Nevada City wins over ‘ The Christmas Card’ writer

Photo by Pat Butler Joany Kane peers out a window at Bridgeport Covered Bridge.

"When I first pulled into town, I thought 'oh my gosh, this is the movie.’ " - Joany Kane

Even though she was sitting comfortably in her Ashville, Mass., home, Joany Kane was still all wrapped with Nevada City.

“I just want you to know that I have my gold nugget necklace on while I’m drinking a Sierra Nevada and wearing a Mine Shaft t-shirt and my Fur Trader slippers,” she said with a laugh.

Kane had just spent three days in Nevada City, which was the setting for the Hallmark movie “The Christmas Card.” Kane wrote the movie’s screenplay, but she had not visited the town until May 19.

“When I first pulled into town, I thought ‘oh my gosh, this is the movie,’” she said.

Kane’s visit was arranged by Steve Cottrell, a former city councilman and chamber board member who wanted to find a way to thank her for writing “The Christmas Card,” which has aired more than 20 times since 2006.

“Joany's visit was great for her and great for Nevada City,” said Cottrell, who served as the writer’s tour guide for the visit. “I really appreciate all the business owners and others who helped support the visit and can assure them that Joany left here with fond memories and lots of new Facebook pals.”

According to chamber of commerce officials, the movie is responsible for bringing hundreds of visitors here who want to see the town where the movie was shot.

Cottrell arranged for Kane to visit a number of places that served as scenes in the movie and to meet people throughout the community.

“It was such an amazing time,” she said. “I feel like I have 20 new friends.”

Kane’s first full day included visits to the Classic Café, the South Yuba River bridge, the Bridgeport Covered Bridge, Kubich sawmill and the Methodist Church in Nevada City, all places that served as scenes in the movie.

On Wednesday evening, a community appreciation dinner attended by around 70 people was held at the National Hotel, which is where Kane stayed while visiting Nevada City.

At the dinner, she learned that Nevada City had proclaimed “Joany Kane Days” in her honor. In addition, she received gifts from the chamber of commerce, slippers from the Fur Traders and a gold nugget necklace made by Utopian Stone of Nevada City.

“I felt like Cinderella,” Kane said of the experience.

“The Christmas Card” has been one of Hallmark’s most popular movies since it debuted in the winter of 2006. It stars Ed Asner, who is the father of a woman whose Christmas card lures a lonely soldier to Nevada City where he finds love and happiness.

Kane said she wrote the movie with a setting of rural Vermont in mind. However, one of the movie’s producers, Lincoln Lageson, pushed for Nevada City, which Kane said turned out to be the ideal setting.

“It’s like the town is a character in the movie,” she said.

Kane said the trip has inspired her to write a sequel to “The Christmas Card” and this time the setting will be Nevada City.

“I’ve already pitched a sequel,” she said. “I want to get to Nevada City as often as I can in the future.”