Has anybody read [The Emerald Atlas]?

I just finished reading The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens and I really enjoyed it! I am very skeptical of books that have a lot of pre-pub hype complete with the trailer and interactive web site and the fact that the author is a screenwriter was a double whammy in my book but I was surprised. The characters are strong- two faced evil countess, uber-heroic heroes, scary monsters and three brave orphans all add up to one likable trilogy. The author pulls from childhood classics such as Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit and a touch of Harry Potter but adds his own charm. Perfect for a family read aloud due to the absence of language, adult themes and excessive violence (there is some but what fairy tale would be complete without a bit of violence) This is the first of three and I think it will be this summer's big hit!

sorry for the double message but my network is giving me fits....

My younger sister is reading/has read The Emerald Atlas, and she has told me in no uncertain terms that I need to read it. I haven't read it yet, but I plan to given her recommendation (and, I will admit, my judgement of the cover; it's gorgeous).

Why does the author being a screenwriter make it a double whammy in your book? Curious as to your thoughts on this.