In the Christmas Spirit: An Interview with Screenwriter Kirsten Hansen

Screenwriter Kirsten Hansen (left center) with (from left to right) Preston Vanderslice (Beau Callahan), Producer Maura Dunbar, Development Executive Sarah Porter, Ashley Greene (Lucy Lovett) and Donna Benedicto (Anna Hepburn). PC: Kirsten Hansen With the holiday season comes Hallmark Channel’s celebrated Countdown to Christmas. Nothing says Christmas like a cozy movie complete with hot chocolate … Continue reading In the Christmas Spirit: An Interview with Screenwriter Kirsten Hansen →

What This Is Really All About – Lessons from “Chesapeake Shores: All the Time in the World”

“I’ve decided I’m going to paint. I’m going to set up a studio and just see what I can do.” Megan informs Mick in last weekend’s episode of Chesapeake Shores. As she makes this declaration, she anticipates a positive reaction from Mick. However, he hesitates for a moment and a shadow passes over his face … Continue reading What This Is Really All About – Lessons from “Chesapeake Shores: All the Time in the World” →

Somebody’s Hero – Life Lessons from “Chesapeake Shores: A Sonnet for Caroline”

“Who would you consider a hero?” I ask my students as we begin a new unit of study. “Superman?” “Hulk?” “Shrek?” The kids giggle and shout out as many superheroes as they can, as though it is a multiple-choice question with only one right answer “Let’s try that again. What makes those ‘superheroes’ heroic?” Thirty … Continue reading Somebody’s Hero – Life Lessons from “Chesapeake Shores: A Sonnet for Caroline” →

Stupidly Beautiful – Lessons from “Chesapeake Shores: Leap of Faith”

I sit here at the dining room table, munching on a crisp green salad, while my boys sing along with “The Candyman” song and watch Charlie Bucket eyeing the multitude of sweets the candy man offers the other children. A single quote from the movie flutters off the page of my notebook: “We are the … Continue reading Stupidly Beautiful – Lessons from “Chesapeake Shores: Leap of Faith” →

Where the Heart Wants to Go – “Chesapeake Shores: An Open Book”

The balmy August air enveloped us like a blanket in winter as the four of us lay out on our top deck, faces fixed on the darkness above us while meteors occasionally streaked across the night sky. That was our very first star-gazing experience as a family. Just a year prior, we’d been living in … Continue reading Where the Heart Wants to Go – “Chesapeake Shores: An Open Book” →