[♪♪♪]
Dinner?
Can we make it dessert instead, Dad?
I'm meeting Garth for a book-reading,
and I'm already late!
[Dad]: How about some Christmas cookies?
Okay, sounds perfect.
I'll swing by as soon as I'm done.
I've got to go. I'm here.
Love you.
Sorry.
[muted conversation]
Hey, Garth.
[man]: Thank you.
Kim?
Sorry I'm late.
I didn't think you'd still come to the book reading.
Why wouldn't I?
After what I left for you...
the envelope?
Oh, your chapter pages for your new manuscript?
I'm so sorry.
I had a crazy day at work.
Kim, don't read it here.
Solid opening sentence,
excellent use of adjectives...
Is this a break-up note?
I'm sorry, but yes.
You're breaking up with me with a note?
I just didn't want to embarrass you in public.
Why?
It's in the note!
[man]: All right, everybody, let's begin.
All right,
just come back here with me, please.
Look, Kim,
you're... you're really great,
but I've been working at "Dash of Romance" blog
for three years,
and I'm at a point
where I need to get serious about my own writing,
and I need to be with someone
who's serious about t my writing!
Real writers show their work, Kim.
They talk to each other about writing all the time.
We've been together nearly two years.
You've never shown me so much as a word!
But that's just because it's not ready yet!
I mean, what if you hate it?
The point I'm trying to make
is that I am showing my book to publishers.
We're at different levels.
I'm sorry.
I just need to be with a serious writer right now.
Goodbye.
[Christmas music playing]
There she is, Sarge.
Our Christmas angel.
Ready to fly again.
Hey, Dad. Hey, Sarge.
Hi, honey!
Is it really that cold out there?
Well, yeah,
when you factor the wind chill from the car heater not working.
Honey, you work for a car dealership.
Yes, Dad,
but they're not going to give you a free car
as a Christmas gift.
Maybe they'll give you a deal.
You have been there five years.
Ugh, it sounds so long when you put it that way.
Kim?
What's wrong?
Apparently, I'm single again, just in time for Christmas.
Aw, kiddo.
[Kim]: Well, we met at a book reading
and broke up at a book reading,
so...
seems only fitting.
In literary terms, we'd call that "bookending."
I never liked Garth anyway.
You didn't?
And what was his lame excuse?
Oh, something about him being a "real writer,"
and me not.
Ha!
Have him read the manuscript for your romance novel.
It's great!
Well, you're my dad. You have to say that.
Anyway, I haven't finished it yet.
He's so critical.
Garth's not entirely wrong on one thing.
If you want to be an author, you need a bigger audience.
Now, more than ever,
I want to get that manuscript published
just to prove Garth wrong.
So finish it.
Submit it to publishers.
Stop playing it safe and put your work out there.
Honey,
if Mom were here, what would she say?
Honestly?
"Quit complaining and take a chance."
Yeah.
It's getting late.
I made your room up.
Stay here tonight.
Everything will be better in the morning.
I promise.
[♪♪♪]
[laughs]
I wonder what you're doing tonight,
H.T. Cowell.
I did it!
Say sayonara to last year's models.
I just sold the last one!
Whoo-hoo! Good for you!
Oh, my goodness, look at this.
Oh...
unless Terrence pulls off a Christmas miracle,
you have the trip to Aruba in the bag.
Speaking of Christmas,
you doing a little holiday shopping yourself?
More like workshop-shopping.
I figured if I'm going to up my writing game,
I've got to do something really bold,
so I decided to look into writing workshops.
Way to go, girl.
Summer MFA program...
no, that would be too much time off work.
Look at this.
Semester in Italy...
oh, I wish I could do that.
Hang on a second.
"Mistletoe Inn Romance Novelists' Conference."
Five days at an inn in Vermont
right before Christmas?
That's right up your alley.
This is totally fate.
Is there any way you think
you guys could manage without me for one week?
Sure!
Thank you.
Oh, that one's cute.
Nah, look at all the pitch.
It's too sticky.
How about that one?
That's not a Christmas tree,
that's a Christmas shrub!
How silly of me.
All right, that one's nice.
That is right out of "The Nutcracker."
[laughs]
"Right out of 'The Nutcracker,'" huh?
I like that.
I'm going to use that in my book.
Well, it won't be much good
unless you let people read it.
Oh, I am way ahead of you, Dad.
Check this out.
I found the perfect thing
to jump-start my writing career.
Ta-dah!
"The Mistletoe Inn Writing Competition?"
Mm-hmm. I just decided to go ahead
and take the plunge.
H.T. Cowell is speaking on closing night.
He is my favorite romance author,
and he has never actually been seen in public.
That's definitely a selling point.
I just realize
that if I don't actually do this now,
I'm never going to do it.
I'm so proud of you, honey!
Thank you.
And it says here
that your manuscript will be read
by an established publisher
and a literary agent...
oh, and that there's a competition
for this Cowell fellah to read your book?
There is? I must have missed that part.
Hey, you're not going
to let a little competition scare you off, are you?
Too late. I've already registered.
That is so good, honey. Oh!
Thank you.
You will be back in time for Christmas?
Of course I will be!
Celebrate with lunch?
Yes, please.
[laughs]
[♪♪♪]
Someone will be right out to help you, miss.
[loud crash, yelling]
Excuse me!
I'm so sorry.
You almost crushed my laptop!
Goodness, your stuff is just spread
all over the place.
Well...
I see somebody came prepared for the holiday.
Okay, you know what? This is personal.
I'm sorry, I'm just... I'm trying to help you here.
All right.
What is this stuff?
That's... that's very important to me.
You here for the Writers' Conference?
I am. Guilty as charged. My name's Zeke.
Kim. Nice to meet you... I think.
Who brings a clock radio to a hotel?
That's not a clock radio.
This is my white noise machine.
It helps keep me calm while I'm writing.
You know, I just met you, but somehow,
I'm having a really hard time
picturing you calm.
What is that item?
This?
This is my typewriter.
[laughs]
Okay.
1950 called. They want their technology back.
All right, laugh all you want.
This is the exact same model typewriter
Hemingway used to type out his books.
Plus, this baby helped me bang out the first novel
I got published.
You got published?
Uh, it's a book deal. Book's not out yet.
Well, maybe I need to get myself a typewriter.
Maybe you should. Works great for me.
See you around.
Bellhop!
Hi.
Hello.
You look lost
in that "conference registration" kind of way.
I didn't know that was a look.
Oh, it is. Trust me.
I had it last year, but way worse.
I'm Sam.
Hi! Kim.
Nice to meet you.
Wow, this is so exciting. Hello.
First conference?
Yeah, and I'm as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning.
How does it all work?
Well, the mornings are filled
with lectures that we are assigned to,
and that just leaves the afternoon
for workshops to choose.
I still can't believe
H.T. Cowell is speaking on closing night.
I've read every word he's ever written.
I know,
and no one even knows what he looks like,
though in my mind,
he's has a twinkle in his eye of a Dylan Thomas,
and a Jack London-esque passion for life.
[laughs]
The real mystery
is why he hasn't written anything in five years.
Well, rumor has it
he's announcing his new book at this conference.
Really?
And apparently, it's 800 pages long.
I know.
It'll be like a monsoon after a five years of drought...
[laughs]
And I have a theory...
that he's already here.
Yeah. Oh, well, we'd better hurry up.
Mixer's in an hour.
Oh, yeah, the mixer!
I have to go to my room to change.
Oh, let me show you. This way.
So we meet again.
Small world.
Mm-hmm.
Think maybe they overdid it
with the Christmas decorations?
Well, it is called the Mistletoe Inn, after all,
and I happen to think
you can never have too many Christmas decorations.
Interesting theory.
Uh, you know, I think that is me.
That is me.
Oh, fancy that. See you around.
Guess you will.
[door beeps]
Oh, no.
Oh, no...
[Sam]: Hi.
Wow, you look... amazing.
Samantha, what happened?
I thought we were supposed to come dressed up
as our favorite literary character!
Oh, they sent an email canceling that.
I guess people complained.
They did?
I know, but don't worry.
You are pulling this off!
No, I'm going to go change.
Oh, no, no, don't.
It shows a defiant spunk.
I love it.
Let's grab a drink at the bar.
Okay...
Look at how festive it is in here.
Ooh, holiday drinks.
Snowball Express, Rudolph's Big Ride,
Santa's Helper, or the Tiny Tim.
I think the Tiny Tim sounds very appropriate.
I'll get you a Tiny Tim,
and I'll have a Gingerbread Gimlet.
Okay.
Be right back.
Thank you.
Let's get this...
Who designed this thing?
Oh, I am so sorry!
Oh, hello.
Hi.
I don't know
why they can't just give us normal name tags.
[British accent] 'Ello, gov'na!
Oh...
It's like Charles Dickens over here.
Yes.
I seem to have missed a very important email.
Well, I'm glad you did. I think that's a great costume.
Now, the question is,
which Charles Dickens character are you?
That is the question.
It's a mystery. I'm going to solve it.
I'll see you around.
Okay.
Mm...
who's your friend?
Oh, he's the guy
across the hall from me.
He's cute.
I'm so not interested in men right now.
[Garth]: Kim, is that you?
What are you doing here?
I could ask you the same question.
Hello?
What writer wouldn't want H.T. Cowell to read his work?
He's been an idol of mine for years,
and you know that.
Garth, I'm the one
that turned you on to H.T. Cowell last summer.
That's not how I remember it.
Okay.
Nice... outfit.
Let me guess... uh...
Alice in Wonderland?
[Zeke]: No, not Alice in Wonderland.
I just figured it out.
You're the Ghost of Christmas Present, right?
Yes, good job!
[Zeke]: I got it! Hey, that's a great costume.
Don't you think...
Garm?
It's Garth.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Well, I should go do an update.
I'm live-tweeting the conference
for all of my fans at the "Dash of Romance" blog.
All 23 of them?
2,300.
Right.
See you around.
Okay.
Okay, I know
you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover,
but it does seem like you two know each other?
Yes, you might say
that Garth is my Ghost of Christmas Past.
My sympathies.
Samantha!
Luanne.
[kisses]
This is Kim and Zeke, and this is Luanne.
I am surprised your husband spared you for a week.
Well, for H.T. Cowell coming out of hiding,
my husband doesn't have much of a say.
[chuckling]
[Sam]: Kim here is singularly focused
on winning that H.T. Cowell competition,
as am I.
You admire him that much, huh?
Oh, yes.
I think he's the only author I've ever read
who can fully capture the way a woman feels.
Amen to that.
Cowell's solid.
I think I've read better.
[Kim]: Oh, yeah?
Does that mean
you're not in the competition yourself?
Oh, no, no, no. Of course I am.
So, Kim...
how many books have you written so far?
Well, um...
I've written one book...
which is almost finished.
It's about 3/4 of the way done.
I still have to get the ending quite perfect,
but, um... yeah, one.
Well, it is very important
to get through that first book.
I remember my first book.
Of course,
I was in high school back then,
but still counts.
[laughs]
And you, Zeke, is it?
How many books have you published, Zeke?
Who, me? Uh...
just, uh...
just the one.
A published author in our midst?
Which publisher?
[Zeke]: Well, it's funny
when you use that word "published."
Uh, it's not quite... published yet.
Now, what does that mean?
It's a book deal, so it's coming out.
It's just not quite out into the world yet.
Your editor's ripping it to pieces, isn't he?
Gosh, I just remembered
that I left my coffee machine on upstairs.
So...
I'm going to go.
[Sam]: Luanne!
You ought to be nice for the newbies.
You just scared him off.
Darling, if he can't hang with the real writers,
then he should stay home.
Now, Kim, we have all been you.
Many authors say not to show your work
'til you've wrote at least five books,
but, you know.
Okay.
Well, that's really good advice. Thank you.
I think
this is probably my cue to leave.
Tiny Tim and I are feeling a little inspired,
so we're going to go to our room and do some writing.
Cheers. Happy writing.
Yes!
See you tomorrow.
-Okay. Bye. -Bye now.
All right, you need to reel it in
on the newbies.
Kim!
[chuckles] So...
you finally finished writing that book?
Mm-hmm. Almost.
Right, okay.
So... why didn't you tell me?
I guess for the same reason
that you didn't tell me about this conference.
Guess we both have secrets.
Well, you'd never showed any interest
in coming to conferences before.
Until now.
You're not the only one who takes writing seriously.
Is that right?
Mm-hmm. I just might win this contest.
Look, uh, Kim,
you might want to lower those expectations
just a bit.
What do you mean?
Well, I mean, it's your first book.
You're still green.
You won't win.
Don't sweat it.
I'm never going to be good enough for you, am I?
I never said that, Kim.
It's really good to see you, Garth.
May the best writer win.
Yeah. He will.
-Kim! -Oh, hey.
You're not going out are you?
The sun's barely up.
An early morning run
helps give me a jump-start to my day.
I bet when you were a kid,
you stayed up all night waiting for Santa.
Didn't everyone?
Anyway,
the final chapters of my book
are still holding me up.
I've got to do something to clear my head.
Okay,
but our first session starts in a couple hours.
Then I guess I'd better run fast.
Whoa! Sir! Excuse me!
Oh, you dropped a couple of them.
[laughing]
There you go.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Oh, hey!
Whoo!
Whoa! Whoa-ho-ho!
Hold on. Don't get up too fast.
[Kim]: I'm okay... I think.
Anything hurt?
Uh, just my pride.
Whoo!
Yeah, the sidewalks can get pretty icy.
Am I bleeding?
Oh, no, no, no.
You're just... you're a bit slushy.
Ah.
Hey, listen, you went down pretty hard.
Are you sure you're okay?
Yeah.
The humiliation will fade, I hope.
Do you want to come inside the cafe?
It's warm,
the peppermint lattes are kind of great,
and our first session doesn't start for an hour.
You know,
I think I am going to head back
and try to shower off the embarrassment.
Okay.
So I will just see you... soon.
All right. Okay.
Whoa...
[laughs nervously]
So, how was your run?
Horrifying,
and if you ask me for details,
even more horrifying.
Oh, well, I think
it's time to pick our workshops.
See this partridge-in a-pear-tree-looking thing?
[Kim]: Partridge? I thought those were quail.
[Sam]: Oh. Well...
a partridge is just a quail with a better publicist.
[laughs]
So you just pick the ornament,
and our workshop group.
That's fun.
I'm Group B.
Oh!
Oh, I'm Group C.
Oh!
I wish we were together.
Me too.
Hello!
Well, hi there.
Is this seat taken?
I think it is now.
Perfect.
Good morning, fellow writers!
And good morning, Kim!
Good morning.
I'm Karen Watanabe,
your facilitator and senior book editor
at City Publishing.
For the next several days,
we'll discuss the finer points of romance writing,
but first, some tools of the trade.
We'll meet every day
with nightly assignments to improve your process,
and you'll share your work with the group,
but this is a safe space for ideas.
Writing is brave work.
Ridicule is the tool of shallow people.
Don't be one of the shallow people...
and don't be a writing-Scrooge,
miserly sharing your work.
We're all here to learn.
As to the competition
to have your work read by Mr. Cowell,
each workshop will compete
in three rounds of daily assignments.
The winner of each round
will select one chapter from their manuscript.
The more rounds you win, the more chances you have.
So, let's pair up
with a writing partner for the week,
to give each other feedback, go to lectures together,
and help each other survive.
Shall we?
We shall.
Hey, do you--
I see we have a lone wolf.
You know what? It's no problem at all.
I love working alone. I will...
I will persevere.
Oh, hey! Sorry I'm late.
My group was full, so they sent me over here.
[Karen]: Ah-hah!
I think we've found your new partner!
Him? I'm not sure that's such a good...
Perfect.
For your first assignment tonight,
you'll compose two pages
of a fictional man and woman
meeting romantically
in a holiday setting.
In the meantime,
introduce yourself to your partner, please,
and we'll get started!
Well, hi there.
My name is Kim.
My likes include perfect Christmas trees
and eggnog.
My dislikes include writing partners.
Nothing personal.
Hilarious.
Tell me something,
did I do something to offend you?
What's going on?
No!
It's just between the costume
and the faceplant,
I am not used to embarrassing myself
quite so many times in a 24-hour period
with one person.
All right, that's fine.
That's my area.
No, that's...
that's your area.
It's going to be a long week.
[whale song playing]
[whale song from white noise machine]
[quiet laptop typing]
[loud typewriter typing]
[typewriter dings, stops]
[typewriter starts again]
[Kim]: Hah!
[typing stops]
[starts again]
[knocks]
[Zeke]: Agh!
Can I help you?
I am trying to write!
Uh, yeah... so am I.
Well, it sounds as though
you're sending Morse code down the hallway.
Well, I'm not, but if I was,
it might say something like,
"Leave me alone, please. I'm writing."
Is your typewriter supposed to sound like that?
Because maybe you need to return it
to the swap meet?
The swap meet?
Look, you've got your process,
I have mine.
Uh-huh, and my process requires tranquility
in order to focus.
Well, my process involves typing on my vintage typewriter.
That's my process.
Well, my process involves
not allowing other people's process
to derail my process.
[whale song playing]
Did you decorate your hotel room for Christmas?
Yes, I did, okay?
I happen to find it
extremely inspiring when I'm writing to have...
Oh, that explains all the Christmas gear
in your suitcase... [laughs]
I'm sorry, is that amusing to you?
No, it's just that we're standing here,
arguing underneath the mistletoe.
Oh, goodness.
Yeah.
So... what are you writing there, anyway?
Where are you going?
Um, what are you... what are you doing?
That's not finished. I'm still polishing that.
Uh-huh. Uh-huh. I like it.
This is great.
They're meeting in line while waiting for Santa.
That's really good.
Your title gives it all away, right?
"Love in Line for Santa?" Come on.
A title's got to be a hook, not a hammer.
I don't recall asking for your feedback.
We're partners, remember?
"Safe space."
Come on, if you're going to be a writer,
you need to be a tad more resilient.
And if you want to survive this weekend,
you have got to keep your noise down.
Do you understand?
[whale song playing]
Your whales are calling.
The whales are saying good night!
[mimics whale song]
It's a fantastic title.
[Sam]: Late night, huh?
[yawns]
Yeah, you could say that.
Zeke, the fellow across the hall from me,
he was up all night clacking!
"Clacking"?
Yeah, and clicking on his typewriter.
Seriously? Does it still do that thing
when it gets to the end of the line?
The ding-dings ringing in my ears.
Oof. Excuse me?
She'll have a North Pole Special,
and I'll have the Elf Espresso, extra strong.
Thank you.
Oh, I can't focus.
Strangers are reading my work at this very moment.
Kim, if you want to be a writer,
you have to be read.
Otherwise, may as well just keep a diary.
That's a good point.
That's the whole reason I'm here, right?
Right.
How are you doing, anyway?
What's going on with you?
Oh!
I may have spotted the elusive H.T. Cowell!
No!
Mm-hmm. See that fellow over there?
Him?
[Sam]: He's wearing tweed.
So is half of Scotland.
Well, yes,
but tweed is how the men dress in H.T. Cowell's books.
I can think of at least three examples.
Okay.
I think you might be onto something.
Mm-hmm.
Nice work!
You keep an eye on Mr. Tweed.
Mm-hmm.
I've got to get some of this reading done
before class starts up again.
Excuse me.
Wha...
No!
What?
[gasps angrily]
He didn't!
The nerve of...
Kim?
[Kim]: Unbelievable.
Zeke!
Hey, good morning. Look at that.
I see you took my advice on your title!
What's the big idea?
What big idea?
Don't play innocent with me.
Your story, "Christmas on the Ice?"
Yeah? What's wrong with it?
What do you mean, what's wrong with it?
The couple meets
when the woman faceplants into a snowdrift
and the guy is drinking coffee!
You wrote about us.
That's what makes it great fiction.
Except it's not fiction, and just for the record,
I did not "blather"
when I climbed out of the snowdrift.
Well, you kind of did.
Look, real life is inspiration
for every writer!
Besides, that coyote-like "yelp" you made
when you slid across the ice horizontally...
you just can't make that stuff up!
That yelp belongs to me,
and you can't just borrow it for your story!
Life is fodder for fiction.
Fodder? What are you, a horse?
What, no snappy comeback to that?
Well, I wasn't sure you were done,
and I know you need total silence
to come up with dialogue, so...
Okay, Zeke, let me tell you something.
I am here to learn, to focus,
and to be a serious writer.
I am on a mission, okay?
Okay, fine. Look, I'm sorry, all right?
I know I can be awkward.
I'm a finance guy.
I probably just don't get out enough.
Well then, perhaps you ought to stick to investment advice,
and leave the writing advice to the professionals.
Even if I think you have talent?
I don't care what you think...
you think I have talent?
Look, the story you came up with
for the assignment,
it's funny, it's smart, it's festive.
That's a triple threat that you just pulled off.
Having them meet in line
at a Santa's Village in a local mall?
And then all the angst
of thinking the other's married with kids,
when the kids turn out to be nieces and nephews?
That's a fun twist.
Honestly, I was jealous
of how you came up with that so fast.
Oh, thank you. I really appreciate that.
I mean, your dialogue needs a bit of work...
Why don't you just quit while you're ahead?
Okay.
Kim!
Yeah?
[Karen]: Just a heads-up.
Your story's great. I loved it!
Seriously?
And the title fit perfectly.
Not going the obvious route was a smart choice.
Anyway, congrats!
You just won the first round of the competition.
I won?
[Karen]: Zeke, you got a minute?
Ah.
I won!
Kim!
Hi.
Just wanted to say...
good job winning the first round.
Really...
surprising stuff.
Thank you.
So how'd you do it?
You didn't just pull that story
out of your hat, right?
Well, I actually was thinking about this time
when I was about five or so.
My Mom and Dad took me to see Santa Claus,
and we were waiting in line,
and I looked over at them,
and they started kissing.
At the time, of course,
I was super embarrassed about it,
but then, in retrospect,
it sounded really romantic,
and a great thing to base my story on,
so that's where I got the idea from.
Wow, all of that to just...
right out of the gates.
Well, score one for beginner's luck, right?
[Sam]: Garth.
So close!
You were about to make a classy move,
until you dropped the beginner's luck comment
and sank it all.
[laughs]
Shoo, shoo.
Oh, my gosh! Congratulations!
Rocking the workshop! You already won the first round.
I guess on to round two.
Well, tomorrow's assignment
is "writing a description for a romantic dinner."
That sounds kind of daunting, so...
Well, you're doing well in English.
How about Chemistry?
What?
You know... you and Zeke.
Oh, Sam, don't be silly. He's so...
Perfect.
No, hardly.
Anyway, I'm not sure if you've noticed,
but my ex is kind of lurking everywhere, so...
Well... all the more reason to flirt.
That's so not my style.
Anyhow, this week,
my motive has nothing to do with men.
It's just ironic, you know,
being at a romance writers' convention.
Right? Oh, and...
here's your chance.
Let me guess...
you came to gloat about the title?
Oh... no.
To congratulate you.
Well, thank you.
And to gloat. You're welcome for the title.
Hey, I admit it, you were right.
Okay?
I have a lot of resistance to feedback.
For me, it feels more like facing a firing squad.
So...
you know...
thank you.
Okay? You happy?
Let me buy you a coffee.
I'd be happy
if I could come up with romantic stuff
as fast as you can.
What about your face-plant ice story?
Honestly, I just typed up everything that happened,
so you pretty much did all the work for me.
Look...
I'm sorry that I used your life for fiction.
It's just that...
writing has just been so hard for me lately.
Really?
You know, the truth is, I've hit kind of a dry patch.
You get writer's block, too?
Oh, yeah. It happens to the best of us.
That makes quite a partnership...
a seasoned writer with writer's block
and a newbie who can't take criticism.
I'd say our career prospects are rather dim.
All right, how about this?
From now on, you and me,
we help each other make the most of this conference...
or at least declare a truce?
Peace?
I suppose.
So...
what's on the schedule?
Are you following me?
No, I just left my schedule upstairs.
I think it's a lecture called "How Not To Get An Agent."
You okay?
Yeah. No, I'm fine.
You can't go to that.
I can't?
Look, didn't we just agree to help each other?
That speaker is a proven dream-crusher.
Look, I've been to enough of these
to know that you don't need a professional nay-sayer
telling you how slim your chances are
at making it.
Plus, I've seen her talk before,
and that speaker's a menace.
Besides, I could teach you everything in that seminar
with far better results.
You could, huh?
You're not trying to sabotage me, are you?
Win this competition for yourself?
Why would I do that?
You already won the first round.
Plus, Karen said you've got to trust your partner.
Guess what? That's me. I'm your partner,
and I'm telling you, don't go!
Zeke, I can't not go to the lectures!
I'm a newbie writer
with one unpublished story to my name.
I came here to learn. That's the whole point.
All right, look...
give me 10 minutes of your time.
If you think I'm wrong,
you still have time to go to the seminar.
Okay. Fine.
Great.
Meet me in the lobby in half an hour.
Bring your coat. Can I eat this?
Thanks.
Snowmen?
Oh, no, actually, snow-ma'ams.
There's two of them.
I got some lost-and-found items from inside
to help me make my point.
Which is what, exactly?
Just hear me out.
This is Evelyn Crab.
She is a failed author, which simply means she gave up.
She became a book agent
and now enjoys being spiteful to newbie writers.
Why? For one reason...
because she can.
It's nice to meet you, Evelyn.
Oh, no. Miss Crab, thank you very much.
Sorry. Miss Crab.
Okay, this is Kelly Lovelife.
She adores reading and authors,
and she discovered in college
that she knows how to sell
and how to encourage people towards their goals.
She's going to be offering counterpoint today.
It's nice to meet you, Miss Lovelife.
Oh, uh, Miss Lovelife prefers you call her "Kelly,"
and she wishes you a very Merry Christmas.
Oh, look at that, Miss Crab just rolled her eyes
and suggested that agents keep a healthy distance
from their clients.
Miss Crab says that just because
your family and friends might think you're talented,
doesn't mean you're actually talented
in any sort of professional sales sense of...
hold on a second.
Miss Lovelife's whispering something.
Yes, Miss Lovelife?
Oh!
Miss Lovelife says that you're off to a great start,
and every tiny victory along the road
is worth celebrating.
Oh, hold on.
She says
that the point of writing is not to be discovered,
but rather self-discovery
that, hopefully, other people can enjoy,
so that's... whoa.
Miss Crab does not look happy.
[laughs]
Well, why would she?
I mean, there's ice water in her veins.
[laughs] There you go.
Now you're getting into it.
Now, come on.
Doesn't this beat getting hammered over the head
for an hour inside?
I have to admit that it does.
And how are you feeling
about that "one unpublished story to your name" now?
Well, I might be crazy,
but I think
that Miss Kelly Lovelife has just boosted my confidence.
[laughs]
[giggles]
How long do you think
those snow ma'ams are going to last?
All winter, probably.
Do you think?
Hey!
Hey. There you are.
What happened? Did the lecture let out early?
Oh, no, I escaped early.
"How Not To Get An Agent" should have been titled,
"How To Never Feel Inspired To Write Again!"
Oh, and your ex, Garth?
He was applauding everything she was saying.
I am so not sorry I missed that.
Well, next up,
I think we're supposed to write
five descriptive paragraphs
of a romantic holiday dinner
for tomorrow's assignment?
[Zeke]: That's right. I'll be seeing you.
I promise to type more quietly
if you keep your whales down.
You have a deal.
Oh, um, actually, hang on.
Why don't the three of us go for dinner tonight
as research, you know,
for our romantic dinner assignment?
Hey, that's a great idea.
I'm a little bit rusty, admittedly.
Garth's idea of a romantic dinner
was free wine and cheese at a book launch.
I mean, I guess we could, uh, get a table.
Oops! Uh...
Sorry, there goes the mark.
I have a little spying mission to do,
so...
why don't you two go to dinner together?
You two enjoy dinner.
Well, you know, I mean, uh...
there are some great restaurants around here.
Definitely.
Right. I was thinking for research.
Uh-huh. For the assignment.
Yeah, perfect.
So...
I will see you in the foyer at, say, 7:00?
7:00 sounds perfect. That's great.
Okay! 7:00 it is.
'Til then! Alrighty.
Research.
Huh.
You look...
great.
In the name of research,
I never do anything halfway.
Well...
in the name of research.
[Zeke]: That was amazing.
Oh, it really was.
May I clear your plates?
Thank you.
[Zeke]: Thanks.
Thank you.
Now, we're not here to talk about the food, though.
Research.
Okay, well...
I think the candles are a nice touch.
[laughs] The candles?
Come on, you can do better than that.
Let's see...
check out that chandelier.
Okay.
[waiter]: How was everything tonight?
So good.
I'm writing you a four-star review
as we speak.
Would you like to have dessert tonight?
Uh, could I have the fresh berries, please?
[waiter]: Berries.
I'm going to have the chocolate mousse.
Excellent.
Thank you.
So listen, I've been meaning to ask you...
um...
what's your book about, anyway?
Oh...
let's...
let's talk about you.
Can you even still buy typewriter ribbons anymore?
You know, I know what you're doing,
and you're changing the subject.
Don't do that. Look...
you talked about your work today,
and you won, right?
Well, the winning, I really liked.
The sharing of the work, not so much.
Well, I think
that you need to get over your fear
of sharing your work...
is what I think.
Okay, fine.
My book is about a woman
who finds herself single at the holidays
after a string of failed relationships,
and she meets this guy who suggests
that they pretend to be dating
in order to survive the holidays.
That's fun!
I'd love to read that.
I'll think about it.
Oh, while you think about it,
maybe you can tell me
what got you writing in the first place.
"Who" got me started writing.
It's my mom.
She had such a way with words.
She would write these offbeat short stories
for our annual Christmas newsletter.
They were so funny, they could just make you laugh
until you had tears rolling down your face.
Your mom sounds great.
Yeah, she was.
She, uh, she passed away four years ago,
at Christmas time.
I'm so sorry.
Thanks. I miss her.
My dad is fantastic,
but, you know, my mom was like my muse.
She read every word I ever wrote,
and somehow,
her feedback always went down really easy.
Anyway,
how does a guy like you
get into writing romance?
You know, I've always thought...
that all literature is romance, essentially.
You know, the human heart is our canvas.
It's the landscape that we toil in,
from Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling.
That's really poetic.
Well, thank you.
I mean, I always wanted to be a writer.
You know, I was in finance. It was very cut and dry,
and then, one time,
I picked up this romance novel,
and it got the wheels spinning.
I mean, my wife...
used to say that I was a die-hard romantic,
so I decided to channel our relationship,
and our marriage, and the life around us,
into my writing,
and it was great.
I mean, everything flowed...
when things were good.
Everything...
and then...
when... when the divorce hit...
it was like hitting a brick wall.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
Is that when the writer's block started?
Yeah.
I feel like I fell off the romance horse,
and I just, I haven't been able to find a way back on.
So how come you go to writers' conferences?
Well, yeah, um... oh!
Thank you.
And your mousse.
Thank you.
Why do I go to writers' conferences?
I guess...
I'm desperately hoping something will shake loose.
You know?
Well, I do have an idea.
I'd like to propose a little exercise.
Oh, so you're helping me now?
Mm-hmm. You need it, right?
So the shoe is on the other foot.
This is what it feels like.
Do you have a problem with that?
You know what? Strangely,
I have no problems with this at all.
Well then...
so here we are,
in a romantic restaurant at Christmas time.
I want you to look around this room
and tell me
what the most romantic detail is that you can see.
Don't make it something trite
like the Yule log burning in the fireplace,
or the faint echoes of Christmas music
in the background.
Okay, all right, I'll try.
One romantic thing...
Well, I guess it would have to be, uh...
Go on! Spit it out.
How shiny that spoon is.
How shiny the spoon is? Are you kidding me?
You are seriously not even trying, are you?
I mean, I have a reason.
There's a reason why the spoon is romantic?
Yeah.
It's because of how it reflects just a hint of candlelight...
into your eyes.
♪ Deck the halls with boughs of holly ♪
♪ Fa, la, la, la, la la, la, la, la ♪
♪ 'Tis the season to be jolly ♪
♪ Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la ♪
♪ Don we now are... ♪
What's the deal with you and Garth?
[chuckles] Garth...
He was always the "serious writer"
of the couple...
or at least he liked to think so.
At parties,
I would hang back and stay quiet
while he held court to the crowd
on all his brilliant ideas.
Well, you know...
some people feel bigger
by making others feel smaller.
Yeah, he certainly feels like he's a big deal
now that he's at the "Dash of Romance" blog,
but it was partly my fault, too.
I'm just getting to the point
where I'm able to say the words "I'm a writer"
without wanting to hide.
So, Writer...
you going to show me your manuscript?
Well, I don't know.
You're so opinionated.
Kim, look, you helped me. Let me help you.
If you want to grow,
you need to learn to take criticism....
even if that means standing still...
while people throw snowballs at you.
Metaphorically speaking?
Nope!
Whoa!
What was that for?
It's for using too many adjectives.
Are you serious?
Mm-hmm.
How else are you going to get a thick skin?
Why, you...!
Your paragraphs could run a bit shorter, too,
by the way.
All right, Mr. Writer's Block!
Does this knock any ideas loose?
Ah!
What, that's all you got?
Now you're getting the hang of it.
Resilience!
[screams, laughs]
[yelling, laughing]
[laughing]
Thank you for helping me.
Likewise.
I think I might have misjudged you.
I think I might have misjudged you, too.
I guess...
I guess we should head back.
Yeah.
We've got a class tomorrow.
We do.
Yeah. Come on.
Thank you for trusting my taste in restaurants.
And thank you
for knowing the way back to the Inn.
You're not going to do any typing tonight, are you?
Typing? No.
As a matter of fact,
I think I am going to be doing some reading.
Oh, yeah?
Mm-hmm.
You're giving me that manuscript.
Oh, Zeke, come on...
Kim, listen,
sometimes, you've got to take a chance.
Instead of dipping a toe in the pool,
you've got to just jump right into the deep end.
Uh-huh.
I... I... fine!
Okay, I surrender.
I think it's in here somewhere.
There it is.
You do have a computer, right?
Give me that.
I hope.
You promise to be nice?
I promise to be truthful.
Come on, let's get out of here.
Aw...
[Sam]: Where's Zeke?
Oh! Believe it or not...
I gave him my manuscript to read.
Oh, wow! That's brave of you.
So your "research dinner" must've gone well?
I think it did.
He threw snowballs at me, so...
Ah, okay.
Ooh, any plot updates
on the Gentleman in Tweed?
Oh, I am convinced he is Cowell.
I mean, he's still playing it coy, right?
But get this...
last night, he ordered a glass of Flying Loon Merlot.
Straight out of the dinner scene in chapter eight
of "Love Among the Maples."
Right, right, right.
Anyways, we have plans
to tour a goat cheese farm later,
and I intend to get to the bottom of this.
Samantha, they broke the mould with you.
Thanks!
See you later.
I have to run to the next one.
Bye!
Good morning, everyone.
Morning, Kim.
How was your romantic dinner last night with, um...
Oh! Did he skip out on you?
Food poisoning?
Man, he just left you all alone.
Thank you for your concern,
but I will be just fine on my own today.
Let's hope so.
Sorry I'm late. Made it just in time.
Good morning.
How are you this beautiful morn...
I bet you're one of those people
that opens Advent calendars one day at a time, aren't you?
Out with it! Did you read my manuscript?
Well, I picked it up last night.
And you couldn't put it down?
Actually, I haven't quite finished reading it yet.
You hated it.
No, no, no, I just, you know, I read slowly, carefully.
Is that okay?
Oh, that's just stellar.
Waiting around for pain is super-fun.
Look, I hate to break it to you,
but waiting for feedback is part of the job.
[Karen]: Welcome back, class...
and I think we have our latest winner to announce
for round two of the competition.
Congratulations, "winner."
Thank you.
Save me a seat at lunch, partner?
You got it.
Hey.
Congratulations.
Thanks, Kim, and you know what?
Sorry about yesterday's blog post.
What?
Oh, tell me he didn't...
"Ex-Mas At The Writers' Conference"?
As in "my ex."
You know, he's just trying to throw you off your game,
right?
Well, it's working.
Look, Garth was always going to have the upper hand
when it came to that sort of assignment.
I mean, look at his blog.
It's nothing but a bunch of...
you know, mundane observations.
Ugh... I know.
I guess there's always round three of the competition.
Well, what does it matter?
You already won the first round,
and you got your hat in the ring
with Cowell.
Yeah, it's not just about that.
It's about the fact
that Garth doesn't believe in me.
I just want to prove him wrong.
Kim...
look, whether it's Garth, or Cowell,
or anybody reading your work,
the only person who needs to believe in you...
is you.
Now look, can we please go back inside,
where it's warm?
Zeke, please.
Am I any good?
Kim...
you get more compliments than anybody in our group.
But that's on the writing assignments.
You've read some of my manuscript.
You must have some thoughts?
I mean, I'm just one guy. Why do I matter?
Because I just want to know
before I chase this rainbow any further,
before I start sending this stuff out
to publishers.
I mean...
I don't know if I can take any more rejection
in my writing.
I've certainly had plenty of it when it comes to dating.
Come on, now that, I find that hard to believe.
Oh, trust me,
my dating life makes the Titanic
look like a pleasure cruise.
[chuckles]
Would you please just tell me your thoughts?
Look...
I think...
that you need to stop obsessing,
all right,
and there's a great industry lecture today at noon.
It'll take your mind right off of this.
I thought you hated the lectures?
I do. I'm not going.
I've got a manuscript to finish.
Okay...
but hurry up and finish it...
but take your time.
[Sam]: I am soited for this talk.
Catherine McCullen!
She's like the Grand Dame of romance fiction.
I know.
[Sam]: Here she is.
[applause]
Seasons Greetings, everyone.
As you see,
I never travel without my tree.
[audience laughs]
As I was thinking
about what to talk to you about today,
I flashed back to my friend H.T. Cowell.
He has a very interesting approach to writing,
which I don't think he'd mind if I shared with you.
Think of a Christmas tree as the story you're living,
or the story you're wanting to tell.
A string of lights illuminates our path.
Each bulb is a plot point
or a meaningful event in our lives.
Ornaments
are the characters and concepts...
giving the tree personality...
and the angel is our clear point of view
from above,
that lets us peek...
into the lives of others...
which just leaves the gifts under the tree,
and the gifts are what each person takes away
from what we create...
our gift to them.
I have just got to meet H.T. Cowell.
I'm working on it.
That will be a tough act to follow.
Even for Cowell.
How's he going to top that at his big speech?
[Sam]: Not possible. Just not...
What? Oh.
[Kim]: Yes?
All done.
And?
And I'm taking us to lunch,
so go grab your coat. I'm going to get the car.
That's not an answer.
Grab your coat. I'm going to get the car.
Go.
He loves the book. Yay!
He loves it.
All right, you brought me to a happy place.
I'm here. I am prepared.
Hit me with it.
Listen, we're on a work break, all right,
so let's enjoy our crepes first.
We can talk about that later.
Zeke, tell me the truth.
Go on.
All right, fine, look...
I think you're genuinely talented.
I think you're as solid a writer as it gets.
I think that your structure and dialogue
are fun and lively...
"But"?
But I just...
I don't think it's there yet.
Ouch.
No, come on. Hear me through.
I think your characters aren't fully realized yet,
and I think that the details don't feel personal.
Okay, let me give you, for instance,
the hotel where they're staying in New York,
the Leone, right?
Yeah.
Does it have a doorman?
Does it have solid doors or revolving doors?
Does the vintage lobby take your breath away
when you step inside,
or is it a shell of its former glory?
I don't know.
I don't either.
That's the problem...
is the details don't feel real...
almost as if, I don't know,
like you'd never been to New York or something.
Well, I haven't spent much time there.
Well, a writer's got to know her world inside out.
Where's a good snowball when you need one?
And we have to see that world
through your characters' eyes.
That's really important.
Look, honestly, I'm not talking down to you
from a high horse, right?
I'm the guy who fell off the writing horse entirely,
remember.
I think it's a solid first draft.
All I'm saying is,
it just needs a little tweak and a little work, that's all.
We all do.
All right, so,
as someone who's about to be published,
in your humble opinion...?
It's not publishable yet.
[phone text chimes]
Zeke again.
Don't care.
Despite giving you feedback, he's still a great guy.
I know,
but I still can't help being mad at him.
Because he didn't fall in love with your manuscript?
I mean, that seems a little... just a little unfair.
Maybe just a little bit,
but see, that makes me mad, too
because I'm being so childish.
Then you probably blame him for it.
Well, yeah, 'cause it's his fault.
-No. -It is!
What?
[they laugh]
No, look, it's one thing
when I get feedback on my writing exercises
from the class,
but Zeke not liking my manuscript,
that's like a piece of my soul!
Okay, whoa. He did not "not" like it.
He just...
he just said it could be even better.
Also, you know,
Zeke's where we want to be...
the book deal, right?
Well, it's just one book.
Well, it's more than you and I combined.
Plus, you've got to give him props
for giving you pointers.
That's true.
Yeah.
Well, hey, I have my big sitdown tomorrow
with a book agent and publisher, so...
You're going to be great.
If nothing else,
maybe Zeke helped take the sting out of it,
You're so talented.
Thanks, Sam.
Cheers.
Yes. Cheers.
[♪♪♪]
[phone rings]
Hi, honey!
[Kim]: Hey, Dad.
I just wanted to hear your voice.
I didn't wake you, did I?
Not a chance.
I've been up for hours wrapping gifts.
How's the conference?
Are you a literary rock star yet?
Well, I haven't destroyed my hotel room,
but, um...
I was up pretty late working.
How's it going? Seriously?
Well, the criticism is kind of hard.
I'll bet it is.
It can be hard to give tough advice,
even harder to listen to it...
even when it's meant to help.
I wish I could just carry you around with me all day, Dad.
[chuckles]
It'd be murder on your lumbar.
[laughs]
Well, I have my professional panel today
with the book agent and publisher.
Do you have any words of wisdom?
It's time to put your game face on, kiddo.
Love you, Dad. See you later.
Hey, Zeke.
Hey... oh, hey!
I caught you just in time.
Look, I came down
because I wanted to wish you good luck,
and because I kind of wanted to apologize
for I said yesterday if it was too harsh.
I didn't mean...
No, Zeke, stop.
I know that those snowballs you threw at me
were only meant to help....
and it occurred to me,
you spent so much time reading my book,
you didn't even have time to turn in your assignment
for the competition.
Well, you know, I was torn,
but then I figured I'd much rather finish
a very talented new author's manuscript.
You don't have to say that.
I wouldn't if it wasn't true.
Well, it's time for me to face the music.
My professional panel is starting right now.
Well, listen,
if I can give you some unsolicited advice,
just think of them as snow-ma'ams.
Okay.
All right. You got this.
Thanks.
I'm sorry.
[woman]: Thank you.
Come in, we've got to keep things moving.
Miss Rossi?
Yes. You can call me Kim.
That's all right.
We enjoyed your premise.
You know your way around a sentence,
and your structure is respectable,
but from the sample of the manuscript
that you submitted,
at times, your characters...
they lack authenticity.
They seem a little too perfect.
I'd like to see the world more
from their perspective.
Mess them up, give them problems,
contradictions,
something that they... they ache for...
and more detail, a lot more detail...
and when you do that,
you might have a really good book here.
Would you be willing to work with me to get me there?
Oh, no.
This still has first draft feel.
Mm.
You've got a long way to go,
but, and I mean this,
don't be discouraged.
I can assure you,
he hasn't said that to anyone else here today.
[laughs]
So keep up the good work,
and you've got talent.
So you're saying...
We're done.
For now.
Thank you.
Oh... right.
Thank you.
Hey.
How'd it go?
Ugh.
I just want to hide in my room
and bury my head in an H.T. Cowell book
and forget about the world.
Really?
You know what?
I have an even better idea.
Come on.
[Zeke]: You have officially entered
the world of the professional writer.
[laughs]
Okay.
In fact, a rejection is something to be savored
and celebrated...
like a fine wine.
It is?
Mm-hmm.
Wait, what...
what is this?
[Zeke]: We're celebrating.
What?
There you go.
Oh...
As a matter of fact,
I remember my first rejection.
Yeah?
Yeah.
I strolled down to the mailbox,
thinking I was going to pick up some Christmas cards,
and instead, I got a rejection form letter.
It was like a snowball to the face,
but the good news is,
the sting gets a little less each time.
I remember my first rejection.
It was Timmy Lonnegan.
On the playground at recess,
he just dumped me in front of the entire school.
Look, whether it's love,
or whether it's writing...
it takes a lot of resilience
to stay in the game long enough
for a happily-ever-after...
and Timmy's loss, by the way.
Well...
[laughs]
Listen, I've got an idea. Would you be willing
to try something a little different tomorrow?
Like what?
Well, they've given us the day off to do re-writes,
so we don't have class anyway.
That's true.
I want to take you somewhere.
Maybe a little trip?
A trip? Where?
Just trust me.
Plus, my motives are partly selfish.
I mean, they say a change of scenery
can work miracles for writer's block.
[laughs]
I don't know what it is about you...
but I'm in.
Okay.
Good morning!
I tend to think morning begins
after I've had my first sip of coffee.
I'm pretty sure they have coffee
where we're going.
Did you bring a change of clothes?
Yes.
We're not going duck hunting, are we?
'Cause I don't like that.
It's winter. No ducks.
Lucky them.
So where are we going?
Green Mountain Valley?
Winooski River?
New York City.
I got us tickets.
We're going to New York City?
Like, right now?
Mm-hmm.
Are you kidding?
No.
I've got more frequent-flyer miles
than I know what to do with.
I'm a finance guy, remember?
I've got clients up and down the coast.
Okay, I have a confession to make.
Mm?
I've never actually been to New York City.
Yeah, that's pretty clear
from your descriptions of it in your book.
You know, you're pretty funny sometimes.
Now is not one of them.
Big Apple, here we come.
[Zeke]: Thanks so much, Sam.
-[Kim]: Thank you! -[Sam]: You're welcome.
Bye!
Oh, you always hear
about how New York cabbies are so rude,
but he was totally into my questions.
That's what I'm telling you.
You've got to experience a place with all your senses
to be able to write about it.
Okay, so this is Midtown, right?
So Soho and Wall Street are that way.
Broadway's behind us somewhere.
Oh, I am officially overwhelmed.
Zeke!
Look, it's the hotel
that I wrote about in my book,
the Hotel Leone.
Uh-huh, that's right.
Why'd you choose this one?
Um...
I liked the look of the facade.
[Zeke]: That explains
why your descriptions didn't quite capture the details,
but that's okay, right,
'cause now that you're here,
in person...
any thoughts?
Well...
doorman... check.
Carved wooden double doors.
Those are really nice.
It just kind of takes your breath away.
It feels like being a kid on Christmas morning,
like, that moment when you're just about to open
your very first present.
What do you say we open this present
and see what's inside?
-Let's do it. -All right.
[♪♪♪]
Wow!
What do you say we take an elevator
to the top floor?
We should check in first.
Separate suites, of course...
Check in?
What do you mean, check in?
A client of mine runs this hotel.
I called in a favor for a couple suites.
Amazing!
Thank you!
After you.
Wow!
[Zeke]: Check out the view.
Oh, my goodness!
[sighs happily]
Christmas in New York.
Wow, I can still barely believe this is really happening.
And?
Is it everything you expected so far?
Actually, no.
No?
It's even better.
[phone rings]
Sorry.
Oh, this is Samantha.
You don't mind if I tell her where we are?
No, knock yourself out.
Hey, Samantha, I'm so glad you called.
Wait, why are you whispering?
I'm having dinner with Mr. Tweed!
[Kim]: No!
I know.
So I went by your room this morning,
and you weren't there.
What's up?
[laughs]
Zeke and I are playing hooky.
Hey! Research trip.
Yeah, research trip.
Zeke flew me to New York City.
That's so exciting!
And speaking of more exciting news...
I won the third round of the competition
in my workshop,
so I guess my hat's in the ring, too.
Hey, congratulations! That's awesome.
Hope you have a great time tonight.
You really deserve it.
Oh!
Here he comes. Got to go. Bye.
Okay.
So...
you ready to hit the streets of New York City?
Definitely.
[♪♪♪]
What I mean is, New York is so amazing,
but the details...
they're different than how I expected.
The street lights off the pavement...
the electricity in the air...
Go on. Be specific.
It also smells different than I thought it would.
Okay.
Sure, there's the roasting chestnut smell
that I expected,
but there's also the air
coming up from the subway grilles...
the taxi exhaust
mixing with the smell of expensive perfume...
it's really beautiful.
[Zeke]: Yeah.
[Kim]: Oh!
This is exactly what I've been looking for.
Chestnuts literally roasting on an open... cart grill.
[laughing]
Not quite an open fire,
but close.
Good stories are grounded in the details,
aren't they?
That's right. Can I get a bag?
Okay, thanks.
Writers are just people
who pay really close attention
to those details.
Chestnut?
Yes. It's hot!
Yes. This is your first New York chestnut.
My first New York chestnut!
[♪♪♪]
[loud typewriter typing]
[knocks]
Hey! How's the writer's block coming?
[Zeke, through wall]: What writer's block?
Is my typing too loud?
No, it's kind of soothing, actually.
[typewriter typing starts again]
Hi!
Hey.
How'd the writing go?
It was great. I was up all night working.
Yeah, me too.
[phone text chimes]
Hey, Kim, look,
there's...
there's something I've been meaning to tell you.
Hang on a second. Samantha just texted.
She says they're expecting a huge storm in Vermont,
and they've just moved Cowell's lecture
from tonight to today... 2:00 p.m.!
Okay, uh...
look, let's not panic.
Not panic? But we're 300 miles away,
and they're canceling flights.
What do you suggest?
I suggest you be ready in five,
and I'm going to find us a new flight.
On no notice with a storm coming in?
Then I can rent a car.
We can drive there if we have to.
We'll be there in time.
Well...
I hope so.
Hey, Kim?
I just wanted to double-check.
It's Chapter 19, right?
Thank you!
Yes, Chapter 19.
I've just been so inspired here.
That's so great.
I'm loving this new confidence thing
you've got going on.
I know, right?
It's the first time I've actually been excited
about somebody reading my work.
So great. Well, I'm going to be
the first person in the auditorium,
and I will save us seats, so just please hurry.
Thanks, Samantha!
Okay, bye!
Hi, I'm submitting
for Kim Rossi and Samantha Pyke.
Thank you. Noted.
-Hi. -Just give me a minute.
[Kim]: Samantha's saving us seats,
but she said it's already packed.
Kim, wait, before you go inside,
there's something I need to tell you.
Zeke, we're going to be late!
I'll see you inside. Hurry!
So you missed the submission, huh?
Oh, no, Samantha submitted it for me.
Your name's not on the board.
That's impossible.
Kim!
Hurry!
My gosh! Sit down.
I had to fight these people off
for these seats.
Samantha, what happened
to my manuscript submission
to be read by Cowell?
Oh, I submitted it.
My name's not on the board!
Are you sure? I submitted it myself.
It must be some sort of mistake.
I don't know. It's not there.
[applause]
Oh, my gosh! It's him!
I told you, it's him!
I was right.
Modern romance as we know it
was invented by the French in the 12th Century...
and I don't know an author
more in touch with that legacy today
than H.T. Cowell.
It was the saddest day of my career as his editor
when he decided to stop writing new books...
but...
I'll let him tell you more.
Ladies and gentlemen, H.T. Cowell!
[applause]
I never planned to be a writer.
I mean, I dabbled a little...
but I had a button-down job in the city,
and my wife would get worried
if I spent too much time writing.
So I played it safe...
and it was only
when I was riding the train into the city every day
that I would think of stories and characters
based on some of the passengers around me.
What if that bike messenger
swept that transit worker off her feet?
What if that woman reading the "Wall Street Journal"
suddenly turned and proposed
to the construction guy one seat over?
Anyway, uh,
one thing led to another,
and pretty soon, I had one bestseller,
and then another bestseller...
and that whole time,
I avoided the press because...
because I needed to be anonymous.
I just... I wanted to stay an observer.
Well, pretty soon, I was writing all the time,
and I was juggling deadlines,
and I didn't even notice
that my second love was taking me away
from my first,
until my wife asked me for a divorce.
Looking back,
I should have done things differently.
Writing about love and romance
became a lot harder
when love and romance disappeared from my life.
Pretty soon, my writing stopped,
and I withdrew from the world.
The truth is,
I had really drifted
from what it was that I loved about writing
in the first place,
which is seeing the world through someone else's eyes,
whether that's a character...
or just someone special...
especially at Christmas.
Yeah.
So are the rumors true?
Are you releasing an 800-page book?
[Zeke]: Uh... they're sort of true.
My publisher is releasing an 800-page anthology.
So no new book?
Not as such, no. I'm sorry.
Not right now, anyway.
Oh, come on, look,
I didn't come here to be a downer,
so maybe I can...
serve as some sort of cautionary tale.
Don't play it safe.
Don't hide out...
even if it feels easier sometimes.
You know, recently,
somebody reminded me...
that inspiration can come from anywhere...
and surprises come along every day.
Whoo!
Thanks.
[applause]
Kim! Kim...
Hey...
You didn't answer my texts.
Well, I didn't know what to say.
You lied to me.
You've been lying to me since we first met.
For someone who says
writing is all about the details,
you sure left one important detail out.
For a reason, okay?
I wanted you...
to know me for me,
not H.T. Cowell.
You promised to be honest with me.
You had so many opportunities
to tell me the truth.
Instead, you wanted to save your big reveal
for the promotion of your anthology?
No, it's not like that.
I never wanted to go public at all,
but even bestselling authors
have shelf-lives,
especially if they don't produce new work.
So the board at my publishing house
told me I had to come here, I had to go public,
I had to promote the anthology...
or they wouldn't publish me anymore,
but look, listen, I just never expected...
that I would meet somebody like you.
And that whole story about having a book deal...
Gosh, talk about fiction!
I don't even know what to call you.
What's your name?
Well, my mom calls me "Zeke..."
short for "Hezekiah..."
and Kim, we do know each other...
in person and through our writing.
Except the person I thought I knew
was a struggling writer just like me,
not some writing star!
Former star.
And what, you needed some newbie
or a muse or whatever
to get re-inspired?
And all this time, you're telling me
to be "authentic" with my work,
and you're completely hiding
who you actually are?
I... I... I wanted to tell you.
But you didn't trust me enough
to tell me the truth,
and that's the worst rejection slip of all.
[Kim]: That writer's conference was a real eye-opener,
and I learned something really important.
Okay.
No more playing it safe, in life or in work.
I'm going to scale back my hours at the car dealership
and fully commit myself
to being the writer I was born to be.
Wow.
Maybe we should send you to a writers' conference
every Christmas.
Next time, I intend to speak at one.
[phone rings]
Oh, hang on, Dad. I have to get this.
Samantha! How are you?
I'm good, actually.
How about you? How's the writing going?
I have been rewriting like a fiend.
Look at you, going pro.
[laughs]
Make sure you don't just write your way through the holiday.
Hey, I'm a Christmas romance writer.
This is the time of year I feel most inspired.
Uh-huh.
Well, speaking of which,
have you... heard from Zeke at all?
No.
Even if I did,
I don't know what I would say to him.
Well, I don't know how to break this to you, but...
I won the contest to be read by him.
Congratulations! That's amazing.
Yeah, well, it felt good to beat out Garth.
[laughs] I bet.
It's the least I could do for you,
and tomorrow, I'm going to meet Zeke,
so if there's anything you want me to ask him,
anything at all...
No thanks.
Are you sure?
I mean, you two are so good together.
Even if I could get past the fact that he lied to me,
what would a big-shot author want to do
with a wannabe writer like me?
Do not sell yourself short.
Well, hey, maybe my new ending will work.
Oh, so you have new pages?
I do.
Send them to me! What are you waiting for?
Come on.
Think of it as an early Christmas gift.
You know what? Yes.
I will send them to you.
I could totally use a fresh pair of eyes on them.
Thank you.
That's my girl.
Merry Christmas.
I've got to run. Bye, Sam.
Merry Christmas, Kim.
Kim!
Garth...
Hey!
Um... wow. What are you doing here?
I just came to say Merry Christmas
and that...
I was wrong.
Not that I'm disagreeing with you,
but what about?
Oh, about, you know, you not being a real writer.
Oh, that.
I mean, to be honest,
at the conference, your pages were amazing...
some of the best, by far.
But I thought you said it was just beginner's luck.
No, pff, not at all. It was a joke!
Obviously!
It was funny.
Yeah, um...
well, I was wondering,
actually...
Go on.
Well... maybe you want to...
pick things up where we left off, you know?
Go on a date sometime? Talk about writing?
Um...
gee, you know what?
Uh, I think...
I think maybe you were right...
about us being on different paths.
Right... but...
the paths, they can come...
And I am just really busy.
Yeah, no, you're busy.
I'm pretty busy myself.
Oh?
You know, here's a thought.
Maybe...
you could...
put in a good word for me... with Cowell?
[laughs]
Aw, you're too funny, Garth.
[laughs]
You have a Merry Christmas.
See you later.
Yeah, uh... Merry Christmas.
Bye.
Not bad for a guy
who eats frozen dinners 90% of the time.
It's perfect, Dad.
Now we just have to get the gravy finished.
[doorbell rings]
Can you get that?
I'm carving.
Who would come by on Christmas Day?
Just a friend of mine.
Didn't have any place to go for Christmas dinner.
Oh.
Hello there.
Hi!
Merry Christmas?
Merry Christmas.
Zeke, what are you doing here?
I mean, I can't not chase after you.
I'm a romance writer.
You're also a successful author
pretending he isn't one,
and you just used a double-negative, by the way.
[laughs]
Look, Kim....
I was wrong not to be more honest with you.
I just...
I was just so happy spending time with you
that I didn't want to shatter the magic.
I'm so sorry.
Well...
I did learn one thing at the conference.
What's that?
It's never too late to rewrite a chapter
'til you get it right...
'til you get it perfect.
So you're saying...?
Hi, my name is Kim.
I'm H.T.
My friends call me Zeke.
[laughs]
Well, in that case, it's nice to meet you, Zeke.
Ooh! Almost forgot.
This is for you.
Merry Christmas.
"Pendant Publishing"?
They want to... work with me on my novel?
Your rewrite was amazing.
Wait, how... how did you...?
Samantha. She sent me the new pages.
So you forced them to take it on?
No, no, no, I just got them to look at it.
It was your writing
that made the chief editor flip.
Seriously?
Serious. He loved it...
and that's all because of you.
I don't even know what to say.
Thank you so much!
[laughs]
Wow...
Well, I think that's what they call
a happy-ever-after.
Yeah, I suppose it is.
So kiss me already.
We are standing under the mistletoe,
after all.
So we are...
[♪♪♪]