Behind the Scenes of the TV Series Premiere

I'm just sharing some fun shots of a fun evening with some captions to tell the tale

To read about this event — a TV series based on the book of my friend and client, KJ Dell’Antonia, go HERE.

I had the honor of being KJ’s guest at the premiere of the Hallmark TV series based on her New York Times bestselling novel, The Chicken Sisters, which I had the honor of coaching her on. So much honor!

I asked KJ to pose on the stairs of the hotel before we left for the theater because it was 103 degrees in Hollywood and I was worried she would look a little wilted. KJ loves fashion and she had a great outfit planned for the evening, which she had to ditch for another great outfit. This dress, worn over a brown slip, was from a vintage store. Look at her great smile:

When we arrived at the theater, they were just setting up the red carpet and the flowers, so we leaped in for a photo:

KJ was whisked off to take photos, do social media outtakes, and talk to various VIPs. I held her bag, fetched her water, and checked out the chickens in the theater:

There was a big stack of books for KJ to sign — special editions with the Reese Witherspoon logo and the Hallmark logo.

KJ had her chicken stamp, based on a drawing she’d done of a chicken in boots. She used to draw the chicken in every book she signed, but the stamp was a great move for a big pile of books!

On her right hand, you can spy the class ring of one of her grandmothers. There is a second ring from her other grandmother. She wore the jewelry to honor her ancestors — a theme of the book:

Soon the actors arrived, as well as staff from Hallmark and Hello Sunshine, and there was a whole lot of hugging and picture-taking.

KJ had a kind word and an offer of congratulations to everyone. She is an incredibly gracious (and extroverted!) person and even though she was the center of the swirl, she made everyone feel as if they were the center — remembering people’s names, remembering little anecdotes about them (and big anecdotes, too — including an actor who’d done his final screen test while his wife was in labor, and subsequently landed the role, which is his first English-speaking role!).

KJ’s graciousness included me. I was mostly on the fringe watching and taking photos, but whenever I got close to her orbit, she would introduce me as her book coach and say, “I couldn’t have written it without Jennie.” That was so very kind.

They pulled KJ into a photo with the cast. You can see how great her dress choice turned out to be!

Everyone filed into the theater and got popcorn and candy (M&Ms, Junior Mints, gummy bears!)

After some introductory remarks from Hallmark and Hello Sunshine, the show started — and suddenly, there was the world of small-town Kansas KJ had imagined, brought to life!

The first episode of the series was fun and funny (lots of laugh-out-loud moments with the whole theater cracking up, which was such fun) and set up the deep family drama that will ensue when two competing fried chicken restaurants vie for the prize in a Food-Wars-like TV competition. I can’t wait to watch the rest!

After the show, KJ moderated a panel discussion with the main cast members and the producer/showrunner/writer. They talked about relating so much to the characters’ struggles, how much fun they all had filming together (on a Canadian sound stage made to look like Kansas), and the meaning they each found in a story about reconciling yourself with where you came from.

They talked about the changes they made when adapting the novel into the TV script — most notably, bringing a dead husband to life. I thought KJ was particularly gracious about those moments, talking about how she understood exactly why they had to be made.

Everyone kept thanking KJ for the story she’d written, and the characters she’d created, and the depth she’s written into her story. They kept saying, “We are nothing without the writer,” and that feeling was strong in the room!

KJ is a great moderator. She’s very funny herself, quick on her feet, and poised in front of a crowd.

After the show, there was more hugging and congratulations and by the time we got in the Uber back to the hotel, KJ was beat! I was beat, too, and all I did was watch the whirlwind!

We stopped taking photos, but we hung out in the hotel bar with some of the actors and their partners and publicists. We ate some delicious food (stuffed dates, fried artichokes), and toasted everyone, and talked about all the great moments of the evening.

The next morning, after a quick breakfast, KJ took off for the airport and back to regular life, where she has a manuscript for her next book to finish.

I drove home filled with pride for my friend and client, and feeling the joy of getting to support writers as they bring their work into the world.

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