A teacher in the Canyons School District will soon see his work come to life on the big screen. 

Marc J. Gregson is the published author of “Sky’s End,” the first novel in a trilogy that hit The New York Times Best Sellers list soon after it was released earlier this year. 

Now, the book is being developed into a feature film. 

“I've always felt like ‘Sky's End’ and the Above the Black series is very cinematic, so it would translate well to cinema,” Gregson said. “That being said, getting a motion picture is a pie-in-the-sky dream, and I never thought it was realistic, so I didn't think about it much. I've only now started to imagine what it's going to be like.”

Gregson first dreamed up “Sky’s End” in 2015, so he started writing the first chapter or two, but was busy with other projects. So, “Sky’s End” was put to the side. He returned to the idea later in 2016, finished writing and was able to get it sent out to literary agents by 2017. Getting an agent isn’t an easy feat, and Gregson went through multiple revisions, and hopeful moments ending in disappointment before he landed his agent in 2020. With the help of his agent, Gregson finished revising his book and sent it out to publishers in 2021. In early 2022, he was finally signed. 

“That was a good day. I told my seventh-period students, and they lost their minds while I cried in front of the class,” Gregson said. 

Gregson said he felt he was onto something special when he was writing “Sky’s End,” and was hopeful for the journey the trilogy would take in the hands of readers.  

“I will never forget the evening when my editor called to tell me ‘Sky’s End’ made it onto The New York Times Best Sellers list,” he said. “I pretty much called everyone and their dog after that.” 

Gregson teaches at Eastmont Middle School and loves sharing his journey with his students and colleagues. 

“The whole school has been very excited about it, especially those who understand how big of a deal it is,” he said. 

His journey of trying to get an agent and publisher has helped him teach his students an important lesson; the power of perseverance. He was always open and honest with his students, telling them when he was trying to get an agent and the multiple rejections he faced. 

“A student asked me why I was still trying to get published even though the pain of rejection was so powerful,” Gregson said. “I told my student that I think it's a good idea to pursue the things that make you happy. I wanted to be published, but I would write for my whole life even if I never got published because I enjoy creating stories so much.” 

Production for the film version of “Sky’s End” could take years to come to fruition, but Gregson is excited to be along for the ride. He’s made it a point to share his love of writing, not just being published, but getting to write the stories he loves. 

“If you're a writer aiming to get published, I suggest writing the stories that give you that excited twist in your gut,” he said. “The kind of story that makes you want to jot down ideas when you're waiting at the bus stop or at the doctor's office. Write the stories that make you happy, because at the end of the day, even if the book you write doesn't get published, you had fun writing it. When you write another book, take the lessons you learned from the last book, do your best to identify your weak points, and tackle those issues with vigor in your next project.”λ