Bond’s book sequence opted for TV series

Famous film producer to oversee production of Olive Hill native’s mystery series

By Tonia Rose, staff writer

March 3, 2010 — Carter County might soon enjoy a television mystery series based on books by Olive Hill native Stephanie Bond.

The daughter of Willis and Bonnie Bond of Olive Hill, Stephanie lives in Atlanta and is the author of more than 50 books including her newest creation “Body Movers.”

Body Movers, a humorous mystery sequence has been opted by Sony Pictures Television to possibly be developed for a series.

A pilot script is presently being adapted and will soon be pitched to networks.

Stephanie Bond isn’t a stranger to most in the area, as she graduated from West Carter High School in 1983. From 1985 to 1987 she owned a retail business in Olive Hill called “Boots and Britches.”

“I think the experience of growing up in a small town where entertainment was scarce pushed me toward reading, which was the basis for my future as a writer,” Bond commented recently during an interview with a Journal-Times reporter. “Of all my novels, the Body Movers series have been my favorite projects because I enjoy the chance of combining dark humor with mystery and a touch of romance, while revisiting my community of characters from book to book.”

Bond attended Morehead State University on a presidential scholarship. Upon graduation, she worked for Ashland Inc. in Lexington as a systems engineer for seven years before transferring to their Atlanta division.

While working for Ashland Inc. she received her MBA from Eastern Kentucky University. It was an instructor at EKU who told her she had a “flare for writing.” The passing comment inspired her to pursue a writing career that changed the trajectory of her life. “Being a avid reader in my youth while growing up on a farm instilled in me a rhythm of storytelling. And my business background and computer skills helped me to break into the publishing industry and now the film industry.”

In 1997, she walked away from her corporate career to become a full-time writer. Today Bond is the author of over 50 mystery and romance novels by four New York publishers.

The Body Movers series of humorous mystery novels features Atlanta protagonist Carlotta Wren and her brother Wesley, who enjoy a privileged existence before their parents’ went on a lam for white-collar crimes. Carlotta works at Neiman Marcus by day and helps Wesley move bodies from crime scenes at night. Their quirky body-moving profession lands them in the middle of murder mysteries that they use their combined talent to solve.

The series was optioned for television over the winter, with Laura Ziskin signing on as producer. Ziskin became the first woman to produce the Academy Awards telecast alone in 2002. She repeated the job in 2007. Among many of her successful films, Ziskin has produced such films as, “Pretty Woman,” “Spider Man 2,” “What About Bob?” “To Die For,” “Courage Under Fire,” “One Fine Day,” and “As Good As It Get,” “D.O.A.” and “No Way Out.”

“Like most writers, I’ve dreamed about this kind of opportunity my entire career,” she said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled at the prospect of Carlotta and Wesley and the entire Body Movers gang being brought to life and into the living rooms of viewers everywhere.”

Bond writes mostly from her midtown home, but considers all of Atlanta to be her “office,” often taking her laptop to work at Piedmont Park, in coffee shops and even on Marta (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority).

She is also a member at a co-working warehouse space where other freelancers gather for a change of scenery.

“Writing is such a solitary occupation,” she added. “It’s nice to get out, tap into the vibe of the city and draw on the energy of other people.”

The Body Movers series consists of six books to date with numbers seven and eight under present development.

The Body Movers collection is published by Mira Books and is available at bookstores and online. For more information visit www.stephaniebond.com.

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