Diane Barnes's "The Mulligan Curse"

Diane Barnes is the author of All We Could Still Have, More Than, Waiting for Ethan, and Mixed Signals. She is also a product market manager in the health-care industry. When she’s not writing, Barnes can be found at the gym, running or playing tennis, trying to burn off the ridiculous amounts of chocolate and ice cream she eats. She and her husband, Steven, live in New England with Oakley, their handsome golden retriever

Here Barnes dreamcasts an adaptation of her latest novel, The Mulligan Curse:

My novel, The Mulligan Curse, is a story about regrets. The main character, Mary, is 54 years old and having a delayed mid-life crisis. She regrets a decision she made when she was 24 to pass up a promotion and eventually give up her dream job as a television newscaster/reporter. She wishes she could be 24 again and take the promotion. Then because of a “magical” family gene, her wish comes true, and she wakes up as her 24-year-old self. However, the story isn’t a time travel book. Instead, the last 30 years of Mary’s life are erased so she has the opportunity to see what happens to her friends and family without her. Some early readers have said the story is a modern day take on It’s a Wonderful Life.

Of course, I always dream about my novels getting turned into a movie, and if The Mulligan Curse were a movie, Olivia Wilde would be a good young Mary. I was actually thinking of her from her days in House when I wrote twentyish Mary. I did research for The Mulligan Curse at a CBS affiliate, and there was a poster of Norah O’Donnell. So, I was thinking of her when I wrote the older Mary scenes, but I think Jennifer Connelly would certainly pull off the part.

Mary’s husband Dean is an affable, sporty guy. He’s described as Sicilian, but I can’t think of any actors who look like what I was picturing. Instead, I think it would be amazing if Bradley Cooper played Dean, because, well, Bradley Cooper!

Mary’s cousin Darbi plays a big part in the story. She’s a bit zany and the only person besides Mary who knows about the family gene. Melissa McCarthy would kill it as Darbi. She’s such a great actress, and I really want her to play one of my characters.

If there’s a streaming service out there looking for content, please make my dream come true and turn The Mulligan Curse into a movie!

Visit Diane Barnes's website.

Q&A with Diane Barnes.

The Page 69 Test: All We Could Still Have.

My Book, The Movie: All We Could Still Have.

The Page 69 Test: The Mulligan Curse.

--Marshal Zeringue