TOUCH Moves Toward the Screen

Three years ago, TOUCH was just a book in readers’ hands. Today, it’s in the hands of Hollywood decision-makers. Yes, they’re reading it. 🎉✨

From page to possibility — it all started here.

When Alan Roth, a Nicholl Fellowship award-winning screenwriter, reached out last year about adapting TOUCH into a screenplay—and even offered to market it on his own dime—I didn’t breathe a word of it to anyone. Not my family, not my friends. It felt too big, too fragile to risk jinxing.

But over the past several months, Alan and I have been working side by side (sometimes even pulling my son Aaron into the process), and step by step this dream has started to look less like “maybe someday” and more like “this could actually happen.”

Alan Roth, Nicholl Fellowship award-winning screenwriter, adapting TOUCH for the screen.

The pitching process in Hollywood is its own kind of rollercoaster:

1. The screenwriter secures opportunities to pitch.

2. If the pitch lands, producers request the pilot or full screenplay.

3. Next, they ask for the book.

4. A story analyst writes a report breaking down strengths, weaknesses, and audience potential.

5. Development teams review it all, weighing if it fits their needs.

6. If it does—contracts and negotiations begin.

From page to pilot — the screenplay for TOUCH.

The project has now advanced to the stage where major studios and networks are reviewing both the screenplay and the book itself. That means analysts, executives, and development teams are weighing its potential — the step every author dreams of but few reach.

I’m not going to lie, the whole thing feels surreal. One moment I’m celebrating, the next I’m reminding myself to breathe, apply more deodorant, and maybe let someone else cook dinner before I burn something.

Keeping it real. This is what “don’t burn dinner” looks like.

But whether this journey ends in a green light or not, there’s one truth I can hold onto: this story—Shawn’s story—is strong enough to capture the attention of the biggest names in the industry. And that’s something worth celebrating.

Stay tuned. This ride is far from over.