John J. Le Beau's "Collision of Evil"

John J. Le Beau served as a clandestine operations officer in the Central Intelligence Agency for over twenty-five years. Since January 2006, Dr. Le Beau has served as a Professor of National Security Studies in the College of International Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch, Germany.

Here he shares some casting ideas for a film adaptation of his debut novel, Collision of Evil:

Without doubt, the real star of Collision of Evil would be its setting – the strikingly tranquil pastoral terrain of the Bavarian Alps, the handsome old world city of Munich, and the colorful and gaudy Oktoberfest, the largest folk-festival on the planet. Filmed atmospherically on location, the movie would from the opening scene draw the audience into the enchanting world of Southern Germany and Austria, as a backdrop to lethal evil unleashed. As well, because an important part of the story takes place during the closing days of the Second World War, the setting would involve dramatic scenes from this violent era too.

The two main characters in Collision of Evil are a Bavarian police detective, Kommissar Franz Waldbaer, and a somewhat mysterious American named Robert Hirter, who is the brother of a man murdered in the alpine countryside. Hirter insists on taking an active hand in the murder investigation, much to the annoyance of the grumpy, go-it-alone rumpled detective. Their joint inquiries eventually establish that the events they are investigating are far more malignant and dangerous than a ‘mere’ murder.

The Hirter character calls for a relatively young, athletic and clearly American actor. Ben Affleck would be well cast in this role. The Kommissar Waldbaer character, on the other hand, requires an older man, perhaps in his fifties, heavy-set without being actually fat and with an expressive, ‘lived-in’ face. Alec Baldwin, if provided an indifferent haircut and a creased Bavarian jacket, might be able to inhabit this role convincingly, quietly conveying a sense of experience and gravitas to provide counterpoint to the more restless and impatient Affleck protagonist. Both actors would interact with one another throughout the film, moving along a trajectory from mutual dislike to grudging mutual respect as the investigation proceeds, revealing an intersection of evil past and evil present.

Apart from the two main characters, three supporting characters play important roles in plot development. A notable supporting character is Caroline O’Kendell, a young professional woman in the U.S. government and something of a romantic interest for Robert Hirter. Neve Campbell would be engaging in this role and would be able to give the character some flair. The character of Allen Chalmers, a black government chemist, is introduced later in the plot but is nonetheless an important role. James Avery would have the requisite sense of earnestness for this role. A final and colorful supporting character of consequence to the plot is an elderly but cogent German SS veteran, August Sedlmeyer. Hardy Krueger, who is German and has played in a number of Hollywood films, would be ideally cast.

Collision of Evil as a film would enjoy a fast pace and numerous setting changes and attempt to develop from the start a sense of believable menace and realistic story development. This is a film that would not require special effects but would rely on strong acting to build an atmosphere of drama. And, as noted at the outset, sensitive, on-location filming would be a key factor.

Learn more about the book and author at John J. Le Beau's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Merrill Markoe's talking dog script/novel

Merrill Markoe is the author of three books of humorous essays and the novels It’s My F---ing Birthday, What the Dogs Have Taught Me, and Walking in Circles Before Lying Down, and Nose Down, Eyes Up. She has also co-authored with Andy Prieboy the novel The Psycho Ex Game.

Here she shares a tale of (not) getting a movie adapted from her fiction featuring women and their talking dogs--and of the various actors and producers who sniffed around the various projects:

In 1986, when Ronald Reagan was President, Paramount bought a screenplay from me about a girl who worked at a magazine, was about to turn thirty and her talking dog. It was called “Me and My Boy.” I had decided to write a talking dog movie because I was working on The Letterman Show, and noticed that the short movies that I shot from the point of view of a dog seemed to have wide appeal. Also I lived with four dogs and in 1986 the talking dog genre, which I’d always liked, was lying fallow.

Attached as producers were the team of Lynda Obst and Debra Hill.

So I wrote a few drafts that everyone liked. And the movie almost got made. Then it didn’t.

Instead it went in to “turn around.” For a while it was shepherded by Bernie Brillstein who was running a studio that year. I was attached as director. I even got a shooting schedule.

The chorus of this particular song is well known in Los Angeles but everyone adds their own verse. Almost got made, then it didn’t. Lather, rinse, repeat.

For a while it moved from place to place. I rewrote it over and over. At some point, I threw up my hands in despair. If this movie ever got a green light, I promised, I would rush in and tailor it to the cast. Never happened.

Over the next few years I heard rumors that Lynda and Debra had hired other writers. Some of them contacted me. Lather, rinse and repeat. George HW Bush became President, then Bill Clinton. By now it was hard to find a movie, sit com, animated show or commercial that didn’t contain at least one talking dog.

I lost track of my script.

In 1999, I met Nora Ephron. “Whatever became of that dog script?” she asked. So I jumped back on board and we exhumed the original. This time it got all the way to a table read with Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry. Unfortunately it took place moments before the tabloids reported that Matthew Perry went to rehab. Perhaps that’s why he couldn’t read a line of dialog without having to start over.

I never heard another word from any one.

A friend read that someone else rewrote it. I imagined it in the catacombs beneath the Hollywood sign, buried under dozens of proposals for sequels for Marley and Me.
In 2005, Debra Hill died an untimely death.

By then George W. Bush was President and I was writing novels and looking for an idea for my next one. I lived with four other dogs and still had a lot to say about the great funny relationships I’ve had with my dogs over the years. I had written dozens of short pieces about talking to dogs, and also made a lot of videos. But I had never gotten to the heart of my feelings in print. It was time.

So I wrote a book called Walking in Circles Before Lying Down about a woman in her forties ,who worked at a doggy day care center and her ability to talk to all the dogs she tended.

Because I don’t like to repeat myself I went to a lot of trouble to make sure that I had brand new characters, with new occupations and a whole different set of dogs. It was slated for publication in August of 2006 and had just gotten good reviews from the publishing trades when I got a call from the legal department at Fox where apparently my script was now interred. No, it was not in development. But someone heard I had written a book about a woman who talked to dogs and decided to try and stop publication. This time I went in to shock. I was being accused of plagiarizing myself? Even though I had written a whole new original story and it was a novel, not a screenplay or a movie? If Rupert Murdoch was so covetous of my unique voice why had people been hired to rewrite me? And why, in 20 years, had the movie never been made?

So I had to pay a lawyer a lot of money to explain that writing dog voices was something I’d been doing for decades. And incidentally, I wasn’t the only one who wrote talking dogs. And that William Shakespeare wrote Macbeth AND Richard III, but everyone agreed they were two different plays even though both were full of blood and talking kings..-

By 2008, to my surprise and delight, my book was selling well enough to get on the best seller list.

In 2009 Barack Obama became president. But don’t expect to see a talking dog movie by me during this or any future administration.

Reprinted with permission from Merrill Markoe's website.

Nose Down, Eyes Up is one of 7 books for dog lovers selected by Oprah and associates.

The Page 69 Test: Nose Down, Eyes Up.

Read--Coffee with a Canine: Merrill Markoe & Jimmy, Ginger, Puppyboy, and Hedda.

--Marshal Zeringue

Louise Penny's "The Brutal Telling"

Louise Penny's bestselling first mystery, Still Life, was the winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards; her second, A Fatal Grace, won the 2007 Agatha Award for Best Novel; her fourth, A Rule Against Murder, was a New York Times bestseller. The Brutal Telling is the fifth novel in the Three Pines mystery series.

A couple of years ago Penny took a very entertaining stab at the My Book, The Movie exercise for the series. Here she revisits the casting of an adaptation:

I love this idea, and have given several answers depending on the book. None of them, truth be told, very serious. Though John Travolta as Ruth still appeals to me. And I think Mo'Nique or Oprah for Myrna would be great fun! But, suddenly, unexpectedly while watching a film I found my Gamache.

I wasn't looking - but there on the screen he was. It was while watching this wonderful, fairly modest British film called Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. It stars Amy Adams and Frances McDormand, as Miss Pettigrew, a middle-aged British nanny in the late 1930's, who finds herself taken on by a giddy American singer. It's hilarious, and wonderful. There's a character named Joe. And I suddenly realized Joe was Gamache, in slightly different circumstances. The same warmth, dignity, humour but with a touch of sadness. A happy man, but one who has seen more than anyone should.

And while the actor, physically, wasn't perfect he was close. The right age, the right height, the right body type.

His name is Ciarán Hinds.

There might be a better Gamache out there, but for now, when I wrote The Brutal Telling and the book I'm now finishing, I see Mr. Hinds as Gamache. It's an amazing, transforming, experience. I would never have guessed how powerful it is, to have a live man as my fictional character. I'm more than a little afraid to meet Ciarán Hinds one day in case he turns out to be some horrible man. I suspect he's lovely - but hate to be disappointed.

I've since seen him in other roles, since I wanted to research him (and felt more than a little like a stalker!) He was Caesar in Rome, and did a good job. He was also in Munich, a Speilberg film - and was fabulous I thought.

You know, up until now I've sort of joked about the film versions, or TV versions, of my books, giving obviously ridiculous casting ideas. But now I'm quite serious. I've turned down a number of offers for the rights, because I never felt the project was right. But there are a few companies interested right now, so we'll see. The one casting decision that would make or break the entire thing is Gamache. But - we'll see.

Learn more about the book and author at Louise Penny's website and blog.

The Page 69 Test: Still Life.

My Book, The Movie: A Fatal Grace.

The Page 99 Test: The Cruelest Month.

The Page 99 Test: A Rule Against Murder.

The Page 69 Test: The Brutal Telling.

--Marshal Zeringue

Belinda Acosta's "Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz"

Belinda Acosta lives and writes in Austin, Texas, where she is a columnist for the Austin Chronicle. Her non-fiction has appeared in Poets & Writers, Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, AlterNet, the San Antonio Current, and Latino Magazine.

Here she shares some ideas for the principal cast should Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz, her debut novel, be adapted for the big screen:

What a fun project, imaging Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz as a movie. I asked some friends for their suggestions and there were a couple of great ones, but in the end, this is my dream list of who would play the major characters in Damas, as a movie.

First, Ana Ruiz: I had a lot of difficulty with this until my good friend Maribel Sosa reminded me of Talisa Soto. “She's got that soft look, she's thin, but curvy, she has those eyes, and even that dark little patch of skin,” Mari e-mailed me. “In most pictures she has straight hair and looking very va-va-va-voom, but sometimes she looks so gentle and fragile but ultimately has that don't f**k with me thing.” I couldn’t agree more. Check her out. I think she would make a perfect Ana.

Casting young people is always difficult for me, and I found this especially true when it came to Carmen, Ana’s difficult teenager, full of spit and vinegar, angry over her parents’ separation. Since the invitation was to “imagine,” I would cast Madison De La Garza—in five more years. The nine-year-old currently plays the oldest child of Gabrielle and Carlos Solis (Eva Longoria Parker and Ricardo Chavira) in Desperate Housewives. Madison’s little spitfire is cute at nine but I can see her pulling off the mouthiness AND the anger as a teenager.

As for Bianca, the hands down favorite is Selena Gomez, who currently appears in Wizards of Waverly Place. Cheerful, bubbly, and pretty, she would make a perfect Bianca. Of course, she has to dye her hair (Bianca is blond), but somehow, I think Ms. Gomez would be up for it.

Montalvo: Ah, this was fun. After a couple of false starts, my friends and I all voted for one perfect choice: Benjamin Bratt. Sexy, athletic, handsome—did I mention sexy? He would be the ideal Montalvo, Ana’s dangerously attractive, almost-love-interest. The fun thing is that in real life. Bratt and Soto are married. So, I would hope the chemistry that brought them together in real life would burn up the screen.

And finally, Esteban, Ana’s husband. My personal choice is Mike Gomez. Mike is one of those actors you’ve seen, but can’t quite place. The thing I like about him (besides the fact that he’s a dear man in real life) is that I think he embodies the rough, workingman look that Esteban requires, but would still be able to imbue him with a gentleness that makes him a loving father. Mike is one of those actors that should be working more. In my dream world, he would have this role and become a big star!

Learn more about the book and author at the publisher's website and Belinda Acosta's blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Gail Carriger's "Soulless"

Gail Carriger began writing in order to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon, according to her official biography. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by a harem of Armenian lovers, where she insists on tea imported directly from London and cats that pee into toilets. She is fond of teeny tiny hats and tropical fruit.

Here she shares her thinking about casting a filmed adaptation of Soulless, her first book:

Soulless is a comedic take on the urban fantasy genre set in Victorian London. With that kind of elevator pitch, you can probably guess I'd skip Hollywood and take less money if I could sell it to the BBC as a mini series. I'd settle for a fist-full of unknowns so long as it came out as well as their Cranford adaptation, but my assignment is to cast my ideal film, so here were go...

Our Intrepid Heroine

Alexia Tarabotti, London's only preternatural, is an Italian-looking spinster with no soul, a big mouth and, quite frankly, even bigger nose. Visually, I modeled her off of Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore, but Sabrina seems a little too regal for the role. Perhaps Claudia Black might be better suited to running around whacking obstreperous vampires willy-nilly with a parasol, but that girl's gotta eat about ten cream teas first, then we'll talk.

Werewolves of Note

For our hero, an oversized scruffy Scottish werewolf, I'm going to deviate from the expected--Gerard Butler--and pick Sean Bean (with dark hair and color contacts) or perhaps James Purefoy. All are big guys who manage to emit a general air of clumsy confusion combined with slightly too wide smiles that look as though they might, just possibly, tear out your throat if they could just remember what that other thing was they wanted to do first. For Professor Lyall, Lord Maccon's long-suffering beta, I'm choosing Kevin McKidd of Rome fame. And for Lord Maccon's claviger, the irreverent Tunstell? Gotta have Alan Tudyk hamming it up with shockingly red hair and a penchant for singing bad opera at inopportune moments.

Vampires of Interest

Lord Akeldama is Alexia's dearest friend, a gay vampire in charge of a spy network the Scarlet Pimpernel would envy. I modeled him (of course) off of Richard Chamberlain circa The Slipper and the Rose. I'm thinking, Paul Bettany. He stripped starkers for A Knight's Tale so I figure he's probably open to most possibilities. In the enemy camp, I'd like Jennifer Ehle to portray Countess Nadasdy. Elizabeth Bennett may seem like an odd choice for a vampire queen, but the countess is a rosy-faced shepherdess type. I'd surround her with three over-dramatic vampire males, each more cape-swirling than the last: Jason Isaacs as Lord Ambrose, Richard E. Grant as Dr. Caedes, and Gary Oldman as the Duke of Hematol.

Mundanes of Relevance

Ivy Hisselpenny is Alexia's foil and female BFF. I had the hardest time casting her until I remembered Melanie Lynskey who's perfect. As for Alexia's outrageously impossible family? I'll take one each of the following: Squire Loontwill - Hugh Laurie, Mrs. Loontwill - Imelda Staunton, Felicity - Jo Joyner, and Evylin - Kimberley Nixon. We mustn't forget Floote, the oft put-upon butler who has Alexia's best interests at heart. I choose the lovely Philip Glenister. I can think of no better straight man in the business right now. For Mr. MacDougall, Alexia's timid American beaux (I know, I know, an American - shocking!) I'd slip in Kevin Smith, just for a lark. And for Mr. Siemons, our scientist of suspicious motivations? Who could beat out a pipe-puffing, mutton-chop sporting Stephen Fry?

Learn more about Soulless and its author at Gail Carriger's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Brian Ruckley's "Godless World" trilogy

Brian Ruckley's recently completed fantasy trilogy, the Godless World, consists of the books Winterbirth, Bloodheir, and Fall of Thanes.

Here he shares some thoughts on the way ahead should anyone be thinking of doing a big screen adaptation of his tale:

Well, you've got start with the director, since that's likely to decide whether you get a masterpiece or a turkey. My Godless World trilogy is big, dark, epic fantasy: it's got its fair share of mayhem, set in dramatic landscapes, involving lots of heavily armed people. For those action scenes, I was directly influenced in my writing by certain types of movies, so it seems only fair to give one of the relevant directors a shot at this adaptation - I'll nominate Ridley Scott or Mel Gibson. They've shown they can conjure up the sort of high impact, visceral, immersive battle scenes I was trying to create (and imitate), and can deal with big, visually rich settings.

Character-wise, I've got lots to choose from, and most of them face some pretty trying circumstances (to put it mildly - I'm using 'trying' in the sense of 'catastrophic' and 'virtually intolerable') as events unfold. The main plot is about an old conflict that flares up after years of dormancy, but then spirals out of everyone's control as new and much more powerful players get involved. I deliberately adopted an uncompromising and fairly realistic approach to depicting the consequences of the mounting chaos, so we probably need actors who can do 'haggard' and 'beset' and 'struggling on against unreasonable odds' quite well. I'm not the kind of writer who casts the book in their head as they're writing, so for a lot of the characters it's hard to come up with good matches. But a few do spring to mind, so here goes:

My personal favourite amongst the characters is probably Taim Narran, a veteran warrior endowed with stubborn loyalty and persistence, generally good intentions, and a not inconsiderable talent for killing people (though he takes no great pleasure in it, being a basically decent sort of bloke). If we could just age him a tiny little bit, I think this is Daniel Craig's role. He's got a certain capable, slightly rough around the edges, stubborn aura about him.

Another of the key protagonists, operating in a much more morally grey area than Taim Narran, is Kanin, the leader of an invading army who gets caught up in some violent and thoroughly unpleasant events that make him question whose side he's really on. For him, I think maybe Clive Owen would do the trick (in his dark, troubled action hero mode rather than his romantic lead mode).

Some of the main characters in the story are na'kyrim, half-human wielders of a mysterious power called the Shared, and casting them is tricky. One - Yvane - is a rather querulous and strong-willed woman of advancing years, and if we can turn back the clock a fraction, I'd like to see the Judi Dench of maybe six or seven years ago take a shot at that. The real challenge, though, is casting Aeglyss, a na'kyrim who is at the heart of much of what happens in the trilogy. Part of the problem is the radical changes he undergoes in the course of the story, going from being a feeble, bitter man to becoming the biggest threat the world has seen in many years. For him, we need someone who can do both drastic physical deterioration and hugely threatening, sometimes at the same time. It's a tough call, but I think maybe Ralph Fiennes.

All in all, I'd say we've got the kernel of a stellar cast there. Blockbuster in the making, surely? And hopefully undreamed of riches for all involved (especially the writer of the original books...).

Learn more about Brian Ruckley and his books at his website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jordan Christy's "How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World"

Jordan Christy is a music publicist and has worked with dozens of artists and celebrities, in addition to various TV and media outlets. She has also written for local and national fashion magazines and music trade publications. Her new book is How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World: The Art of Living with Style, Class, and Grace.

Here she shares some ideas for screenwriter and principal cast should the book be adapted for the movies:

I would be lying if I said I hadn't imagined How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World making it's debut on the big screen. I would also be lying if I said I hadn't already picked out my dress for the premiere, and carefully arranged the track numbers for the movie's corresponding soundtrack (floor-length Reem Acra; Sara Bareilles kicks off the album). Since the book is a non-fiction guidebook, it would have to be cleverly adapted by an excellent screenwriter in the vein of He's Just Not That Into You. We basically need to get Nora Ephron on the phone, asap. If she's too swamped, I'd like to have a chat with Tracey Jackson and see what she'd do with the storyline.

Anne Hathaway is the obvious choice for the leading role, given her Audrey-like features and real-life role model qualities. There would be a gaggle of smart, funny, honest girls with supporting roles, including (but not limited to) Ginnifer Goodwin, Jenna Fischer, Gabrielle Union, Rachel Bilson, and America Ferrera. Ideally, I would like to make a small appearance as well, even if I just play Extra # 23 and have to get someone's Starbucks. Given the chapter on dating, we would need a ruggedly handsome guy for Anne to interact with, too - I'm holding out for either Hayden Christensen or Ryan Gosling.

See? It's already shaping up to be a great movie! You better hurry and Fandango your tickets for opening night before it's sold out.

Learn more about the book and author at Jordan Christy's website, blog, and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Randa Jarrar's "A Map of Home"

Randa Jarrar is a novelist, short story writer, and translator. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, A Map of Home, won the 2009 Arab American Book Award, as well as the Hopwood and Geoffrey James Gosling Awards at the University of Michigan, where she received her MFA. Jarrar grew up in Kuwait and Egypt, and moved to the US after the first Gulf War. At the age of 13, she enrolled in 10th grade, and went on to attend Sarah Lawrence College at 16. Two years later, she became a single mom, and by the age of 22, she had a Masters’ degree and a four- year-old. She began A Map of Home at the age of 23, writing the bulk of it in a trailer in small-town Texas.

Here she shares her preferences for the main cast and director of a big screen adaptation of her novel:

I've been told my novel is cinematic. The characters are all larger-than-life crazies who move big, talk big, and live big.

In the role of Nidali, the sassy talking main character, I see Alia Shawkat, who was Maeby in Arrested Development. She has perfect comic timing, is absolutely stunning, and I can see her swearing left and right.

Baba would be played by- who else?- Tony Shalhoub. A natural comic genius and endearing soul, he would make the perfect conflicted Arab father, a poet and a tyrant. He would make me cry up on screen.

And for Mama, there is no one but Kathy Najimy. She looks Egyptian-Palestinian, is fabulous and sassy, would look gorgeous at a piano, and is the funniest woman on screen.

The director would be the talented and beautiful Cherien Dabis. She is my hero. She has worked on The L Word and directed shorts and most recently, Amreeka, a funny story about an Arab-American single mom. I can relate.

It would be shot in Texas, even the scenes in Kuwait and Alexandria, Egypt. We could take a stretch of West TX desert and shoot there, and use a winter Corpus Christi for the Egypt scenes, since it's in a beach town in the winter.

I can see it already.

Learn more about the author and her work at Randa Jarrar's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Brian Keaney's "The Hollow People"

Brian Keaney is a UK-based writer of fiction for children and young adults. He has written 16 novels and a number of plays . His latest books are: (in the UK) Nathaniel Wolfe and the Bodysnatchers published by Orchard Books; (in the US) The Cracked Mirror published by Alfred A Knopf.

Here he shares some thinking about the major cast and director for a cinematic adaptation of The Hollow People, the first book in The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus series:

The Hollow People is set in a nightmare society where people have handed over their minds to the state. It’s a world in which everything and everyone is controlled. Even dreaming is a crime. But Dante, the teenage boy at the centre of the story refuses to submit. That makes him unique. So whoever plays him must be able to convey a character who is not afraid to be different, no matter what it costs. The actor who immediately springs to mind is Robert Pattinson, who recently starred in Twilight. He has the right kind of look – like someone who doesn’t care if the whole world is against him; he’s still going to be himself.

For Beatrice, the girl from a good family who throws it all away to befriend Dante, I would like to see Ivana Baquero, the star of the outstanding Spanish language film, Pan’s Labyrinth. Playing a character who is both scared stiff and terrifically brave, she really convinces me.

The other really important character in the book is Ezekiel Semiramis, a man who terrifies the authorities, because he has harnessed a mysterious energy called Odyllic Force that gives him the power to step outside time. Whoever plays Ezekiel needs tremendous personal power. What about Viggo Mortensen, best known for playing Aragorn in The Lord Of The Rings? He has the ability to look right through the camera, so that you feel he’s looking directly at you. Alternatively Johnny Depp. He’s a wonderfully versatile actor and he has that delightful unpredictability that the character of Ezekiel demands.

Ezekiel is the leader of a band of outlaws called the Púca. Two of them, in particular, play an important part in the story. There’s Albigen, Ezekiel’s right hand man and the Púca’s fiercest fighter. I’d like to see him played by Jake Gyllenhaal who was compelling in Donnie Darko as a boy who refuses to conform. Then there’s red-haired Maeve whose parents were outlaws and who has known no other life but resistance to authority. Rachel Hurd-Wood who was so good in An American Haunting would be perfect for the part. Her natural hair colour is red and she’s got exactly the right mixture of feistiness and fragility.

Finally there’s the evil Dr Sigmundus, a dictator who sacrifices his own identity for the sake of power. No one does an archetypal villain better than Alan Rickman. I loved his portrayal of Hans Gruber in Die Hard and, of course, he’s terrific as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies. But perhaps he’s been overused. So maybe someone else. Dennis Hopper was completely terrifying in Blue Velvet but that was a long time ago. Perhaps Christopher Walken who was so impressive as a sadistic gangster in Last Man Standing.

That only leaves the director. I’d like to see what Guillermo del Toro, who directed Pan’s Labyrinth would make of it. Or Terry Gilliam whose movie, Twelve Monkeys is one of my all-time favourites. But I think the man whose phone call I would most like to receive would have to be Steven Spielberg. He’s the consummate story teller and I think he’d do a great job. So if by any chance you’re reading this, Steven, the rights are still available.

Read an excerpt from The Hollow People and view a video of Brian Keaney discussing the book.

Learn more about the author and his work at Brian Keaney's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Charles Salzberg's "Swann’s Last Song"

Charles Salzberg is a writer who lives in New York City. His work has appeared in Esquire, New York Magazine, and the New York Times. He has been a Visiting Professor at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, taught advanced non-fiction at Sarah Lawrence College and the New York Writers Workshop (where he is a Founding Member,) the Writer’s Voice, New York City Open Center, and the Hunter College Writing Program.

Here he shares his preferences for the lead actor and director of a film adaptation of his Shamus Award-nominated debut novel, Swann’s Last Song:

When I first began writing Swann’s Last Song, I had no idea what Henry Swann looked like, or even how old he was. But I did know he wasn’t going to be the stereotypical slick, handsome, charismatic private eye whom women swooned over and men wished they could be, the ones played by Paul Newman, Robert Redford, or George Clooney. Just the opposite, in fact. I wanted a down and out, living on the edge, marginalized, cynical loser whose aim was simply to make enough money to pay the rent on his seedy office and seedier apartment and maybe buy a few rounds of drinks for himself and his boys at the Paradise Bar and Grill, across the street from his office.

And so, the first thing I did was make him a forty-something year old skip tracer who made his living repossessing cars and finding deadbeats who skipped on their bills, their wives or both. His clients weren’t high-class movers and shakers, but mostly women on welfare, which is why he had a sign in his office, Foods Stamps Unacceptable as Payment.

As I wrote, a clearer picture of what Swann looked like began to develop. The interesting thing is that I first began writing the book twenty-five years ago and so, in terms of actors who could play the part, that’s changed over the years. I didn’t want someone who was conventionally handsome, and so the first actor I thought of was Dustin Hoffman, who’s amazing at transforming himself. But he’s a too old now, as is Gene Hackman, another guy who could have pulled off being an appealing anti-hero.

In the ‘40s and ‘50s, the perfect actor might have been Robert Mitchum. But we’re in the 21st century now and so other actors come to mind—all of them top rate, but each of them bringing something else to the table. Alec Baldwin, for instance. Sure, he’s good looking, but he can also dirty himself up, especially when he’s put on a few pounds. He’s a terrific actor and he’s got an edge, which is important for Swann. Philip Seymour Hoffman can do no wrong. The extra weight he might bring to the role would be more than made up for by his chameleon-like ability to inhabit any part he plays. Stanley Tucci is another actor who can transform himself. He’s not classically handsome, but he’s got the kind of charisma that makes you like him even when he’s playing an unlikeable character. On the younger side, there’s Liev Schreiber, Robert Downey, Jr. and John Cusack, all of whom, now that they’ve aged a little and added character to their faces, bring similar assets to the table. Of this group, Downey would probably be best at bringing life experience to the role—he’s certainly had his share of ups and downs. But I’d be happy if any of these were cast as Swann.

As far as directors are concerned, I know who I wouldn’t want on the film: guys like Michael Bay. Nothing blows up in Swann’s Last Song, and I want to keep it that way. Sidney Lumet. That would be one choice. His body of work, running from Dog Day Afternoon to Prince of the City to Find Me Guilty and the incredible Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, is mind-boggling. And since a good part of the book takes place in New York—the other locales being L. A., Mexico and Germany—I couldn’t do any better than Lumet in terms of portraying this city.

Read more about the book and author at Charles Salzberg's website.

--Marshal Zeringue