From The Page To The Big Screen

By Cheryl Wicker
Christian Movies Examiner

Best-selling author Richard Paul Evans is no stranger to Hollywood and is best known for “The Christmas Box” that was also made into a movie of the same title in 1995. The made for TV movie starred Emmy-award winning actor Richard Thomas and Hollywood legend Maureen O'Hara. To date, over 14 million copies of all his books are in print with “The Christmas Box” itself selling 8 million copies.

Evans, a former advertising executive, transitioned into the writing world in 1993 when he decided to self-published a novella titled 'The Christmas Box' simply because he couldn't find any publisher or agent willing to help him out. It was a book about a parents' love and the true meaning of Christmas. Two years later, the book reached the top position for both paperback and hardcover editions on the New York Times Bestseller list, sealing Evans' reputation as a bestselling author.

Evans believes in writing stories from the heart and wrote “The Christmas Box” specifically for his two daughters. “If had known my mother would be the only one to read the story, I would have still written it,” says Evans. “To let someone know that I understand their pain over losing a child is enough for me.”

The Utah-born author eventually wrote 18 novels, four of which have been produced as movies for television. Besides Hallmark's “The Christmas Box,” the other movies are “The Locket,” starring Vanessa Redgrave and also on airing on Hallmark, as well as “The Timepiece” starring James Earl Jones and Ellen Burstyn; and another Christmas movie, “A Perfect Day” with Rob Lowe and Christopher Lloyd.

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