This was really great for me, because unlike Tuesdays and The Five People You Meet, where people died before the books were published, this one I was able to give my mom while she was alive. Fortunately she liked it and was very moved. It was very sweet.

This whole thought of not only looking forward to heaven, but also looking back seems to be a theme with you.
It’s really become more so as time has gone by.  I’ve seen how much it means This accounting of a life.  When I was sitting with Morrie and we were well into our thing, I saw that it was hard for him to talk about his personal life—especially as a kid, etc. He’d be crying, and I’d say, “You don’t have to answer these questions.”  He said, ”I want to … I want people to know my story.”  I believe everyone has that inside them, that desire to get the deep things out, especially as you’re facing your own mortality. We want to be remembered in some way, knowing that through the printed word or a movie you’ll live on a little after you’re gone.

I’m struck by your wonderful, close relationship with you mom.  I can’t help but think of the scripture about blessings following those who honor their parents.  And it’s especially poignant to me at this Christmas season where so many people are dreading the time they’ll be reliving with some dysfunctional families.
I’m glad that I appreciate my parents more these days, which hopefully means I’m getting smarter. When I wrote this story, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a Brady Bunch deal because you’re right. … Most people don’t have that. In the book, the mom is heartwarming, sincere, dedicated. But the dad is a jerk who abandons the family. The boy, instead of saying I love you, thank you, mom, he turns on his mom, too and demands to know why she made Dad go away. That’s real life. Unfortunately real life is much more dysfunctional than healthy. I wanted to show a split family, but that even there, there’s hope, redemption, and understanding if you look hard enough. The mom forces him to do that… to look back on his life. … to ask himself why he became a broken man who blamed himself, tried to live up to his father’s expectations.  It’s about forgiveness.

I’ve been lucky to have blessed relationships with my family, but I am surrounded by divorce. … I see kids who are having to choose which parent and grandparent they want to be with, and over the holidays they’re exhausted because they’re shuffled around to everyone’s houses. … I see it as they should be there in one loving place all day, but so many are shuttled. I wanted to write a story that reflected that more than my lucky, blessed relationships because it’s real.

Speaking of real, the son in this movie is really the son of your main actor, isn’t he?
He is. We were having a hard time finding a boy with the distinct face of Michael, so Michael brought his son in to audition, and he was great. The boy is best part of the movie, I think, because he speaks like a real boy and not an actor. It breaks your heart. … His name is Vadim Emperioli.  Isn’t that a grand name for a 10-year-old kid?  It was really nice that a father got to work with son on our movie.

What would you say is your greatest passion, or purpose in life? 
Creating stories that inspire people when they’re finished reading or watching them.  My personal passion is to create and write so that ultimately the world can be a better place.  I believe that no matter how bad it gets, people can turn things around.  I want to create works that, when they’re finished … they make people feel hopeful.

Does your personal faith come into play in these works?
Oh, of course.  I’m not one of those guys who believe that we turn into worm food when we’re done.  I create these worlds that deal with heaven.  I totally believe there’s something after this life, or I wouldn’t talk about heaven so much. There’s a higher presence, a power. … We’ve been given a gift.  All the tools are here to make this a perfect place. God gave us that, and our challenge is to turn what he’s given us into great things to better our world.

Well, best to you in all your endeavors, Mitch Albom!
Thanks, and best to you and Crosswalk.

“Oprah Winfrey Presents:  Mitch Albom’s For One More Day” premieres Sunday, December 9 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.  Click here for more information.