Galina Vromen's "Hill of Secrets"

Galina Vromen began writing fiction after more than twenty years as an international journalist in Israel, England, the Netherlands, France, and Mexico. After a career with Reuters News Agency, she moved to the nonprofit sector as a director at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

Vromen launched and directed two reading readiness programs in Israel, one in Hebrew (Sifriyat Pijama) and one in Arabic (Maktabat al-Fanoos). During her tenure, the two programs gifted twenty million books to young children and their families and were named US Library of Congress honorees for best practices in promoting literacy.

Vromen’s stories have been performed on NPR’s Selected Shorts program and appeared in magazines such as American Way, the Adirondack Review, Tikkun, and Reform Judaism. She has an MA in literature from Bar-Ilan University in Israel and a BA in media and anthropology from Hampshire College in Massachusetts.

Vromen and her husband divide their time between Israel and Massachusetts.

Here she shares some ideas for the above-the-line talent for an adaptation of her new novel, Hill of Secrets:

If they make my movie into a book, I would like the lead, Christine, to be someone who has the steely character and look of a young Katharine Hepburn, a woman who follows her own path, regardless of convention and who is attractive and lithe without being pretty. Gertie, the teenage hero of the book, might be portrayed by a young Zoe Kazan, a character who exudes vivaciousness and curiousity, with Kazan's big, inquisitive eyes.

I don't have specific actors in mind for the male roles. I have imagined Andre Aciman, the author of Call Me By Your Name, whose writing I admire a lot, as a model Kurt Koppel, Gertie's father, a German Jewish refugee, and a leading physicist on the atomic bomb project. Asiman (who in fact hails from Egypt's Jewish community) is short, and bald but has a magnetic energy about him in interviews and an intellectual breadth in common with Kurt in my book. I don't have anyone in mind for the other main male characters in Hill of Secrets. I'm happy to leave that to the future casting director to decide!!!

As for the director, I would love to see Mike Newell turning my book into a movie. I loved how he depicted characters and place in the movie adaptation The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and I loved Mona Lisa Smile which he also directed. He is probably best known for other films, like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Four Weddings and a Funeral, all of which I also thought were very well directed.

Visit Galina Vromen's website.

The Page 69 Test: Hill of Secrets.

--Marshal Zeringue

Susan Walter's "Running Cold"

Susan Walter is the author of Lie by the Pool, Good as Dead, and Over Her Dead Body. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After being given every opportunity―and failing―to become a concert violinist, Walter attended Harvard University. She had hoped to be a newscaster, but the local TV station had different ideas and hired her to write and produce promos instead. Seeking sunshine and a change of scenery, Walter moved to Los Angeles to work in film and television production. Upon realizing writers were having all the fun, Walter transitioned to screenwriting, then directing. She wrote and made her directorial debut with the 2017 film All I Wish, starring Sharon Stone.

Here Walter dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Running Cold:

Of all my books, this is the one I most want to see as a movie … because it was inspired by a movie! Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones starred in a 1993 film called The Fugitive about a doctor (Ford) who was framed for killing his wife (the impossibly beautiful Sela Ward) and escapes arrest in a spectacular collision between a bus and a train. Ford is pursued by a scrappy U.S. Marshal (brilliantly played by Tommy Lee Jones) while trying to solve the murder and clear his name. Thirty years later, I still can’t get this movie out of my head. So I decided to do a version with women in the starring roles, and then up the stakes by setting it in the Canadian Rockies during a blizzard.

Julie Weston Adler is working as a chambermaid in the spooky Banff Springs Hotel (yes it’s a real place!) because her husband lost all their money then took his own life. Not your average hotel employee, Julie is a former Olympian. Her sport, the biathlon, combines skiing and sharp shooting … and yes she has her rifle with her … and may be forced to use it!

I imagine Julie as a Canadian Katniss Everdeen - fearless and athletic with a strong connection to nature. So of course I wrote her with Jennifer Lawrence in mind! Other actresses I think would make excellent Julies are Blake Lively (so tall and commanding!) and Captain Marvel herself, Brie Larson.

The woman Julie is accused of murdering is named Ceci Rousseau. She is a former ballerina and socialite in her sixties with a sharp tongue and style for days. I directed the outlandishly talented Sharon Stone in my 2018 film All I Wish and wrote the character with her in mind. I could also see Helen Mirren or Naomi Watts in the role.

Julie has a suitor, Remy, who is a French-Canadian heartthrob. I would cast another All I Wish actor, Gilles Marini, in this role. He is so talented and gorgeous, with that thick cascade of black hair and irresistible French accent.

Julie has a best friend, Izzy, who is opposite to her in almost every way - relaxed and fun-loving instead of intense and self-critical, has womanly curves where Julie is all muscles and grit. She’s not primarily an actress, but I always imagined Adele in this role. Or maybe the hilarious Nicole Byer from Nailed It.

Finally, in the role of Detective Monique Montpelier, I imagined Kerry Washington, who has the perfect balance of humor and power. I also sometimes mused at how amazing Jennifer Lopez would be. I loved her depiction of a police woman in Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight.

If place is a character, then I have to include Banff, Alberta in my casting. The novel is set there, and there is no place like it on earth! It is somehow both majestic and adorable, with its quaint storefronts nestled in between jagged mountain peaks. And the Banff Springs Hotel, where the murder takes place, is a one-of-a-kind castle in the snow. It’s been many decades since a movie was shot there, I think it’s time for this amazing town to come out of retirement!

Visit Susan Walter's website.

Q&A with Susan Walter.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jenny Milchman's "The Usual Silence"

Jenny Milchman is the Mary Higgins Clark award winning and USA Today bestselling author of five novels. Her work has been praised by the New York Times, New York Journal of Books, San Francisco Journal of Books and more; earned spots on Best Of lists including PureWow, POPSUGAR, the Strand, Suspense, and Big Thrill magazines; and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness. Four of her novels have been Indie Next Picks. Milchman's short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies as well as Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and a recent piece on touring appeared in the Agatha award winning collection Promophobia. Milchman's new series with Thomas & Mercer features psychologist Arles Shepherd, who has the power to save the most troubled and vulnerable children, but must battle demons of her own to do it. Milchman is a member of the Rogue Women Writers and lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.

Here she shares some ideas for an adaptation of her new novel, The Usual Silence:

Having their work made into a film or show is pretty much every writer’s dream, but there’s also a tension inherent in adapting a book to an audio-visual medium. Because while the lines and dots and dashes that make up text perform an alchemy in the reader’s mind, as soon as we put a voice and face and body to a character, everybody pretty much sees and hears the same thing. Through our own lenses, of course, but still—there isn’t that unique magic that allows every individual to read their own personal version of a story.

So I don’t have a cast in mind for The Usual Silence, which features a thirty-seven year old psychologist who happens to be beautiful with fiery red hair (I did watch Perry Mattfeld in In the Dark and she captured Dr. Arles Shepherd’s blend of anger and compassion particularly well, so if she’s available, maybe give her a call); a hard-working mother to an Autistic son; and a middle-aged dad with an ailing heart whose daughter has gone missing; plus two child characters, children being particularly tricky to cast. Oh, and a hot potential love interest, dark-haired, blazing blue eyes. A guy.

But I do have a dream director in mind. Someone who’s been a force in the industry since she was a child and has proven herself to possess staying power to which every creative would aspire. Who understands both the everyday oppression women and girls face in this society and others—as well as our ability to transcend that oppression.

Jodie Foster, please direct The Usual Silence, either as a movie or, since the novel is but the first Arles Shepherd tale, by turning it into a limited series.

Can I have my people call Jodie’s?

Learn more about the book and author at Jenny Milchman's website.

My Book, The Movie: Cover of Snow.

The Page 69 Test: Cover of Snow.

The Page 69 Test: Ruin Falls.

My Book, The Movie: Ruin Falls.

My Book, The Movie: The Second Mother.

The Page 69 Test: The Second Mother.

Q&A with Jenny Milchman.

--Marshal Zeringue

Paula Munier's "The Night Woods"

Paula Munier is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Mercy Carr mysteries. A Borrowing of Bones, the first in the series, was nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award and named the Dogwise Book of the Year. Blind Search also won a Dogwise Award. The Hiding Place and The Wedding Plot both appeared on several “Best Of” lists. Home at Night, the fifth book in the series, was inspired by her volunteer work as a Natural Resources Steward of New Hampshire. Along with her love of nature, Munier credits the hero dogs of Mission K9 Rescue, her own rescue dogs, and a deep affection for New England as her series’ major influences. A literary agent by day, she’s also written three popular books on writing: Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, and Writing with Quiet Hands, as well as Happier Every Day and the memoir Fixing Freddie: The True Story of a Boy, a Mom, and a Very, Very Bad Beagle.

Here Munier dreamcasts an adaptation of the sixth Mercy Carr mystery, The Night Woods:

The Night Woods is my own humble homage to Homer’s The Odyssey—complete with wild boar, lethal storms, and loyal dogs. Given that, it would be great fun to make a movie version directed by Ang Lee, who directed two of my favorite films of all time: Sense and Sensibility and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Lee is as adept at directing classic female- centered stories as he is action-driven tales. He’s also known for directing women—from Michelle Yeoh to Emma Thompson.

The Night Woods is action-driven, but key to the series is my heroine Mercy Carr’s extended family, not only her husband and the dogs, but also most notably her mother and grandmother and the two young women she’s taken under her wing, her teenage cousin Tandie and the young mother Amy. In The Night Woods, my heroine Mercy Carr is heavily pregnant, and the women of the family gather around her like a female energy field. I can picture Rose Leslie as Mercy, with Carolyn Hennesy as her chic mother and Meryl Streep as her warm-hearted veterinarian grandmother. Millie Bobby Brown would make a great Amy, with T.J. McGibbon as Tandie. A powerhouse of strong women, just like Mercy et al.

Visit Paula Munier's website.

Coffee with a Canine: Paula Munier & Bear.

My Book, The Movie: A Borrowing of Bones.

The Page 69 Test: A Borrowing of Bones.

My Book, The Movie: Blind Search.

The Page 69 Test: Blind Search.

My Book, The Movie: The Hiding Place.

The Page 69 Test: The Hiding Place.

Q&A with Paula Munier.

My Book, The Movie: The Wedding Plot.

The Page 69 Test: The Wedding Plot.

My Book, The Movie: Home at Night.

The Page 69 Test: Home at Night.

--Marshal Zeringue

Samantha Greene Woodruff's "The Trade Off"

Samantha Greene Woodruff is the author of Amazon #1 bestseller The Lobotomist’s Wife. She studied history at Wesleyan University and continued her studies at NYU’s Stern School of Business, where she earned an MBA. Woodruff spent nearly two decades working on the business side of media, primarily at Viacom’s Nickelodeon, before leaving corporate life to become a full-time mom. In her newfound “free” time, she took classes at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, where she accidentally found her calling as a historical fiction author. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek, Writer’s Digest, Female First, Read 650, and more.

Here Woodruff dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The Trade Off:

Someone recently asked me for a one sentence, Hollywood-style pitch for The Trade Off and I said: “It’s The Great Gatsby meets The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Wall Street.” Not to compare myself for a single moment to Fitzgerald or Amy Sherman-Palladino, but my book is set in the roaring ‘20s and examines the “have and have nots” of the era. And, as I was writing my protagonist, Bea Abramovitz, I always had Rachel Brosnahan’s Midge Maisel in my mind. So, it might be a bit too on the nose, but it’s hard for me to envision anyone but her in the movie version of my book.

Bea is a first-generation American daughter of Russian Jews who immigrated to the US to flee the pogroms, losing everything along the way. Bea has a gift for numbers and, in the stock market boom of the 1920s, wants nothing more than to become a broker in the very male world of Wall Street. But she has three strikes against her: she’s female, she’s poor and she’s Jewish. Bea doesn’t share Midge’s background or career goals, but she has a similar spunk, likeability and determination that conjured Brosnahan’s Midge in my imagination.

For Bea’s friends, I pictured Christina Hendricks à la Mad Men for Henrietta, the dazzling rich Jewish secretary who wants to be a “modern gal” and make it on her own; Taylor Swift for Milly, the awkward girl who finds herself; and Dakota Fanning for Sophie, Bea’s Lower East Side Italian-immigrant best friend.

I pictured the women in the book more than I did the men, but if I were casting Jake, Bea’s alluring, handsome brother, I’d look for Justin Hartley crossed with Owen Wilson and a dash of Vince Vaughn (if age were no issue). Jake is a striking guy with incredible charisma, a natural salesman who can get anyone to do anything based on his good looks and charm. For Bea’s love interest, the kind, handsome and successful banker Nate, I see Glen Powell. He has the both magnetism and the ability to endear.

Visit Samantha Greene Woodruff's website.

My Book, The Movie: The Lobotomist's Wife.

--Marshal Zeringue

Emma Barry's "Bad Reputation"

Emma Barry is a novelist, college lecturer, and former political staffer. She lives with her high school sweetheart and a menagerie of pets and children in Virginia, where she occasionally finds time to read and write.

Here Barry dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Bad Reputation:

Cole James’s reputation as Hollywood’s favorite himbo no longer suits him. His fans can’t separate the real man from the character he played on a soapy teen drama decades ago. But that’s going to change with Waverley, the hit streaming historical romance series.

Maggie Niven hates her own notoriety. Fired for directing a divisive play, Maggie takes her fight against censorship public. When Hollywood comes calling, she becomes the new intimacy coordinator for Waverley. But it’s harder than she imagined to focus on the job.

Cole isn’t what she expected—and Maggie is more than he dreamed of. As filming gets underway, the cast’s old traumas lead to real intimacy, and Cole and Maggie struggle with feelings they shouldn’t have. Having an affair on set could destroy his comeback and her new career. Falling in love would ruin everything.

So is there a Hollywood ending in store for them?

(Folks, it’s a romance. You do the math.)

I have to admit that I don’t normally fancast my books, but with Bad Reputation, I had to. It’s a book about making a television show for crying out loud! You better believe I have a cast list ready to go.

Cole has the soul of a Boy Scout or an elementary school crossing guard. Sure, he’s blond, muscular, and hot, but you have to like him, not just lust after him. I’d cast Chris Pine, largely based on the energy he brought to Wonder Woman 1984. That scene when he confuses the trash can with a work of art pretty much inspired the book.

Maggie is a former high school teacher who’s smart, quick talking, and just a little sarcastic and self-deprecating. The actor I had in mind was Anna Kendrick. I find her a lot of fun to watch, because even when she’s being tart, she’s always a touch vulnerable. That’s very much Maggie’s vibe.

There are two secondary romances in this book: one between Cole’s co-star and best friend, Tasha, who finally admits that she’s in love with Cole’s long-time stand-in and stuntman, Ryan. The other finds two journalists exposing a Hollywood predator (they end up in a “there’s only one cottage” situation, or at least that’s how it plays out in my head). I’d cast Florence Pugh and Glen Powell as Tasha and Ryan, and Danielle Galligan and Mark Ruffalo as Libby and Jack.

Waverley’s showrunner, Zoya, should be played by Adria Arjona, and Maggie’s best friend can be Billie Lourd.

Seriously, call me, Hollywood. I’ve done all the hard work for you.

Visit Emma Barry's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Elom Akoto's "Blindspot in America"

Elom K. Akoto immigrated to the United States from Togo (West Africa). He earned a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in TESOL (Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages). He is the founder of Learn and Care, a nonprofit organization that aims to promote Literacy and Adult Education, not only among immigrants but also among Native Americans who missed the opportunity to earn a high school diploma. The program offers ESL, literacy, GED preparation classes, and more. He self-published two ESL workbooks: Ideal Companion, ESL level 1 and Ideal Companion, ESL level 2. He teaches French in a high school and ESL at a community college in Omaha, Nebraska, where he lives with his family.

Here Akoto dreamcasts an adaptation of his debut novel, Blindspot in America:

Blindspot in America is a political novel that explores the narrative of immigrants' experiences in America in their quest for the American Dream. The novel tells the story of an African immigrant, Kamao, born into a prominent Ghanaian family, his father being the secretary of health, who becomes entangled in American politics. His relationship with Lindsey, the daughter of Brad McAdams, a wealthy, prominent, conservative, and anti-immigrant US senator, triggers a series of troubles for him.

While writing this novel, I enjoyed the story playing in my head as if it were a Hollywood movie. I imagine the book being adapted into a film or a series on Netflix or other platforms featuring some well-known skillful actors and actresses. Because there are so many talented actors who can play each of the novel's three main characters, Kamao, Lindsey, and Brad McAdams, it was challenging to come up with a finalist for each role.

For the role of Kamao, I continue to struggle to choose between three finalists: Algee Smith, Khylin Rhambo, and Malachi Kirby. Kamao is described as an athletic, martial artist, and good-looking fellow who resembles, in some way, Thomas Sankara, the late charismatic, charming, and revolutionary president of Burkina Faso, a West African country, who was assassinated in 1987. All three actors mentioned can fit the description, except for the resemblance to Sankara. I would happily let every reader decide which of the three they would rather see play that role.

The character of Lindsey McAdams is described as a beautiful girl with blue eyes, a brunette, a down-to-earth attitude, and well-mannered. I’m leaning toward Josephine Langford, although she would have to fight for this role against Lily Reinhart. I chose those two actresses because of their looks and acting skills. In the After series, Josephine Langford has revealed her skills as a passionate lover with a tender but sharp romantic flare. I think that would fit her role as Lindsey McAdams, who usually doesn’t hold back her feelings for Kamao.

For the role of Brad McAdams, a white male in his sixties with prominent shoulders and imposing physical attributes and personality, I couldn’t find better actors than Brendan Gleeson and Jeff Daniels. Although Gleeson is my first choice, I wouldn’t be disappointed if Daniels is picked to play the role because of his more classy, political figure look.

Visit Elom Akoto's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Tess Callahan's "Dawnland"

Tess Callahan is the author of the novels April & Oliver and Dawnland. Her essays and stories have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Writer’s Digest, National Public Radio, Agni, Narrative Magazine, AWP Notebook, Newsday, The Common, the Best American Poetry blog, and elsewhere. Her TEDx talk on creativity is titled, “The Love Affair Between Creativity & Constraint.” Callahan is a graduate of Boston College and Bennington College Writing Seminars. A certified meditation teacher, she offers meditations on Heart Haven Meditations and Insight Timer. She curates Muse-feed.com, a toolbox for aspiring writers. A dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, she lives in Cape Cod and Northern New Jersey with her family and number one life coach, her dog.

Here Callahan dreamcasts an adaptation of Dawnland:

Because Dawnland is about love of all kinds—romantic, doomed, familial, fatalistic, erotic—it requires actors with a wide range and a director with an eye for subtlety. Set it in the spectacularly dynamic landscape of Cape Cod’s outermost beaches, the setting mirrors the inner life of the characters, who teeter on cliffs both literal and metaphorical. April and Oliver are in- laws with a tangled past. As their family reunion unfolds, their buried secret threatens to erupt like a rogue wave. Fault lines appear between spouses, siblings, parents and children in what becomes a summer of reckoning. Will the truth force deeper, more authentic relationships or destroy them irreparably? Anne Hathaway is a dead ringer for April, both physically and in terms of her personal zest and emotional range. In Dawnland, April’s husband Al says she has “Anne Hathaway eyes,”—dark, boundless, and full of mystery. From Brokeback Mountain to The Devil Wears Prada, Hathaway demonstrates the depth and versatility needed for a vibrant and often unpredictable character like April.

Although he is not (yet) an actor, the Irish musician Hozier is perfect for the role of Oliver. Not only are they both tall, lean, and quietly irreverent, they possess a rare blend of deep introspection and ferocious passion. Like Hozier, Oliver is a musician. They possess the same musical sensibility and vocal range. Hozier is mentioned in Dawnland as someone Oliver admires, and at one point Oliver and April dance to an iconic Hozier song, “Movement.” My confidence in Hozier’s acting ability lies in his music video, “Eat Your Young,” as well as his riveting performance on stage. His simmering passion perfectly suits the role of Oliver.

Hathaway and Hozier would melt any audience.

As for directing, Todd Haynes would be a natural. He has done compelling work exploring the inner life of musicians as well as family and societal dysfunction. Another great choice would be Marielle Heller, who has a deep understanding of teenage psychology and clearly grasps the consequences of long held lies.

Finally, I would go with Declan Baldwin as producer due to his wide range of experience and his highly nuanced films such as Manchester by the Sea and Still Alice.

Dawnland is highly cinematic novel begging for a movie. Who’s onboard?

Learn more about the novel and author at Tess Callahan's website.

The Page 69 Test: April and Oliver.

The Page 69 Test: Dawnland.

--Marshal Zeringue

Asha Greyling's "The Vampire of Kings Street"

Asha Greyling lives in Maryland with her furry four-footed muses, Gwin the terrier and a guinea pig who thinks she’s a cat. She likes nothing more than swinging in the playground (unless the local children scare her off), collecting acorns, or sitting down with a good book.

Here Greyling dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The Vampire of Kings Street:

When I write, I visualize everything. It helps me set up a scene if I can see it in my mind’s eye as a movie. Sometimes I’m describing what I see, not at all what I’ve planned!

My dreamcast for The Vampire of Kings Street would be the following:

Simone Ashley – Simone Ashley has just the kind of flair, style, and attitude that I would imagine for Radhika Dhingra. Radhika is the descent of South Indian immigrants and now an aspiring lawyer in 19th century New York. There is a lot of colorism in India (and the world as a whole), so I deliberately made Radhika darker skinned than most of the Indian actresses you see in film, like Simone Ashley herself. I'd love to see Simone in this role!

Freddy Carter – For the vampire-accused-of-murder, Evelyn More, I think Freddy Carter would fit the role excellently. He’s great at playing ambiguous characters with both a dark and light side, which fits Evelyn exactly – characters who you could imagine being villainous but equally capable of heroism. And after all, maybe Evelyn More is the murderer – read to find out!

Florence Pugh – Florence Pugh’s spunky and no-nonsense performance would fit the character of daring reporter Jane Beverly to a “T.” Jane Beverly is an ambitious, free-spirited character—one of Radhika Dhingra’s few friends—who never lets society’s norms hold her back from her goals.

Visit Asha Greyling's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Vampire of Kings Street.

--Marshal Zeringue

Julie E. Czerneda's "A Change of Place"

Julie E. Czerneda is a biologist and writer whose science fiction has received international acclaim, awards, and best-selling status. She is the author of the popular "Species Imperative" trilogy, the "Web Shifters" series, the "Trade Pact Universe" trilogy and her new "Stratification" novels. She was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Her stand-alone novel, In the Company of Others, won Canada's Prix Aurora Award and was a finalist for the Philip K. Dick Award for Distinguished SF.

Here Czerneda shares some ideas for an epic series adaptation of her new novel, A Change of Place:

A Change of Place continues from two previous books in my Night’s Edge fantasy series. The characters are the same, though more arrive, the focal setting—Marrowdell—is always present, but in each book, we visit dramatically different places and problems. It’s, well, big.

Making it not so much a movie prospect and very much an epic series.

Just typing that makes me tremble, a little. Wouldn’t that be something?

Oh I didn’t always think that way. When I first thought of Marrowdell, my dragon, my characters and the entire scope and tone of the story it was in response to what I wasn’t finding. I wanted fantasy where the magic was wondrous and wild. With families that were whole and loving and coped together with their troubles. Characters who weren’t victims but happy or hoping to be, engaged with their surroundings and each other. There’s a mill. Farms. Dancing.

A story that feels like warm cocoa and a blanket on a chilly day, with gleeful ahas!

In other words, no grim. No gore. Okay, maybe a touch of gore and smidge of risk, but countered by a great deal more pie and joy and laughter.

As there wasn’t anything like this in movie or series form—and so much the opposite ::coughs Game of Thrones ::coughs:: as I wrote I never thought a visual edition of my fantasy would be possible. After all, it has moments like this:

As the light of this world faded, the light of the Verge reached the bay, or rather, shone up through it to reveal treasure below.

Mimrol.

The magic that flowed as rivers and filled lakes in the Verge did the same here, in the depths beneath the dark water, its silver like some fantastic etching come to life. In Channen, the stuff had fallen as rain, greedily snapped up by the turtle-like nyim—what wasn’t collected by those who knew its value.

Suggesting she did, Nonny stood, calmly handed Jenn her cup, then shrugged off her rags. Beneath she wore nothing but a woven belt lined with compartments.

With one smooth motion, she stepped up on the gunnel and dove.

Now, however, we’ve a wealth of amazing film and shows with incredible special effects to ably portray beautiful moments, like this, as well as all those action things (which I adore as well, don’t get me wrong). Most recently, the Rings of Power on Prime, season 2 directed by Charlotte Brändström, comes to mind*. Watching lets me truly imagine Marrowdell coming to life on a screen at last, which would be epic--many of my family and friends are movie folks, not so much readers.

And I’d like it too.

*Confession: like every author I know who watched Lord of the Rings I dreamed Peter Jackson would “discover” my book and make it a spectacular umpteen hour movie but--at the time I was writing Species Imperative, a hard sf epic, and I didn’t think it his sort of thing. Peter? Maybe now?

Visit Julie E. Czerneda's website.

The Page 69 Test: To Guard Against the Dark.

The Page 69 Test: The Gossamer Mage.

The Page 69 Test: Mirage.

Q&A with Julie E. Czerneda.

The Page 69 Test: To Each This World.

My Book, The Movie: To Each This World.

--Marshal Zeringue

J.H. Markert's "Sleep Tight"

J. H. Markert, the author of The Nightmare Man, Mister Lullaby, and Sleep Tight, is the pen name for writer James Markert, an award-winning novelist of historical fiction. Markert is a produced screenwriter, husband, and father of two from Louisville, Kentucky, where he was also a tennis pro for 25 years, before hanging up the racquets for good in 2020. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Louisville in 1997 and has been writing ever since. With a total of 10 published novels under his belt, Markert writes historical fiction under his name and horror/thriller under J.H. Markert. He has recently completed his next historical novel, Ransom Burning, a civil rights era family/crime drama that Markert calls “my best book yet!” He recently finished another horror novel called Dig, and is currently hard at work on his next novel, Spider to the Fly.

Here Markert dreamcasts an adaptation of Sleep Tight:

I always envision “movie” when writing my novels, which means I inevitably think of certain characters when I create my stories and Sleep Tight was no exception. No budget could afford this cast, but in the spirit of sleeping tight, and sleeping right, we can dream, right?

As a Louisvillian, for the main character, I could think of no one other than Louisville’s own Jennifer Lawrence as my Detective Tess Claiborne. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit, in part, writing the story one day hoping she could play Tess!

As far as her husband Justin, I’d go with Chris Pine.

For Detective Danny Gomes, I’d go with a serious Jack Black.

For the incredibly difficult task of playing Noah Nichols, I’d love to have Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and for Father Silence, Joaquin Phoenix.

And for Lisa Buchanon I’d like to cast Lady Gaga!

Visit J.H. Markert's website.

Q&A with J. H. Markert.

My Book, The Movie: The Nightmare Man.

The Page 69 Test: The Nightmare Man.

--Marshal Zeringue

Sofie Kelly's "Furever After"

New York Times bestselling author, Sofie Kelly, writes the Magical Cats mysteries, set in the small town of Mayville Heights, Minnesota. As Sofie Ryan, she is the author of the popular bestselling Second Chance Cat mysteries that feature repurpose shop owner, Sarah Grayson, a group of senior sleuths and the world's oldest computer hacker.

Kelly has been a late night disk jockey—which explains her love of coffee--and taught absolutely terrified adults how to swim. Like Kathleen Paulson in the Magical Cats books, she practices Wu style Tai Chi. Kelly is also a mixed-media artist and likes to prowl thrift shops looking for things to re-purpose in her art.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, Furever After:

Librarian Kathleen Paulson lives in Mayville Heights, a small town in Minnesota. In the latest book in the series, Furever After, she’s about to marry Detective Marcus Gordon. Kathleen gets tangled up in quite a few of Marcus’s cases. She’s kind and empathic and people tell her things. Kathleen is also very good at figuring out when someone is lying. Her parents are actors—primarily in the theatre—and she’s learned a lot about human nature from watching them. She has excellent research skills as well. And she has a couple of furry helpers, her cats, Owen and Hercules.

Owen and Hercules are not ordinary felines. There’s a reason this series is called the Magical Cats Mysteries. The cats each have a very unique skill. Owen can become invisible, and being a cat he doesn’t always disappear when it’s convenient for Kathleen. Hercules can walk through walls.

So which actor do I picture playing Kathleen if Hollywood decided to turn the series into a movie? Sandra Bullock. She’s equally good at comedy and drama. She looks right physically for the part. And she’s an animal lover. But Sandra is a little older than Kathleen, who is in her late thirties. However, I’m actually thinking about Sandra Bullock from about 2006 when she was in the movie The Lake House. (Don’t tell me the movie is stupid because I will stuff my fingers in my ears and start humming loudly.)

So if Sandra Bullock was cast as Kathleen I’m thinking maybe…maybe Keanu Reeves for Marcus? Yes, I know his eye color and age are all wrong but again I’m picturing Keanu circa 2006, which does fix the age issue. And I could be flexible about Marcus’s beautiful blue eyes.

So what do you think?

Visit Sofie Kelly's website.

My Book, The Movie: Curiosity Thrilled the Cat.

Writers Read: Sofie Kelly (October 2015).

The Page 69 Test: Faux Pas.

Writers Read: Sofie Kelly (September 2022).

Writers Read: Sofie Kelly.

--Marshal Zeringue

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

Sarah Easter Collins's "Things Don't Break on Their Own"

Sarah Easter Collins is a writer and artist. A mother to a wonderful son, she has worked extensively in the field of education, teaching art in the UK, Botswana, Thailand, and Malawi. Collins now lives on Exmoor with her husband and dogs, where she loves running and wild swimming. She is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course.

Here Collins dreamcasts an adaptation of her debut novel, Things Don’t Break On Their Own:

Things Don’t Break On Their Own is a story about sisters, hidden histories and the unreliability of memory. Female friendships are at the heart of the novel, as is a girl who goes missing on her way to school at the age of thirteen. The entire novel spans a period of some thirty years, with one character in particular being seen in one scene as a six-year-old but in other scenes in her late thirties, but in terms of thinking about who might play these characters in a movie, I’m going to think about each character as their adult selves, at the age where they gather together for a supper in London.

Robyn as a character is generous, straightforward, warm, loyal and loving. She carries into adulthood a deep wisdom that comes from having grown up in a home environment that is safe and loving, where broken things are mended, and where generosity and kindness are the order of the day. She’s described as sporty and having a wonderful smile with dimples, but there is great depth to her character too. I think Carey Mulligan would be amazing in that role. I once had the privilege of seeing her on stage in David Hare’s brilliant play Skylight, in which she was stunningly good. I think she’s a phenomenal actor and she also has a perfect impish smile. She was also brilliant in the film adaptation of Never Let me Go, one of my favourite ever books.

In Skylight, Carey Mulligan played opposite Bill Nighy, another actor I love, and I think he would make an amazing Chris Bee (Robyn’s father). Firstly, he has the physical presence required of that role. In Things Don’t Break On Their Own, he is described as tall and a little stooped plus, plus he is wise and generous. Another actor who I’d love to play that part, and for similar reasons, would be Richard E Grant, someone who is a little gawky, but who also expresses great natural warmth.

Ben Whishaw would be brilliant as Robyn’s brother Michael: he is the perfect combination of geeky and warm.

Willa is a damaged soul. She is beautiful and highly intelligent, but her adult life has been overshadowed by both her domineering father and the loss of her sister, meaning she has never pursued a career or, vitally, accepted her own sexuality, and as a result she is not, as an adult, in a safe and loving relationship. I would love to see what Daisy Edgar Jones could do with that role. In the brilliant adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, she played Marianne with such amazing mix of vulnerability and damage. Jodie Whitaker would also be amazing, as would Jodie Comer.

Willa’s father, Bryce, is highly domineering, powerful, physically large, handsome, mercurial, and chameleon-like: a man who comes across as benevolent and generous to outsiders, but who is a terrifying presence within his family home. Imagine Brian Cox playing a younger version of Logan Roy. Dominic West would be brilliant in this role.

Willa’s mother is highly protective of her daughters and as a result stuck in an impossible situation: she can’t risk leaving. She is the proverbial ‘doll in a music box’: a beautiful woman who is turning on the spot. She is capable of great anger, but it is usually deeply hidden. I’d love to see Rosamund Pike in that role.

Laika: this part needs to be played by someone capable of expressing strength, anger, intelligence and resilience. I think Jessie Buckley would be amazing in this role.

Visit Sarah Easter Collins's website.

The Page 69 Test: Things Don't Break on Their Own.

Q&A with Sarah Easter Collins.

--Marshal Zeringue

Ellen Won Steil’s “Becoming Marlow Fin”

Ellen Won Steil is the bestselling author of Fortune and the newly released Becoming Marlow Fin. She grew up in Iowa in a Korean-American family and earned her BA in journalism from Drake University and law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two young sons. Steil believes most good stories have at least a hint of darkness.

Here the author dreamcasts an adaptation of her novel Becoming Marlow Fin:

Becoming Marlow Fin is a suspense, family drama that centers around the sudden appearance of a little girl at the Baek Family’s Lake Superior cabin, and how her absorption into the family disrupts their seemingly perfect lives. Isla watches on as her adopted sister Marlow, grows up into a famous model and actress, their lives continually intwining with both moments of closeness and tension. Told through Isla’s reflections and Marlow’s perspective in a sensationalized “tell all” interview format, the twists and turns all culminate into a deadly incident at the lake where it all began.

As an author, I’m very visual in my process and tend to picture “scenes” playing out in my mind as I write them. Even with dialogue, I find it helps to envision the characters and their facial expressions. Especially with this story, I wanted characters who were diverse and uniquely beautiful, showcasing how our physical differences are truly our gifts.

For Marlow: The absolute dream, ideal casting for this multi-layered character is Zendaya. Unique in her loveliness both inside and out, she personifies how the standard for what we consider “beautiful” has changed. There’s something enigmatic about her and it’s hard to picture anyone else as close to the character as her.

For Isla: This character requires someone who can be both understated and then unexpectedly brash. Ashley Park has that persona. I’ve seen her play bold roles like Emily In Paris, and more subtle yet powerful ones like Naomi in Beef. She’s so fiercely talented and it would be amazing to see her take on this complex role.

Visit Ellen Won Steil's website.

--Marshal Zeringue