The Insider.com

The small town of New Bern, North Carolina, which has provided inspiration for Nicholas Sparks' stories, including The Notebook, gave a spirited welcome for The Lucky One cast as they descended on Nicholas' hometown for a special screening of the movie.

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"I don't think I've ever experienced a small-town welcome like this," said star Taylor Schilling, who arrived for the event via horse-drawn carriage.

"This is my home. This is where I live," said Nicholas. "I like everything about this town and so I like to write about it."

The event was in support of the author's charity, The Nicholas Sparks Foundation, which focuses on "improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for students of all ages."

The Lucky One is in theaters now.