PLOT TWIST

Cue the violins - and the jump scares! Romance author Nicholas Sparks takes a darker turn

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Nicholas Sparks knows how to make us weep and swoon in equal measure. For three decades, he’s been bringing us epic love stories like The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, Dear John and 20 other tear-inducing tales that tug at the heartstrings and land on bestseller lists. Now, he’s walking a new path alongside a master of suspense.

Teaming up with none other than M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs), Nicholas, 59, delves into the supernatural realm for his latest book, Remain (coauthored by the director).

The pair agreed to work on a project and exchanged ideas. Then Night, 55, was off and running, penning the screenplay and sending it along. “The script was fantastic,” Nicholas enthuses. “I started writing the novel last October and finished in January.”

Then came the big-screen adaptation (Remain is his 12th book to be turned into a motion picture).

Here, the North Carolina-based father of five discusses his unique collaboration and shares the art of creating the perfect love story.