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He's written dozens of best-sellers
and is now turning his talents to screenwriting.
Author David Baldacci is Virginia born and bred.
On Wednesday he was in Roanoke to talk about his latest project, turning his book, "Wish You Well" into a movie to be filmed in one of our hometowns.
There is no word where the movie will be filmed. The ultimate decision will be left to the director.
But, according to the movie's Facebook page, scouting crews have narrowed their attention to the Alleghany Highlands and Giles County.
David Baldacci was at the Hotel Roanoke as the keynote speaker for the Roanoke Valley Convention and Vistors Bureau's annual luncheon on Wednesday.
It's hoped Baldacci's movie, based on his book: "Wish You Well," will draw attention and money to the area.
We asked Baldacci how important it was for him to make sure that this film was made in Virginia.
"Well, it wouldn't have been made anywhere else. This isn't a book, errr, movie I could have made in California or New York or even Tennessee. Virginia was always where this movie was going to be made, it was where it was set and Virginia is a character in this book. So, if we didn't make it in Virginia, it wouldn't be worth making," says Baldacci
The Visitors Bureau also shared that it is rebranding itself to more clearly express what the region has to offer.
Instead of calling the region "The Roanoke Valley" - it will now be: "Virginia's Blue Ridge."
The visitor's bureau says this is an exciting time for the region and this is one way to drum up more business.
"We've now rebranded ourselves. Our new name is not Roanoke Valley it's Virginia's Blue Ridge and that's what the customer has told us our name should be.. We're going to take full advantage of these wonderful Blue Ridge mountains that we have and the Blue Ridge Parkway which are worldwide known assets," says Executive Director of the Roanoke Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau Landon Howard.