The book, set in Georgia, is a memoir about strong, Southern, sassy women that delivers a multi-layered story about Smith’s relationship with Carolyn, her best friend’s mom who was a former model in the 1950’s and the enduring bonds with her close-knit, gregarious, childhood girlfriends, known as the Dunwoody Girls – more simply, the DGs. After learning that Carolyn, who was like a second mother to Smith, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, Smith reflects on how “couch time” sessions with Carolyn empowered her to take control of her destiny during a time in Smith’s life when she was divorced, lost, and struggling to pick up the pieces. Carolyn offers priceless advice and inspirational life lessons about love, life, and friendship while they drink wine, sample chocolates, and reminisce. It is through Carolyn that the DGs learn that neither life nor love is random, and that even hilarious one-liners can brighten the darkest days.
The film, written/directed/produced by Laura Saitta states, “It was an honor to be able to work with Katie on this project and to be able to adapt her book into a short film. It has such great message about making the most out of life by following your heart and your dreams. Hopefully, this film will help to get that message out to even more people.”
Smith states, “I’m so proud of Laura and of her accomplishments. As a writer, it’s surreal and a dream come true to see Couch Time with Carolyn come to life on the big screen. Laura flew out from LA and filmed in the City of Lawrenceville, keeping the authenticity of the story’s southern roots. Readers have been asking that Couch Time with Carolyn be transitioned to the visual medium because they personally relate to the storyline. The book addresses many of life’s challenges that range from finding one’s true love, faith, friendship, the circle of life, to the intergenerational mentoring of an older Southern woman. I wrote Couch Time with Carolyn with a heart-felt honesty that will make you laugh out loud and also bring tears to your eyes.”
The WOMAN UP 2015 Independent Film Festival will be held at the Regal LA LIVE Stadium cinema from Tuesday, November 3 – Thursday, November 5, 2015 in Los Angeles California. Couch Time with Carolyn is available through Smith’s website at http://www.katiehartsmith.com, Books for Less – Buford, Sikes & Davis Interiors, the Braselton Gallery, and via major online book retailers. The paperback version of Couch Time with Carolyn sells for $15.00, and the e-book retails for $8.99. Individuals can also sample an audio reading from the first chapter at https://katiehartsmith.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/couch-time-with-carolyn-exclusive-chapter-1/. Organizations and others should contact Smith for speaking engagements and additional information through her website or Facebook author page at https://www.facebook.com/katiehartsmith.
Katie Hart Smith
katiehartsmith@gmail.com
About Katie Hart Smith
Born in 1964 in San Diego, California, Smith lived all over the United States as a little girl before she and her family moved to the Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody, Georgia, in 1976. Metro Atlanta has remained her home ever since. After graduating from Dunwoody High School, she obtained a BS in Nursing from Georgia State University in 1987, and in 2002, she earned her MBA from Troy State University. Smith, a published author for over 20 years, has a wide array of work ranging from medical and academic, to children’s stories, and non-fiction. She served on the editorial board and was a manuscript reviewer for the Orthopaedic Nursing Journal and was a former member of the advisory board for Atlanta Sports & Fitness Magazine. Smith was the first recipient of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce’s Healthcare Professional of the Year award and recognized with the Outstanding Orthopaedic Nurse of the Year award by the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses – Atlanta Chapter. In February, 2004, Smith was even profiled in Atlanta Magazine, as one of “Eight Really Cool Unattached Atlantans.” Later that year, Smith met her husband, Jeff and they happily reside in Lawrenceville, Georgia with their three furry, four-legged kids. They are active members in the Gwinnett community to include her service on the City of Lawrenceville City Council from 2009 – 2011.
About Laura Saitta
Laura Saitta earned a BS undergraduate from the University of Richmond, and an MS from The Georgia Institute of Technology. She spent most of her adult life working in the corporate world in various functional areas, including systems, finance, marketing, and contract negotiations. While she was renovating her home in Atlanta, she invented a tile tool called TileSizer, which enjoys national distribution through major retailers. After moving to Los Angeles, Saitta discovered a love for writing. This is her first film festival and she has two films that are part of the festival program that she wrote, directed and produced.
