Author behind hit show coming to town
(pictured above: The cast of the television show “Resurrection.”)
Mott
Two years ago, Jason Mott was busy answering service calls at his job at Verizon Wireless.
Today, the Bolton, N.C. native is an acclaimed best-selling author whose book “The Returned” is the basis for a hit ABC drama. Mott is on a cross-country book tour promoting his latest – “The Wonder of All Things.” That tour will bring him to Winston-Salem on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
The nonprofit Bookmarks will host the author at Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 North Spruce St., at 7 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. After the program, Mott will sign books, which will be available for purchase with proceeds benefitting Bookmarks’ Author in Schools program.
Mott is a Bookmarks favorite; he has been a featured author at the nonprofit’s massive annual Festival of Books.
“The Wonder of All Things” is about a little girl named Ava who has the ability to heal people by touching them. When word of her touch gets out, seemingly the whole world descends on her town wanting healing from the miracle child.
“Readers are reading it and having a good time, I hope,” said Mott, who earned both bachelor and master of fine arts degrees from UNC Wilmington. “The response has been very good so far.”
The 36-year-old said his success has been surreal. He began writing when he was 14 but did not take it seriously until his 20s. In the beginning, rejection letters were common and agents wouldn’t give him the time of day. “The Returned” changed all of that.
The story of the deceased coming back to life and returning to an idyllic town caught the attention of ABC and Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment. Now in its second season, “Resurrection,” which airs Sundays at 9 p.m., is based on Mott’s book.
Mott said that it was exciting to hear about the TV adaptation of “The Returned.”
“I didn’t really expect it. I didn’t write the book thinking it would be optioned or picked up. Even when it was optioned, I didn’t expect it to go anywhere, but all of a sudden things just started happening,” he said. “They had a writer, not long after they had a director and before you know it, they were shooting an entire season.”
Mott has worked with producers and the stars of the show, who include Omar Epps and Frances Fisher. “Resurrection” is filmed in the Atlanta area.
Jason Mott poses with “Resurrection” stars Frances Fisher and Nicholas Gonzalez.
“They are so incredibly down-to-earth, more so than I expected,” he said. “When you are encountering actors and Hollywood types, you are not really sure what to expect. They are amazingly centered, amazingly grounded people who are just good people to know. I consider them friends, honestly.”
The television show has made new fans of his book.
“Readers are still reading it. I get emails from new readers every day who are just really in love with the book. It has gone further than I expected any book to go. I’m still adapting to all of it,” said Mott, who is working on a new novel and looking to get into screenwriting. “I’m a big film buff and I would love to contribute to the conversation of film.”
Bookmarks Executive Director Ginger Hendricks is excited to have Mott return to Winston-Salem.
“When Bookmarks hosted Jason for the release of his debut novel, “The Returned”, at our 2012 Festival of Books and Authors, we fell in love with him as a person and an author,” Hendricks said. “We are delighted for him to return to Winston-Salem to talk about his second book, “The Wonder of All Things.” We know that all of the attendees – whether new readers, readers of his debut novel or devotees of the TV show based on his book – are in for a treat.”
Mott said he loves interacting with readers. He wants attendees to come with lots of questions for him.
“I try to make the events as fun as possible. I tell a lot of stories about book tours and publishing and try to have a few laughs. I do a little reading, but I don’t read for too long because I found that people will nod off. I like having a conversation. I would rather talk with people than talk at them,” he said.
For more information, contact Bookmarks at 336-747-1471 or visit www.bookmarksnc.org. Learn more about Mott at jasonmottauthor.com/.
