HALLMARK CHANNEL ANNOUNCES NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR MARY ALICE MONROE'S POIGNANT SOUTHERN FICTION "THE BEACH HOUSE," WILL BE ADAPTED FOR TELEVISION IN 2016, THREE-TIME GOLDEN GLOBE(R) NOMINEE ANDIE MACDOWELL TO STAR

Hallmark Channel Continues to Acquire Exceptional, Heartwarming Works of Fiction

Mary Alice Monroe's beautiful novel The Beach House with its poetic prose about the cycle of life and its keen insights into family relationships will be adapted into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie starring three-time Golden Globe(R) nominee Andie MacDowell and premiering exclusively on the network in 2016. MacDowell who currently stars in Hallmark Channel's #1-rated drama "Cedar Cove," which returns for season three, Saturday, July 18, is Executive Producer of "The Beach House." Monroe's latest novel The Summer's End is featured at a book launch today at the South Carolina Aquarium which will soon open a multi-million dollar hospital dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured loggerhead turtles chronicled in The Beach House trilogy. Mary Alice Monroe's writing gained added purpose and depth with her books set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. An active environmentalist, Monroe draws themes for her novels from nature and the parallels with human nature, thus drawing attention to various endangered species and the human connection to the natural world.

"The evocative prose of The Beach House is an exploration of strengths and weaknesses so eloquently portrayed in all of Mary Alice Monroe's writing: agony against past mistakes, present pain and the hope of a brighter future," said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

"Once I read The Beach House, I couldn't imagine anyone other than Andie MacDowell chronicling Cara's emotion-filled journey home to South Carolina's Lowcountry to heal the relationship with her neglectful mother by reconnecting with an old friend and immersing herself into the ever evolving cycle of life found in nature," Vicary concluded.

"I love the connection to nature, preservation and saving turtles, and so I am grateful to Hallmark Channel, Dan Wigutow, Sue Tenney and our beloved author Mary Alice Monroe," said Andie MacDowell.

"I have been to the beach many times to watch the loggerhead turtles hatch and it's a powerful human-to-nature experience. I am thankful to be part of not only great storytelling, but also an advocate for nature. The Beach House is full of passion and romance both for people and the land they love, and helps us to understand that connecting with loved ones and to nature is the greatest part of our adventure here," MacDowell concluded.

"The Beach House is a beloved book for turtle volunteers as the story depicts a compelling mother-daughter reconciliation set against the loggerhead sea turtles that nest along our southeastern coast. The announcement for the film-- especially with Andie MacDowell as Cara-- will be met with great excitement. Andie knows that when I wrote the book, I had her in my head as Cara, so to see this film happen exactly as I pictured it is serendipity at its best," said Mary Alice Monroe.

In "The Beach House," Caretta Rutledge thought she'd left her Southern roots and troubled family far behind. But an unusual request from her mother coming just as her own life is spinning out of control has Cara heading back to the scenic Lowcountry of her childhood summers. Before long, the rhythms of the island open her heart in wonderful ways as she repairs the family beach house, becomes a bona fide "turtle lady" and renews old acquaintances long thought lost. But it is in reconnecting with her mother that she will learn life's most precious lessons: true love involves sacrifice, family is forever and the mistakes of the past can be forgiven.

"The Beach House" is Executive Produced by Andie MacDowell and Dan Wigutow ("Cedar Cove"). Sue Tenney ("Cedar Cove," "Good Witch") will adapt Mary Alice Monroe's screenplay for television. Tenney will also serve as producer on the film.

Mary Alice Monroe, who is represented by Trident Media Group and The Gersh Agency, is the latest bestselling author to join Crown Media Family Networks. Other prominent novelist working with Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries include: Debbie Macomber, Janette Oke, Donna VanLiere, Joanne Fluke, Charlaine Harris, and Karen Kingsbury, among others.

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