Bryan Gruley's "River Deep"

Bryan Gruley is the Edgar-nominated author of seven novels 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. A longtime Chicago resident, he now lives in northern lower Michigan with his wife, Pamela.

Here Gruley dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, River Deep:

If River Deep was a movie or, my preference, a streamed series, I would hope for Vince Gilligan, creator of my favorite series ever, Breaking Bad, to direct this cast:

Isa Briones, the prickly young doctor in TV’s The Pitt, as our courtroom hero, Devyn Payne. She’s attractive enough, tough enough, saucy enough. Different from my pick in Bitterfrost (the young agent from hit TV series Slow Horses), but I’d never seen Briones before.

Fiona Dourif, also from The Pitt, as the accused murderer Catriona Dulaney (OK, my wife and I love that series, but so does everybody else). Dourif's character in The Pitt wears an ankle monitor—just like Catriona. And she’s a tough redhead.

Jeff Daniels, Michigan guy, as Detective Garth Klimmek. This was my pick for Bitterfrost and I’m sticking with it. Like Klimmek, Daniels is great at playing a semi-grumpy but honest character.

Billy Bob Thornton—hell, yeah—as Hooper. He looks like I imagine Hooper would look, and could easily adopt Hooper’s near-cynical view of humanity—minus the southern accent.

Kyle Chandler as Jimmy Baker. Jimmy doesn’t have a point-of-view role in River Deep, but he’s still an important character. Last time I chose Timothy Olyphant, which would work too, but Chandler has the rugged looks of a good guy like Jimmy.

Jodie Foster as Circuit Judge Darlene Esper. Foster would be great at delivering the judge’s comic skepticism and dominance of her little world. Kate Winslet would work just fine, too.

Jack Lowden as Sammy Hardt. The Slow Horses heartthrob would draw viewers into Sammy’s character and then—sorry, no spoilers. Jesse Plemons of Breaking Bad or even Daniel Radcliffe could step into Sammy’s shoes.

Visit 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.

My Book, The Movie: Bitterfrost.

--Marshal Zeringue

Peter Colt's "The Driftwood Bones"

Peter Colt is the author of Cold Island in the Detective Tommy Kelly series and the Andy Roark Mysteries. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1973 and is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island. Colt spent twenty-four years in the army reserve, with deployments to Kosovo in 2000 and Iraq in 2003 and 2008. He is currently a police officer in Providence, Rhode Island, where he lives with his family and two perpetually feuding cats. Colt’s hobbies include cooking, camping, and kayaking.

Here Colt dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, The Driftwood Bones, the second title featuring Detective Tommy Kelly:

If my book were a movie there are several characters I would like to see cast.

The protagonist Tommy Kelly is State Police Detective, who is a hot mess. His marriage is over, his love life is a mess, his career is on the ropes and he's been exiled to Nantucket Island by the State Police. I want an actor who can portray Kelly and his problems without turning it into the cliched "divorced, alcoholic" cop performance. I can see two potential leading men playing Kelly, Alexander Skarsgård, who gives outstanding performances in Generation Kill and Murderbot. Or Milo Ventimiglia whose performance in the series This Is Us shows the range he is capable of. Both actors could convincingly play a troubled police detective without turning it into a cliche.

The second character I want to see cast is Detective Jo Harris. Jo is neither a sidekick nor a typical film love interest. She is smart, tough and where Kelly is a hot mess Jo is the one who keeps the investigation on track. In many ways she's the real hero of the story. In my mind she looks like Florence Pugh. I think that Pugh has the chops to deliver a performance that would avoid all the stereotypes and tropes that the film industry often falls back on when portraying female cops. Pugh has shown us through a range of film roles that she can be tough, vulnerable, alluring and most importantly deliver a captivating performance.

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 (March 2025).

My Book, The Movie: The Banker.

The Page 69 Test: The Banker.

The Page 69 Test: Cold Island.

Writers Read: Peter Colt (September 2025).

My Book, The Movie: Cold Island.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kerri Hakoda's "Too Deep to Cross"

Kerri Hakoda has worked in and out of Alaska in advertising and marketing, marine transportation, cable television and trade magazine ad sales. She was born and raised in Hawaii, but now calls northwest Washington her home, where she lives with her husband (himself a veteran of the Alaska fishing industry) and writes mystery, historical, and young adult science fiction.

Here Hakoda dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Too Deep to Cross: A Thriller:

Too Deep to Cross would be challenging to cast as a movie. In it, multi-racial Anchorage Homicide Detective DeHavilland Beans returns to his Yukon River hometown after a battered prosthetic leg from a local man washes up – and turns a long-cold missing person case into a homicide investigation. In the San Francisco Bay Area cleaning out the family home, Beans’ mother Mari makes unsettling discoveries of her own.

I envision a very specific look, a distinctive combination of ethnicities for DeHavilland Beans – he is half Japanese, a quarter Irish and a quarter Native Alaskan – a difficult casting combination. Maybe a younger Daniel Henney type, or Lewis Tan? It’s hard to find reasonably pleasant-looking Eurasian actors who aren’t martial artists, not that that’s a bad thing – I just don’t see Beans as being a blackbelt in anything. I like Henry Golding as well, but he may be too handsome and urbane.

For Beans’ mother Mari, who is Japanese American – I see Tamlyn Tomita, Joan Chen, or similarly attractive older Asian American woman.

Oddly enough, the antagonists are easier to cast, I think. I clearly see Vincent D’Onofrio as Victor Paul, the town’s overbearing shopkeeper, and Barry Keoghan as his over-indulged son Lloyd (and owner of the prosthetic leg).

Visit Kerri Hakoda's website.

Writers Read: Kerri Hakoda.

Q&A with Kerri Hakoda.

The Page 69 Test: Too Deep to Cross.

--Marshal Zeringue

Christine Gunderson's "Behind White Picket Fences"

Christine Gunderson is a former television anchor, reporter, and Capitol Hill press secretary, a suburban mother of three, and the author of Friends with Secrets.

She currently lives just outside Washington D.C. but grew up on a fourth-generation family farm in rural North Dakota. She loves Jane Austen, sailing, and Star Wars, and she can drive a tractor, a skill yet to be useful in her daily life.

Here Gunderson dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Behind White Picket Fences:

One of the questions I am most often asked at book club meetings is this: Who would play the characters if my book were made into a movie?

I never know how to answer this question because inside my head, the people in my book are people, not characters, and I have a really hard time imagining them as anyone else, even famous actors.

But as release day approaches, I finally sat down and gave this question some serious thought.

Behind White Picket Fences is a book about three mothers who decide to take a break from modern motherhood. In the process, they try to re-create the kind of childhood they experienced as kids. Astute readers will notice subtle references to Leave It To Beaver, a TV show representing an idealized, bygone America.

Therefore, the character of Dottie in Behind White Picket Fences would be played by Barbara Billingsley, best known for her iconic role as June Cleaver, the perfect 1950’s era housewife and mother in Leave it to Beaver.

And yes, I realize this talented actress passed away in 2010 at the age of 94, but since we’re dream casting this movie, we can pretend she is still with us, lovely and gracious and in her prime.

The three modern moms in Behind White Picket Fences are easier to cast. Piper, the no-nonsense former diplomatic security agent would be played by Rebecca Ferguson. This actress is perhaps best known as Lady Jessica in the Dune franchise, but I came to love her as Juliette Nichols in Silo, a fantastic sort of dystopian/sci fi mash up tv series available on Apple TV.

Jennifer Garner’s wholesome goodness and comedic timing make her perfect for Kiersten, a big-hearted mom from the Midwest who sees the good in everyone, even when she shouldn’t.

Finally, Kristen Wiig would play Rosamund, the third mom on Beaverbrook Lane. She completes the trio of moms who discover something sinister on their seemingly perfect cull de sac.

I chose Kristen Wiig because she made me laugh until I cried in Bridesmaids, and this book and the subsequent movie adaptation should be equal parts suspense and humor, and I know she could balance both beautifully.

So that’s the dream team should Behind White Picket Fences ever get the call from Hollywood. Until then, they will continue to live inside my head, and, I hope, inside the hearts of readers. Which is probably best, because as every reader knows, the book is always better than the movie.

Visit Christine Gunderson's website.

Q&A with Christine Gunderson.

--Marshal Zeringue

DeAndra Davis's "The Lovers, the Liars, and Me"

DeAndra Davis is New York–born and Florida-bred. She’s a hopeless musical theater nerd (Wicked is definitely her favorite), a perpetual student and teacher, and always trailed by a kid or a dog because she has way too many of both. She has an opinion for everything, an argument ready, and a hug for everyone, and she thinks you should, too. She is the author of All the Noise at Once, winner of the William C. Morris Award for best young adult debut book, and The Lovers, the Liars, and Me.

Here Davis dreamcasts an adaptation of The Lovers, the Liars, and Me:

If it’s one thing I love, it’s a good face cast, and with this book, it was no different. I feel like The Lovers, the Liars, and Me is inherently visual with the descriptions of the island and locations. I tried to be lush and descriptive, and that also applies to characters in this love triangle romance meets contemporary drama. I definitely have a primary person in mind with my main character and her supporting cast of friends that I believe would bring the story to life.

Marsai Martin is my immediate choice for Jaliya. Marsai is a brilliant and gorgeous actress, and I know she could bring both the character to life aesthetically, and tap into that growth from hesitant, unsure teen to self-assured and confident. Marsai is also so funny, and I think she could get into the quippy banter the friend group has going in The Lovers, the Liars, and Me.

Jahi Winston would be my pick for Shevaughn, Jaliya’s cousin. I think his personality fits, and he could really bring the character to life in many ways. His acting catalogue is so varied and Shevaughn is a difficult character to play because he’s going through so much that he would need an actor who could approach his role with care.

For the two love interests, it was hard to choose but for India I would pick Storm Reid who has acted in many projects I’ve loved and who, after being in so many dramatic projects, can tackle those more difficult parts of India’s character while still bringing forth the charm she exudes every time she’s in a scene.

For Andre, I have to go with Caleb McLaughlin. I think he plays such an endearing love interest in Stranger Things (despite the horror backdrop) that I believe in a more relaxed setting, that could (and would) get played up even more, enhancing the interesting love triangle moment.

Last, for Deon, Jaliya’s best friend and the absolute funniest person in the book hands down, I pictured JD McCrary who has a background in some comedy and who would really do the character justice for all his clever, sarcastic humor throughout the book.

Visit DeAndra Davis's website. She can be found on most socials @DeAndraWrites.

--Marshal Zeringue

Samantha Silva's "Sometime This Century"

Samantha Silva is an author and screenwriter based in Idaho. Over her career, she’s sold film projects to Paramount, Universal, and New Line Cinema.

Sometime This Century is her third novel, following Love and Fury: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mr. Dickens and His Carol, her debut.

Here Silva dreamcasts an adaptation of Sometime This Century:

Sometime This Century is a swoon-worthy love story wrapped in a time-travel rom-com that finds my bookish, Jane-Austen loving, wannabe writer heroine, Annabel Blake, transported to the Regency era where she might just have everything she’s ever wished for, including the attentions of the dashing Henry Leighton D’Evercy. But when she and her companions—her party-girl-slash-influencer sister Cassie and ex-boyfriend Billy—find themselves trapped in the year 1815 and have to figure out how to make a life there, the stakes couldn't be higher.

Funnily, the novel began life as a screenplay 25 years ago, so I’ve had lots of time to think about who might play these roles. Having cut my teeth as a screenwriter, I tend to cast as I go, usually with someone in mind, at least as a type. That said, most of the actors on my dream list have aged out of the roles! The conversations with my twenty-something daughter (resident casting director) start with, “Who’s the young Rachel McAdams. The next Elle Fanning? Is there a Colin Firth I should know about?”

The heroine of Sometime This Century is Annabel Blake, a 22-year-old lit-nerd who’s always felt she was born in the wrong century. Her skin is untouched by sun or ink and she might just be wearing vintage Laura Ashley with a pair of ballet flats. Fina Strazza, the Tony-nominated star of John Proctor is the Villain, would be right at home in the Regency world of Annabel's beloved Jane Austen. And she looks like a young Jennifer Ehle, star of the beloved BBC Pride & Prejudice, to boot!

I like Kiernan Shipka for Annabel’s older sister, Cassie Blake, who’s more of a mean girl grown up in a crop-top and cargo pants. She lives life on her own terms, no apologies: think Charlie XCX’s “brat girl summer.” Shipka definitely has Annabel Blake energy too, but I think she could go both ways.

Both Nolan White and Corbin Drew Ross from The Outsiders musical have loads of Billy Bronson energy. He’s Cassie’s ex-boyfriend and loyal sidekick for her travel vlog. A skater dude who hasn’t had to grow up, he’s secure enough in his own masculinity to get Cassie’s matcha and hold her purse, and deep down quite a gentle soul.

For Annabel’s brooding Darcy-like love interest in the Regency world—Henry Leighton D’Evercy—I like Harris Dickinson, who looks just the right amount of noble and aloof while being achingly handsome. And then there’s Leo Woodall who can do no wrong. I’d love to see him brood and be slightly thrown off his game by Annabel, while being an utterly English gentleman who yearns to escape the constraints of his own life, while he’s sworn to uphold them.

Everyone in my dream cast can handle the comedy (sometimes on the broad side) and bring heart to the roles when things take a serious turn. I see the three time-travelers at ease in the modern world but becoming more vivid and self-aware as they try to make their way in the world of Regency England.

Visit Samantha Silva's website.

Q&A with Samantha Silva.

The Page 69 Test: Sometime This Century.

Writers Read: Samantha Silva.

--Marshal Zeringue

J.P. Lacrampe's "Valet"

J.P. Lacrampe received his MFA in creative writing from Saint Mary’s College. His short fiction has been published by Glimmer Train, McSweeney's, Instant City, and in Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit. He is a professor at Santa Clara University & SJSU, where he teaches courses in composition, fiction, and screenwriting.

Here Lacrampe dreamcasts an adaptation of new novel, Valet:

Charles Grodin! To me, he was the funniest actor ever. He could weather the absurdity of the world (and even participate within it) in such a good-natured, witty, and ultimately insightful way. I would love him to play Cy, the android who narrates Valet, who must likewise good-naturedly weather the absurdities of the humans who surround him. Peter Sellers or Keegan Michael-Key would be awesome choices as well. Both are so great at telegraphing what they're really thinking about the crazy world around them. Much of the comedy in Valet comes from the gap between what Cy says and what he actually thinks.

In terms of Grayson, Cy's wayward human charge, someone like Owen Wilson or Chris Pratt. Childlike wonder that can give way to emotional growth. For Mrs. St. Claire, I always envisioned Jessica Walter (Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development). So unbelievably sharp and funny. Maybe Anya Taylor-Joy for Livi and Cate Blanchett for Charlotte. Ana de Armas as Elsa, formidable and competitive.

We'd get Terry Gilliam to direct, of course. I'm ready to start crowd-funding!

Visit J.P. Lacrampe's website.

The Page 69 Test: Valet.

Q&A with J.P. Lacrampe.

--Marshal Zeringue

Katie Holt's "The Last Page"

Katie Holt is a New York City resident but a Tennessee native. She studied English with a concentration in creative writing at NYU and fought with every professor to prove that romance novels were worthy of their time. She’s a Nora Ephron fanatic, Swiftie, and warm chocolate chip cookie enthusiast.

Holt is also the author of her highly-acclaimed debut Not in My Book.

Here she shares some ideas for the above-of-the-line talent for an adaptation of her new novel, The Last Page:

I never dreamcast before I write. I know lots of writers love to make boards on Pinterest for what their characters look like, but they come fully formed in my head. I have to get to learn their personalities, but I see what their hair or nose or eyes look like in my mind and I feel as if I were to be inspired by actors, I’d be too literal with it.

Whenever I try to think about it, though, I have difficulty naming someone for my heroines—probably because I’m so protective of them. If any of my books were to be turned into movies, though, I’d insist that a Peruvian woman be cast. I’d love to find someone who’s not already famous just to bring more Peruvian women to the forefront.

A reader recently tagged me in a fancast that had Leo Woodall as Henry and I totally see the vision. He’s got the kind of broadness that I envision with Henry and in glasses … it’d totally work.

I think Greta Gerwig would be a great director for this. She does such a great job at capturing the female gaze, which is pivotal for romance novels! It’s all about the lingering, small touches or the secret shared glances. I’d want someone who intimately understands that aspect of the genre.

Visit Katie Holt's website.

Writers Read: Katie Holt.

Q&A with Katie Holt.

--Marshal Zeringue

James L. Cambias's "The Ishtar Deception"

James L. Cambias is a writer, a game designer, and the cofounder of Zygote Games. He has been nominated for the James Tiptree Jr. Award and the 2001 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

Here Cambias dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, The Ishtar Deception:

From the start I wanted The Ishtar Deception to be a James Bond adventure in the Tenth Millennium. So of course I daydreamed about the movie version.

The Cast: The main role is Sabbath Okada, the greatest secret agent in the Billion Worlds of the far-future Solar System. Sabbath, as I've mentioned before, is very hard to cast because he is genetically engineered to be the most average-looking, unmemorable person possible. Of course, 8000 years in the future, bland average looks would seem supernaturally attractive to us crude primitives, but that's kind of true about actors already — even the "ugly" ones are good-looking. I think I'd go with a Hispanic actor like Manuel Garcia-Rulfo or Hunter Gomez, to give a better sense of what an average human in the far future might look like.

Sabbath's deadliest enemy — and the love of his life — is Meili Tewa, a spy-for-hire. She can't be just an ornamental "Bond Girl." Meili's actress needs to be athletic, fearless, beautiful, and convey a sense of roguish amorality. I think I'll reach back 20 years and cast Angelina Jolie in her Lara Croft days as Meili. If the time machine isn't working, then the martial-arts actress Juju Chan would be good.

Another nemesis is Zoya Dukra, a private investigator in the city of Ishtar on Venus who is supposedly working with Sabbath to investigate a mysterious death, but who has a hidden agenda. Zoya needs an actress who can be both beautiful and uncanny. Alicia Vikander did that very well in Ex Machina, so I'll cast her as Zoya.

As one would expect in the year 10,000, several characters are "mechs" —digital intelligences. There are three major AI characters. Daslakh, my narrator, has been in all my other Billion Worlds novels, so I've discussed a number of possible voice actors for it. I've mostly defaulted to male actors, but perhaps Dame Judi Dench would be appropriate to voice Daslakh in this film.

The other two important AIs are Kappa, another colleague of Sabbath's who comes to a bad end, and Tiejiang Jian, a former human now uploaded into software who operates an immense mining operation on Venus. Kappa should sound just slightly wrong. It has a spindly disposable mechanical body, so I suggest giving it a rich baritone voice completely at odds with its appearance. As to Jian, they began as human so I expect they use their original voice. Ken Watanabe might be a good choice.

The Director: I'd like a director who actually adapts the book rather than doing a new story with the same title. Denis Villeneuve is the current champion of faithful adaptations. Christopher Nolan has famously pulled off the "deceptions within deceptions" nature of the story. Guy Ritchie can do good gritty portrayals of the kind of amoral characters that populate this book. If none of them are available, I'll take any competent action director, like Christopher McQuarrie or Dan Trachtenberg.

The Score: Get Michael Giacchino to channel the spirit of John Barry. Or maybe just have Hans Zimmer read the book and turn him loose to see what happens.

Visit James L. Cambias's website.

My Book, The Movie: A Darkling Sea.

Writers Read: James L. Cambias (January 2019).

My Book, The Movie: Arkad's World.

The Page 69 Test: Arkad's World.

My Book, The Movie: The Godel Operation.

Q&A with James L. Cambias.

The Page 69 Test: The Godel Operation.

The Page 69 Test: The Miranda Conspiracy.

My Book, The Movie: The Miranda Conspiracy.

Writers Read: James L. Cambias (February 2025).

The Page 69 Test: The Ishtar Deception.

--Marshal Zeringue

John Katzenbach's "The Architect"

John Katzenbach is the New York Times bestselling author of such novels as the Edgar Award-nominated In the Heat of the Summer, which was adapted for the screen as The Mean Season; The Traveler; Day of Reckoning; Just Cause and Hart's War, which were also made into movies; The Shadow Man, another Edgar nominee; State of Mind; The Analyst; and The Madman's Tale. Katzenbach has been a criminal court reporter for the Miami Herald and Miami News and a featured writer for the Herald's Tropic magazine.

Here he shares some ideas for the team to adapt his new novel, The Architect, for the big screen:

This is intriguing for me. I have had four of my novels filmed, so I’m well versed with the movie-making process, which frequently contains more twists, turns, ups, downs and off-the-wall moments/disasters than a Stephen King tome. There are many cooks – writers, producers, executives, directors, actors, designers, cameramen -- making the stew of a film, which, as any lonely author knows, is not necessarily a good recipe. Too many opinions often result in the folks making the film forgetting why they wanted to adapt the story in the first place.

But – all that acknowledged – let’s really indulge when it comes to The Architect.

The plot is this: A young woman graduating at the very top of her architecture school class at a moment of great personal turmoil (possibly suicidal and disappeared mother, stalking ex-boyfriend) is given a potentially life-altering job by a mysterious anonymous wealthy man, who wants her to design a memorial for six people he claims influenced him greatly. As my main character, Sloane Connolly investigates, she discovers that none of these six were admirable. Each represented some evil – whether it was betrayal or bullying and other misdeeds. As she travels into the discovery of who her benefactor is and who these people are – she is thrust into mysteries of her own past. The plot spans many years. The past influences the present.

Not the easiest adaptation.

The good: Plenty of action. Guns. Confrontations. Violence. And... Great locations. (Harvard Square. The 9/11 Museum in lower Manhattan. San Diego. Miami. Rural Maine. Isolated Martha’s Vineyard...)

The bad: The novel’s plot is often advanced by internal observation and interpretation – the hardest elements to capture in a film.

Who could write this screenplay?

I think we should resurrect two famous guys, both sadly gone now: William Goldman or Robert Towne. Both were incredibly skilled at evoking subtleties of personality in their scripts. Classics and classy. Dialogue that soars.

Let’s hire to direct...

The young James Cameron. When he made Aliens. Action and emotions in equal parts up on the screen. He knows how to make characters psychologically sophisticated and eminently memorable even while they are chambering a round in an automatic weapon.

And let’s give him a good cast...

Four main roles:

The lead – the young architect.

Easy... Monica Barbaro. Immensely talented and the daughter of one of my frequent fly-fishing companions. Casting her would give us something to talk about when not catching fish.

Her anonymous employer. Not so easy. Needs to be able to play young and old. Could we bring back Sir Laurence Olivier from the great theater beyond? In much of the book he’s late 50’s, early 60’s. So, I’d lean towards Cillian Murphy, Ethan Hawke or Colin Farrell. George Clooney – if he wants to play a truly bad guy. (Unlikely, but who knows?) But the younger version? I’m less sure. Can’t believe I’m suggesting this but: AI?

The attorney who gives the architect her commission. This is a rich, provocative character. Hugo Weaving might work – although I’d wonder whether he has the necessary insouciance. Perhaps John Hawkes, because who is better at playing eyebrow-raised wryness?

The architect’s mother, Maeve O’Connor: A role that needs toughness and compassion in equal measures. Also, needs to play young and old.

Again, difficult – but I think I’d lean towards Jamie Lee Curtis or Michelle Pfeiffer. As above, I’m not sure who would play their younger version.

So, action, cut, print. Then distribute around the world. Not IMAX, because nothing in the movie takes place in outer space. But not Art Theaters either. Maybe we should be thinking streaming on HBO or Netflix or FX. Numerous episodes to get into plot intricacies. Think Prime Suspect or Mare of Easttown. That would be nice...

Visit John Katzenbach's website.

My Book, The Movie: Red 1-2-3.

Writers Read: John Katzenbach (January 2014).

The Page 69 Test: Red 1-2-3.

Writers Read: John Katzenbach.

Q&A with John Katzenbach.

The Page 69 Test: The Architect.

--Marshal Zeringue

David Hirshberg's "Crossing the Bronx"

David Hirshberg is the pseudonym for a biotech executive who prefers to keep his business activities separate from his writing endeavors. He adopted the first name of his father-in-law and the last name of his maternal grandfather as a tribute to their impact on his life.He is the author of two previous novels, My Mother's Son and Jacobo's Rainbow, each of which has won multiple awards. In addition, he has published four short stories and written the introduction for a nonfiction book. Hirshberg holds an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and two dogs in Westchester County, New York.

Here Hirshberg shares his thoughts on the ideal director for an adaptation of his new novel, Crossing the Bronx:

The fascinating thing about this is that I have written the screenplay for Crossing the Bronx, and it is with my rep on Hollywood! In ‘Movieland’, the pitch has to start with what is known as the ‘Log Line’, and here is the log line for my screenplay:

Returning to the gritty working-class streets of his childhood in 1955, army vet Jay deVenezia discovers his father Ike and brother Eric are involved in a scheme to bribe NYC officials to build an expressway that will destroy the heart of The Bronx.

Jay and his girlfriend’s valiant efforts—that include illegal wiretapping and a well-planned neighborhood uprising—don’t win this battle, but do succeed in the war by rousing public opinion against future community-destroying building projects.

The brothers’ fractious relationship speaks to the issues of how families split apart, and whether or not the pieces can ever be put back together. The dynamics of Jay’s relationship with his girlfriend Francesca Casterella—who comes from a completely different background—plays out against the tumultuous events of the day.

Four smart, savvy women (Jay's girlfriend, mother. and therapist, as well as Francesca’s grandmother, provide a strong counterbalance to the lies, thefts, beatings, concealments, murders, and prejudice evidenced by some of the men.

Ultimately, the Cross Bronx Expressway is built, but Jay and Francesca take solace in the fact that their opposition sparked other protests against City Hall and double-dealing, with the result that the community-destroying projects including the Cross Manhattan Expressway, the Rye-Oyster Bay Bridge, and a new stadium for the New York Giants baseball team in Manhattan’s Ft. Tryon Park are not built.

The screenplay can be summarized as the crime, corruption, and love story of On the Waterfront meet the intrigue and intensity of Reservoir Dogs, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, who would be the ideal director for Crossing the Bronx. Tarantino is a master of interweaving multiple story arcs that appear at the outset to be independent of each other, yet are woven into a fabric that encompasses all of them at the end (note especially how he directed Pulp Fiction in this manner). He would be able to knit together the strands of the criminal conspiracies, the corrupted politics, the destruction of the neighborhood, the love story, and the family relationships in a way that allows the narrative to dig down to give a full picture of the complexity of behaviors, and how the decisions—that have both intended and unintended consequences—are made by those who are powerful and connected, as well as by those who are just ‘regular folks’.

Tarantino is the director who could illustrate persuasively how the world really works, thus enabling Crossing The Bronx to capture the essence of what drives us forward under the most daunting of circumstances in tension-filled action by allowing the characters to come to life in a realistic fashion to illustrate who we are, how we behave, and what causes us to change.

Visit David Hirshberg's website.

The Page 69 Test: Crossing the Bronx.

--Marshal Zeringue

Carmela Dutra's "Hot Wings and Homicide"

Carmela Dutra is a Bay Area–based author who writes cozy mysteries with sharp banter, strong sibling bonds, and the vibrant food culture of Northern California’s most eclectic region. Her Food Truck Mystery Series blends culinary competition, small-town secrets, and humor-forward sleuthing, all rooted in the distinctly diverse rhythms of the Bay Area.

Dutra's debut novel, A Murder Most Fowl, received praise from Kirkus Reviews for its “serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments,” and from Criminal Element for the “juicy reasoning behind the sabotage [that] was almost as shocking as the murder itself.” New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams called it “the perfect escapist read, brimming with banter and an extra helping of fun.” Dutra has also been featured in CrimeReads.

The second installment in the series, Hot Wings and Homicide, earned additional praise from Kirkus Reviews, which said, “Winner, winner, murder for dinner ... An entertaining mystery with amusing characters—including a pet chicken.” Further cementing the author’s voice in the cozy mystery space.

A frequent podcast guest and live-event panelist, Dutra has appeared on Bookish Flights, The Fiction Lounge, Cozy Crime Reads, and Bookshelf Odyssey, and has spoken at bookstores including Kepler’s Books & Magazines. She is known for her warm, engaging presence and her ability to connect with readers through humor, craft, and community.

Dutra lives in the Bay Area with her husband, two dinosaur-obsessed sons, and an assortment of over-cuddled pets. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found at a bookstore, a farmers’ market, or chasing the perfect chicken wing.

Here the author dreamcasts an adaptation of Hot Wings and Homicide:

Hot Wings and Homicide is the second book in my food truck cozy mystery series, set in the fictional Bay Area town of Clementine. Beth Lloyd and her twin brother Seth run a chicken food truck, Kluckin’ Good, that already attracts enough chaos on a normal day. Unfortunately, things escalate quickly when a local food festival ends in murder—and Beth’s ex-boyfriend, celebrity food critic Brad Dawson, winds up dead.

If the book were adapted into a movie or streaming series, I’d want it to fully lean into cozy chaos: colorful food festivals, quirky small-town personalities, fast-paced banter, and a mystery that unfolds somewhere between a fryer and a crime scene tape line. And, of course, one very opinionated, emotional-support chicken named Teriyaki.

The funny thing is, I didn’t write these characters with actors in mind. They existed fully formed in my imagination long before I ever considered casting them, which makes this both fun and slightly impossible. But after much consideration, there are a few actors who match the energy I picture on the page.

Beth, our fiercely loyal and perpetually in-over-her-head protagonist, immediately brings to mind Zoey Deutch. She has the perfect mix of comedic timing, warmth, and “trying desperately to hold it together while everything spirals out of control” energy. Beth is impulsive, stubborn, and just reckless enough to walk directly into situations she absolutely should avoid.

For Seth, Beth’s calmer (younger) twin and long-suffering business partner, I picture Will Poulter. Seth is practical, grounded, and constantly cleaning up Beth’s messes while pretending he isn’t invested in everything. Will Poulter brings exactly the dry humor and exasperated heart that fits him perfectly.

Rylie, Beth’s best friend and the fearless, chaotic heart of Kluckin’ Good, would absolutely be played by Molly Gordon. Rylie is equal parts chaos and loyalty, the type of person who would show up in a chicken costume at 7 a.m. without explanation and somehow still be the most emotionally stable person in the room. Molly Gordon’s natural, lived-in comedic energy makes her an ideal fit.

Detective Kane remains the hardest character for me to cast, which honestly feels appropriate for someone so controlled and hard to read. He’s stoic, observant, emotionally guarded, and not easily figured out by Beth, or anyone else. If I had to land somewhere, I’d say David Giuntoli comes closest to the tone I imagine. He seems grounded in intensity with a quiet, restrained presence. But Detective Kane still feels like a character who resists being neatly pinned down, even in casting.

And then there’s Brad Dawson, the ex-boyfriend, celebrity food critic, and walking example of charm curdling into arrogance. He needs to feel magnetic enough that you understand why Beth once dated him, but insufferable enough that his downfall doesn’t feel tragic so much as inevitable. Casting him comes down to a very specific energy: polished, handsome, and fully aware of it.

The two actors I keep circling are Jacob Elordi and Leo Woodall. Either could capture that slick, self-assured presence that makes Brad instantly compelling, and instantly exhausting. There’s also a hint of Glen Powell’s effortless charm in the mix, the kind of charisma that explains how Brad gets away with far too much for far too long.

At its heart, Hot Wings and Homicide is more than a mystery; it’s about family. Both biological and chosen. The kind you build over shared disasters, food trucks, and questionable life decisions. If an adaptation could capture that balance of humor, heart, and chaos (and include at least one perfectly judgmental chicken), I’d call it a win.

Visit Carmela Dutra's website.

Q&A with Carmela Dutra.

Writers Read: Carmela Dutra.

--Marshal Zeringue

K.M. Colley's "The Roaring Ridleys"

K.M. Colley writes thrillers, contemporary mysteries, and cinematic stories that explore legacy and ambition. Her work often centers around powerful families, glamorous settings, and complex characters. Born in Mobile, Alabama, she’s currently based in Tampa and Philadelphia. When not writing or reading, Colley enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and building a creative legacy. She’s also passionate about raising her autistic daughter, who dreams of creating her own comic book one day.

Here Colley deamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The Roaring Ridleys:

This is my dream question because, as an actress and author, I love blending these worlds together. I always have in mind who I would like to play my characters. So in The Roaring Ridleys, each sibling comes from a different part of the world, such as India, Egypt, Hong Kong, France, the UK, Argentina, and the USA. So I had to be incredibly visual when writing these characters.

Kavita would have to be Avantika. She was the first character I imagined with only her in mind. I don't know how I would go further if Avantika couldn't do it! She is absolutely perfect for this role.

Adesua was definitely me. So, getting to create my own worlds, I always saw myself playing her!

For Amelia, that was a tricky one for reasons the reader will know, but I eventually thought of Nico Parker. She is an absolutely accurate representation of Amelia’s character, and I feel she would give the same energy.

I have to start off strong with the brothers; Wei gives Simu Liu vibes, for sure.

Diego was one of the first characters I thought of, and Manu Ríos would be a perfect choice. He was phenomenal in Elite, a murder-mystery show.

Omar is still to this day the hardest one to choose, actor-wise, because of his height and frame. Mena Massoud and Adam Bakri would both be excellent in this role.

Henrik has the innocence of a younger brother, but is very quick on his feet and energetic. I can only see Rudy Pankow from Outerbanks playing him. Who knows though? There are so many amazing actors from which to choose!

For the director, I would love Ryan Murphy because of the fantastic job he did with the Netflix series, Hollywood. He was able to blend fiction with historical relevance, making it absolutely beautiful and glamorous for the era I am going for. I am also a huge Ryan Coogler fan since the beginning. I absolutely love his most recent work in Sinners because it was set in the city where I was raised, Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Visit K.M. Colley’s website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Susan McGuirk's "Dear Missing Friend"

Susan McGuirk posts about historical fiction heroines on her blog “The Storied Sisters Society” on Bluesky, Substack, and on her website. McGuirk worked at Anthology Film Archives, a historical film museum, where she received its Film Preservation Award and serves on the Board of Advisors. She honed her writing skills at HBO, composing hundreds of in-house film reviews. After running a media mentoring program at City College of New York, McGuirk accepted the President’s Award. She lives with her husband in New York City.

Here the author dreamcasts an adaptation of her debut novel, Dear Missing Friend:

I spent years working in film programming. I read a lot of scripts and felt comfortable with dramatic writing. I’m also a big theater fan, so dialogue and images are how I thought about stories. I’m also a visual person, so being able to see the characters faces in my mind’s eye was important to me. I found images on antique photo sites to use as mental illustrations of each character. I did the same with the settings to better imagine the characters’ dwelling places.

So, picking a dream director and cast for a movie adaption of Dear Missing Friend is my idea of fun!

To start here is a short version of the story:

Catherine McGuirk leaves Ireland and a shipboard suitor behind for a new life in Sag Harbor, New York. At the height of the 1840s whaling era, Cath marries a handsome sailor who promises to forsake the sea. Instead, he leaves for the gold rush, spurring her quest to become a governess in Manhattan. Cath continues to be torn between her ambition, her missing husband, and her former beau, now a wealthy speculator.

My dream director: Joe Wright. He directed one of the all-time great historical fiction films, the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. His 2017 Darkest Hour is one of the great Winston Churchill movies of all.

Here’s my dream team cast (culled from past and present).

Catherine McGuirk, protagonist who goes from teenager to bride to governess: Jesse Buckley

Michael Heffernan, husband who goes off whaling and then to the gold rush: Paul Mezcal (the pre-Gladiator physique)

Michael Lynch, unrequited former love of Catherine who hits it rich: Chris O’Dowd

Tor McGuirk, family patriarch and rule enforcer: a younger Liam Neeson

Frank McGuirk, ne’er do well but lovable scalawag of a brother: younger Gerard Butler

Susan Fee, bride of Tor and best friend of Catherine from home: a younger Kelly Macdonald

Jane Perdue, Catherine’s friend and neighbor who is half Native American and African American: Kali Reis, Emmy nominee in True Detective: Night Country with Jody Foster

Ellen Heffernan, Michael’s sister whom Catherine watches over: a younger Emily Watson

John McGuirk, young brother left behind in Ireland who gets caught in famine: Domhnall Gleeson or Jack Quaid

Visit Susan McGuirk's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Cynthia Swanson's "This Isn’t New"

Cynthia Swanson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the psychological suspense novels The Bookseller, The Glass Forest, and Anyone But Her, and the new short story collection This Isn’t New: Women’s Historical Stories. Swanson was named 2025 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Project, has received the Colorado Book Award (twice) and the WILLA Literary Award, won the Indie Author Project contest, and been a finalist for the High Plains Book Award, the WILLA Literary Award, and the CAL Award. She is also the editor of the award-winning anthology Denver Noir. She lives with her family in Denver.

Here Swanson dreamcasts an adaptation of one of the stories in This Isn’t New:

Because This Isn’t New: Women’s Historical Stories is a short story collection, I’m focusing on a singular story as I think about the book as a movie. This is something we’ve seen Hollywood do: the movies Brokeback Mountain, based on Annie Proulx’s story of the same title, and Hitchcock’s Rear Window, based on Cornell Woolrich’s story “It Had to Be Murder,” are but two examples.

There’s potential for quite a few of the stories in This Isn’t New to be expanded into movies, but one story that stands out to me as a possibility is, ironically, titled “A Possibility Nonetheless.” It’s 1965, and the main character, Caro, is an aspiring musician who has just spent several weeks cold turkey detoxing from heroin as she and her boyfriend, Gene, drive cross-country to relocate from New York City to San Diego. In this place of hippies on the beach and surfers in the waves, Caro feels like her soul has come home. Gene is less enamored, especially when, as an unemployed college dropout, he’s confronted with the sight of transport ships filled with draftees headed to Vietnam. When Gene flees San Diego, Caro must grapple head-on with a potential slide back into addiction.

So who would play Caro? I can absolutely see Sadie Sink in this role. I wrote a draft of this story years ago, and Sadie Sink wasn’t on my radar then, but I’ve always pictured Caro as a redhead, and it’s easy for me to envision Sadie in the role. I loved her as a badass teenager in Stranger Things, and I’d enjoy seeing her in a more adult role, taking on Caro’s challenges in “A Possibility Nonetheless.” I also think it would be fun to see Sadie in a period piece like “A Possibility Nonetheless.” She’d be an excellent choice for free-spirited yet conflicted Caro.

Visit Cynthia Swanson's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Bookseller.

The Page 69 Test: The Glass Forest.

Writers Read: Cynthia Swanson (February 2018).

Q&A with Cynthia Swanson.

The Page 69 Test: Anyone But Her.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kayla Hardy's "The Quarter Queen"

Kayla Hardy is a mythology expert and multi-hyphenate author and screenwriter of Louisiana Creole descent. She earned her PhD in creative writing and African American literature from SUNY Binghamton University. Hardy is an adjunct professor at SUNY Binghamton University and is an accomplished scholar of Black folklore, mythology, and Voodoo.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of The Quarter Queen, her first novel:

The Quarter Queen is the story of New Orleans’ infamous Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau and her daughter, Marie Laveau II set within a morally gray fantasy that tackles magical factional politics within a racialized 19th century context. At its heart, it is a tumultuous mother-daughter story where Marie’s rebellious daughter must retrace her mother’s past to find answers to very real circling threats in the present. Secretive and filled with awe-inspiring magic, Marie is a figure few can truly know, even her own daughter.

For me, because The Quarter Queen began as a television pilot in its original form, there was always only one actress I pictured capable of tackling Marie’s complex dual nature—and that is Thandiwe Newton. With a take-no-prisoners ferocity and an almost ethereal sensitivity, she remains the immediate choice for Marie’s fiery power and spiritual sageness. Naturally the next question became, but who would play Marie “Ree” Laveau II? And I have to admit that my agent had a pretty great idea that Thandiwe’s actual daughter, Nico Parker, should play Ree. It would be iconic to see an actual mother-daughter duo take on the Maries, an endeavor I can only imagine would lend itself to an authentic dynamic it would be hard to recreate otherwise.

Visit Kayla Hardy's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Quarter Queen.

Q&A with Kayla Hardy.

--Marshal Zeringue

T. Greenwood's "Everything Has Happened"

T. Greenwood grew up in rural Vermont in the 1970s. She began writing stories at seven years old and wrote her first "novel" at nine on her dad's electric typewriter.

Since then, she has published sixteen novels. She has received grants from the Sherwood Anderson Foundation, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Maryland State Arts Council. She has won three San Diego Book Awards. Five of her novels have been Indie Next picks. Bodies of Water was finalist for a Lambda Foundation award, and Keeping Lucy was a Target Book Club Pick.

Here Greenwood dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Everything Has Happened:

I have been told before that my writing is cinematic, and I think that comes from my deep love of movies. (I often say that in another life, I would have studied film in college.) When I write a novel, I approach each scene like a cinematographer - with a keen eye for detail and physical nuance, with vivid descriptions that help place readers in the moment. I try to create work that provides a sensory experience for the reader rather than a cerebral one.

I don't "cast" my novels per se, but after the novel is done, I often dream about who would play the characters in a film version of the book.

Everything Has Happened is a dual timeline literary mystery about a little boy who goes missing in 1986. The story is narrated by his older sister, Edie, both in the months leading up to his disappearance and nearly forty years later when the cold case is reopened. But in addition to being a mystery, the novel is also a sapphic love story about two young women at the precipice of their lives, and how the secrets they keep change their respective trajectories forever.

Edie Marshall, the narrator, is seventeen in 1986. She's a runner and an aspiring poet obsessed with Sylvia Plath. She comes from a traditional, middle-class family, her mother a pediatric nurse, and her father a carpenter. Trillium Jenkins (Trill) is new to school their senior year, the daughter of counter-culture parents, now living with her mother and older brother, Jericho, on the grounds of a defunct commune. Trill cracks Edie's world wide-open. She is magic. But just as Edie is exploring who she is and who she might be outside the confines of this small town, her little brother disappears, and Trill's brother, Jericho, is the only suspect.

Here is my dream cast for the main roles:

Young Edie: Odessa A'zion

Adult Edie: Pamela Adlon (A'zion's real-life mom!)

Young Trill: Maya Hawke

Adult Trill: Uma Thurman (Hawke's real-life mom!)

Jericho Jenkins: Jesse Plemons (Maybe makeup could make him both young and older.)

Visit Tammy Greenwood's website.

My Book, The Movie: Rust and Stardust.

The Page 69 Test: Rust and Stardust.

Writers Read: T. Greenwood (August 2019).

The Page 69 Test: Keeping Lucy.

My Book, The Movie: Keeping Lucy.

Q&A with T. Greenwood.

The Page 69 Test: Such a Pretty Girl.

My Book, The Movie: The Still Point.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jennifer Pearson's "Drop Dead Famous"

Jennifer Pearson is a former teacher and author who lives in the northeast of England with two energetic boys and her somewhat energetic husband. She’s the author of several middle grade novels, writing as Jenny Pearson, and has been short-listed for the Costa Children’s Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and was the winner of the Lollies (Laugh Out Loud Book Awards). When she’s not writing, Pearson can either be found doing something sporty or binge-watching true crime documentaries while eating astounding quantities of cheese.

Here Pearson dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Drop Dead Famous:

In Drop Dead Famous, global popstar Blair Baker is murdered during her triumphant hometown show. The world is shaken but for her younger sister Stevie, it’s deeply personal. What starts as a search for answers pulls Stevie into the dark, toxic side of fame, where secrets, lies, and betrayal hit closer to home than she ever expected.

When I was writing Stevie, I had Emily Hampshire who plays Stevie Budd in Schitt’s Creek in my mind, but as she’s even older than me, so, unfortunately, I don’t think I can cast her in the role. Instead, I’d go for Jessica Barden. Stevie needs someone who can balance vulnerability with an offbeat edge, and Barden excels at exactly that. Known for her ability to portray complex, emotionally layered characters, shecould capture Stevie’s inner struggles and sharp wit effortlessly.

Colby brings the spark of fun and energy that keeps the story from getting too heavy. That’s why McKenna Grace is such a strong fit. She has a natural charm and quickness that would highlight Colby’s lighter, more playful side, while still grounding her in real emotion.

Blair needs star power and someone who understands fame, image, and the pressure that comes with it. While Drop Dead Famous was inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, I think Miley Cyrus would make a great Blair as she would bring a more rebellious, unpredictable energy, highlighting Blair’s chaotic or emotionally raw edges.

Ted McGinley’s recent work in Shrinking shows exactly why he’d be such a strong Frank. He excels as showing the protective, loving father. And Katie Lowes who recently played Jill in Hunting Wives would make a great Marnie. She nails that southern accent and would bring wit, warmth and a bit of edge to the Stevie’s mom.

Noah Jupe has built a reputation for delivering emotionally mature performances, and that makes him an ideal Oliver. Oliver’s role likely requires quiet strength, and Jupe could bring that in a way that feels natural and compelling.

Jharrel Jerome is a standout choice for Trent not just because of his acting ability, but because of his presence. He has a distinctive, expressive look that naturally draws attention on screen which is perfect for a character like Trent. Beyond that, Jerome’s background in music adds another layer to his casting.

For Blair’s manager, I’d choose Jon Hamm. He naturally gives off that smooth, powerful, industry-insider vibe, but can easily layer in arrogance and sleaze. He’d make Kirk feel like someone who’s been controlling careers for decades.

Visit Jenny Pearson's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

April Howells's "The Unforgettable Mailman"

With a background in magazine publishing, April Howells has built a career in global communications and employer branding. Raised in southern Ontario, she now resides on the west coast of Canada with her husband and a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Chief.

The Unforgettable Mailman is her debut novel.

Here Howells dreamcasts an adaptation of the new novel:

If The Unforgettable Mailman got optioned for a movie, I would cast Harrison Ford as Henry. (Please say yes, Harrison!) I can picture him bringing the humour and determination of Henry to the role, capturing hearts the same way he has in Shrinking and the Indiana Jones franchise.

I’d also cast Morgan Freeman as Stan, Henry’s close friend and confidante. Morgan Freeman was a substitute letter carrier in San Francisco in 1965, and it would be amazing to have him revive that role on screen.

I didn’t have either actor in mind while writing. My characters are so fully themselves in my mind, I never see them as anyone else. But, if I’m allowed to dream, this is my all-star cast.

I often hear from readers that they think it would make a wonderful film and I wholeheartedly agree. Plus, the Old Chicago Post Office is a rentable building now! I wonder if Steven Spielberg is looking to take on another 60s film inspired by true events?

Visit April Howells's website.

Q&A with April Howells.

--Marshal Zeringue

Helen Benedict's "The Soldier's House"

Helen Benedict, a British-American professor of journalism at Columbia University, is the author of nine novels, six books of nonfiction, and a play.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The Soldier's House:

I've always imagined The Soldier's House as a play or a movie, set, as it is, in a house and community in upstate New York, with flashbacks to Iraq. The three main characters in the novel are Naema, an Iraqi widow; Khalil, her husband, who appears in flashbacks before he is killed; and Jimmy, an American soldier.

Even though Riz Ahmed isn't Iraqi, or even an Arab, he would be a perfect Khalil: handsome, charismatic, deeply kind and yet determined. I would also love to see the Irish actor Paul Macal play Jimmy Donnell, if he can do a good American accent. But most important of all would be who play Naema. My choice is the Moroccan actor, Oumaima Barid, whose beauty, intelligence and intensity match those of Naema.

But there is one more principal character, too: Tariq, Naema's little one-legged son, who is full of life, curiosity and bravado. I have no idea who could play him, but all suggestions welcome.

Visit Helen Benedict's website.

My Book, The Movie: Sand Queen.

The Page 69 Test: Sand Queen.

The Page 69 Test: Wolf Season.

Q&A with Helen Benedict.

The Page 69 Test: The Good Deed.

--Marshal Zeringue

Garrett Curbow's "Whispers of Ink and Starlight"

Garrett Curbow is the author of Whispers of Ink and Starlight and the Daughter of Light trilogy, which was short-listed for the Publishers Weekly Selfies Award. He lives in Savannah, Georgia.

Here Curbow dreamcasts an adaptation of Whispers of Ink and Starlight:

We have made it to the future and Whispers of Ink and Starlight is being adapted into a film! Yay! In this fictitious reality, I, the author, get total executive control over who will direct this adaptation and which actors will star in it.

Whispers of Ink and Starlight is a coming-of-age, literary romance with a heavy dash of magical realism. It follows Nelle, a young woman written into life, and her relationship with James, a young man from a small town in Georgia, as they juggle the independence of adulthood and Nelle’s magical drawbacks.

For the director, I would hire Greta Gerwig. Coming off the tails of Barbie (2023), Little Women (2019), and the upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia adaptation, I want her directorial vision more than anyone else’s. Whispers of Ink and Starlight is a dangerous novel to adapt because it travels fluidly between genres. If someone tries to make a romantic drama out of it, or if they ignore the romance in favor of the magic system, they will lose the heart of the book.

It’s important to hire a director that has illustrated in the past that they can execute a unique, singular vision. Barbie is a perfect example of this. While tonally different from Whispers of Ink and Starlight, if any other writer or director had tried to make Barbie, they would have failed. Gerwig is skilled at balancing writing that contradicts visuals, and does so in a style that makes both elements shine together. I trust her to understand the breath and life of this book, and to translate it from page to screen.

There are three main roles that I want to discuss. The first two, James and Nelle, are arguably the most important and, therefore, the most difficult to cast.

For Nelle, I would cast Mckenna Grace. She is a talented actor who has been working since she was a child, and as a young adult now, she would be the right age to play Nelle. More than any other actors in this age group, I think she would be able to pull off Nelle’s fire, her strength, and her thirst for life.

James is harder for me to cast. Ideally, I would find a time traveling device, go back to 2004, and hire a young Milo Ventimiglia, the actor who played Jess in Gilmore Girls. He has the perfect look for James, and he would bring a layer to the character that would be exciting to see on-screen. In reality, I would love to cast an unknown actor to play James.

The third role is Wallace Quill, Nelle’s father. For this role, I would cast none other than Penn Badgley (Dan from Gossip Girl, Joe Goldberg from You). No one else could switch between Quill’s bone-chilling stare and charismatic smile in the blink of an eye like him.

Now that we have a director and our lead actors locked down, I can’t wait for the world to see my book, the movie.

Visit Garrett Curbow's website.

Q&A with Garrett Curbow.

Writers Read: Garrett Curbow.

The Page 69 Test: Whispers of Ink and Starlight.

--Marshal Zeringue

Diana Awad's "As Far as She Knew"

Diana Awad is an Arab American who grew up all over the world as the daughter of a United States Foreign Service Officer. After college, she became a local television journalist and often covered stories about violent crimes and mysterious disappearances. She eventually decided to write her own stories with unexpected endings. Awad also writes historical romance as Diana Quincy and historical mystery as D. M. Quincy. She is now happily settled in Virginia but still gets the itch to explore far-off places. When she’s not bent over her laptop, Awad reads, devours streaming thriller series, and plots her next travel adventure.

Here the author dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, As Far as She Knew:

I didn’t have any particular actors in mind when I wrote As Far as She Knew but would love to dreamcast my novel. Because representation absolutely matters, I’d want the majority of Arab American characters in the novel to be played by actors of Arab descent. Unfortunately, there are so few Arab Americans working in American TV and film that it would be difficult to come up with a comprehensive list, but I do have some thoughts.

A younger version of the Palestinian-American actor Waleed Zuaiter would be perfect in the role of Ali, husband of the lead character, Amira. Ali dies off page in the first scene but features prominently in flashbacks throughout the novel. Zuaiter, who I last saw in the miniseries The Girlfriend with Robin Wright, could effectively capture Ali’s quiet strength, kindness and empathy. 

For Ayla, Amira and Ali’s college-age daughter, I’d turn to Josie Totah, an actress best known to me for her role in The Buccaneers. I think Totah, who is of Palestinian and Lebanese descent, could portray the character’s outward grit and strength, as well as her inner emotional turmoil. 

Alia Shawkat, an American actress of Iraqi descent, would be perfect for the role of Lulu, Amira’s thirtysomething, straight talking, former wild child younger sister. Skawkat has embodied some of those qualities in shows like Arrested Development and Severance. 

I also have an idea of who would do a masterful job directing a movie or miniseries version of As Far as She Knew, and that is Cherien Dabis, an acclaimed Palestinian- American actress and director who excels in Arab American storytelling. Her multi- generational Palestinian family drama, All That’s Left of You, was shortlisted for an Academy Award for best international feature. Dabis has also directed episodes of Only Murders in the Building, so she knows her way around producing compelling shows with mystery elements.

Mostly though, since As Far as She Knew is published by Mindy’s Book Studio, it would be a dream if Mindy Kaling wanted to develop this project for the screen. With her writing and producing talents, my novel could not be in more capable hands.

Visit Diana Awad's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Pamela Steele's "In The Fields of Fatherless Children"

Pamela Steele holds an MFA in Poetry from Spalding University. Her books include Paper Bird: Poems and Greasewood Creek. She has been awarded residencies and fellowships by the Djerassi Resident Artists Program in Woodside, California; the Hindman Settlement School Oak Ledge, in Knott County, Kentucky; the Jentel Artist Residency in Banner, Wyoming; and Fishtrap’s Gathering of Writers in Joseph, Oregon. She lives on a ranch in the high desert of Eastern Oregon.

Here Steele dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, In the Fields of Fatherless Children:

June, sixteen and pregnant, lives with her mother and stepfather in the Appalachian mountains in the Vietnam Era. When her baby girl is born, Isom, her stepfather steals it and June sets off on a journey to find her.

The abundance of the novel's strong female characters calls for a female director. Greta Gerwig is my choice, hands down. She's amazing, especially with her direction of Lady Bird.

In the Fields of Fatherless Children is a polyphonic novel told in third person and the first person voices of Bethel and Granny, the main character’s mother and grandmother.

June, the main character, is seventeen, resourceful and resilient, but suffering a quiet rage.

June’s physical appearance harkens to her Scots-Irish-Cherokee ancestors. Sadie Sink, of Stranger Things, is 23 but looks seventeen and I have no trouble seeing her standing up to Isom, her step-father, or searching a flooded holler or scavenging for food and tools.

Tom, June’s older brother, is protective and tender and doesn’t want to spend his life digging coal. As I wrote the novel, Tom seemed dangerously fragile at times. Alas, Eddie Redmayne, perfect for the part, is too old. Youthful Ian Belcher (26) of Lost in Space can be trusted to portray Tom’s complexities.

Bethel, June’s mother, is hard-working, highly religious and a witness to Isom’s cruelties. I’ve imagined her to be lush, with a round, youthful face. Merritt Wever (46), of Nurse Jackie, will fit the bill.

June’s step-father, Isom, suffers from black lung disease. He’s stubborn, overbearing and not above doing people dirty. Recently, I watched James McAvoy (47), a favorite since Atonement, in the 2021 film My Son and marveled at his telegraphing of emotion using only the slightest movement of an eyebrow. As an experiment, every other actor in My Son except McAvoy worked from a script. He nailed it and would do a fine job of playing mercurial Isom.

While drafting the novel, I imagined Sol, the antagonist, being played by John Hawkes (66). I fell in love with Hawkes in Winter’s Bone. As Ree’s uncle Teardrop, he conveys a sense of justice and family loyalty. He’d be right at home in my novel.

The part of Ellis calls for a boy of eighteen with dark features. My lack of awareness about new, young actors sent me to IMDB. Liam Woodrum (22) of Geek Girl, seems fitting. Like Ellis, he emits a vulnerable and brooding vibe.

June Diane Raphael (47) of The Morning Show, is a natural for the role of Beauty. She’s lovely and elegant and grounded. Sorry, Amy Adams. You had your chance and blew it on that other movie.

I’ve paired Amy Lou Wood (32), exquisite in The White Lotus, who deserves higher visibility in a screenplay, and Lewis Pullman (33), of Thunderbolts to portray Rena, June’s older sister and Walk, her husband.

Granny Carrie is the local midwife, historian and advocate for women’s reproductive health. She’s progressive and empathetic. Jane Alexander (86), known for her role in Kramer vs. Kramer, is perfect to play Carrie, who won’t stop her work until she loses her command over the natural order of things.

Lastly, we cast Granny, the loving ghost who wants desperately to help June. Granny is pragmatic and wise, a caretaker of the cultural knowledge of the Southern Appalachian mountains. For this reason, I’ve chosen Amy Madigan (76), recent Oscar winner for her role in the terrifying film Weapons. I can’t wait to hear my native dialect in her mischievous, scritchy- scratchy voice.

One last thought: like my friend Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr., previously featured on this blog, I feel that Walton Goggins is a must-have for any film peopled by Appalachian characters. I’ve loved him since I saw him in the role of Boyd Crowder in Justified. His Boyd reminded me so much of elder men I knew in childhood, who seemed slightly dangerous, but had a good heart in them. I’ll start working on a part just for Walton right away.

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--Marshal Zeringue