Karen Keskinen's "Black Current"

Karen Keskinen was born in Salinas, California. She has also lived in California’s San Joaquin Valley and in Wellington, New Zealand. She now resides in Santa Barbara where she is a full-time writer. She is the author of Blood Orange and Black Current.

Here Keskinen dreamcasts an adaptation of Black Current:

Who will I choose to play Jaymie Zarlin, when my books are made into movies? Hands down, there’s no contest: it’s Hilary Swank!

Not long ago my nephew, Corey Reich, flew down to Los Angeles to meet Ms. Swank on the set of her latest film, You’re Not You. Corey, an undaunted guy in his twenties who lives courageously with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), was invited to chat with the actress and explain the challenges he faces. Not only was this Oscar-honored lady eager to make a film about ALS, but she also wanted to get it right. That’s our kind of girl!

Jaymie is tall, lean, sexy, and strong. Apologies for stating the obvious, but so is Hilary. Jaymie has long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, and prefers to lounge around in sweats and jeans. So does Hilary. Jaymie is tough and a little prickly on the outside, but vulnerable and generous on the inside - just like Hilary.

Their motto is, take it or leave it! Like Hilary Swank, Jaymie Zarlin is always herself.

Visit Karen Keskinen's website.

The Page 69 Test: Black Current.

--Marshal Zeringue