1 of 6

David Gentry, left, the ivy genie, Kevin Wayne and young readers at the book release event at the Chilton-Clanton Public Library on March 5. (TAMMY GENTRY | CONTRIBUTED)

“Grayson and the Ivy Genie” is the first of a 10-book series. (TAMMY GENTRY | CONTRIBUTED)

Kevin Wayne is the author of “Grayson and the Ivy Genie.” (TAMMY GENTRY | CONTRIBUTED)

David Gentry, Kevin Wayne and the ivy genie with the staff at the Chilton-Clanton Public Library. (TAMMY GENTRY | CONTRIBUTED)

David Gentry reads “Grayson and the Ivy Genie” with illustrations in the background during Read Across America week earlier in March. (TAMMY GENTRY | CONTRIBUTED)

David Gentry signs a copy of “Grayson and the Ivy Genie” for a fan. (TAMMY GENTRY | CONTRIBUTED)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Local filmmakers Kevin Wayne and David Gentry are partnering together to publish a kid’s picture book series that will take young readers on a journey with a friendly ivy genie. The duo visited schools and libraries to launch the release of “Grayson and the Ivy Genie,” the first book of the 10-book series that Wayne and Gentry are publishing.

Originally from Hueytown, Wayne’s acting career began in 1992 in the movie “Under Siege” with Steven Seagal and Tommy Lee Jones as just a background extra. That break into the movie business drove him to want to turn it into a career.

“I started pursuing the career, and I never looked back,” Wayne said.

Wayne ventured into filmmaking on his own and began creating independent films. He made two films that he said no one will ever see, but he did gain experience out of the filmmaking experience.

“They were horrible,” Wayne said. “I chalked them up as like going to film school, and I spent a lot of money and time on them, but I would not change it for the world because I felt like I learned more.”

Wayne got into directing as well and has an upcoming horror film releasing later this year. However, through all of his on-screen ventures, Wayne always had a burning drive for years to publish a book series based on his childhood. The time was never right, until he met Gentry.

“When I met David, I knew he was the right guy, and we went from there,” Wayne said. “He is the reason I went forward with the idea for the book because of his illustrations and the detail.”

Wayne reached out to Gentry around Christmas in 2023, and the founder of Door Number 3 Films was immediately intrigued.

“As soon as he told me it was a fantasy kid’s picture book series, I said ‘Sign me up,’” Gentry said.

Other projects came up, and it took about a year for the duo to come back together and fully dive into the book. Near the end of 2024, they got everything started.

Wayne finally put his ideas to paper, and when he did, it was very simple and quick for him to get the story together. He had notes on the book for years, and it only took him two weeks to write the book.

The book is about Grayson McCullar, a boy from the big city who visits his grandparents every summer exploring the woods, playing with friends and working on building a treehouse. He meets a genie in the woods that will grant him any wish, but soon Grayson realizes that not every wish is worth granting.

Gentry started working on the illustrations, and he started with how the genie and Grayson will look. Grayson was easier to picture for Gentry as Wayne made it simple — blonde hair and looks like he is from the city. When it came to the ivy genie, there was a bit of trial and error done to get it right.

“The first genie design I gave her fangs, yellow eyes and I made her look like an owl and very much intimidating,” Gentry said. “Genies in folklore are typically scary, and Kevin said ‘This is really cool, but this is for kids.’”

The 10-book series is also being produced as a TV show by Wayne and the two projects were worked on simultaneously. The design team on the show showed Gentry the actor they cast as the ivy genie, and he took inspiration from her and completely redesigned the character.

“I took away some of the facial features, I left the mask and I made her look more feminine, sweeter and kinder,” Gentry said. “That ended up being the final design. I wanted her to look different, and from there it was just what every page needed and what the wording called for.”

Wayne left the illustrations and interpretation of the story completely up to Gentry. Gentry dedicated the book to his grandparents Jim and Wanda. On pages five and six in the book, the creation of the grandparent’s characters is based on Gentry’s grandparents while their names are Wayne’s grandparent’s names. The kitchen they are in is almost a picture-perfect look at how Gentry’s grandparent’s old kitchen looked based on his memory of it.

Between Wayne’s writing and Gentry’s illustrations, it took the pair around a month to get the book ready for publishing.

“There is a blend of Kevin, there is a blend of me in there and both of our shared childhoods,” Gentry said. “I expect you will see more (later in the series), and as more books come out you will get to see more details (about our lives).”

The two celebrated the release of the first book in the 10-book series during Read Across America Week earlier in March and visited Jemison and Verbena Elementary Schools and the Chilton-Clanton Public Library. The book was read to students at the schools, and a sneak peak of the first episode of the TV series was shown at the library.

Wayne is getting the chance to blend his filmmaking career with his new writing career. Talks are in the works as well to produce a spinoff show from the book series called “The Hollows” that would be geared more towards mature audiences with more of a mysterious theme to it.

Wayne said when anything entertainment, whether it be film, books or art, is completed by someone, is a gratifying feeling because of all the work and time that goes into those pieces.

“When that book came in the mail and I opened it, it was a great feeling,” Wayne said. “It is like when you finish a film and you work so hard and finally get the film finished, it is a good feeling. Same thing with the book.”

The next book in the series is expected to be released this fall, and Wayne wants the third book to come out at around Christmas time. “Grayson and the Ivy Genie” can be purchased on Amazon for $15, and more information on the book and TV series can be found on the Grayson and the Ivy Genie Facebook page.

More News

MPD still looking for suspects in walking trail vandalism

All is good in Maryville for Allgood

Parole granted, denied for Chilton offenders

He’s Risen: Motorcycle ride rolls through Clanton to spread gospel