Sharon Farrow's "Dying For Strawberries"

Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award winning author Sharon Pisacreta. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Farrow has been a freelance writer since her twenties. Her first novel was released in 1998. Published in mystery, fantasy, and romance, Farrow currently writes The Berry Basket cozy mystery series. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.

Here Farrow plays casting director for a film adaptation of her new mystery novel, Dying For Strawberries:

One of my hobbies is second guessing the casting choices of many movies and TV shows I watch. Suffice it to say, I picked the cast for Dying For Strawberries while writing the first draft of my book.

Sandra Bullock is my only choice for Marlee Jacob, the 30-year-old brunette owner of The Berry Basket shop. While Marlee is pretty, she is not Angelina Jolie gorgeous; few people are. And the attractive Sandra Bullock deserves the series’ starring role. Especially Sandra as she appears in Miss Congeniality: strong, funny, down to earth, sarcastic and smart. Marlee’s fiancé Ryan Zellar is another easy one to cast. Marlee actually mentions in the book that it’s ironic he is named Ryan since he’s a dead ringer for screen hottie Ryan Gosling. So, too, for her old high school boyfriend Max, who reminds her of the actor who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies – except Max is a good twelve years older.

Shop clerk Gillian Kaminski is a perfect role for Mia Wasikowska, while the mayor of Oriole Point would be played by famous astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson; even Tyson’s mellifluous deep voice is ideal for Mayor Lionel Pierce. Because Marlee’s friend Natasha is a former beauty queen, she is glam to the max. I’d hope to convince supermodel Adriana Lima to take on the part. Last but not least, the officious and commanding Piper, whose family founded Oriole Point, could only be played by the equally imperious Glenn Close. The best person to direct my Berry Basket film would be the late Nora Ephron, who could have captured the wit and occasional pathos of Oriole Point’s inhabitants. Although I would not be unhappy if either Ron Howard or Rob Reiner found themselves in the director’s chair. As for location, the film must be shot in my own beautiful village of Saugatuck, which served as inspiration for Oriole Point.

Visit Sharon Farrow's website.

The Page 69 Test: Dying For Strawberries.

Writers Read: Sharon Farrow.

--Marshal Zeringue