At 56, She Just Published Her First Book—It Might Become a Hallmark Movie

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

When faced with this question, some children know exactly what they’re going to say. They respond without hesitation, saying they want to be a vet, a teacher, while some have a more outlandish career path to become an astronaut.

For many, these goals often fade into the ether, and they pass them off as silly childhood dreams. But not Bryn Donovan, 56, who knew all along what she was destined to be and never gave up on her goal to become an author.

Donovan, from Chicago, Illinois, told Newsweek that she was just 8 years old when she decided she “wanted to be a writer.” By that age, she loved reading fantasy novels and even tried to craft her own short stories and poetry.

“At first, I thought I’d write children’s middle grade novels and fantasy novels because that’s what I was reading,” she said.

“A lot of parents try to talk their kids into practical degrees, but my parents always encouraged me to do what I loved. I was writing both poetry and short stories, and I got some poems published, but I wanted to write novels,” Donovan continued.

Through all the ups and downs of studying, and then starting her career in publishing, she never lost her dream. Her ambition helped her start multiple novels, but completing them was a challenge and she “couldn’t get past page 100” with any of them.

As Donovan learned to hone her craft, she finally managed to complete her novel and type those all-important words: The End. Having never finished one in the past, this was a huge accomplishment.

But then came the next challenge—getting published.

What Did She Have To Lose ?

She sent the book to an editor, and after making all the suggested revisions, when she finally sent it back, the editor no longer worked there. She also signed with an agent who didn’t respond to her emails. “She ghosted me,” said Donovan.

Then she started working on another book about paranormal romance, but that was rejected by anyone who looked at it. Donovan was told the paranormal market “had become saturated” and no one wanted to read that anymore.

It was back to the drawing board once again, and by 2010, she published a couple of e-books, including a historical novel.

Donovan told Newsweek: “I felt a real sense of accomplishment with those books, even though they weren’t in bookstores and not many people read them. When someone loved something I wrote and left a good review, it was the best feeling in the world.”

In 2016, she started working on another novel, but with such a busy work schedule, it was difficult to make any progress. Several years passed and it remained unfinished, until she returned to the book in 2021 and dove into writing as a distraction.

When it was finished, she saw that publishing company Berkley had an open submission period, allowing people to submit their work without an agent. She gave it a shot—what did she have to lose?

“I was writing to cheer myself up and get my mind off work. It was more fun than anything else I’d ever written. I went ahead and submitted on a whim, and then forgot all about it. After that, I got a two-book deal with a major publisher,” Donovan said.

“A more rational person would’ve thought it’s never going to happen, but I always told myself that sooner or later, it would. I used to walk into bookstores, look at the books on the tables, and envision mine among them. Now that’s come true.”

‘It’s Never Too Late’

Her first paperback book, Her Knight at the Museum, published by Penguin Publishing Group, hit the shelves on November 12, and she’s already received plenty of positive feedback. Indeed, it hasn’t just captured the attention of readers though, as it’s also been optioned for a potential Hallmark movie for next fall.

Newsweek has contacted Hallmark via email for comment.

Donovan shared the incredible news on Reddit (uBryn_Donovan_Author) on November 13, and the post went viral with 92,000 views and 1,800 comments so far.

“It came out of nowhere, honestly. My agent texted me and asked if I was sitting down because they’d emailed us an option offer to turn it into a movie,” she continued. “I’ve gotten so much wonderful feedback on this book. People have told me they laughed out loud when reading it.

“I’ve heard several people compare it to nineties romcom movies, which I take as a great compliment. I’ve also heard people say they didn’t want to put it down, which is the best praise a writer can get,” she added.

Getting to this point hasn’t been easy, but Donovan never lost hope that her dream could come true. She hopes to encourage others to always keep their ambitions alive, regardless of how difficult they seem.

“I always hear writers saying they’re too old to achieve their dreams, and that bothers me. I want people to realize they haven’t missed their window because, if you’re breathing, it’s never too late. Don’t feel guilty about prioritizing your writing and enjoy the process. As long as you enjoy what you’re doing, you’re winning,” Donovan said.

Among the comments on Donovan’s viral Reddit post, many people praised her commitment to achieve her lifelong dream.

One comment reads: “Proof that it’s never too late to chase your dreams and make them a reality.”

Another Redditor wrote: “Congratulations, and a great inspiration to others to stay persistent in their goals and dreams.”

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