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Happy Birthday Amber!

1/8/2023

I’d like to wish Amber Benson a very Happy Birthday. I hope you have a fantastic day and that the year ahead brings you happiness and only good things.

Followers of the website’s social media feeds will know that I posted Happy Birthday messages there too of course. I also wanted to write a post here in the Latest Amber News section as well.

I've been a huge fan and have followed Amber's career for many years and in that time, I've been fortunate enough to meet her on a number of occasions.

Amber is not only hugely talented she's also a kind and generous person too. If it had not been for the encouragement Amber has given me, I never would have attempted many new things. I’m very grateful for all of her support and kind words.

This year fans in the USA also have the chance to see the premiere of Family History Mysteries Buried Past a brand-new original mystery written by Amber debuting tonight on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries at 6/7C for more information about that click here. What a great way to celebrate Amber’s Birthday!

I know you will all join me in wishing Amber a very Happy Birthday!

Joe

Family History Mysteries: Buried Past Written By Amber Benson USA Premiere On The 8th of January

1/5/2023

On the 30th of November 2022 entertainment website Deadline.com broke the news that Amber had written Family History Mysteries: Buried Past. This will be the first in what could become a series of TV movies for Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

We of course shared the news on our social media feeds and later on AmberBenson.TV itself. I have a very exciting update especially if you're an Amber fan living in the USA Family History Mysteries: Buried Past will be premiering on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel on Sunday, 8 January at 7/6 C

The 8th of January is as many fans will know Amber's birthday and I think it's amazing that Amber’s brand-new original mystery has its premiere on her birthday.

If this is the first time you're hearing about Family History Mysteries: Buried past let me tell you a more about this exciting new mystery.

Family History Mysteries: Buried Past centres on Sophie McClaren played by Janel Parrish as a genealogist. She brings families together using her expertise and ability to dig into the past to find answers.

Update: If you have read the Deadline.com article you may have noticed that I have made an edit and changed Sophie’s surname. A fan who has had the opportunity to see the movie told me that in Buried Past the lead character's name is Sophie McClaren not McClure as reported by Deadline.com, it’s also the name the character is given on IMDb too. Having checked IMDb again there are now two listings for the movie, this new version has Sophie’s surname as McClaren. I'm not criticising either of these outlets as information may have been correct at the time of publication and I don't want to speculate on what might have happened. I have seen a screenshot however that does confirm the character’s name as Sophie McClaren.

Sophie's skills and knowledge shall be tested like never before when she discovers her close friend Jonathan is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Help is on hand from Jonathan's twin brother Jackson who also happens to be Sophie's old flame. Together Sophie and Jackson search for the twins birth father in a bid to save Jonathan. As Sophie and Jackson work together it gives her the push to finally look into her own past.

Hallmark have released a trailer for the movie ahead of its premiere which I have embedded below.

If you live in the USA and want more information about Hallmark Movies and Mysteries and how you can see Buried Past click here and press the channel locator button.

Unfortunately for UK fans I don't yet have any information on when it will be shown here. I am planning to contact Hallmark to enquire about this and if I get any news I will share it with you.

In the meantime though I'm still incredibly excited for Amber but also for fans and friends who are based in the USA and will get the opportunity to see Buried Past for the first time on Sunday. It's a fantastic birthday present for Amber and another reason to celebrate.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with the making of Family History Mysteries: Buried Past, Hallmark or Deadline.com we own nothing. This post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about an exciting new TV movie written by Amber Benson.

Amber Has Written A Brand-New Mystery For Hallmark

12/31/2022

On the 30th of November entertainment website Deadline.com broke the hugely exciting news that Amber has written a brand-new original mystery for Hallmark.

Family History Mysteries: Buried Past centres on Sophie McClaren played by Janel Parrish as a genealogist. She brings families together using her expertise and ability to dig into the past to find answers. Sophie's skills and knowledge shall be tested like never before when she discovers her close friend Jonathan is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Help is on hand from Jonathan's twin brother Jackson who also happens to be Sophie's ex. Together Sophie and Jackson search for the twins birth father in a bid to save Jonathan. As Sophie and Jackson work together it gives her the push to finally look into her own past.

Update: If you have read the Deadline.com article you may have noticed that I have made an edit and changed Sophie’s surname. A fan who has had the opportunity to see the movie told me that in Buried Past the lead character's name is Sophie McClaren not McClure as reported by Deadline.com, it’s also the name the character is given on IMDb too. Having checked IMDb again there are now two listings for the movie, this new version has Sophie’s surname as McClaren. I'm not criticising either of these outlets as information may have been correct at the time of publication and I don't want to speculate on what might have happened. I have seen a screenshot however that does confirm the character’s name as Sophie McClaren.

Amber has written for Hallmark on three previous occasions including Murder in Mind & Death By Design two movies in the popular Morning Show Mysteries series. The series was based on a novel by Al Roker and Dick Lochte. Amber also wrote the festive romantic movie A Family Christmas Gift this was an original story written by Amber and she also co-wrote the teleplay.

In October I attended Cross Roads 5 a convention in Birmingham where Amber was a guest. During a Q&A I was lucky enough to ask Amber if she had any upcoming projects she revealed to an excited audience that she had written a new movie for Hallmark and it had been given the go-ahead.

Correction: I also want to make another correction due to something that I misunderstood. Family History Mysteries Buried Past is based on a series of novels by Brynn Bonner. Amber has written the script and I believe adapted the material for the screen. I pride myself on posting accurate information, this was down to something I misunderstood during a Q&A (mentioned above) with Amber that I attended. The mistake was mine and Amber was not at fault in anyway. I apologised to Amber and visitors to the site for the error in my original post.

For more information about Family History Mysteries: Buried Past click the link below to visit the article from Deadline.com

https://deadline.com/2022/11/janel-parrish-hallmark-family-history-mysteries-buried-past-1235184573/

The good news for Amber fans in the USA is that according to Deadline.com Family History Mysteries: Buried Past premiere is planned for January 2023 the exact date to be confirmed. As soon as I have more information I will post an update. Unfortunately for UK fans there is no timeframe currently set for its UK premiere. From past experience with Hallmark movies I know it can take around a year before they debut here. I will of course try to find out more information as soon as I can and fingers crossed we won't have to wait too long.

I apologise for the length of time it has taken me to get this post online this was due to work commitments and a busy time over the festive period. I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie and I'm so pleased for Amber. I'd also like to wish everyone a happy new year!

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with the making of Family History Mysteries: Buried Past, Hallmark or Deadline.com we own nothing. This post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about an exciting new TV movie written by Amber Benson.

Amber's Guest Starring Roles on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice Are Now Available on Disney+ In The UK

11/30/2022

Exciting news for Amber fans in the UK as we have the chance to stream both of Amber's guest starring roles on Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice on the Disney+ streaming platform.

I know that both of these shows were popular and in fact Grey's Anatomy is still on the air today in the UK but I've never been a fan of medical dramas. I'm a huge fan of Amber of course so I tracked down and watched both of these episodes when they aired a few years ago. If you didn't get a chance to see them or are new to Amber's work I thought it was definitely worth a post here to let everyone know the episodes are available.

In 2009 Amber played the role of Jill Avery in Private Practice (Just Finishing, Season 2, Episode 18)

In this episode Jill fights to battle back from the after-effects of a brutal assault. Amber showcases the range of her acting talent as we not only get a sense of who Jill was before the attack but also witness how it affects her as she tries to reclaim her old life.

In 2010 Amber played the role of Corrine Henley in Grey's Anatomy (That's Me Trying, Season 7, Episode 7)

In this episode Corrine visits her estranged father before his surgery and this brings old feelings to the surface and some regrets too. I would have liked to learn more about Corrine, sadly Amber wasn't afforded as much screen time as her role on Private Practice. It was still great to see her on-screen however and the fact that I was intrigued by the character of Corrine demonstrates Amber's acting talent.

Both of these episodes and indeed the entire series of both Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice are all on the Disney+ platform in the UK. I would assume they're available in the US and other territories but I can't access the US version from inside the UK so I don’t know for sure. If anyone does know and wants to pass the information along you can leave a comment under this update or contact me via email Facebook or Twitter the links are at the top of the page.

For more information go to https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb

I know the cost of living is high right now so I'm aware not everyone will want to sign up for a subscription service at the moment. I just wanted to put the information here in case it was useful to fellow fans. If you get a chance to see either of these episodes definitely check them out.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in any way with Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice. We own nothing. We have no connection to the Disney+ streaming platform here in the UK or in any other territories. No money is being earned from this post, it is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about an opportunity to see Amber Benson in two exciting guest roles.

Amber Again Teams Up with FORT LA To Create Another Halloween Trail In Los Angeles

10/12/2022

Halloween is almost upon us once more and Amber's latest project is a spooky treat for fans living in the LA area.

For the third time Amber has created a trail of five unique houses in Los Angeles with a spooky past or connection to Witches called: Witch Houses 3: Something Wicked This Way Comes.

This trail was curated in association with Friends of Residential Treasures: LA (FORT) "Inspiring pride in Los Angeles by empowering people to see our city in new ways through its tapestry of neighbourhoods and homes — and the stories they tell."

Amber wrote The Echo Park Coven trilogy of novels set in Los Angeles and a number of other spooky novels and short stories. She is no stranger to researching myths and legends and chilling events. This is the third time she has worked with FORT LA to create a trail and here’s how she describes it in the official guide:

"Greetings, goblins and ghouls!

It’s your witchy trail curator here, and for a third year in a row, we’ve enticed you into taking a tour of some of the most bone-chilling and otherworldly houses in our fair (and not so faire) city!

As a writer of witchy tales and spooky stories about things that go “bump” in the night, I’ve always been inspired by the masterful prose of one of the true kings of horror, science fiction and fantasy, Ray Bradbury, a scribe whose life and work are very closely tied to our city of angels. So for each stop on the trail, I’ve recommended a Bradbury companion tale to peruse, should you wish to continue your travels into the October Country under the covers, flashlight in hand.”

For more information about this fascinating, spooky and witchy trail visit fortla.org and enter your email address. This will allow you to download a PDF which will give you more information about all five locations included on the trail and the rules that are to be followed for anyone who wants to experience it for themselves.

This year there is a brand-new feature that can make you a part of this latest spooky trail. FORT LA have a special filter on Instagram, just activate the filter, snap a photo of yourself in front of the houses and watch the magic happen. Amber also posted instructions on her official Instagram account, to view her post click here.

Amber shared an article about her new trail on the NBC Los Angeles website, to find out more click the link below.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/the-scene/an-enchanting-new-tour-explores-las-charming-witch-houses/3000513/

I love history and if I could I'd definitely be taking Amber's latest trail myself. I hope everyone who gets the chance enjoys this latest spooky journey into the heart of Los Angeles.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with FORT LA, NBC Los Angeles or Witch Houses 3: Something Wicked This Way Comes trail. This post is for informational purposes only we are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting project curated by Amber Benson.

Amber Benson To Star In Upcoming Movie I Saw The TV Glow

10/4/2022

If you follow our dedicated Facebook and Twitter feeds you will have seen the hugely exciting news that Amber is set to star in upcoming horror thriller, I Saw The TV Glow. This will be the first time Amber has appeared in an on-screen role since she starred as Professor Samantha Rand in the 2019's The Nightmare Gallery.

As many fans will know in recent years Amber has transitioned from acting to writing, including the Calliope-Reaper Jones series and the Echo Park Coven Series of novels. Following the completion of these successful series Amber began writing for television. In 2017 she wrote Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer and 2018’s Terror in The Woods followed in 2020 by A Murder To Remember. These three movies were true crime films based on real-life events for the Lifetime Network.

Then Amber returned to fiction writing with A Murder In Mind and Death By Design, both part of the popular Morning Show Mysteries series for Hallmark. As well as A Family Christmas Gift she wrote both the original story and co-wrote the teleplay for this charming festive movie, again for Hallmark. Amber has also been developing The Witches of Echo Park, the first in her Echo Park Coven trilogy of novels for television. These are some of the most recent projects in her impressive and growing body of work as a writer.

In August however The Hollywood Reporter exclusively broke the news that Amber would be returning to the screen as part of the cast for the horror thriller, I Saw The TV Glow. I was both surprised and delighted that Amber is returning to the screen after a few years away. The Hollywood Reporter states that the film is now in postproduction and Amber shared her own excitement at being part of the film. Below is a screenshot of the tweet from her official account.

I was lucky enough to meet Amber again at the Cross Roads 5 Convention in Birmingham last weekend. During a Q&A session with fans I asked Amber if she could share any more about I Saw The TV Glow. She said, "If you like genre shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural you will love this film."

A big thank you to Amber for being kind enough to answer my question!

When more information about, I Saw The TV Glow is available I will post a further update. In the meantime to read the full article from the Hollywood Reporter click here.

My apologies for the long delay in posting this update in the latest Amber News section. I've had a particularly busy time with work commitments and planning my trip to join fellow fans at Cross Roads 5. A big thank you to fellow Amber fan Laragh for giving me a heads up about this exciting news.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with the making of I Saw The TV Glow. This post is for informational purposes only, we are simply trying to spread the word about this exciting movie featuring Amber Benson.

Amber Was A Guest/Contestant On The Debut Episode of You Should Know Better! Podcast

7/23/2022

Recently Amber revealed via her official Instagram account that she would be a guest/contestant on the debut episode of a brand-new podcast series called You Should Know Better!

As you might have guessed from me describing Amber as a ‘contestant’ this definitely is a podcast with a difference. This is a trivia contest Amber goes head-to-head with her friend Jeremiah Birkett. You Should Know Better! is hosted by actor and writer Mike C. Nelson.

In 2012 Amber starred as Ella in the movie Dust Up alongside both Jeremiah (Buzz) and Mike (Keith) and the three remain friends to this day. In recent years Amber has transitioned from acting to writing novels and more recently for television. Jeremiah continues to appear regularly on screen with roles in Lucifer and guest starring roles in shows like NCIS. Mike works as a writer and an actor and played the role of Nurse Larry on Black-ish. Mike also appeared as a winning contestant on the long-running US TV quiz show Jeopardy.

For his latest project Mike has gone from contestant to quizmaster launching his own trivia podcast You Should Know Better! Each week two celebrity contestants will battle through four rounds of trivia each playing for charity. In this debut episode Mike challenged his friends to face off against one another for the title of The Smartest Person in The World (For One Week)

Amber is playing for LA Food Bank and Jeremiah for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, both are very worthy causes. The podcast is over an hour long and there is plenty of taxing trivia and a lot of laughs along the way to, its a really entertaining listen. I took Mike's advice and played along at home and I can safely say that Amber and Jeremiah are much better at trivia than me. I did hold my own in round four and I was pleased with that.

To find out who was crowned The Smartest Person in The World (For One Week) listen to the You Should Know Better! Podcast which is now available on multiple platforms. For this post I have used a link from Spreaker.com simply click on it to listen to the episode.

https://www.spreaker.com/show/you-should-know-better

I apologise for not being able to get this update online as quickly as I would have liked its being a busy time for me personally with other commitments recently.

This is a must listen for Amber fans and lots of fun and I recommend you check it out.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with the You Should Know Better! Podcast or the platforms hosting it. This post is for informational purposes only, we are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting podcast featuring Amber Benson.

Amber Benson Is Set To Attend Rose City Comic Con In Oregon This September.

7/3/2022

Here is some exciting news for Amber fans in the USA, particularly if you live in the Oregon area. Amber is set to attend Rose City Comic Con in September.

Rose City Comic Con is described as Portland's premier pop culture event and its primary focus is comic books and comic book creators. It also provides attendees with access to stars from sci-fi, fantasy, anime and much more. Indeed, Amber is one of a number of guests from television and film to attend including her friend and fellow Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Charisma Carpenter.

Rose City, Comic Con is set to take place between Friday the 9th - Sunday the 11th of September 2022 and is being held at Oregon Convention Center 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Portland, OR 97232

For more information on Rose City Comic Con including how to buy tickets or as they call them event badges please click the link below.

https://rosecitycomiccon.com/

I hope everyone who is able to attend has a fantastic time and it's great that Amber is able to meet fans in person once again.

I had an accident recently which meant I wasn't able to update the website as quickly as I normally do, I apologise for the delay. Thank you to my friend and fellow Amber fan Katie for the heads up about this exciting event.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with Rose City Comic Con, this post is for informational purposes only. We are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting event featuring Amber Benson.

Amber Benson To Take Part In The Queer Pioneers Online Panel On Saturday, 4 June

5/25/2022

Amber recently confirmed via her official Twitter account that she will take part in The Queer Pioneers conversation/panel next month.

The Queer Pioneers retrospective panel features three actors who played characters who were the first LGBTQ+ characters to have regular or recurring roles on TV. They made a significant impact not just on the storylines of their respective television shows but also on the audience watching at home.

Amber played the role of Tara Maclay who spent three seasons on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Together with her co-star Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg) their characters were the first openly gay couple on a USA network television show. Joining Amber on this panel will be Wilson Cruz (My So-Called Life) and Jane Sibbett (Friends). Together they will discuss their experiences, triumphs and more, the panel will be moderated by Cameron Scheetz.

The Queer Pioneers will take place on 4 June at 8 AM PT which I believe I'm correct in saying will be at 4 PM UK time. The great news for fans is that this panel is free to watch, simply click the link below and press the "Free to RSVP" button to reserve your free virtual ticket for this event. There is also the opportunity to donate to OUTFEST if you wish. The Queer Pioneers will be presented by IMDb.

https://www.theoutfronts.com/the-queer-pioneers

This panel is part of the The OutFronts, a four-day festival taking place from Friday 3rd June through to Monday 6th June with a collection of panels, premiers and events connecting fans with talent from LGBTQIA+ shows on television. It premiers on OutMuseum which is the first LGBTQ+ arts and media virtual museum of its kind – available free to the public and part of OUTFEST the global LGBTQIA+ arts, media and entertainment organization.

I'm looking forward to listening to what I think will be a really interesting discussion and I'm delighted that fans everywhere will get a chance to watch it.

Joe

Disclaimer: Amber Benson.TV is not involved in any way with The Queer Pioneers panel, OutFronts festival or OUTFEST/OutMuseum. This post is for informational purposes only we are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting online event/appearance by Amber Benson.

Amber Benson Has Narrated The Audiobook Version of Seasonal Fears Out Now via Audible In Both The UK & USA

5/25/2022

If like me, you're a fan of audiobooks as well as Amber then here is some exciting news. Amber has narrated the audiobook version of Seasonal Fears which was released earlier this month. Seasonal Fears was written by Amber's friend and fellow author Seanan McGuire.

If your regular visitor to the site, you may remember that in 2019 Amber narrated the audiobook version of Middlegame the first book in Seanan's Alchemical Journeys series. Now Amber is back to lend her vocal talents to the audiobook version of Seasonal Fears and help transport the listener back into Seanan's shadowy and dangerous world where alchemy exists.

Below is the official publisher's summary of Seasonal Fears. No copyright infringement is intended this is for informational purposes only:

“Summary
From New York Times best-selling author Seanan McGuire, Seasonal Fears is the extraordinary companion novel to Middlegame.
The king of winter and the queen of summer are dead. The fight for their crowns begins!
Melanie has a destiny, though it isn’t the one everyone assumes it to be. She’s delicate; she’s fragile; she’s dying. Now, truly, is the winter of her soul.

Harry doesn’t want to believe in destiny, because that means accepting the loss of the one person who gives his life meaning, who brings summer to his world.
So, when a new road is laid out in front of them—a road that will lead through untold dangers toward a possible lifetime together—walking down it seems to be the only option.

But others are following behind, with violence in their hearts.
It looks like Destiny has a plan for them, after all....
“One must maintain a little bit of summer even in the middle of winter.” (Thoreau)

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor.com Imprint Quarterly.

©2022 Seanan McGuire (P)2022 Macmillan Audio”

Seasonal Fears audiobook is unabridged and out now. The audiobook is available to buy from Audible both here in the UK click here and in the USA click here. Both sites offer the facility to buy the audiobook for a one-off fee for non-members.

Audible also offers a range of packages where in return for a regular monthly fee a user is entitled to download Seasonal Fears as well as access to a vast library of audiobooks also available on the site. The number of books you can download in the month will depend upon your individual package, for full details see the respective Audible websites.

This update took me longer than I would have liked to add to the site due to work and other commitments but I'm really looking forward to listening to Seasonal Fears and I hope everyone enjoys it.

Joe

Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in any way with the writing or production of Seasonal Fears. audiobook. All rights belong to Seanan McGuire and Macmillan Audio. This post is for informational purposes only, we are simply trying to spread the word about another exciting audiobook narrated by Amber Benson.