Atascadero Junior High School, Atascadero, California and Monarch Elementary School, Los Osos, California

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Cambria Author, Catherine Ryan Hyde, seems startled by her commercial success. Buzz about her latest novel, Pay It Forward, has existed for a number of months, as decisions about the film version were in the works. With the final final decision squared away, the film starring Kevin Spacy, Haley Joel, Osment and Helen Hunt, is set to begin shooting February 14. Hyde has been keeping chaotically busy, traveling across the U.S. on her book promotion tour. Forward was released the beginning of this month.

At her February 2 book signing at Waldenbooks in San Luis Obispo, Hyde greeted an excited mob waiting to talk and have her sign their copies of Forward. She snuck away for a few minutes for an interview with the SLO Gazette.

"I'm very lucky there's going to be a movie. It's a tremendous blessing," Hyde said, explaining she knew that eventually she would carve out her place in the literary world, but admitting she never expected this kind of commercial attention.

"I was always told my work was 'small', and 'literary' and that although it was good work, it was not the kind of writing that went mainstream and earned commercial success," said Hyde. " I was amazed to break over into mainstream commercial success. I'm very realistic about this business and had expected smaller things."

Forward's premise is simple, and almost seems fantastical set in our present world. And its result is powerful. Twelve-year-old Trevor Mckinney dives full force into an extra credit assignment for his social studies class, given by his teacher Reuben St. Clair, a physically and emotionally scarred Vietnam Veteran.

The assignment is to think of a plan that will change the world, and then put that plan into effect. Trevor's plan is this: choose three people and do something nice for each one. Instead of returning the favor , they will "pay it forward," by doing something nice for three more people. Although Trevor has some pit stops along the way, eventually his plan snowballs, creating a better world through kindness.

Already this notion of "paying it forward" has taken hold. Nationwide, schools, bookstores, charity organizations and others have been giving life to the concept, through service and outreach projects. Locally, students from Monarch Grove Elementary in Los Osos, and Atascadero Jr. High, participated in a essay contest. Both classes were given an assignment similar to Trevor's, to write about someone who has done something kind, and to write about something you have done to help another. The idea was to focus on how these act of kindness could, in turn, positively affect other people.

When Hyde visited the bookstore, she read all of the essays, and chose three from each school that best represented the theme of the book. The winning students read their essays aloud.

"This kids obviously got it." Hyde said, referring to all of the students. "I think we all want to believe we can still turn things around. Achieve more kindness, less violence. I think we've become so jaded and cynical that it is hard to believe."

Forward has also struck a chord with audiences.

"The early feedback is more than I imagined." Hyde said. "(People are reading it) and saying 'OK, let's get started.' "

Hyde said that the timing was right for Forward's release and its message, because people want to believe a little more in Trevor's idea of kindness.

Critically, the book has received wonderful reviews, describing it as "an inspiring modern fable," "a quiet steady masterpiece," and praising her Capraesque theme.

"I almost can't lose," Hyde said of her current situation.

Mimi Leader (Deep Impact), is set to direct the Warner Bros. film. Hyde complimented Leslie Dixon , whose credits include, Mrs. Doubtfire, and The Thomas Crown Affair, on her screenplay adaptation. Some changes for the film have been made. It won't be filmed in Atascadero, where the novel actually takes place. Hyde said they wanted to put Trevor in a tougher neighborhood for the film, and take him out of the small town setting.

Despite the changes, Hyde said she definitely plans to see the film when it comes out around Thanksgiving (2000).

Forward has essentially been twenty years in the making. Hyde's idea evolved from an experience she had many years ago. One night, Hyde was driving alone in a bad part of Los Angeles. The engine in her well worn Datsun 1200 died, and the car began to fill with smoke. Two men helped put out the fire, endangering their lives to help a stranger. Once the fire was out Hyde looked up to thank them, but they were gone.

Hyde decided over the next few months that if she could not repay the two men directly she would return the favor elsewhere. When her chance came, it didn't seem like a big deal at first. She stopped to help a woman who was stranded by the side of the road in the dark. Her car wasn't able to hold radiator fluid. Hyde fixed the problem and drove the woman to get water. It was at this point Hyde realized just how much she helped the woman.

The woman wanted to repay her and offered to give her money, but Hyde told the woman to "pay it forward to someone else."

To hear more about the book call 1-877-818-2665 ext. 7393, or visit the website at www.SimonSays.com/payitforward.

Hyde has received much acclaim and awards along the way for her writing and first novel, Funerals For Horses, published in 1997. Her Earthquake Weather short stories have all been published in various magazines and periodicals prior to their compilation in 1998. For several years Hyde has also appeared at the Cuesta College writers conference.

Read some of the winning essays