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Karen Schaler, Writer Of The Netflix Sensation ‘A Christmas Prince,’ Has A New Royal Romantic Comedy Inspired By The Royal Family


Meet Karen Schaler, a passionate and prolific three-time Emmy award-winning storyteller. In the past four years, this screenwriter, author, journalist, producer, and TV host has written four holiday movies and five Christmas novels. 

“I always wanted to write a Christmas movie but never dreamed I’d go this far down the Christmas rabbit hole,” says Schaler. “But I’m all in, tangled up in the tinsel and twinkle lights and I love it!” 

Schaler’s romantic comedies are funny, uplifting, and heartwarming. She wrote Netflix’s first original Christmas movie A Christmas Prince. The wildly popular film was a huge hit with two sequels. This year Schaler has a new royal rom-com novel: A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale. She’s also planning to write the movie of the story. 

She shared more. 

Jeryl Brunner: What made you go return to the royal-themed rom-com? 

Karen Schaler: I’d actually already started on another story, but A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale was in my head and heart to write and it wouldn’t let go. So at the last minute, I shifted gears. I had to write like one of Santa’s elves on a candy cane sugar-high to meet my deadline. Writing for me is the ultimate escape. I needed to travel to someplace magical and I wanted to take my readers on a journey with me. The enchanting Christmas-loving fictional town of Tolvania was just the ticket I was looking for. 

Brunner: How is this story inspired by the royal family? 

Schaler: A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale was inspired by a trip I took to the Isle of Anglesey in Wales for my Travel Therapy TV series where I feature the most empowering trips to take based on what you’re going through in life. VisitBritain tourism had pitched me the story of “walking in the footsteps of royalty” showing where Prince William and Kate once lived. Even though I was with a tourism guide doing a positive travel feature the community was very suspicious of me and protective of the royal family and for good reason.

I understood that I needed to earn people’s trust and once I did we were able to do a beautiful story together. This experience in Wales, along with all that has happened the last few years with the royal family was on my mind as I wrote A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale. This is a story about the power of believing in yourself to find your happily ever after and having the courage to pivot and go in a new direction if it means finding happiness and following your heart.

Brunner: What challenges did you face writing during the pandemic? 

Schaler: You would think being isolated at home during a pandemic would give you more time to write but I found it very challenging. My creativity is fueled by traveling to new places, embracing new customs, and meeting new people, but I wasn’t traveling anywhere. This is why I pivoted to write another royal Christmas romance.

The charming town of Tolvania I created in A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale was a place I wanted to go to every morning when I woke up. Writing this was my new form of “Travel Therapy” and truly helped me get through some tough times. I’m hoping this story can do the same for anyone who needs some happiness and hope this holiday season. 

Brunner: How important is it for you to connect with your readers and viewers?

Schaler: Connecting with people to share the stories I write, whether it’s my novels, movies, or my travel show, is everything to me. I’m a very social person so I’ve had to find new ways to reach people. This year I was honored that Once Upon a Book Club selected A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale as its December novel introducing me to a whole new group of readers that I’m very thankful for.

I’m also doing more of my trademarked Christmas Camp experiences for grownups at resorts, libraries, for book clubs and groups, bringing the Hallmark Christmas Camp movie and books I wrote to life both virtually and in-person when it’s safe. I also have some fun, free virtual Christmas Camps events coming up with ThiftBooks where we’re doing lots of giveaways to try and bring some Christmas cheer and help everyone get in the holiday spirit. 

Brunner: What is next for you? 

Schaler: Right now, I’m writing several movies including a Christmas musical, another rom-com not set at Christmas, and a comedy that I’m really excited about. I’m also working on my next holiday novel and my first summer beach read that will whisk you away to fabulous escape, inspired by my Travel Therapy TV series. 

You can also come see me January 7th to 9th, 2022, when I’ll be in Palm Beach, Florida, speaking on several screenwriting and author panels at RomaDrama. This is a new fan event that’s all about connecting people where you can meet your favorite Hallmark, Netflix, and Lifetime actors that are in your favorite Christmas movies. Think Comic-Con but for romance lovers where everyone is invited!

I was on the writing panels and held a Christmas Camp at the inaugural event in Nashville and it was truly amazing. It’s events like this that have helped keep me going during these challenging times we’re all living in. We really are all in this together and I’m thankful for any way we can still come together and uplift each other during the holidays and beyond. 



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