Bryn Turnbull's "The Berlin Apartment"

Bryn Turnbull is an internationally bestselling author of historical fiction. Equipped with a Master of Letters in Creative Writing from the University of St. Andrews, a Master of Professional Communication from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from McGill University, Turnbull focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record.

Her debut novel, The Woman Before Wallis, was named one of the top ten bestselling works of Canadian fiction for 2020 and became an international bestseller. Her second, The Last Grand Duchess, came out in February 2022 and spent eight weeks on the Globe & Mail and Toronto Star bestseller lists. It was followed by The Paris Deception, which came out in May 2023.

Here Turnbull dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The Berlin Apartment:

The Berlin Apartment is a historical love story set in Cold War Berlin on both sides of the Berlin Wall. It’s a story of intrigue, passion and betrayal that spans decades, opening in the tense and sunlit summer days just before the Wall goes up – but within pages, we find friends, families and lovers separated overnight by circumstances far beyond their control.

At the start of the novel, Lise remarks that Uli resembles Buddy Holly, with narrow shoulders, a wide smile and heavy glasses – a classic ‘sixties university student, who, we later find out, will gain a certain familiarity with claustrophobic spaces. In terms of contemporary actors who might fit the bill, Uli would slide into the “Hot Rodent Men” trend fairly easily: someone like Mike Faist or Timothée Chalamet would, I think, carry off his guileless optimism and determination very well.

For Lise – Uli’s pregnant fiancée, trapped in East Berlin and searching desperately for a way out – we need someone who can play tough and soft at the same time: someone who can embody Lise’s seething, steely fury, simmering beneath a downtrodden exterior. Saiorse Ronan would be brilliant in the role – but then, she’s brilliant in every role.

As Inge, Lise’s best friend who becomes Uli’s second-in-command during the long and back-breaking process of working to free Lise from East Berlin, I always saw Elle Fanning, who would be able to capture her steady charm and pragmatism while also carrying off her glacial beauty.

Paul’s a trickier beast: in the novel, he’s described as blindingly handsome and charismatic, and loyal to a fault – a trait which lands him in situations where he’s forced to test the strengths of those loyalties, time and again. Will Poulter would make an ideal Paul: he’s got a certain ruthlessness that would come in handy.

Finally, I can’t leave Jurgen and Wolf, my second set of star-crossed lovers who help Uli in his quest to free Lise from East Berlin, out of my dream casting. I see Edward Bluemel as Jurgen and Regé-Jean Page as Wolf: two actors who could handle a love story worthy of its own novel.

Visit Bryn Turnbull's website.

My Book, The Movie: The Paris Deception.

The Page 69 Test: The Paris Deception.

Q&A with Bryn Turnbull.

--Marshal Zeringue

Elena Taylor's "A Cold, Cold World"

Elena Taylor spent several years working in theater as a playwright, director, designer, and educator before turning her storytelling skills to fiction. Her first series, the Eddie Shoes Mysteries, written under the name Elena Hartwell, introduced a quirky mother/daughter crime fighting duo.

With the Sheriff Bet Rivers Mysteries, Taylor returns to her dramatic roots and brings readers much more serious and atmospheric novels. Located in her beloved Washington State, Taylor uses her connection to the environment to produce tense and suspenseful investigations for a lone sheriff in an isolated community.

Taylor is also a senior editor with Allegory Editing, a developmental editing house, where she works one-on-one with writers to shape and polish manuscripts, short stories, and plays.

Her favorite place to be is at Paradise, the property she and her hubby own south of Spokane, Washington. They live with their horses, dogs, and cats. Taylor holds a B.A. from the University of San Diego, a M.Ed. from the University of Washington, Tacoma, and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her new Sheriff Bet Rivers mystery, A Cold Cold World:

These days, as a fiction writer, I imagine less about landing on the big screen and more about streaming potential. My dream is for A Cold, Cold World to become a mini-series on either Amazon Prime or Netflix.

With the rugged scenery of the Pacific Northwest, the fast action scenes, and the intense weather events, I think it would be a dynamic and exciting project.

There are a couple reasons for the shift in my adaptation goals. First off, I love the ability to watch shows at home. As much as I enjoy going to a movie theater, I have a reclining divan, adult beverages, and a fireplace in my living room—definitely my go-to for enjoying a cinematic experience.

Then, I find that mini-series have fabulous production values these days. They can do things with streaming shows that are as complicated in terms of effects and filming as a movie. Whether it’s the opening scenes of my small-town sheriff riding up to a mountain ridge to recover the body of a dead teenager in the aftermath of a snowmobile accident, or her continued search for clues in the storm, the visual elements would be amazing.

Lastly, I think books do tremendously well when the project has more time to develop the characters and the plot. I love shows with several episodes, allowing me to discover a much fuller representation of a novel. A Cold, Cold World is a fairly fast-moving mystery, with some thrilleresque moments, but it’s also about characters grappling with real world issues, so the slower moments of character development would be key.

Even more of a dream for me would be a continuing series. I’m a big fan of shows like The Murdoch Mysteries, based on the novels by Maureen Jennings, DCI Banks based on the novels by Peter Robinson, and Shetland based on the novels by Ann Cleeves. I would love to see my Sheriff Bet Rivers Mysteries added to that heady list.

Since the first book, I’ve thought about who I would love to see in the major roles. I think Charisma Carpenter would be perfect for the role of Sheriff Bet Rivers. Her evolution from the ditzy party-girl on Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the serious and hardcore vampire fighter on Angel was a lot of fun to watch. I know she can be tough and physical, but also thoughtful and smart.

That naturally brings me to David Boreanaz playing the role of Rob Collier, her love interest. I already know they have fabulous chemistry from seeing them together on those earlier series, and David is a longtime favorite actor of mine.

Then, I’d love to see Helen Mirren tackle an American accent and play the role of Alma. Alma is the glue that holds the sheriff’s office together. The almost-octogenarian is funny and sharp and likes to put Bet Rivers in her place. Helen is a phenomenal actor who would be delightful to see in such a quirky role.

If she’s up for doing it, I’d even write another book that centers on her!

Lastly, with the addition of a new character in this second book in the series, I would cast Idris Elba as Kane Stand. Besides the fact that he is talented and gorgeous, he would be amazing at playing the stoic character, but still finding those important moments where his where his depth and humor shine through.

Now if I only had a backer . . .

Visit Elena Taylor's website.

Q&A with Elena Taylor.

The Page 69 Test: A Cold, Cold World.

--Marshal Zeringue

Deborah J Ledford's "Havoc"

Deborah J Ledford is the award-winning author of the Eva “Lightning Dance” Duran suspense thriller series, including Redemption and Havoc.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Havoc:

Movies featuring Native American characters seem to be catching on more and more lately, which is great for my latest release, Havoc. My female lead, Eva, is a hard-edged yet fair Taos Pueblo tribal officer who has no compunction to cross the line if necessary while finding truth and justice for her people.

I cast my characters while building their profiles, so it’s not much of a brain break to decide who I would want to portray them. First choice is Lily Gladstone as Eva. As most know by now Ms. Gladstone is an Oscar nominee for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon and could easily slide into the law enforcer role—as she has for her role in Under the Bridge.

It seems that every reader I’ve heard from absolutely loves Kai. This would be a challenging role as the Pueblo young man is forced to navigate grown-up circumstances that cause him to grow up much too fast. Kai also is tasked with training his Belgian Malinois search & rescue dog, Shadow—not an easy mission! For nineteen-year-old Kai, I see D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, who played Bear Smallhill in the series Reservation Dogs. D’Pharaoh is up for an Emmy award as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

The main location for Havoc takes place on the Taos Pueblo reservation in northern New Mexico, an area rich in traditions and structures that have survived over 1,100 years. I can—and do while writing this series—wholeheartedly see Lily as Eva, D'Pharaoh as Kai and Shadow and their crew solving crime on the reservation and keeping their community safe.

Visit Deborah J Ledford's website.

Q&A with Deborah J Ledford.

The Page 69 Test: Redemption.

My Book, The Movie: Redemption.

The Page 69 Test: Havoc.

--Marshal Zeringue

Adam Mitzner's "The Brothers Kenney"

Adam Mitzner is the acclaimed Amazon Charts bestselling author of Dead Certain, Never Goodbye, and The Best Friend in the Broden Legal series as well as the stand-alone thrillers A Matter of Will, A Conflict of Interest, A Case of Redemption, Losing Faith, The Girl from Home, The Perfect Marriage, and Love Betrayal Murder. A practicing attorney in a Manhattan law firm, he and his family live in New York City.

Here Mitzner dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, The Brothers Kenney:

The Brothers Kenney begins with Sean Kenney as low as I can imagine a person – estranged from his family and nearly homeless. But it wasn’t always the case, as Sean was once upon a time a world-class 1,500 meters runner.

An actor taking on the role of Sean would have to embody both extremes, and therefore I think it might be the most challenging acting role for any character I’ve written. Robert Pattinson could do the part justice, and I do love a good Batman crossover. Speaking of which, Jared Leto is a bit old, but he looks like a former track star too, and played the Joker too.

There are three strong female characters in the book: Sean’s girlfriend, Rachel, his ex-wife, Meghan, and his sister, Katie.

Rachel is the prom queen who still looks the part in her mid-thirties. Jennifer Lawrence, Alexandra Daddario, or Margot Robbie, contact me if you’re game to take on the part!

Meghan, the ex-wife, is my favorite character in the book. I think of her as someone with a sensitivity and an old soul quality. Nina Dobrev, you don’t even need to audition. Emma Stone, you don’t either.

The younger sister, Katie, is the rock of the Kenney family. Brie Larson, whom I loved in Lessons in Chemistry would be a good choice. Daisy Ridley or Shailene Woodley too.

Who would you cast?

Visit Adam Mitzner's website.

The Page 69 Test: A Conflict of Interest.

My Book, The Movie: A Conflict of Interest.

The Page 69 Test: A Case of Redemption.

My Book, The Movie: A Case of Redemption.

The Page 69 Test: Losing Faith.

My Book, The Movie: Losing Faith.

The Page 69 Test: A Matter of Will.

My Book, the Movie: A Matter of Will.

My Book, The Movie: The Perfect Marriage.

The Page 69 Test: The Perfect Marriage.

Q&A with Adam Mitzner.

Writers Read: Adam Mitzner (May 2023).

My Book, The Movie: Love Betrayal Murder.

The Page 69 Test: Love Betrayal Murder.

--Marshal Zeringue

Reed Farrel Coleman's "Blind To Midnight"

Called a hard-boiled poet by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan and the noir poet laureate in the Huffington Post, Reed Farrel Coleman is the New York Times-bestselling author of thirty-one novels—including six in Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone series—short stories, poetry, and essays.

In addition to his acclaimed series characters, Moe Prager and Gus Murphy, he has written the stand-alone novel Gun Church and collaborated with decorated Irish crime writer Ken Bruen on the novel Tower.

Coleman is a four time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories: Best Novel, Best Paperback Original, and Best Short Story. He is a four-time recipient of the Shamus Award for Best PI Novel of the Year. He has also won the Audie, Macavity, Barry, and Anthony Awards.

With their kids moved away to far off Brooklyn, Coleman, his wife Rosanne, and their cats live in the wilds of Suffolk County on Long Island.

Here Coleman dreamcasts a few central characters for an adaptation of his new Nick Ryan novel, Blind to Midnight:

In Sleepless City, book one of the Nick Ryan series, NYPD detective Nick Ryan is recruited, against his will and better judgement, to become New York City’s shadow warrior, cleaning up messes that might throw the city into chaos. In book two, Blind To Midnight, Nick is tasked with solving the decades old homicide that happened on 9/11, the only homicide that day not connected to the terrorist attacks. Simultaneously, he’s dealing with the senseless homicide of his uncle, a long retired uniformed cop, and his second wife.

In writing a series, a good crime writer populates his novels with a strong supporting cast of characters. I don’t believe in “minor” characters. When I write them, all my characters have full emotional lives, so when they appear on the page, regardless of how briefly, they should seem alive to the reader. No one in my novels appears just to say, “Hark, I hear the cannons roar.” While I have done this for thirty plus novels, managing this on screen would depend on the actor playing the role and the director shaping the story.

Let me focus on three crucial supporting characters in the Nick novels and who I might cast in their roles. Nick’s ersatz partner is a tough, mostly silent, Black detective known only as Ace to Nick. The easy choice would be Samuel L. Jackson, but my pick would be Jeffrey Wright. Wright is so gifted and his range is broad. What I appreciate about Wright’s style is his quiet acting. What he does with his eyes, his expressions says a great deal. In the role of Shana, the love of Nick’s life, mother of his child, who is married to another man, I would cast Mila Kunis. I could give you lots of reasons, but the easiest answer is that in Book 1, I describe Shana as looking like Mila Kunis’ sister. She’s an underrated actor because of her looks and her beauty is essential to the role. Third is Mac, the seemingly harmless, full of blarney, bartender who is actually a former British Intelligence operative. There’s only one man for that role, Brendan Gleeson. It was Gleeson I was imagining as I wrote the character. He’s got the perfect look, he’s the right age, and his ability to be both comedic and terrifying make him perfect for the role.

Director? We’ll save that for the next book in the series.

Visit Reed Farrel Coleman's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Hollow Girl.

The Page 69 Test: Where It Hurts.

The Page 69 Test: What You Break.

My Book, The Movie: Sleepless City.

Q&A with Reed Farrel Coleman.

The Page 69 Test: Sleepless City.

Writers Read: Reed Farrel Coleman.

The Page 69 Test: Blind to Midnight.

--Marshal Zeringue

Snowden Wright's "The Queen City Detective Agency"

Snowden Wright is the author of American Pop and Play Pretty Blues. He has written for The Atlantic, Salon, Esquire, and the New York Daily News, among other publications. A former Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellow at the Carson McCullers Center, Wright lives in Yazoo County, Mississippi.

Here he dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, The Queen City Detective Agency:

My mind’s eye is a fountain of youth. It magically keeps actors the same age as when I first encountered them. For that reason, whenever I try to imagine which actors should play the co-leads in my latest novel, The Queen City Detective Agency, I think of ones who’ve aged out of the two parts: Sanaa Lathan and Steve Zahn, for example, or Thandiwe Newton and Norman Reedus.

In those pairs of examples, you probably noticed a specific racial coupling. There’s a reason why.

The central protagonist of Queen City is the private investigator Clementine Baldwin, a young Black woman and former cop. Clem’s a pragmatist at heart. In her early years as a PI, she quickly realized that as a Black woman in 1980s Mississippi, she wasn’t granted much authority by the white people she encountered during her investigations. To contend with such deeply ingrained racism, Clem hired a “prop” to stand beside her as she questioned witnesses, interviewed clients, and navigated the bureaucracy of city hall: a lunkhead of a white guy, as she at first calls him. Dixon Hicks may be a lunkhead, but he and Clem soon grow closer than she expected. By the start of the novel, they’ve reached a genuine partnership, one of mutual respect and camaraderie. Consider Hicks a Watson to Baldwin’s Holmes.

Although Sanaa Lathan and Thandiwe Newton would be great for Clem—as would Reedus and Zahn for Dixon—I feel it’s important to keep her age around thirty, not because of ageism on my part but professionalism on hers. Clem needs to be young enough to make mistakes. She needs to doubt herself. Clem isn’t new to private investigation, but she’s still learning the trade. For the part, I could see Myha’la, absolutely riveting in Industry and hilarious in Bodies, Bodies, Bodies; Jurnee Smollett, excellent in everything; Amandla Stenberg, star of The Hate U Give, which dealt with similar issues as Queen City; or Quintessa Swindell, perhaps less well-known than the others on this list but, I think, an actor to watch.

For Dixon? I could see Kyle Gallner, Lucas Till, Owen Teague, or Lukas Gage. The character has been (accurately) described to me as a human Golden Retriever. He’s also a decorated Vietnam vet who can handle himself. To play him, an actor needs strength and vulnerability, the same as whoever plays Clem.

Both actors need the opposite power of my mind’s eye. They have to be anti-fountains of youth, able to portray wise cynicism and cynical wisdom, flippancy and jadedness, assured composure and sure-fire wit beyond their thirty-something years. Any takers? I’ve been told the water’s fine.

Visit Snowden Wright's website.

The Page 69 Test: American Pop.

Writers Read: Snowden Wright (February 2019).

--Marshal Zeringue

Liz Alterman's "The House on Cold Creek Lane"

Liz Alterman is the author of The Perfect Neighborhood, He'll Be Waiting, and Sad Sacked. Her work appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, McSweeney's, and other outlets. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and three sons where she spends most days microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms. When Alterman isn't writing, she's reading.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The House on Cold Creek Lane:

The House on Cold Creek Lane is an unflinching examination of motherhood and the dark side of domesticity set against a suburban backdrop that’s anything but blissful. This twisty tale invites readers to a slow motion unravelling that culminates in a devastating finale

When Laurel and Rob West move into their new home in New Jersey, it seems too good to be true. But Laurel can’t shake off her old feelings of anxiety. The neighbor who pays far too much attention to the Wests’ two young children . . . Rob watching her every misstep . . . and there’s something people aren’t telling her about this house . . .

Corey Sutton is trying to outrun her past. Recently divorced and reeling from a devastating loss, she moves into her widowed mother’s retirement condo in Florida. Everyone says she just needs some time to recover and rebuild . . . but is Corey beyond saving? She wants answers. And there’s very little she won’t do to get them.

If The House on Cold Creek Lane were turned into a movie, I'd love to see Elizabeth Olsen as Laurel West. I was riveted by Elizabeth's performance in Love & Death. She has a quiet, understated strength but also the vulnerability that Laurel emodies.

Jennifer Lawrence would be fantastic as Corey Sutton, who's trying to overcome a loss and outrun her past by moving into her mom's retirement village condo in Florida. I loved her gritty but plucky turn in Joy. Jennifer is also a great comedic actor and Corey has a lot of snarky and sarcastic observations that the Oscar-winner would nail.

Addie Conroy is the stunning neighbor who befriends Laurel West and seems so much more intriguing than the rest of the suburban moms Laurel encounters. Margot Robbie would make an ideal Addie because it's impossible not to be charmed by her beauty.

As Rob West, Laurel's overbearing husband, I'd cast Scott Eastwood. He's handsome but with Dirty Harry as his dad, I wouldn't want to get on his bad side.

Jack Lowden, whom I adore in the series Slow Horses, would be perfect as Officer Mike Moffatt, a kind cop who offers Corey a lifeline when she needs it most.

I could see Zendaya as Desiree, Corey's plucky co-worker and only friend. Desiree is wise beyond her years and also adorable and fun. I think the Emmy-winner would be awesome in this role.

As meddling Marian, the neighbor Laurel suspects of spying on her, I'd cast Dame Maggie Smith, who can deliver barbs like no one else as we witnessed when she brilliantly portrayed Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.

I'd love to see June Squibb as Mary Lou, Corey's well-meaning but misguided mom.

Visit Liz Alterman's website.

Q&A with Liz Alterman.

My Book, The Movie: The Perfect Neighborhood.

The Page 69 Test: The Perfect Neighborhood.

The Page 69 Test: The House on Cold Creek Lane.

--Marshal Zeringue

Melanie Sumrow's "Girls Like Her"

Melanie Sumrow is the author of the novels The Inside Battle, a New York Public Library Best Pick, and The Prophet Calls, a Writers' League of Texas Award Finalist. Girls Like Her is her YA debut. Before becoming an author, she worked as a lawyer for more than 16 years, with many of her cases involving children and teens. She received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and lives in Dallas.

Here Sumrow dreamcasts an adaptation of Girls Like Her:

Girls Like Her is the story of a 15-year-old girl who is in jail awaiting trial for the murder of a wealthy businessman. But as you read Ruby’s story, you realize there is so much more to her than that. With the help of her assigned social worker, the layers of truth are peeled away to reveal what really happened the day Ruby met the man who would end up dead.

I relied heavily upon my experience as a lawyer to craft Ruby’s story and when I’m writing a new book, I often try to think of the stories that already exist in the space I’m working. In this case, if you liked books-turned-film series such as Defending Jacob, Orange is the New Black, Anatomy of a Scandal, and Monster, you will probably also enjoy Girls Like Her, which explores the truths so often lost in the American justice system and one girl’s fight to be heard.

I was recently asked who my dream casting would be if Ruby’s story was translated into film, which was something new for me. Typically as I’m writing, I think more of what’s on the inside of a character rather than their physical appearance. But after initially drawing a blank, I started to have fun with imagining what real people could play the characters that had lived in my head for so long.

Because Ruby is a teenager with an edge, an unreliable narrator who also has an unmistakable vulnerability, I would love to see what actors like Jenny Ortega, Abby Ryder Fortson or Sadie Sink could do to bring out that multi-dimensional part of her character.

For Ruby’s appointed defense lawyer, who is skilled and kind with the ability to see past Ruby’s tough shell, I thought Andrew Garfield, Chris Evans or Bradley Cooper would be natural choices.

Ruby’s dedicated caseworker, Cadence, has experienced hardship of her own and is one of the few people who truly understands everything Ruby has experienced. Thus, I would first look to Mira Sorvino to play Cadence, not only for her acute acting skills but also for her real-life role as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking. Because trafficking is a huge part of Ruby’s story and is at the root of what brings her to a jail cell in Dallas, I believe an actor with an intricate understanding of that world would bring necessary depth to Cadence.

Of course there are other characters, but if I say too much more, it might give away spoilers which I would prefer to leave to my readers to discover on their own. Suffice it to say, it would be a dream of mine to witness a director take the raw material I have provided in Girls Like Her and see how they would translate Ruby’s story to the screen!

Visit Melanie Sumrow's website.

--Marshal Zeringue