‘Silver Linings Playbook’ author Matthew Quick quit teaching job to write

Matthew Quick, author of Silver Linings Playbook, endured a series of unfortunate occurrences before his book was able to be adapted on to the big screen.

According to USA Today, his wife convinced him to quit his job teaching high school English and coaching soccer in New Jersey to focus on writing.

After The Weinstein Co. secured film rights for Silver Linings Playbook in 2007, Anthony Mighella and Sydney Pollack offered to direct.

However, both men died the next year, Mighella in March and Pollack in May.

“We felt cursed,” Quick commented, “Waiting for this film, it was like waiting for a sunrise.”

Although Quick only spent a day on set, he “loves” director David O. Russel’s departure from his novel, especially how it inspires open communication about mental illness.

Eventually, all of the waiting paid off. Although the book received positive reviews when it was published in 2008, the movie edition of Silver Linings Playbook launched the novel to number 12 on USA Today’s Best-Selling Books list.

Additionally, as we previous reported, Silver Linings Playbook recently reached a box office milestone by earning more than $100 million revenue in North America.

The movie is also nominated for eight Academy Awards, including all four acting categories and Best Picture.