful holiday movie. It's
(04:13):
called The Christmas Ring and it's based off the book,
and the book has already been released, but you can
watch The Christmas Ring in theaters starting November seventh.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Yes, and I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
It's if it's like anything like her other works that
she's previously released, it's going to be phenomenal and adding
the whole Christmas message and the component there, what a
beautiful story is going to be. And we are so
excited and honored to bring you our interview now with
Karen Kingsbury.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Enjoy the show. Hi, Karen, Welcome to Christmas Movie Spotlight.
We are so happy to have you with us today.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Well, thank you for having me. This is going to
be fun.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Oh, I think so. We're counting on it now. You've
written so many beloved novels. What originally inspired you to
start writing stories at Touch Hearts and Uplift Readers.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Well, I've always wanted to be a novelist ever since
I was probably five years old. But I took a
Plan B and did journalism for a while, and you know,
wrote for the newspaper, the La Times in La and
sometimes I was doing crime stories, sometimes the heartfelt story,
and I always was drawn to the emotion. So before
we had our first child in the late eighties, we
(05:36):
were praying for a way that I could be home
and it was like, maybe it's time to go back
to Plan A and be an author.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Now.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
At the time, I actually had not hadn't read a
book that could have all four elements of story, and
that's what I would say. People might call it Christian fiction,
but it's inspirational fiction. It's spiritual, it's life changing, and
it's you know, any author should be able to tell
you the physical, intellectual, and emotional parts of a story,
but you know, I can have the spiritual. And that's
(06:05):
something whether you're running away from God, toward God, whatever,
it's still there and it makes for a deeper story.
And I was, you know, wrote the first one and
then I had six that followed before things started really
taking off. But I would hear from people. They would say, wow,
you know, this changed my life. It made me want
to call my mom and make things right, or you know,
a myriad of things. And I realized this depth, like
(06:28):
writing a deeper story really really was what God had
had me here for that I was supposed to do that.
And it's been nothing but a blessing to see and
hear from people how their lives were touched and changed
by the power of a story. I feel like I
have very little to do with it to that end.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
You know, when I think about how God has used
you to tell stories, they're not just stories, they're stories
that matter, their stories that resonate, and I think everyone
that has read any one of your books can equally
claim as a master storyteller. You have just you have
impacted so many lives in what you do, and I know, personally,
(07:07):
I'm grateful for that, and I'm glad that you followed that.
What God had in store for you.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Well, thank you. That means so much. And it's really
you know, I just got done with an event that
I had here in Franklin, Tennessee for five hundred women.
Was a fall in Franklin kind of event, and I
got to talk to so many I mean pretty much
all of them over the course of four days. And
hearing this like over and over reminds me again like
I have just this sort of small part. The Lord
(07:35):
puts a story on my heart, but he has your
heart and mind, and only he could do that, Like
I would never be able to connect with these people.
I would never be able to do anything to give
them hope. But then there's this story that God gives me,
and if I just write it, it's a joy to
write it. It's a joy to hear from people who
say that it mattered, because it's that, you know, it's
that kind of affirmation or confirmation that God is in it.
(07:58):
He's in the details, and it's all his.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
So when you sit down to start a novel, what
usually comes to you first the characters, the plot or
the message.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
You know, used to pub with the plot comes first.
It sort of all happens at once in a way,
you know, the Lord gives it to me like a movie,
So it's very visual in my in my head, and
I can kind of hear it and see it and
feel what's going on, and then it's my job to
kind of be the transcriber to put it on the page.
But sometimes honestly, it's it's a title that will come first.
(08:32):
With the Christmas Ring that's out now, Like this is
the very first time where my writing partner Tyler Russell,
and I wrote the script and started the movie process,
and then I wrote the book because I know, you know,
I knew that we were all going to need more
in detail than what I was going to be able
to give somebody in the movie, and so I just
carved out eight days and I said, I've got to
(08:52):
write it. So I had the title and I knew
the characters at that point, but the story of of
you know, a lost ring that was lost currently but
was from the family line all the way back to
World War two and D Day just felt compelling, and
so yeah, it usually starts, usually starts with like a storyline.
The characters kind of come to life pretty quickly in
(09:13):
my head, and then I outlined. You have to outline,
you know, for me, so with the movie already being done, first,
I had an outline and it was much much simpler
to go ahead and just write the story and fill
in the details.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Well, it's funny because I was. That was kind of
my next question of do you ever write with a
visual or cinematic approach in your mind? And does it
because a lot of readers will say it feels like
movies when they're they're reading your books. So does it
run like a like a tape in your head when
(09:48):
you see that like with the movie?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Well, I write so quickly, and that's again just think
Lord for that because we raise six kids and now
we have grandkids, and I wouldn't be able to spend
a year in a book. I would just not be
able to be an author because I always wanted them
to come first. And so I'll sit down and I
you know, have my laptop and a blanket over my lap,
and I'll put some you know, inspirational instrumental music on
(10:12):
in my headphones. And now I settle into the story,
and it is I'm tuning into a picture already in process,
like it's a movie already in progress in my head,
and I am just capturing it and I'm crying where
it's sad and laughing where it's funny. My husband thinks
i'm you know, in the beginning, he would be like, honey,
bring them back, just backspace, delete, they don't have to die,
(10:34):
you know whatever, you know, Like I'd be laughing out
loud and he'd just shake his head like you're crazy.
But yeah, it's always been just so visual for me,
and when I feel like the first reader, and now
with movies, it's like I feel like I got to
be the first person to see it. And then when
I see it on the screen, it's like, that's exactly
(10:54):
if we're making it, That's exactly what I was picturing.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Well, you know, the stories that you writing, if they
impact you in that way, I can only imagine how
the reader, when they receive it, are responding to that.
And why do you think that the themes of faith, family,
and redemption resonate so strongly with readers.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
You know, even when even if a person says I
don't relate to any of that, I don't have a
family if it's good, or I don't have a faith
or whatever, they still have and there's something inside of
them that longs for it. And even if that family
becomes the neighbors in your cul de sac. We're meant.
We're created to have connection and relationship with people. We're
(11:38):
human and we need that interaction. So for me, it's
finding the broken story and applying the love and grace
and calling of Jesus on there on their lives. Even
if they don't even if the characters don't know him
and don't even have an interest in him, there's still
something that goes deeper. And I think that's why people,
(11:59):
you know, least twenty five to thirty percent of my
readers aren't believers, don't consider themselves believers, but they're drawn
to the deeper story and the spiritual elements in what
I write. So it just shows you that there is
literally a longing that's woven into our very hearts and
souls to have a deeper relationship with God and with
each other. And you know it doesn't My books don't
(12:20):
always have a happy ending, but they always have hope.
And I think that's been an important message too for
readers that they say, well, you know, let's use the book.
Summer for instance, was a story that was one of
the Baxter books, and a baby has ended zephale And
and you don't survive in encephally and the baby lived
one hour, but the miracle was the one hour. And
(12:42):
I had so many people write to me and say
thank you that the baby didn't live because I've got
to show real you have to show the way. It
can't be all sugarcoated. You know, God, God meets us
in the depth of our pain, not necessarily giving us
this perfect path. That's just not the case for any
of us. We're going to have trouble. I just think
that we're drawn to it because it's really it's really
(13:03):
what our life and human experience is, and whether we
recognize it or not, this helps tap into that.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, I know, you balance realism and hope in your stories.
And I've made touch somebody that didn't even realize that
was going to happen when they started reading your book,
and then I think you probably have a fan for
life at that point because they're going to continue reading
the next book, and the next book and the next book.
(13:35):
How long do these characters and stories live in your
head once you're done writing them.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Well, they're always there. I mean, you know, they're like
friends almost in some ways, like family that I can
if I were to if assignment came to me to
write a sequel on any book I'd ever written, I
would just need to cozy up with that book and
rekindle my relationship with those characters, and I'd easily be
able to know what they're doing today. They're very real
(14:05):
to me and much like kids, you know, you're cheering
loudest for the one on the stage or the one
on the field. And so this season with the Christmas
Ring releasing and book form, and this is the very
first time that I've had a book that it's before
it released, So today is actually the release day it'll
be out. It's out three weeks before the movie comes out,
(14:26):
but it's already on its fourth print run, and that's
never happened. So I do think that there's this real again.
It's the perfect mix of at Christmas, we really long
to find renewed relationships. We want redemption and forgiveness and hope.
And we're kind of at the end of the year, right,
so we're saying what went right and what do I
(14:47):
want to do better next year? So a perfect time
to have a story like The Christmas Ring. And I
think that people will are going to be drawn to
those characters and to the story that comes in through
the back door of the heart that with the Christmas
Ring movie or book, you're not going to. You want
to be entertained. That's why you pick up a book.
You want to be taken away into another place and
(15:09):
watch someone else fall in love and go through the
highs and lows and find reconciliation. So you pick up
the book and what happens is in the process, this
beautiful truth comes in through the back door of your
heart and it's wide open because you're just reading someone
else's story. And then you walk away touched and changed.
You know, like you're right, Like just what you said.
(15:29):
People want to get the next one because they want
to have that experience again, like no one's shouting at
them or banging them over the head with a Bible
or telling them they're going to hell or this is
not the message. The books that speak that message that
are nonfiction. There's a place for those that's not what
I do. God's called me to love people through the
(15:50):
power of story that comes in through the back door
of the heart.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
That's beautifully sad. And speaking of the Christmas Ring, we
have to talk a little bit about this movie, and
without giving too much away, how would you best describe
this movie for viewers who are you maybe going to
read the book or go see the movie or both,
And without giving too much away, we don't want to
(16:17):
give too many spoilers.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
No, I know it and it's hard for this. Vanessa
Mayfield is a military widow whose husband passed in serving
the country in action four years earlier, and she is
searching for an heirloom that has been in the family
since d Day World War Two, and her great grandfather
found it this Christmas ring, and she lost it, and
(16:39):
she lost it while skiing with her daughter. So now
she steps into antique shops just hoping maybe she could
go to the jewelry section and find it. And on
this particular day, as the story starts, she's dropped her
daughter off at college and it's just her now, and
she steps into Miller's antiques and she meets Ben Miller.
He and his father run the shop, and they strike
up a friendship, and five months later he is coming
(17:00):
to They live in Marietta, Georgia, and then the story
takes place really in Columbus, two hours south. So he
goes to Columbus. Now it's Christmas time and he's looking
for antiques for the story. Now, little do we know,
and unbeknownst to anybody, his dad, Howard Miller, who's played
by Kelsey Grammer in the movie, has found what he's
always looked for, the diamond in the rough, a small
(17:22):
antique ring that it's worth far more than anyone thought,
including Vanessa. And now no one knows that what he's
found just very well might be the treasure that she's
been looking for for years. And this then becomes a
problem because he's already got a buyer lined up.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
That is the intrigue.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Oh my gosh, it just sounds absolutely amazing and sweet
and just encompasses everything that you put into your books
and in your storytelling. It's going to be a beautiful story.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Thank you. I'm so excited and I get to see
it with five hundred women who attended my Fallen Franklin event,
and they were just so touch. It's just nothing like
you've written the book and you have the movie. It's
been turned into the theaters. Everyone's got it. And now
you watch five hundred people watch a movie for the
first time, first audience, and they gave it a three
(18:18):
minute standing ovation, Like I don't. I was just so
I couldn't go on the stage and just point up
all the Lord tell him and you know, thank them,
and they could just take their seats. But they loved it,
and you know, that's what we want, right. So one
of our family contents was to see a Christmas movie.
You know, when we were growing up, my dad would
take us to the theater and we would see a
(18:39):
Christmas movie as a family. And I think we've lost
that and this is why we're only having it in
theaters and it starts November six. That people are getting
their tickets now so they can get great seats, just
like if you were to go to a concert, only
great seats are the same price. So that's great. They're
putting it on the calendar and they're saying, I'm building
my early Christmas around this moment, and they're wearing their
(19:03):
they're planning to wear their Christmas sweaters or I had
a few people who've written in and said, we're all
going to go on Christmas pj's. It's going to be
a fun, fun thing for people, and yes, they'll walk
away with hearts that are ready for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
I love that so much inspiration in so many different ways.
And you are just meant to do this, and that's
all there is to it. Think what advice would you
give to us firing writers who want to tell me meaningful,
faith based stories like you do well?
Speaker 4 (19:32):
And you know you have to be be close to
the Lord, stay close to him, be in the Word.
You know, the Word of God is live and active,
and you know, I think it's easy, you know, for
someone who maybe grew up in the church or what
not to think, oh, I should read my Bible and
check the box, you know, But it isn't like that.
It's it's it's a love letter from the Lord, and
it's different every time we read it, depending on where
(19:54):
we're at. He speaks to us. So stay connected to
the source, right because the source that's where we get
our stories. The deep stories that will change hearts and
touch lives come from His presence. Be in his presence.
That's the first thing. And then the second thing, be
like I try to be a detective of the emotions.
So while I'm out and about it may feel like
a regular day, I'm just running an errands or dropping
(20:17):
something off or whatnot. But I'm looking for the things
that trigger a tsunami of emotion in me that God
wanted me to see or hear, so that it might
be the beginning an impetus for a story. And so
be aware of what's happening around you and what God's
calling you to write. And then the next thing really
is write it. I'll often say people say, well, how
do I do? How do I write a book? And
(20:38):
I always say, write it. Just you should be reading
and that'll help you to know, like you know how
a flow and rhythm of a story should go. But
you start by writing it, and for me that means
outlining it and then writing it. And then once you
have that book, now you have something to sell. So
like The Christmas Ring, I did not have a contract
for that book. Normally I would, but it was all
(20:58):
so fast, So I wrote the book where like I say,
we're in the midst of the early pre production for
the movie. And then I called my agent. Having an agent,
it's a good idea, getting an agent. Went to have
a book to show them, and I showed him and
he was able to get a contract for Thomas Nelson
to have it. There were a few publishers that did
want it, which is nice. But when you're new and
(21:21):
you're just starting out, you just need to have something
to show people. So don't let don't say, well, I'm
not I don't know if i can do it. I
don't know if I'm good enough, I don't know if
I have enough training. You don't need that. Tell the
story that God has put in your heart and then
you'll know what to do with it next.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Excellent, excellent advice. I just you know, I picture in
my head at times of writing a book, but I'm
not any near even do an outline. So I'll have
to take your advice for myself as well. And maybe,
who knows, you might get a book on me someday,
and then I'll have you to think and I'll stand
(22:00):
on the stage and thank God and I'll thank Karen.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
Oh. I love that it's happened before. I have had
readers written in and said I wrote a book. I
did it, you know I did. I wrote them outline.
The next thing about outlining is if you don't like it,
you can change it around a lot easier when it's
in an outline phase. But then you know after you
read this book, so like the outline a lot, and
then you'll put your book will follow there you go.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Thank you for that well, and thank you for joining
us again today. We know you're extremely busy, so we
will wrap now, and because we will not talk to
you before the holidays, we want to wish you happy
and blessed holidays ahead.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
Thank you so much. I appreciate that, and Merry Christmas
to both of you, and enjoyed. It's a time to
be stilled, and you've got to find the still moments
and as you do, God will show you what's next.
So hopefully a part of that will be go see
the Christmas ring, get the book. It doesn't matter which
work when you do that, but you'll be touched.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Thank you so much, Mary, Chris, thanks to you as well.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
Thank you all right, by bye bye bye bye.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Thank you so much for tuning in to our latest
episode of Christmas Movie Spotlight. Don't forget. You can find
our podcast on iHeartRadio, Spotify, iTunes, Spreaker, and more. Just
search Christmas Movie Spotlight spelled m u v i e s.
Speaker 5 (23:22):
For even more, visit us online at christmasmoviespotlight dot com.
Follow us on our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
Follow at Christmas Movie Spotlight and on X Follow us
at Christmas Movies, which would be.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
X M A S m u v i e s.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Until next time, stay merry and we'll see you again
real soon
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