Bryan Gruley's "Bitterfrost"

Bryan Gruley is the Edgar-nominated author of six novels – Purgatory Bay, Bleak Harbor, the Starvation Lake Trilogy, and his most recent, Bitterfrost - and one award-winning work of nonfiction. A lifelong journalist, he shared in The Wall Street Journal's Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks. He lives in northern lower Michigan with his wife, Pamela, where he can be found playing hockey, singing in his band, or spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Here Gruley dreamcasts an adaptation of Bitterfrost:

Wouldn’t it be great if Bitterfrost were made into a movie? I’d be famous and rich and everyone would want to buy my books. Alas, I might also be dead because of how long it typically takes to get a book made into a movie.

But, please, bring it on!

Bitterfrost tells the tale of Jimmy Baker, a former minor-league hockey player who quit the game on the spot after he almost killed an opponent during a fight. Thirteen years later, he is the Zamboni driver for an elite amateur hockey team in the little northern Michigan town of Bitterfrost—and the prime suspect in a brutal double murder.

I don’t imagine actors as my fictional characters when I’m writing. But when someone asks who I might have play so-and-so, ideas jump to mind. I actually think Bitterfrost would work as well if not better as an episodic television series along the lines of The Night Of, Fargo, Slow Horses, or Mare of Easttown. I love those shows, which have influenced my writing, particularly my efforts to make every written scene as cinematic as possible. So, for Bitterfrost …

The actors:

Timothy Olyphant as Jimmy Baker. My wife, Pam, and I both fell in love with Olyphant’s portrayal of Raylan Givens in the TV series Justified. He can play tough and he can play vulnerable, exactly what’s needed for Jimmy’s flawed but likeable character. (Pam wondered if maybe Olyphant is “too pretty” to play Jimmy Baker; I told her viewers like pretty.)

Aimee Ffion-Edwards as Jimmy’s defense attorney, Devyn Payne. I’ve admired Ffion-Edwards’s work as Shirley Dander in Slow Horses. But mainly, I think she looks as I imagine Devyn to look. Her character also is tough with an acerbic sense of humor, like Devyn as well.

Jeff Daniels as Garth Klimmek, the detective who investigates Jimmy’s case. I’ve always liked watching Daniels, especially in Purple Rose of Cairo, The Newsroom, and A Man in Full. He, too, looks like what I imagine Klimmek to look like, and his versatility is beyond question. He’s also a Michigan native and resident, and would probably understand Klimmek, the classic Upper Midwestern guy who wants to follow the rules but may find that he cannot. Daniels also directed a Michigan-based movie, Escanaba in Da Moonlight.

Director/Showrunner:

Simone Stock, a Canadian director/screenwriter, read Bitterfrost and loved it. She has directed award- winning films and could make my novel into a fine TV series or movie. It might have to be set in Canada, but that’s going to be our 51 st  state anyway, so perfect.

Noah Hawley, showrunner of the Fargo TV series, would be great. Fargo encapsulated the cold, bleak feel of the town of Bitterfrost, and I admire Hawley’s appreciation of complex characters.

Brad Ingelsby, showrunner of Mare of Easttown. I just plain loved this series for its grit and layered characters. It seems like Inglesby would appreciate the town and the inhabitants of Bitterfrost.

Where do I sign?

Learn more about the book and author at Bryan Gruley's website.

The Page 69 Test: Starvation Lake.

The Page 69 Test: The Hanging Tree.

The Page 69 Test: Bleak Harbor.

The Page 69 Test: Purgatory Bay.

The Page 69 Test: Bitterfrost.

Q&A with Bryan Gruley.

--Marshal Zeringue

Douglas Corleone's "Falls to Pieces"

Douglas Corleone is the international bestselling author of Gone Cold, Payoff, and Robert Ludlum’s The Janson Equation, as well as the acclaimed Kevin Corvelli novels, the Simon Fisk international thrillers, and the stand-alone courtroom drama The Rough Cut. Corleone’s debut novel, One Man’s Paradise, won the 2009 Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award and was a finalist for the 2011 Shamus Award for Best First Novel. A former New York City criminal defense attorney, Corleone now resides in Honolulu, where he is currently at work on his next novel.

Here Corleone dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, Falls to Pieces:

It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since I wrote my last piece for “My Book, the Movie.” Of all the prompts on all the sites I’ve written for, this is my favorite. Why? Because we authors only write novels in the hopes that they’ll be adapted into screenplays, cast with megastars, and made into award-winning films. I’m kidding, of course. But the allure of Hollywood is undeniable. My storytelling skills come chiefly from movies and, let’s face it, not all of our friends read. (Even when we dedicate the book to them!)

Getting down to casting Falls to Pieces: For my main characters, Kati and Zoe, I needed a mother-daughter team, yet my mind went straight to sisters Vera and Taissa Farmiga (ca. 2014 in keeping with the character’s ages).

Kati’s lawyer Noah Walker was always Owen Wilson. But Matthew McConaughey is also acceptable!

My favorite character in the book is Mac, who’d be played by Jonathan Banks, famous for his role as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

Graham, meanwhile, needs to be played by Woody Harrelson.

Learn more about the book and author at Douglas Corleone's website.

The Page 69 Test: Good as Gone.

My Book, The Movie: Payoff.

The Page 69 Test: Gone Cold.

My Book, The Movie: Gone Cold.

Writers Read: Douglas Corleone (August 2015).

The Page 69 Test: Falls to Pieces.

Writers Read: Douglas Corleone.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lauren Stienstra's "The Beauty of the End"

Lauren Stienstra is an American novelist who enjoys writing about the intersection of duty, science, and humanity. She believes that fiction can encourage readers to re-think their roles, responsibilities, and relationships in our own present world.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Stienstra now lives, works, and writes around Washington, D.C. She holds advanced degrees in science and public policy from the George Washington and Johns Hopkins universities, and trained in creative writing at UCLA.

Here Stienstra dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The Beauty of the End:

Though it’s set against the backdrop of a species-ending catastrophe, at its core, The Beauty of the End is about the tension and contradiction between opposites: life and death, right and wrong, betrayal and justice, personal choice and collective duty—one cannot exist without the other.

The theme duality is also set up in the dynamic of the main characters, a set of genetically-identical-but-entirely-different twin sisters: Charlie and Maggie. Off the page, Charlie and Maggie are born to a Marshallese family and later adopted out to an unsuspecting white family in Pennsylvania via fraudulent proceedings. (This is based on a real life tragedy.) For the role, it would be important to me to cast someone with Pacific Island heritage, and Keisha Castle-Hughes quickly comes to mind. Not only does she have Māori heritage, she also has experience playing a twin—a major feature of her Oscar-winning film Whale Rider.

There is of course a bit of a love triangle in the story, with a male character named Nolan. One of Nolan’s most salient features is his blaze of red hair, and who better to play that kind of role than someone who literally embodies that characteristic: Eddie Redmayne (a younger version of him, perhaps.) I was first captivated by his performance in Starz’s Pillars of the Earth, an adaptation of Ken Follett’s novel, where he proved his ability to bring literary characters to life.

Another pivotal male role is Theo, Charlie’s professional assistant and personal confidant. Described as Korean-American, Theo’s casting presents an opportunity to draw from the immense talent in the K-Drama and Korean film industry. Gong Yoo was mesmerizing in Squid Game, but Hyun Bin would also be a strong contender, bringing both depth and international appeal to the film.

There are a few important supporting actors that are also worth mentioning:

Aunt Frankie, a reformed drug addict, could be a natural fit for Kirsten Dunst, who has spoken openly about her journey through treatment and recovery.

Dr. Carmichael’s character was inspired by the slippery and enigmatic Horace Slughorn of the Harry Potter series, making Jim Broadbent an ideal choice.

Fiery, fearless, and flawed, Dr. Fontanez demands an actress who can effortlessly combine grace, presence, and intensity—Salma Hayek comes immediately to mind.

Finally, my tweenager daughter insists that her favorite actress, Cynthia Erivo, be part of the cast. The only role weighty enough for her immense talent is Dr. Byrne, the formidable head of the government agency in charge of addressing the crisis—though, unfortunately, it’s a relatively small part.

Visit Lauren Stienstra's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Rosanne Limoncelli's "The Four Queens of Crime"

Rosanne Limoncelli is an author, filmmaker, and storyteller living in Brooklyn. She has written, directed, and produced short narrative films, documentaries, and educational films. Limoncelli also writes plays, feature scripts, poetry, games, mysteries, and science fiction. Her short fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Suspense Magazine, and Noir Nation, and her short films have been screened in festivals around the world.

Here Limoncelli dreamcasts an adaptation of her debut mystery novel, The Four Queens of Crime:

The Four Queens of Crime takes place in 1938. The best selling authors of the decade, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham, are hosting a gala to raise money for the Women’s Voluntary Service to help Britain prepare for war. Baronet Sir Henry Heathcote has loaned Hursley House for the event, and all the elites of London society are attending. The gala is a brilliant success, despite a few hiccups, and the four writers witness quite a bit of dramatic family dynamics and political intrigue that pervade the event. The next morning, Sir Henry is found dead in the library. Detective Chief Inspector Lilian Wyles, the first real life woman detective at Scotland Yard, and her partner DCI Richard Davidson are assigned the case and discover a cluster of potential suspects among the weekend guests, including an upset fiancée, a politically ambitious son, a reserved but protective brother, an irate son-in-law, a rebellious teenage daughter, and the deputy home secretary. Quietly recruiting the four queens of crime, DCI Wyles must sort through the messy aftermath of Sir Henry’s death to solve the mystery and identify the killer.

As I was writing the book, since I am also a filmmaker, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about the story as a movie or TV series. There are so many wonderful English actors that could fill the roles, especially at the age of the these real people in 1938. Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and Ngaio Marsh were in their late 40’s and Margery Allingham was 34. And the real life first woman DCI Lilian Wyles was 52. I wanted to keep these real ages in mind as I developed their characters. So often, in movies, women’s roles are given to actors much younger than the character’s physical age, it seems older women are just not always celebrated the way older men are. I would not want that to happen in the movie of my book. And why should it with so many great choices? Agatha could be played by Kate Winslet, and Cate Blanchett could play Ngaio since she is from down under. Dorothy L Sayers could be portrayed by Rachel Weisz, and Naomi Watts would make a great Margery Allingham. And I would love to see Emily Blunt play Lilian Wyles, she has the subtlety and the spunk. As far as directing the movie, I have strong opinions on that too! I could see Susanna White as the director, as she so brilliantly directed Parade’s End ten years ago and has gone on to do more wonderful projects. Someone who is also very skilled as a director is Rebecca Hall, who did such brilliant work as the director of Passing. I honestly can’t decide if The Four Queens of Crime novel should be a movie or a mini series. Perhaps I’ll have to survey the readers!

Visit Rosanne Limoncelli's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Su Chang's "The Immortal Woman"

Su Chang is a Chinese-Canadian writer. Born and raised in Shanghai, she is the daughter of a former (reluctant) Red Guard leader. Her fiction has been recognized in Prairie Fire’s Short Fiction Contest, the Canadian Authors’ Association (Toronto) National Writing Contest, the ILS/Fence Fiction Contest, the Masters Review’s Novel Excerpt Contest, the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival Fiction Contest, among others.

Here Chang dreamcasts an adaptation of her debut novel, The Immortal Woman:

If someone wants to adapt my novel, The Immortal Woman, into a movie (ideally a tragicomedy), I’d like either Lulu Wang or Yung Chang to direct it. I loved Lulu’s 2019 film The Farewell; she nailed the differences between Eastern and Western cultures and the awkward but often comical cross-cultural experiences of immigrants. I was shocked to watch the film, as my family almost went through that exact same story in real life, and I felt completely seen. Lulu would understand the nuances of my novel – the conflictual feelings towards one’s birth country, the erosion of an immigrant’s identity, the push and pull of assimilation and birth heritage, the suspicion of “dual loyalties,” etc. etc.

The documentary filmmaker Yung Chang would also be a fantastic director for the adaptation. He was the only Chinese-Canadian boy who grew up in a small town in Ontario without other Asians; he'd intuitively understand characters like Lin and Dali. I adored his documentary Up the Yangtze so much that I watched it multiple times. His Wuhan Wuhan was also a triumph. He is adept at capturing intimate human stories against the backdrop of massive historical events. He has a beautifully subtle sensibility that resists over-editorializing.

And in terms of my dream cast, that would be Stephanie Hsu or Constance Wu as Lin (the daughter), Simu Liu as Dali, Paul Mescal as Sasha, and Joan Chen as Lemei (the mother). Joan came of age during the Cultural Revolution and was dubbed “The Elizabeth Taylor of China.” I grew up watching her Chinese films and later, her recurring appearances in Twin Peaks. Her performance in the recent movie Didi solidifies my belief that she is the quintessential “insider-outsider” and she has a visceral understanding of the adult immigrant experience and the psychological chasm between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American children.

In fact, since my novel is a six-part multi-generational epic tale, it’s best to be adapted into a limited series. Now that I’ve got the main cast and crew figured out, I’ll be home waiting for the calls to start pouring in!

Learn more about the book and author at Su Chang's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Amy Shearn's "Animal Instinct"

Amy Shearn is the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed novels Dear Edna Sloane, Unseen City, The Mermaid of Brooklyn, and How Far is the Ocean From Here. She has worked as an editor for Medium, and her work has appeared in the New York Times Modern Love column, Slate, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Oprah, Coastal Living, Poets & Writers, Literary Hub, Catapult, The Millions, The Rumpus, and many other publications.

Shearn has an MFA from the University of Minnesota, and currently lives in Brooklyn with her two children.

Here the author dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Animal Instinct:

I have thought about this one a lot, as this is my first book I actually have a film agent for. I think it would actually work better as a limited series, is that allowed?

I'd love to see Melanie Lynsky or Lizzy Caplan as Rachel, the main character -- someone who is earthy and sexy and has a bit of an edge.

Her ex-husband could be Will Arnett.

Rachel's best friend Lulu is kind of a Phoebe Waller-Bridge type if she can do an American accent and not steal the show... I believe in her.

Then we'd need a diverse variety of hot men and women to play Rachel's various paramours. And there's one character -- I don't want want to give too much away -- but they have a small but mighty role that should go to someone nonbinary and/or androgynous -- ER Fightmaster or Mae Martin or maaaaybe Kristen Stewart.

Okay, hear that movie producers and showrunners? It would be a great show!

Visit Amy Shearn's website.

The Page 99 Test: How Far Is the Ocean from Here.

Writers Read: Amy Shearn (March 2013).

Q&A with Amy Shearn.

My Book, The Movie: Dear Edna Sloane.

The Page 69 Test: Dear Edna Sloane.

The Page 69 Test: Animal Instinct.

Writers Read: Amy Shearn.

--Marshal Zeringue

Peter Colt's "The Banker"

Peter Colt was born in Boston, MA in 1973 and moved to Nantucket Island shortly thereafter. He is a 1996 graduate of the University of Rhode Island and a 24-year veteran of the Army Reserve with deployments to Kosovo and Iraq. He is a police officer in a New England city and the married father of two boys.

Here Colt dreamcasts an adaptation of his new Andy Roark mystery, The Banker:

The Banker is set in 1986 and takes place in Boston and Amesbury, Massachusetts, which is on the border with New Hampshire. PI Andy Roark is hired to look into a case of embezzlement at a bank in Amesbury. After a few weeks he quits out of boredom. A short time later the bank is robbed and one of the suspects in the embezzlement is murdered. Roark thinks the timing is just too coincidental and gets back on the case. He is helped by his old friend from Vietnam and fellow Green Beret, Chris. Also Angela Estrella is back as his romantic interest.

If the book were made into a movie I would love Ben Affleck to direct it. He has proven with movies such as Gone Baby Gone and Argos that he is a skilled director. His familiarity with Boston would make him a natural to direct the film. I could see him doing that and even taking a small role like that of the bank president Brock who hires Andy.

There are a lot of fantastic actors who could play the part of Andy but in my mind Scoot McNairy would be great at it. He has delivered solid performances in Narcos Mexico and his turn in Killing Them Softly was solid. Also his accent in KTS is just how I imagine Andy's.

Nicholas Hoult would make an excellent Eric Lintz. Lintz is one of the suspects in the embezzlement scheme. He might also be a murderer. Hoult's performance in The Order was gritty and believable. He would bring depth to the character of Lintz who might be a good guy or a really, really bad one.

The main heavy in the book is Stanley Clark. Clark is a body builder who has some very violent tendencies. He is a physically imposing man and I would love to seem him played by Alan Richson of Reacher and SAS Rogue Heroes fame. Richson has the sheer size that would make him perfect for the role. Also isn't it delicious fun when we see someone who is so well associated with playing the heroic good guy take a turn as a baddie?

Visit Peter Colt's website.

My Book, The Movie: Back Bay Blues.

The Page 69 Test: Back Bay Blues.

Q&A with Peter Colt.

The Page 69 Test: Death at Fort Devens.

My Book, The Movie: Death at Fort Devens.

Writers Read: Peter Colt (June 2022).

My Book, The Movie: The Ambassador.

The Page 69 Test: The Ambassador.

The Page 69 Test: The Judge.

My Book, The Movie: The Judge.

Writers Read: Peter Colt (May 2024).

Writers Read: Peter Colt.

--Marshal Zeringue

C. I. Jerez's "At the Island's Edge"

C. I. Jerez, who has a blend of Irish, Puerto Rican, and Cuban parentage, grew up near El Paso’s Mexican border experiencing a true cultural amalgamation. After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso, she commissioned as a signal officer in the US Army and rose to the rank of major before transitioning out of the military. She holds an MBA from Webster University and a doctorate in international business from Liberty University. When not writing, she serves as cofounder and vice president for Ashire Technologies & Services Inc., a cybersecurity firm specializing in securing federal information systems. She lives in central Florida.

Here Jerez dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, At the Island's Edge:

I thought about the ideal producer and cast from the very beginning stages of pitching this novel and for good reason. The very first agent to get super excited about the idea for this book had recently sold another of her client’s novels to Benny Medina and Jennifer Lopez’s (JLO) production company Nuyorican Productions. And while I ended up being represented by a different agency, a seed was planted about the possibility for this story and how it would look on film.

I’m still convinced that if JLO or her team has an opportunity to read my book about a young, Puerto Rican single mother returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom as an American war hero grappling with PTSD, they will be interested in the film rights. Especially when they get to delve into the themes and cinematic depictions of family, culture, and daily life in Puerto Rico when Lina, my protagonist, finds herself returning home after twelve years away with her nine-year-old son, Teó who struggles with Tourette’s Syndrome, but is exceptional bright and precocious.

With this in mind I’ve cast the book’s main characters as follows:

Sergeant Lina LaSalle: Eiza Gonzalez, best known for the Michael Bay film, Ambulance.

Elijah “Eli” Montgomery: With the perfect look of a true Charleston, SC southern gentleman — Liam Hemsworth.

Leonardo (the ex): Would be perfect for Benito “Bad Bunny” Ocasio to make his film debut.

Cousin Dolores: Jenna Ortega from the Netflix series, Wednesday.

Lina’s Mom: Jennifer Lopez (JLO).

Lina’s Father: Carlos Ponce – those eyes make him a perfect fit.

Tia Lisandra: Roselyn Sanchez – beautiful and villainous.

Lina’s Grandma: Rita Moreno, of course!

Lina’s Grandpa: Jacobo Morales – a true Puerto Rican legend!

And there you have it! The entire cast!

Visit C. I. Jerez's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Nick Kolakowski's "Where the Bones Lie"

Nick Kolakowski is the author of several crime novels, including Where the Bones Lie and Payback is Forever. His work has been nominated for the Anthony and Derringer awards, and his short story “Scorpions” appeared in The Best Mystery and Suspense 2024. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines, including Mystery Weekly, Shotgun Honey, Rock and a Hard Place Press, and more.

Here Kolakowski dreamcasts an adaptation of Where the Bones Lie:

When I sat down to write Where the Bones Lie, my mystery novel about a washed-up Hollywood fixer and a young hipster lady trying to solve a decades-old murder, I didn’t have actors in mind for a hypothetical movie or TV adaptation—which perhaps is ironic, considering how much of the book takes place amidst L.A.’s movie industry.

As time went on, though, I couldn’t help but consider a bit of “dreamcasting.” Natasha Lyonne, who I loved in Poker Face and Russian Doll, would make a perfect Madeline, the younger and more sarcastic of my amateur detective duo. Madeline is bitter about her past, a big fan of chain-smoking, and possesses an eccentric fashion sense—and Lyonne would nail all of that perfectly (her Russian Doll character is most of the way there, especially on the smoking front).

Casting for Dash, my burned-out fixer, is a lot tougher. Before he got into the sleuthing business, Dash spent years cleaning up the Hollywood studios’ biggest messes as quietly as possible. He’s haunted by many of the things he’s done, and he’s looking for some kind of redemption, even if he’s not quite sure what that looks like. If you’re adapting the book, it’s not the kind of role you fill with a young, smooth-skinned actor; you need someone with some real miles on their face. The more I think about it, the more I like someone like Walton Goggins, who proved so spectacular in crime fare like The Shield and Justified.

The cool thing about Goggins is that he’s masterful at playing someone who’s haunted and battle-scarred, but he’s also spectacularly funny when he needs to be. Dash is a witty protagonist, and much of the book is powered by his constant back-and-forth with Madeline as they hunt for clues and dodge death; Goggins can pull this off. Pair him with Lyonne? That would rock.

I don’t want to go too deeply into spoiler territory, but there’s another major character in the book, Manny, who’s something of a mentor to Dash. An early reader suggested that JK Simmons would be perfect here, as Manny (like Simmons) is funny and energetic, but also capable of turning quickly to real menace. If you’ve ever witnessed Simmons’ raging performance as the music instructor in Whiplash, you know he can be downright terrifying if the role calls for it.

For the rest of the characters, you could aim for interesting faces, as if you were casting an old noir movie. There are corrupt cops, decadent movie stars, shady PR types, and more—plenty of opportunities for any actors who want to go villainous. Once you get into California’s shady underbelly, things get scary quickly.

Visit Nick Kolakowski's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Nicole Galland's "Boy"

Nicole (N.D.) Galland’s novels span the spectrum from historical (The Fool’s Tale, Revenge of the Rose, Crossed, Godiva) to Shakespearean (I, Iago) to contemporary rom-com (Stepdog, On The Same Page) to speculative fiction (New York Times bestselling The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. co-written with Neal Stephenson). She has a MFA in Creative Writing from University College Dublin, and loves teaching workshops on world creation.

She has also worked as a stage director, dramaturg, and X-wing fighter pilot.

Here Galland dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Boy:

My two 19-year-old protagonists are largely described in contrast to each other. Alexander (Sander) is an actor: ethereally, delicately attractive, a bisexual man-boy desired by nearly everyone in London. A singer and dancer, he moves with androgynous grace. Black-haired, blue-eyed, marvelous bone structure that has been praised since childhood. In contrast, his best friend Joan is the living embodiment of nondescript. An unschooled intellectual, she pays little attention to her own appearance: blandly light brown hair, blandly hazel eyes, with an unremarkable physique, and a soft, forgettable face. Her sole distinctive feature: beautifully expressive lips, which live on her face without adding to its overall beauty. She spends a good chunk of the book disguised as a boy – a boy as nondescript as Joan herself.

In general, I never think about who would play my characters in a movie adaptation. I develop such specific mental images of them, an actor would strike me as a mere impersonator.

But…

…virtually every early reader of Boy cooed, “Ooo, based on your description, you’re obviously thinking of Sander as Timothée Chalamet.” Because I’m bad with names, I wasn’t sure who Timothée Chalamet was, so after the fifth time someone said it, I Googled him – and found myself staring at someone who looked remarkably like Sander! But once I’d been prompted to contemplate Sander portrayed by a not-Sander in the flesh, I realized a young Billy Crudup would suit better. By a sweet coincidence, Crudup played a Sander-like character, Ned Kynaston, in the movie Stage Beauty (2004).

Once a Sander impersonator was on my radar, I idly contemplated who might then play Joan. Joan is hard to cast, precisely because she is so nondescript. It’s wonderful that actresses no longer need to look conventionally beautiful to have careers, but they do need to look interesting - and Joan disappears in a crowd. As a thought-experiment, I turned again to Google, and spent an hour seeking young character actresses who reminded me of her. The ideal Joan-actress should make the audience feel “I like you” without also feeling “I like looking at you.” Nobody really fit the bill, but three of them came close: Florence Pugh (too conventionally pretty), Saoirse Ronan (too strikingly distinctive), and Sophia Lillis (too adorably tomboyish). While I’d be thrilled to see any of them in the role, some little part of me would secretly grouse, “Yeah, but she’s relying on her looks to make a good impression; Joan herself doesn’t need to do that.”

Visit Nicole Galland's website, Facebook page, and Threads page.

Coffee with a Canine: Nicole Galland & Leuco.

The Page 69 Test: Stepdog.

My Book, The Movie: Stepdog.

Writers Read: Nicole Galland (August 2015).

--Marshal Zeringue