TRUMBULL — Best selling author John Searles received congratulatory hugs and handshakes and posed for pictures with family and friends Saturday, on the opening weekend of “Strange but True,” the movie based on his novel by the same name.
Searles mingled with fans at the 5 and 7:20 p.m. showings at Bow Tie Cinemas Marquis 16 in Trumbull. His father, John L. Searles Jr., was among them. He said his son’s full name is John L. Searles III.
“I just can’t believe it’s happening, because he wanted to do this his whole life. All his life, he wanted to be a writer,” Searles Jr. said. “He wasn’t great at sports. Who strikes out in tee-ball?” he added with a chuckle.
Lee Riesinger of Monroe said Searles nephew went to her daycare. She said she read Searles’ book, “Strange but True.” “It’s very interesting,” Riesinger said. “I can’t remember how it ended.”
Searles wrote the book in 2004 and Green Street Films wanted to make it into a movie.
Fred Berger was an assistant for Green Street Films in his first meeting that day, and Searles said he expressed a commitment to the movie over lunches over the years, long after Green Street Films disbanded.
“He used to say, ‘I want to make two movies, Strange but True and this film called La La Land,’” Searles recalled, “and years later I opened a newspaper and saw the musical ‘La La Land’ was playing.”
“La La Land” was a huge success, garnering numerous awards.
The movie “Strange but True” is a thriller directed by Rowan Athale. It tells the story of a young woman, who suddenly finds herself pregnant five years after the death of her boyfriend. When she confronts his family with the idea the child could be his, the truth begins to unravel.
Searles, a Masuk High School alum, has penned essays that appeared in national magazines and newspapers including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Searles has also had appearances on morning television shows, including NBC’s “Today Show,” CBS’s “The Early Show,” “Live! With Regis and Kelly,” “Charlie Rose” and CNN to discuss his favorite book selections.
Two other novels by Searles were published, “Boy Still Missing” and “Help for the Haunted.” The former may become a movie and the latter may become a TV series.
Searles is concentrating on writing his books. In fact, he is finishing up the last chapter of his fourth novel, though he is not ready to share details.
“Like my other books, it is a genre hybrid, part a story about lost loves, part a dark twisted thriller,” he said.
The movie was just as good as the book , and it was an honor and a pleasure to meet you. And i hope we can take you up on your offer to come to your house again! Congratulations!!!!
I loved the movie!! It was fabulous! But what resonates with me the most is your still John from high school and John from our after school job. After all of your success, you are still the humble guy I hung out with many years ago!!