Jimmy Wayne’s 2011 Christmas book, Paper Angels, is now an original movie, and will premiere on the UP network on November 16th, 2014 at 7:00 pm ET. Howard Books will reissue the book on November 4th, featuring a refreshed cover that ties into the movie.
“Having my book become a movie is something I had always hoped would happen,” Wayne said. “It’s an inspirational story, and one I hope will encourage people to keep in mind those children who have so little, not just during Christmas, but throughout the year.”
Wayne, who was himself a recipient of the Salvation Army Angel Tree program as a child, has a small role in the movie. Observant viewers will note the denim jacket he carries – he wore the same jacket in his music video for the hit song “Paper Angels.” It was given to him when he was a homeless teenager, living on the streets in North Carolina.
“I’ve always kept that jacket, just to remind myself of what my life was like back then,” Wayne said. “It was a hard life, but it helped me get to where I am today.”
In Paper Angels, abused wife Lynn (Josie Bissett) leaves her alcoholic husband Darryl, with her two kids, Thomas and Sara, and moves to another town where she works as a waitress to make ends meet. In that same town, we meet Kevin (Matthew Settle), whose marketing & design company is on the brink of shutting down due to the economy. Plus, Kevin’s wife Jenny is in a difficult pregnancy with twins. Thomas starts a new school and becomes the target of a bully who is threatened by how well Thomas plays basketball. Unable to join the high school team, Thomas goes to the community center where he meets Kevin and the two of them become unlikely friends through pickup basketball games. Little do they know the tremendous impact they will have on each other’s families this Christmas through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program. Inspired by the hit country Christmas song featured in the movie, “Paper Angels,” by country music star Jimmy Wayne and the same-titled book by Wayne with Travis Thrasher. Wayne also has written and performed two new songs for the film. Stars: Matthew Settle (“Gossip Girl”) and Josie Bissett (“Melrose Place”).
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