Elle Marr's "The Lie She Wears"

Elle Marr is the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of Your Dark Secrets, The Alone Time, The Family Bones, Strangers We Know, Lies We Bury, and The Missing Sister. Originally from Sacramento, Marr graduated from UC San Diego before moving to France, where she earned a master’s degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris. She now lives and writes in Oregon with her family.

Here Marr dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The Lie She Wears:

Set in Portland, Oregon, The Lie She Wears begins with museum curator and Asian-American Pearl receiving a letter from her recently deceased mother—confessing to murder. Pearl thinks she’s uncovered her mother’s darkest secret. But, when more letters surface, and new victims appear, Pearl realizes she’s caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

While I’m writing, I never think of what actor or filmmaker would be a fit for a screen adaptation of my book. However, it would be my dream to see this story brought to life by today’s talented variety of Asian-American creatives out there. First, and most importantly, I’d dreamcast Lana Condor as Pearl, as I think she’d bring the angsty innocence that Pearl exhibits through most of the book, and she’d also bring to life the heartbreak that characterizes Pearl at the beginning of the story.

As Pearl’s mother, and a deceased character at the outset of my book, Sally’s casting requires an actress who can exude exhaustion and disdain through the text of the hidden letters, as well as the deep-abiding love for her daughter that underlines each biting retort. Lucy Liu would be a fantastic Sally.

Liam, Pearl’s father and a man living with debilitating multiple sclerosis, needs an actor who can demonstrate the love and affection for Pearl that Sally was always unable to muster, while believably presenting the same strength and fierceness that protected Pearl when she was a child. Randall Park would be a great choice.

Finally, Sally’s in-home nurse and caregiver, Zelda should be brought to life by an actress who can bring the levity to the screen that Zelda provides on paper. Her life experiences contrast the Davis family’s, but also complements them due to her complicated history growing up in the foster system. Chloe Bennet could demonstrate that depth in a way that would round out my dream cast.

As for directors? I’m dreaming here, so let me say Olivia Munn, simply because I love her. She could make her directorial debut, and she’d get the inherent dark comedy to this story, as well as the cultural themes that The Lie She Wears highlights and explores. Olivia, slide into my DM’s and let’s figure this out together!

Visit Elle Marr's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Missing Sister.

The Page 69 Test: Lies We Bury.

--Marshal Zeringue