Netflix is feeling the love.
Both series will get 10 episodes.
The pickups represent another instance of Hollywoodturning to the romance genre as a rich space for potential propertiesto adapt.
Credit: Michael Alberstat
Virgin Riveris one of Carrs most successful series, a contemporary romance set in the titular small town.
Weve had a lot of interest over the years.
They rarely pan out.
But this time, I knew from the very beginning that it was going to work.
It was a no-brainer, but did I want it for a long time?
But we didnt go chasing it; it chased us.
This was announced as Netflix taking a step toward Hallmark-style programming.
Its a perfect fit.
Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Was that an inspiration for you?
That was a contemporary, small-town domestic drama, and that was a lot of fun to watch.
The thing that really inspired me I just loved Jan Karons small-town series with Father Tim.
It just kept going and going and going.
There were new people all the time.
Twenty books in the series is a lot.
A town where people are nice to each other and help each other, and thats utopian?
People always write and say, Where is it?
All we have to do is attempt to create it.
We create it by being helpful neighbors and good friends and positive people.
Theyre not without their flaws.
But at the end of the day, they help each other.
Romances are notable for being stories told by and for women.
Obviously, thats something people constantly point to as missing in Hollywood.
Hopefully intelligently and with the help thats available.
Maybe with counseling, maybe with medical intervention.
People dont write to me and say, Oh, I love Jack.
Well, they do.
They write to me all the time and say, Send Jack.
Or they say, My baby died and I know exactly how she felt.
And a book is a real safe place.
In terms of representation, do you feel your series will have an inclusive, diverse cast?
Is that a priority?I hope so, because its present in the books.
Hollywood is finally taking notice of romance.
Is that something you and others in the genre have been waiting on?Its long overdue.
And I think were heartily sick of reality TV.
We really want a good, solid story that we can relate to.
Thank you, Reese Witherspoon, for saying women can do this.
We have been waiting.
And weve been trying to encourage them to see the light.
They want a good story too about real life and real neighborhoods and real homes and real families.
The women want their men to read these books to see how men should act.
We certainly dont stand for abuse of any kind in our stories.
Those are the villains.
I feel completely blessed.
You have a new book coming out in January.
Theres every generation represented.
Thats been one of the things that people have loved aboutVirgin Riveralso.
Theres teenage love, theres middle-aged love, and theres love with seniors.
I was looking at my demographic, and it really is from 19 to 90.
Im sure its because everybodys represented.
I didnt do that on purpose as a strategy.
I really like it.
Ive been doing this for over 40 years, and it just keeps getting more and more fun.
