I'm not going to pretend that I'm familiar with author Christopher Golden. But after a bit of research, I uncovered that the New York Times best-selling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author is the man behind such novels as Ararat, Dead Ringers and the upcoming The Pandora Room, among others. On top of that, along with Mike Mignola (Hellboy), he co-created two Dark Horse comic book series, Baltimore and Joe Golem: Occult Detective.
Great, so now we know just who the hell Golden is. And it's packed with this info we can now pass along word that Golden's horror novel SNOWBLIND has been optioned by Emmy Award-winning entertainment company Zoic Studios with plans to adapt the book into a feature film. Up-and-coming screenwriter Amber Alexander is attached to pen the screenplay, with Golden and Pete Donaldson (FALLEN) attached to produce.
The book has received widespread acclaim, including praise from Stephen King, who said:
"Snowblind is instantly involving and deeply scary. It will bring a blizzard to your bones (and your heart), even in the middle of July. Throw away all those old 'it was a dark and stormy night' novels; this one is the real deal."
Here's a rundown on the novel via Amazon:
Once upon a time, Coventry weathered a horrific blizzard, one that left many people dead and others mysteriously lost. Twelve years later, the town is still haunted by the snow that fell that one fateful night…and now a new storm is on the way.
Photographer Jake Schapiro mourns the little brother he lost in the storm and, this time, he will see another boy go missing. Mechanic and part-time thief Doug Manning, whose wife was never found after she wandered into the whiteout, is starting over with another woman and more ambitious crimes. Police detective Joe Keenan has never been the same since that night, when he failed to save the life of a young boy…and the boy's father vanished in the storm only feet away. And all the way on the other side of the country, Miri Ristani receives a phone call from a man who died twelve years ago. Old ghosts are trickling back to life as a new threat rolls in. Could it be that this storm will be even more terrifying than the last?
Zoic Co-Founder/Executive Creative Director Chris Jones:
"I'm incredibly proud and humbled by the success of our company and Zoic's plan was to always evolve into creative producers of content. Snowblind is the first of many exciting projects on our developing slate. Not only is it fantastic source material, but we are thrilled to be working with Amber."
The project and writer were brought on by Samantha Shear, who says:
"Chris and Loni have fostered an incredible filmmaker-friendly studio here at Zoic and I'm beyond thrilled to be a part of the team of many talented artists that will help in bringing Chris Golden's haunting thriller to cinematic life."
The deal marks Zoic Studios' first foray into content development, with founding partners Chris Jones and Loni Peristere spearheading the creative development of SNOWBLIND, which is the first of a slated 12 projects optioned by Zoic. Peristere has served as a co-executive producer and director on Cinemax's BANSHEE and has also directed for AMERICAN HORROR STORY, Netflix's A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, as well as the upcoming Cinemax series WARRIOR. Snag a copy of the horror novel for yourself or a loved one over on Amazon HERE.