Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy

Brandon Sanderson's books include the Mistborn Trilogy--Mistborn: The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages (October 2008)--which he has called "a Hybrid fantasy, heist story, kung fu epic!"

Here he discusses his thinking about the cast and crew should the books be adapted for the big screen:

I know a lot of authors "cast" certain actors in their books as the characters, but I've never done this. In my mind, they're who they are--and that's not a given actor. It's someone else, as unique as any of us are. That isn't to say I wouldn't like to see a director adapt my books to film! It just means that it is very hard for me to pick actors for my books.

Now, directors are a different story. I've often thought about who I would like to make the Mistborn trilogy into a movie. The obvious choice would be Peter Jackson, but I shy away from this one. Perhaps because he's the aforementioned obvious choice. More, I've always kind of thought that I'd like to pick Robert Rodriguez. Why him? Well, because of his versatility. I've seen so many different types of movies from him, but I've liked every one. He's good with action sequences, can film a nice, dramatic scene, and has proven that he can do adaptations. Mostly, however, he's able to mix blockbuster storytelling with an artist's flair.

So, that would be my pick!

Learn more about the Mistborn books and Brandon Sanderson and his work at his website and his blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Julie Luongo's "The Hard Way"

Julie Luongo has worked as a university instructor, freelance writer, researcher, editor, reporter, and business consultant. She’s written about theater, fishing, and entertainment.

Her new book is The Hard Way.

Here she develops some ideas about the cast and director should her novel be adapted for the big screen:

When I imagine The Hard Way based on the novel by Julie Luongo coming to a theater near you, I generally think of it as a rich romantic comedy with a who’s-who ensemble cast and a top director. And I’m no literary snob. I have no problems at all with the Hollywood elite.

But The Hard Way would also work as a dark and/or quirky indie film with soon-to-be famous actors. What I mean is that I could imagine—I do imagine—a lot of different directors handling the subject material well. Judd Apatow would make it young and light; Sofia Coppola brooding and layered; Wes Anderson quirky and beautiful; Ron Howard fun and Oscar-worthy.

However, if I were directing my movie, I’d probably go with a Robert Altman style a la Short Cuts to mimic my book’s novel-in-stories structure. (Incidentally, I think Richard Linklater would pull this off well.) I’d give each vignette its own cast, tone, and style.

Nooo, I haven’t wasted a ton of time on this fantasy. Nope, not much time at all.

The Hard Way takes place over the span of 30 years (1970-2000) and is about one woman’s journey toward self-awareness and personal fulfillment. Lucy has a long road though. Her childhood was spent as the reluctant subject of a painter her parents were supporting when she was born.

In the vignette of her childhood, I’d cast Lucy as Miranda Cosgrove (Summer in School of Rock). Her self-involved parents would be played by Catherine Keener and Harold Ramis. The painter, a smug artist who occupies the bulk of her time, would be played by Johnathon Schaech (Jimmy in That Thing You Do).

When Lucy is in college, she goes on a tropical vacation with her mother, her mother’s new boyfriend, and his unhappy adult children. In this story, she’d be played by Alia Shawkat (Maeby in Arrested Development). Lucy’s sister Nancy appears here as a shrill, tense, and jealous woman. I think Judy Greer would pull off nicely (another Arrested Development actress – she was Kitty, the secretary). There is also a great male character, a moody man-child, which would be an excellent part for Jason Schwartzman.

After college Lucy stumbles through some ill-chosen careers. In her first one, as a freelance reporter, Lucy would have to be played by Lauren Ambrose (Claire in Six Feet Under). Probably in a misguided attempt to mourn her father, she dates a self-possessed older man who is distracted by his own issues. Bill Murray is my top pick for this character.

Lucy makes more than one misguided choice in love and leaves a number of discarded boyfriends in her wake. One of my favorite boyfriend characters is Keith, a wacky guy with a lax work ethic and a penchant for retro slang. I think Owen Wilson would have fun with this role (opposite Kate Winslet as Lucy).

Lucy’s least favorite boyfriend is Todd, who tells her what to do, what to eat, and how to act, which is amusing to her at first and eventually annoying then exhausting. Todd also suffers from road rage. People who don’t give the courtesy wave beware! I think Matt Damon could expertly reveal Todd’s suppressed fury.

Everyone’s favorite boyfriend of Lucy’s is Ben. He’s a Dean Martin with a little Jerry Lewis, which means he’s confident and sweet; handsome and goofy. I imagine that Paul Rudd or even James Franco could do a lot with this character.

If nothing else, The Hard Way, The Movie has range with cheek to rival Juno and depth enough to kill a mockingbird. (This synopsis rated H for Humble.)

Read more about The Hard Way at Julie Luongo's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Julie Klam's "Please Excuse My Daughter"

Julie Klam graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and was an intern at Late Night with David Letterman. She went on to write for such publications as O, the Oprah Magazine, Rolling Stone, Harper’s Bazaar, and Glamour. She was also nominated for an Emmy as a writer for VH1’s Pop-Up Video.

Her new book is the memoir, Please Excuse My Daughter.

Here Klam develops some ideas about the cast and director should her memoir be adapted for the big screen:

As a former NYU film student, I’m pathetically proficient at imagining my life as a movie. When I stand on the prescription line at Duane Reade, I think, “If Sean Penn was the pharmacist this wait would be so dramatic, so compelling.” That said, my book Please Excuse My Daughter (Riverhead) is a memoir, it’s about my life, a life that I think sounds very much like a movie (if you like the kind of movies where people wait on line at Duane Reade).

When I was on my book tour, my hands-down favorite question anyone asked me was “Who’d play you in the movie?” My response was always, “Is Ethel Merman dead?” But really? For real? Well….

The constellation of the plot of Please Excuse My Daughter revolves around six key figures; me, my mother, Marcia; my father, Paul; my therapist, Margot; my ex-convict/Mafioso ex-boyfriend, Joe; and my fabulous husband, Paul.

Here’s the cast as I wish it:

Me, Julie - Jennifer Aniston or Kate Winslet (I love them both each in different ways, maybe they could share the role like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in Full House)

My mother, Marcia - Cher

Margot, the therapist – Michelle Pfeiffer

Joe, the bad guy – Colin Farrell

My husband, Paul – Vince Vaughn (I think Jennifer would like that, maybe if Kate did it we’d have Daniel Day-Lewis)

My father, Paul – Alan Arkin at his most Arkinesque

In terms of direction, I’d love to see it in the hands James L. Brooks.

[Disclaimer: If anyone options the book, I’d change my submission in a heartbeat and swear that you’re who I always wanted.]

Learn more about the book and author at Julie Klam's website and her blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Adam Gittlin's "The Deal"

Adam Gittlin is the author of The Men Downstairs and The Deal.

Here he develops some ideas about the cast should The Deal be adapted for the big screen:

No matter what book I’m writing, I always see it playing out as a film as quickly as the words hit the page. The Deal was no exception. It is a complex financial thriller in which New York City commercial real estate power-broker Jonah Gray thinks he’s been given three weeks to orchestrate the deal of a lifetime. But soon one of the world’s rarest antiques is planted in his briefcase, and he learns quickly that nothing in his professional or personal life is quite what it seems.

The Deal has a lot of characters, so for sake of keeping this exercise relatively simple I’ll touch on the main players. From day one I thought Jonah Gray presented a great opportunity for one of two actors, Jonathan Rhys Meyers or Leonardo DiCaprio. I know—they’re very different. But each brings formidable attributes to the table that would benefit the part. For Rhys Meyers, we got a glimpse of how he would look and feel as a polished business young gun in Match Point. This coupled with the intensity he shows in everything from his portrayal of Henry VIII in The Tudors to his Golden Globe-winning, Emmy-nominated turn as Elvis shows me he has both the fire and ice Jonah would require. With regard to DiCaprio, it’s a bit more obvious: he has the skill (The Departed), he has the versatility (Blood Diamond) and he has the star power (any film he’s called upon to headline).

As for the three other members of Jonah’s brokerage team—Perry York, Jake Donald and senior partner Tommy Wingate—I would love to see if either Rachel McAdams or Anne Hathaway could harness the toughness and maturity to play the sassy Perry York, though I feel Maggie Gyllenhaal or Vera Farmiga may be more natural at pulling her off. Jake Donald’s character combines serious business sense with some of the novel’s comic relief; I see this as a chance for Seth Rogan to begin expanding his range but can also envision Peter Sarsgaard fitting comfortably into the role. Tommy Wingate, the seasoned high-rolling senior partner, would round out the team nicely if played by either Kevin Spacey or Alec Baldwin.

The book’s ultimate villain, Andreu Zhamovsky, is mysterious, crafty, intimidating and stylish. He’s also Russian raised therefore the ability to capture his accent would be vital. Assuming this was a non issue (these guys are professionals, right?) either Matt Damon or Jason Statham would be a strong fit.

Read an excerpt from The Deal, and learn more about the book and author at Adam Gittlin's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Brent Ghelfi's "Volk’s Game"

Brent Ghelfi's Volk's Game was recently nominated by the International Thriller Writers for Best First Novel, and his new book, Volk's Shadow, is set for release on July 8.

Last year, he applied the Page 69 Test to Volk's Game. Here he shares some thoughts on the cast should the book be adapted for the movies:

Volk’s Game tells the story of the theft of a long-lost Leonardo Da Vinci painting from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. The story takes place against the backdrop of post-Soviet Russia, a country still captured in the flaming embrace of change.

The novel was recently optioned, so I suppose now is as good a time as any to dream about the cast and director for the movie.

The title character, Volk, is both a Russian army colonel and a gangster, one of those men perfectly positioned to take advantage of Russia’s latest economic model: capitalism sucked through the filter of a police state. But Volk wants something more from his life and Da Vinci’s painting gives him the chance to obtain it, to find something good amid all the evil that surrounds him. Brooding, conflicted, violent, and passionate about the painting—Volk is deep, but definitely not the expressive type. The actor who plays him will have to possess a menacing on-screen presence and the ability to reveal his emotions through action instead of words. My nominee is Jason Statham.

Valya, Volk’s lover and guardian angel, is a refugee from Chechnya, a small corner of hell ravaged by two wars brought by Yeltsin and Putin. Forged like white-hot steel, Valya burns across the pages of this novel. The perfect actress to play her—to show both her vulnerability and her strength—is Olga Kurylenko (although I suspect she’ll be busy in the next few years as the new Bond girl). Valya’s secret lover, the darkly seductive Yelena, has a hidden agenda and the ruthlessness required to execute it. My pick for that role is Milla Jovovich.

Volk’s patron, the General, is an aged survivor of Cold War Russia and hot war Chechnya who has transformed himself into a covert oligarch. Brilliant and manipulative, the General could be played beautifully by Peter Dinklage, assuming a makeup artist adds a few decades to his appearance.

Crime boss Maxim? Well, what with all 300 pounds of twisted steel of him, just the sheer size of the man presents a casting problem. Not to mention his emotional mix of raw fury, unrestrained violence, and cold calculation. If I could I would cast Gerard Butler in this role.

And, finally—we are still dreaming here, right?—I’d choose Paul Greengrass or Alejandro González Iñárritu to direct.

Visit the Volk's Game website, read Chapter One, and watch the video trailer.

The Page 69 Test: Volk's Game.

--Marshal Zeringue

Leslie Schnur's "Late Night Talking"

Leslie Schnur is the author of The Dog Walker and, new in paperback this month, Late Night Talking.

Here she develops some ideas about the cast and director should Late Night Talking be adapted for the big screen:

My most recent book, Late Night Talking, is about a late night radio talk show host who vents with her listeners about the everyday aggravations of modern life, from rude cell phone users and poor gym etiquette, to bad drivers and people who don’t clean up after their dogs. Jeannie Sterling is passionate about making the world a better place, one annoying person at a time.

Jeannie is me.

Or I am she.

Except I spend my days writing books and am usually too intimidated to ask someone to get off her cell phone in a restaurant or wipe his sweat off the bike at the gym.

Jeannie gets into some trouble with her best friend, Luce, who is also me, and has poignant memories of her mother, long dead, who is also me. Except for the dead part.

When I write, I imagine the actors who could play the roles. But since all the female characters are me, this is very difficult and depends on how much chocolate I ate the night before and how I feel about the writing I’ve done that day, or whether it is a big budget production or an indie. Should Jeannie be played by Reese Witherspoon or Catherine Keener? Should Luce be played by Emily Blunt or Joan Cusack? And the mom: is she Meryl Streep, Frances McDormand, or that woman in the Paxil commercials?

The point is that I have a very difficult time casting myself. So the female characters are open to interpretation and, actually, to anybody interested. Reese Witherspoon optioned my first novel, The Dog Walker, and would’ve been perfect for the snooping, ethically-challenged protagonist, if only … well, you know Hollywood, if only everything.

But the men. Now that’s a different story. I like to imagine the actors who would play the men in my books. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it’s because if the protagonist is me and the male lead is, say, Clive Owen, why, that is me making out with him!

Late Night Talking was written for one person and one person only: George Clooney. And I don’t understand why he hasn’t called. I pictured him from page one until the end, as the older, tree-climbing media mogul with a social conscience. I saw him in every scene Jeannie (or I) was in, and was certain he’d snatch the book up for his production company. Anyway, George, if you’re reading this: I’m waiting for you. Although if Clive Owen called, I’d be open.

Jeannie’s father is definitely Paul Newman. He’s not as Jewish as the character in the book, but I just can’t see Jerry Stiller in the role. And Tommy, the sexy, Vespa-riding journalist boyfriend is Matt Damon. (I was you-know-whating Matt Damon long before Sarah Silverman, trust me.) And if Matt’s too busy to play the jilted man, I wouldn’t turn down Bradley Cooper.

Also, for the record, it would be a lot of fun to cast Bruce Willis as Moss, Ashton Kutcher as Tommy and Demi Moore as me, I mean Jeannie. There’s publicity value in that, don’t you think?

The director and screenwriter could be Richard Curtis (Love, Actually, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral.) But if Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine) are looking for work, they might be good too.

As for the book I’m working on now, Everything in Sight, there is a romantic leading role for Javier Bardem or Johnny Depp. But I guess if George Clooney begged me, he could maybe have the job as well. Oh, and Clive Owen too.

Visit Leslie Schnur's website and read an excerpt from Late Night Talking.

Read the "backstory" to Late Night Talking.

The Page 69 Test: Late Night Talking.

--Marshal Zeringue

Craig Johnson's "The Cold Dish"

Craig Johnson is the author of The Cold Dish, Death Without Company, Kindness Goes Unpunished and Another Man’s Moccasins.

Here he shares some ideas about the cast and director of a film adaptation of the first Walt Longmire mystery, The Cold Dish:

I once got asked on Utah Public Radio who I thought should play Sheriff Walt Longmire in a motion picture version of my novels, and I responded, “Gary Cooper, but he’s not returning our calls.” That’s pretty much the way it is in Hollywood, nobody ever dies; they just stop returning your calls.

I decided in the interest of self-preservation, since there seems to be a current interest from Hollywood in my writing, that I would only cast The Cold Dish from the past, and in that, I’d be hard pressed to come up with somebody better than Gary Cooper. Raised on his father’s ranch near Helena, Montana—feeding 450 head of cattle and freezing his ass off at 40 below, he was what I call, the old-fashioned ideal of the pre-war era; a quiet, self-effacing humor with an eye to the horizon that was evident in The Virginian, Sergeant York, The Pride of the Yankees, not to mention High Noon.

Some of the physical qualities I had in mind when I was constructing Walt were as far flung as Athos from The Three Musketeers, to Jean Val Jean from Les Miserables, specifically the scene where the ex-convict reveals himself by lifting a wagon off of an injured man. Marine investigator and USC offensive tackle, Walt Longmire is a big man simply for the reason that I wanted him to be capable, but not studied. Personally, I’ve had enough of the seventh-degree black-belt types, and just wanted a sheriff who could put a bad guy up against the wall if need be. Cooper was tall enough, and I would have enjoyed telling him that he had to start eating more donuts. The other major ability would be a sense of humor and timing—which Coop showed in spades in such notable features as Ball of Fire, Meet John Doe, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (the good one), and The Westerner.

For deputy Victoria Moretti you’d have to have a phenomenal Italian actress to hold her own against Cooper, so I’d go with a North Carolinian from the same period; Ava Gardner. From all reports, she could out drink and out cuss the Marine 1st Division which makes her perfect for the role of a character with the body of Salome and the mouth of a salt-water crocodile. She was intelligent, down to earth, and oh so easy on the eye. A one-of-the-guys, gal.

Henry Standing Bear would be a sticking point, especially since I confined my selections only to performers who have passed. The history of Hollywood is strewn with very capable actors who’ve portrayed Native American characters without ever having been actual Indians. It’s a shame, but true. I guess I’d go with Jay Silverheels of Tonto fame, and rejoice in the hopes of future productions that there are so many capable, Indian actors working today.

At the helm, it would be hard to resist John Ford; but I will. Instead, I think I’d go with John Sturges. With an oeuvre that includes Gunfight at the OK Corral (the good one), Bad Day at Black Rock, and The Magnificent Seven, Sturges’ clean and uncluttered style would suit contemporary Wyoming, and his taut, tension-ridden pacing would provide the ticking clock that the movie of The Cold Dish would require. One of the only criticisms that I could levy against him would be the weakness of his female characters…. But I bet Ava could bring him around.

Read more about the Walt Longmire mysteries and the author at Craig Johnson's website.

The Page 69 Test: Kindness Goes Unpunished.

--Marshal Zeringue

Karen Miller's "Empress"

Karen Miller is the author of the bestselling fantasy duology Kingmaker, Kingbreaker, the currently releasing fantasy trilogy Godspeaker, and the bestselling tie-in novel Stargate SG-1: Alliances.

Here she develops some casting ideas should Empress, of the Godspeaker trilogy, be adapted for the big screen:

Hollywood being what it is, the chances of this, or any of my books, being made into a movie are slim to none. But I do have a lot of fun playing casting director when I’m writing – sometimes it helps to have a known ‘face’ in your head when you’re searching for a character’s physicality. Or sometimes once you’re done, you suddenly see a face that fits the face you’ve been writing about for ages. That can be quite freaky, actually. As though your inner dreams are suddenly dressed in flesh.

Empress is my latest book, the first installment of the Godspeaker trilogy. It’s epic, historical fantasy, I suppose you’d describe it. The scope of the trilogy is pretty wide, in a geographical and socio-political sense. In Empress, the reader is introduced to the harsh land of Mijak, where the god isn’t just some theoretical, possibly non-existent being, but a living, breathing, physically manifested presence. Not believing in the god is like saying you don’t believe in trees – even as a tree is falling on top of you. It’s the story of one unwanted girl-child, Hekat, who’s sold into slavery, and rises to the very heights of power … at an enormous cost not only to herself, but the people around her. And it’s about what happens when she sets her sights on giving her bloodthirsty god the whole world.

Initially, thinking of Hekat, Halle Berry came to mind because Hekat’s beautiful and so is Ms Berry. Then I saw an episode of America’s Next Top Model, and my perfect Hekat was on it! I can’t remember which season it was, or the model’s name now, but it was the one where they went to Hawaii to do bikini shots in the season opener. She wore a head wrap and looked so fierce and so beautiful, she was the incarnation of Hekat. She was so how I saw Hekat in my mind it totally threw me.

Nagarak, the powerful and terrifying high priest, is absolutely Carl Lumbly. Not lovely Carl Lumbly, as he was in Alias, but as he was in the Battlestar Galactica episode ‘Hero’, playing Bulldog. I saw that episode and went, Whoah! It’s Nagarak!

With Vortka, the novice priest whose life gets tangled with Hekat’s, I think of Taye Diggs. Vortka is a sweet, sweet man – far too kind and loving for the world he was born into. Taye Diggs has the best smile, and that kind of gentleness in him, I think.

Grown-up Zandakar, Hekat’s son, at least in terms of his physicality, is absolutely Henry Simmons. He does a shirtless scene in NYPD Blue that is eye-boggling, to say the least. I think at some point there’s some full body nudity with him – anyway, his extraordinary physique is totally Zandakar. And there’s the right kind of strength in his face, too. Just give him a pair of blue contact lenses and we’re laughing!

I see Denzel Washington as Raklion, the beleagured warlord and Hekat’s mate. Like Vortka, and unlike Nagarak, Raklion has a great deal of kindness in him. He can be tough and brutal, because that’s what his life requires, but there’s gentleness there too. He’s not devastatingly handsome, but there’s a core of inner strength and purpose to him.

So that’s how I’d cast my book as a film, if ever it was going to be filmed. But it won’t – there’s way too much blood-letting, I think, even for Hollywood!

Read an excerpt from Empress, and learn more about the author and her work at Karen Miller's website and her LiveJournal.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jane Cleland's "Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries"

Jane K. Cleland is the author of the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries.

Here she offers a fresh twist to the blog's approach to having the author imagine her novels adapted for the big screen:

I love the idea of thinking about casting the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries: Consigned to Death, Deadly Appraisal, and Antiques to Die For. It’s fun—and it’s relevant because I wrote Josie with one of two actresses in mind. But I’m not going to tell you who they are because I want to know the picture in your head.

Here’s my thinking: I’ll tell you about some of the repeating characters in the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries, and you tell me which actors should play them. You submit your entries to me by July 4, 2008, and I’ll select the winners randomly from all the entries that align with my vision. The winner for each character gets a pair of Josie’s martini glasses and an autographed copy of one of the books in the series. Worth playing for? You bet!

Josie Prescott is an antiques appraiser who uses her knowledge of antiques to solve crimes. She’s a good girl, a nice young woman who’s overcome several bad breaks. Josie’s in her thirties. She grew up in Boston. Her degree is in Art History. She was the whistle blower in a major antiques scandal that occurred a few years ago in New York City, and as a result, she moved to New Hampshire to start her own business. She was shocked that she was shunned by her friends. It never occurred to her that the people she admires wouldn’t appreciate and support her efforts—after all, she did the right thing, and by her standards, that’s all that matters. Who should play Josie?

Josie’s boyfriend is Ty Alverez, formerly the Rocky Point, New Hampshire police chief, and now a regional director for Homeland Security. Ty is tall. He loved his aunt, and when she was dying, he went to California to be with her and help her navigate the medical system. He drives an SUV. We know nothing else about him. Who should play Ty?

Josie’s neighbor, landlady, and friend is Zöe, an Italian firecracker, quick to anger and quick to atone. She’s a single mom of two youngins. Zöe left her no-good-nik husband in Oregon when she inherited her uncle’s estate. She and Josie share martinis and a view of the world. To Zöe, there’s little gray in life; to Josie, there’s plenty of gray, and the fact that they discuss it all the time is what makes them dear friends: they don’t have to agree—they just have to talk. Who should play Zöe?

Sasha is Josie’s chief appraiser. She’s shy and insecure—except when discussing art. She has a Ph.D. in art history and thinks that Josie is the smartest woman she knows. She twirls her lank brown hair when she’s nervous. Who should play Sasha?

Fred is brat pack cool. He’s another appraiser. He works for Sasha. He’s an intellectual snob when it comes to antiques, condemning collectibles, wishing he could only deal with the best objects. Who should play Fred?

Gretchen is Josie’s assistant. She’s 25. She has copper-color hair that cascades below her shoulders and emerald eyes. She’s addicted to celebrity gossip. She’s boy-crazy. She’s also an innate caretaker and as honest as the day is long, and she has a mysterious past. Who should play Gretchen?

Eric is Josie’s back-room guy, a twig-thin high school grad, glad to be done with school. He lives with his mom and his two dogs. He’s an uneasy leader, more prepared to fail than succeed, but determined to do his all to justify Josie’s trust in him. Who should play Eric?

Now it’s in your hands. I look forward to hearing from you.

Visit Jane Cleland's website and her blog.

Watch the Antiques to Die For trailer.

The Page 69 Test: Deadly Appraisal.

--Marshal Zeringue

L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s "Flash"

L. E. Modesitt, Jr. is the bestselling author of over forty novels encompassing two science fiction series and three fantasy series, as well as several other novels in the science fiction genre.

Here he develops some ideas about the cast and director for a film adaptation of his 2005 novel, Flash, which "delves into the insidious relationship between science, advertising, and politics."

I normally don’t consider who might star if one of my books were made into a movie, because, based on an experience some ten years ago, when a most notable Hollywood director showed an interest in one of my books – and then decided against going further because, despite a high level of destruction, the underlying story was “too complex,” i.e., it actually had significant moral dimensions and questions – it became apparent that whether a book gets to the screen is a form of creative lottery.

Most likely, the book of mine most structurally conducive to being made into a movie, thus far, at least, is Flash, a PI/consultant thriller set three centuries in the future, which features one Jonat deVrai, a former Marine officer who has turned his hand to consulting and analysis of media influence and who is asked to investigate and analyze the use of a new high-tech approach to media in political campaigns. Needless to say, once he discovers what is really happening, everything in his life becomes a target – his occupation, his family, and himself.

Personally, I’d like to see Clive Owen as Jonat deVrai, because he can show integrity in a role, while still holding to a certain grittiness and understanding of just how much grunt-work goes on behind a façade of effortlessness. For Jonat’s very brilliant and capable sister, Aliora, my first choice would be Keira Knightley. For her husband Dierk, a solid man with a quietly humorous side, I’d love to have Kevin Kline. For Paula, the police cydroid who becomes all too human, I’d choose Cate Blanchett. Blanchett has the ability to be whatever role she takes, and she can look so totally different in each role. For Stacia Mydra, the calculating and highly intelligent multilateral director-general [who is the only one of deVrai’s opponents who survives], I’d like to see Meryl Streep, playing the role along the lines she did in The Devil Wears Prada. My second choice would be Kristin Scott Thomas, although she’d certainly take the role in a different direction.

As for directors, my first choice would have been Robert Altman, but given the fact that he’s no longer available, and the fact that the book is somewhat cynical about politics, either Robert Redford or Clint Eastwood would do a good job.

Now… all this is certainly highly improbable, since I doubt any director could afford such a cast, but since we are talking speculative fiction… and this is all highly speculative… why not?

Learn more about the author and his many books at L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s website.

--Marshal Zeringue