Medfield Neighbors going "Hollywood"

Medfield Neighbors going "Hollywood"

Local author and screenwriter, Mike Bernard has Hollywood in his sights.

Bernard is well known in Medfield and has penned many a good read. One in particular stems from his own personal relationships with his Medfield neighbors. His latest book, “Crossing Guards”, was originally written as a screenplay, then published in paperback in 2018. Having a talented, amusing and witty published author living amongst us in Medfield is a pretty big deal, but even more exciting is Bernard’s “Crossing Guards” screenplay has been optioned for a movie. Emmy Award winning director and writer Cayman Grant, who heads up Steel Titan Productions, is working on getting this made into a feature film.

The story is about Megan Hayes, a hospice nurse from the tough, blue-collar streets of South Boston. Haunted by the memory of her mother dying in an empty house, Megan vows to never let a patient die alone, but with her Irish temper and bad dating record, Megan fears she will never find love and may ultimately end up alone herself. Living with her father doesn’t help. Jackie Boy Hayes, USMC (Ret.), is a 68 year old, fitness-crazed former US Marine. Check that - no such thing as a former Marine. He IS a Marine! Jackie Boy spends his days seeking new and interesting ways to exercise, and finds an unlikely recruit in a lonesome, overweight teenager.

These two main characters, father and daughter Jackie Boy and Megan Hayes, are based on Bernard’s Medfield neighbors, Don Hayes and Amanda Carnes. Don and Amanda are neither father and daughter nor related in any way, but they share a beautiful friendship and love for family and their community.

This fictitious novel grabs at your heartstrings.

Just like the character Jackie Boy, Don is a Marine. He served from 1957 – 1960, after the Korean War and before Vietnam and he is 85 years old. He is very proud to have been the role model for Jackie Boy and although he doesn’t behold all his characteristics, when he was a bit younger Don was an avid runner and started a running club in Medfield.

Don and his wife, Polly were the very first residents on Snyder Road and when they moved in it was a dirt road and had no telephone. Bernard moved into the house next door to Don in 1998. An early inspiration for the story came one day when he saw Don raking leaves in his yard wearing a USMC shirt and asked him “Are you an Ex Marine?” Without delay, Bernard was corrected, “I AM a Marine!” stated Don. Bernard learned that lesson quickly and said he will “never again” make that mistake. “You know when you’ve met a Marine” said Bernard, “a Marine IS a Marine forever”.

Don was honored to have been the inspiration for Jackie Boy but he is even more proud of how the love of the Marine Corp runs deep and is projected throughout Bernard’s story. Rumor has it, Don is holding out for Robert DeNiro or Clint Eastwood to play his character when it hits the big screen.

Living diagonally across the street from Bernard is nurse Amanda Carnes and like the fictional character, Megan Hayes, Carnes has worked as a hospice nurse. She has also worked at Paul Newman’s Hole-in-the-Wall Gang facility in Connecticut, and her current nursing work is with the Oncology unit at Boston Children’s Hospital. Both the character, Megan and the real life, Amanda, have a gift for making their patient’s end of life experience a positive one offering love, attention and support to each individual. “The importance of family, friends and taking care of one another is what is needed, especially now”, stated Amanda.

These neighbors are more than neighbors, and for the past few years, they have shared a Thanksgiving meal with each other at Amanda’s home. Bernard commented, “It’s a nice tradition since they are like family.” The author’s fondness for the two people who inspired his main characters is undeniable. The pride he has in the characters he created is evident in Jackie Boy as he exemplifies the rough exterior with a softer side and Megan’s compassionate yet powerful personality shines through. Bernard has the greatest respect for his friends Don and Amanda, they are the definition of humanity and core values.

More about the author:

Mike Bernard

Goodreads Author of: A Fisherman’s View, Coming Attractions, Crossing the Sagamore and Crossing Guards.

Mike's ‘midlife crisis’ writing career began when his children and his money went off to college, checks made out to Loyola University Maryland (x2) and Assumption College respectively. Mike’s work has placed in the NICHOLL FELLOWSHIP, BLUECAT, FINAL DRAFT Big Break and PAGE International screenplay competitions. Three of his screenplays were optioned and under development with production companies. Mike is a graduate of Providence College and Boston College High School. He resides in Medfield, MA with his wife Michele. He spends summers on the beaches of Cape Cod and winters roaming the aisles of Home Depot.