August 9, 2010

Hollywood's New Secret Weapon: Author's Passionate Fans Go To Unusual Lengths To Support Inspiring New Indie Film Based On Her Bestselling Novel
Thousands of Karen Kingsbury Fans Join Together To Help Promote New Film, "Like Dandelion Dust" Starring Academy Award Winning Actress Mira Sorvino

HOLLYWOOD, CA - With more than 10 books landing on national bestseller lists, including her June release, "Above The Line - Take 4," which debuted at #5 on the New York Times best-selling list, author Karen Kingsbury has taken the literary world by storm. But, besides selling over 15 million books, including 2 million in the past year, and having an astonishing 100,000 fans on her Facebook page, the Vancouver-based writer provides more than just a fictional journey for her readers -- she inspires a passionate and fiercely devoted fan base worldwide.

This summer, thousands of Kingsbury fans are mobilizing to bring a new independent film based on her novel, "Like Dandelion Dust," to their local theaters during the nationwide release. The movie, which stars Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino and Golden Globe nominee Barry Pepper, is scheduled to hit theaters on September 24, 2010. Hundreds of fan teams have formed on Facebook - the new darling of the marketing world-- for the "Demand It!" program to support bringing the movie to their hometowns.

According to "Like Dandelion Dust" producer Bobby Downes, "Karen inspires her fans like no other novelist. They are extremely loyal to her and thousands of them have taken it upon themselves to help market her film by sponsoring movie screens in their hometowns. A small independent film company typically doesn't have the resources to release a movie the same way that a major Hollywood studio does. But we have a secret weapon that Hollywood does not: Karen's fans."

In addition to those fans devoted to bringing "Like Dandelion Dust" to theaters nationwide, many have also come forward to share how the author has changed their lives. A few examples include:

  • Life imitated art when "Like Dandelion Dust" producer Kevin Downes was meeting with Karen Kingsbury to discuss making her adoption-themed novel into a feature film. After spending time with her family, Downes and his wife were so inspired by her children - 3 biological children and 3 adopted from Haiti- that they decided to adopt a son from Haiti.

  • Devoted fan, Cindy Lippincott e-mailed Kingsbury asking for advice when researching orphanages in Haiti. Kingsbury called Lippincott to assist and that conversation changed her family's life forever. Lippincott said, "We feel a strong connection with Karen because our children are from the same orphanage in Haiti." Lippincott has also adopted another child from the same orphanage Downes adopted his son from.

  • As an adoptive mother, Lynn Henry was so profoundly affected after reading "Like Dandelion Dust" that she decided to go to Florida where the movie was being filmed to try and meet Kingsbury. When the producers heard her own story of adoption they invited her and her daughter to be an extra in the movie. When she first watched the movie at a recent film festival with her family, including her adopted son, it was an emotional experience demonstrating for them on the screen the emotions they have had as a family impacted by adoption.

  • Kingsbury made a bride's dream come true when she was asked to participate in the fan's upcoming nuptials as the matron-of-honor. The story was featured in a "Today Show" segment on July 12, 2010.

  • This June, over 2,000 fans traveled far and wide to attend an event based on a fictional family in a Kingsbury series. Hosted by Kingsbury, the "Baxter Family Reunion" was held in the characters' hometown of Bloomington, Indiana and included a book party, film screening and picnic.

Producers of Like Dandelion Dust are carrying on Kingsbury's tradition of changing lives by using film to raise awareness and funds to support an orphanage in Haiti where members of the film team helped rescue about 80 orphans after the recent earthquake.

Adds Downes, "We've seen instances in children's fiction in which fans are so passionate and creative, like "Twilight" and "Harry Potter." But here is a unique example of adult fiction moving and motivating people in ways that are rarely seen and inspiring passion in them to support the author and the author's projects." Just as the Jonas Brothers have become a phenomenon with teen and pre-teen audiences, Karen Kingsbury fans demonstrate the same kind of passionate loyalty - but they drive mini-vans and have their own credit cards, and many are committing themselves to lifestyles of compassion that emulate their favorite author.

For more information on "Like Dandelion Dust" or for fans looking to help bring the movie to their towns this September, please visit: www.likedandeliondust.com.

For more information on Karen Kingsbury, please visit: www.karenkingsbury.com.
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To book an interview with producers or cast of Like Dandelion Dust - or for an interview with Ms. Kingsbury, Ms. Lippincott or Ms. Henry, please contact:
Chris Roslan
Dera, Roslan & Campion Public Relations
212-966-4600
chris@drcpublicrelations.com



August 9, 2010

"Like Dandelion Dust" Social Media Campaign Already Yielding Big Results
Buzz Surrounding The Film's Release Grows As Online Fan Community Boosts The Trailer To Fandango's Top Spot

NEW YORK -"Like Dandelion Dust," the critically-praised independent film starring Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino, due out in theaters September 24, is the top rated trailer on Fandango.com, surpassing it's blockbuster competition. The film's newly-released extended trailer soared past other big studio film trailers such as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," "Eat, Pray, Love" and the week's highest grossing film, "Inception," thanks to a strong-and growing-online fan community organizing on Facebook.

Last month, Blue Collar Releasing, launched a "Demand It" campaign for "Like Dandelion Dust" on Facebook, whereby fans mobilize to lobby for the film to come to a theatre in their city "by popular demand." The response has been enormous-with groups forming at a rate faster than Blue Collar can even keep up with. Blue Collar says they're taking advantage of both a sea change in the way films are marketed-relying on buzz within social networking communities rather than big budget ad-buys-as well as an extremely passionate built-in fan base. "Like Dandelion Dust" is based on the book of the same name by New York Times Bestselling Author Karen Kingsbury, whose devoted fans are turning out by the thousands to "Demand It" in their city. Kingsbury has more than 100,000 fans on Facebook, and a relationship with readers that treats them more like friends than consumers.

Hundreds of geographic fan "teams" have formed online to demand "Like Dandelion Dust."

"Social networking has really changed the rules and we're starting to see how effective viral fan-based campaigns like this can be to democratize the offerings at your local theater," said "Like Dandelion Dust" producer Bobby Downes of Blue Collar Releasing. "As a small independent film company, we simply don't have the resources to market a film, in the traditional sense, the same way that a major Hollywood studio does. But we do have at least one invaluable resource-Karen Kingsbury's fans. And by giving them a tool with which to organize and make their collective voices heard, we know that will be vital to the commercial success of this film." Downes believes we'll see more films putting the power of theater selection and opening weekend success in the hands of film goers - that it's no longer prudent or effective to focus solely on number of screens and a wide release. But, instead, by targeting fan affinity and listening to the market smaller films can garner better fan support.

For more information on the upcoming film, "Like Dandelion Dust" (September 24, 2010), please visit: www.likedandeliondust.com.

To "Demand It!" in your city, please visit: http://www.likedandeliondust.com/map.html

For more information on Karen Kingsbury, please visit: www.karenkingsbury.com.
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CONTACT: Chris Roslan
Dera, Roslan & Campion Public Relations
212-966-4600
chris@drcpublicrelations.com



May 27, 2010

Like Dandelion Dust Opens Nationwide September 24th

Synopsis
Based on the novel by New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury, "Like Dandelion Dust" is a compelling drama that focuses on a young boy who lives an idyllic life with his parents on the coast of Florida. Joey's days are spent playing with his cousins, sailing with his dad, and making up stories with his mom. It's a perfect life until the day they receive a disturbing phone call: a stranger's decision could tear Joey away from the comfort and security of the only home he's ever known. One family is determined to keep the son they love, the other is determined to begin a new life, the life they've always dreamed of. Joey's future rests in their hands and someone must make the bravest decision of their life. Sometimes the greatest love is letting go.

Awards
Opening September 24, 2010 nationwide, "Like Dandelion Dust" is already the recipient of more than 30 national and international film festival awards, including:


About the Film
"Like Dandelion Dust" (100 Minutes) stars Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser, Kate Levering, and introducing Maxwell Perry Cotton. The film was directed by Jon Gunn, and produced by Kevin Downes, Bobby Downes, and Kerry David. Executive produced by Chris Morrow and Geoff Ludlow. Karen Kingsbury's book was adapted for the big screen by Academy Award® nominated screenwriter Stephen J. Rivele (Ali, Nixon). The music for the film was composed by Nathan Larson (Boys Don't Cry).



May 26, 2010

Life Imitates Art
Producer of Like Dandelion Dust Adopts Son from Haiti

by Angela Walker

Kevina and Catherine Downes and adopted son from HaitiKevin and Catherine Downes wanted a family, but like so many couples, their path to parenthood was anything but smooth. In 2007, after trying unsuccessfully to have their own biological child, they made the decision for adoption.

Kevin and his brother Bobby, both film producers, had been in talks with New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury about adapting her story Like Dandelion Dust for a feature film, and spent a lot of time with the author and her family. Karen and her husband have six children, three of whom were adopted from Haiti.

The time with Karen influenced more than Kevin's work. "After spending time with Karen and her family, my wife and I realized that adoption was something we wanted to do," said Kevin, "So we began the process to become adoptive parents..."

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May 19, 2010

Life-Changing Fiction™ Becomes Life-Changing Feature Film
Best-Selling Novel "Like Dandelion Dust" to Release in Theaters September 2010

by: Angela Walker

LIKE DANDELION DUST is the first feature film created from a novel by Karen Kingsbury, America's #1 inspirational author. With more than 10 million copies of her 40-plus award-winning books in print, nine of which hit #1 on national best-selling lists, Karen's novels have long attracted film and television producers. After five years of meetings and discussions with the producers, Kingsbury signed motion picture rights over to producers Bobby and Kevin Downes, and the process of adapting her novel for the screen began.

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