Sean Beaudoin's "Wise Young Fool"

Sean Beaudoin's books include You Killed Wesley Payne, Going Nowhere Faster, which was nominated as one of YALSA's "Best Books for Young Adults," Fade to Blue, which was called "Infinite Jest for teens" by Booklist, and The Infects. His short stories and articles have appeared in numerous publications.

Here Beaudoin dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, Wise Young Fool:

My casting for Wise Young Fool would be easy: the protagonist Ritchie Sudden (guitar) would be played by Ben Schwartz from House of Lies. Of course, he'd have to pretend he was 18. Lacy Duplais (lead singer) would be played by Natalie Portman. Elliott Heller (bass) would be played by Ving Rhames. Chaos (drums) would be played by Andrew Garfield. Ravenna Woods (unattainable hottie) would be played by Vanessa Hudgens. I, of course, would be played by Tom Waits.

I would be thrilled if the movie was directed by either Paul Schrader or Jim Jarmusch.

The soundtrack would be mostly handled by The Replacements, Husker Du, Fugazi, and Elliott Smith. With maybe a touch of Gillian Welch and Regina Spektor.

Learn more about the book and author at Sean Beaudoin's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jessica Spotswood's "Star Cursed"

Jessica Spotswood grew up in a tiny one-stoplight town in Pennsylvania, where she could be found swimming, playing clarinet, memorizing lines for the school play, or—most often—with her nose in a book. She has been writing since she was little but studied theatre in college and grad school. Now she lives in Washington, DC with her brilliant playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey.

Here Spotswood dreamcasts an adaptation of Star Cursed, the second book in The Cahill Witch Chronicles Series:

It's so fun to imagine who would play my characters in a movie! While I was writing Star Cursed, I created a Cahill Witch Inspiration pinboard which features pretty Victorian dresses, snippets of settings, quotes that inspire me, and lots of pictures of actors and models who capture some bit of my characters.

For Tess, the littlest Cahill sister, who is a terribly clever, observant, powerful young witch - I'd choose Elle Fanning. She did a spread for Teen Vogue a few years ago in which she looks so perfectly, perfectly like Tess that I gasped when I saw this picture! The braids, the pale blonde hair and gray eyes, the sweet-solemn face are all so Tess.

For Maura, the middle Cahill sister - the stubborn, romantic, impetuous one - I'd choose model Lily Cole. She's got the red curls and the round face and she's beautiful in a fierce bright way.

My heroine Cate is a bit more difficult. She's protective and loyal and independent - and looks-wise, thin and dark blonde and pointy. Reese Witherspoon has the stubborn chin but is a bit too golden (not to mention a bit too old to play 17 year old Cate). Chloë Moretz comes closest in this picture.

As for Finn - the clever bookseller-turned-gardener who steals Cate's heart - Andrew Garfield is my hipster dreamcast Finn. He's got the crazy rumpled hair and the soulful brown eyes - just add glasses and freckles! Ben Whishaw, who played Q in the most recent James Bond movie, would also be an excellently swoonworthy choice!

One last important role - the Cahill sisters' new governess - is Elena Robichaud. Elena is elegant and ambitious, and actress Aisha Dee would be perfect for the part with her dark curls and brown eyes.

Learn more about the book and author at Jessica Spotswood's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Carole Haber's "The Trials of Laura Fair"

Carole Haber is professor of history and dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Tulane University.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her new book, The Trials of Laura Fair: Sex, Murder, and Insanity in the Victorian West:

As I have worked on the story of Laura Fair over the course of several years, I am continually asked if this tale is fiction, although of course the book is completely non-fiction. I have also been queried – sometimes in jest, sometimes seriously – about when the movie will appear. Although the majority of action occurs in the 1870s, the story’s themes of murder, reputation, and sexuality certainly resonate today. As such, it is not hard to envision today’s actors playing the roles.

The role of Laura Fair needs to be handled by someone who can be as mercurial as she. Tall, fair-haired, and beautiful, Fair could be assertive and bold one minute, seductive and sexual next. At times she was irrational and uncontrollable, while at other moments, she was submissive and passive. In everything she did, she drew public attention and comment. While much of the story takes place while Laura is in her thirties, the actress also needs to able to age from a young woman to advanced age. For the title role in the movie I envision the part being played by Charlize Theron or Kate Winslet.

Laura’s lover, AP Crittenden, was a dominate figure in legal circles in California and Nevada. Friends with the leading politicians and bankers of his time, he appeared to believe that his behavior had little relationship to the norms of middle-class Victorian society. He seemed convinced that by juggling the wants of both his wife and lover, he was demonstrating his supreme manliness: Jeff Daniels.

Clara Crittenden, although anxious to present herself as the good wife and mother, clearly had a backbone of steel. Her numerous interactions with Laura as well as her trial testimony revealed that while she was well aware of the societal role she was meant to play, she was able to use this role to her advantage to gain both sympathy and support: Holly Hunter.

Benjamin Lyford: As the leading medical witness for the defense, Lyford showed himself more adept at confusing the jury than convincing them. Judged by the press to be more a con man than a scholar or a professional, he created a story of his life that bore little resemblance to his actual history. Having gained experience as an embalmer and perhaps an abortionist, he represented to many -- both in the court and out – the limitations of 1870s medical practice: Leonardo DiCaprio.

N. Curtis Greene, Laura’s lawyer in her second trial, was able to manipulate the hearing according to his own narrative. He was not only able to control Laura – perhaps the only man to ever really do so -- but, to his delight, he was able to humiliate legal medical experts. As his post-trial interview demonstrated, he was convinced that he was the smartest, most able legal mind in the state, and that only he could defend Laura Fair: Kevin Spacey.

Emily Pitts-Stevens. As California’s leading suffrage advocate, she was the chief supporter of Laura Fair. Through her journal, The Pioneer, she waged war on women’s subordinate role in society. She surprised observers by relative youth, her attractiveness and her fierce independence:Natalie Portman.

Mark Twain: Hal Holbrook, obviously.

Learn more about The Trials of Laura Fair at the University of North Carolina Press website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Stewart Lewis's "The Secret Ingredient"

Stewart Lewis is a singer-songwriter and radio journalist and is the author of You Have Seven Messages. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Here Lewis shares some reflections on the adaptation of his new novel, The Secret Ingredient:

Well, it actually is becoming a movie, and I just went to Birmingham Alabama to oversee the shooting of some scenes. I got to pick out what the main character (Olivia) was going to wear. I got to meet the cast members, most of which look exactly how I pictured them! It is a very small, independent production but still thrilling to me. I'm not sure how the end result will turn out, but my feeling is that no matter how big the budget, or how shiny the stars, a movie rarely lives up to a book. Don't judge a book by its movie.

Learn more about the book and author at Stewart Lewis's website, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

Writers Read: Stewart Lewis.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kersten Hamilton's "When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears"

Kersten Hamilton is the author of several picture books and many novels, including the acclaimed YA paranormal trilogy The Goblin Wars. When she's not writing, she hunts dinosaurs in the deserts and badlands near Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she lives.

Here Hamilton shares some ideas for adapting When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears, Book Three of The Goblin Wars, for the big screen:

I have to start this fantasy in the proper place: with the book. First, I must imagine the books selling so well and becoming so beloved that I would actually have a voice in the choice of director and actors. After that that tiny detail of my career was squared away, I would ask only two things more of the Powers that Be:

First, that Joss Whedon direct the movie just as soon as he finishes the next Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog. This would make me deliriously happy.

And second—that no ‘name’ actors are cast in the parts of Teagan, Finn or Abby. I would want my stories to start the career of new, wonderful actors.

With that minor proviso out of the way, I must admit that Finn does look like a young Brad Pitt—a little younger than he was when he played Mickey O'Neil in Snatch. And Teagan looks a lot like the post Harry Potter Emma Watson—the Emma with short hair. And Abby. Ah, Abby. She would have to look and act a great deal like Ellen Page!

Learn more about the book and author at Kersten Hamilton's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kathryn Lasky's "The Rise of a Legend"

Kathryn Lasky is the Newbery Honor-winning author of over one hundred books for children and young adults.

Here she shares some ideas about an adaptation of her new book, Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Rise of a Legend:

Well I am one of the lucky authors who did get to see her books turned into a movie. My first three books in the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series were made into the Warner Brothers 3D animation film Legend of the Guardians. And although the story was changed quite a bit I loved the acting and the gorgeous animation. Now my first new owl book in five years, The Rise of A Legend, has just been released. It focuses on Ezlyryb, the sage of the Great Ga’Hoole Tree, and tells about his life as a young commander and I really have some ideas in my head about who should play what parts. Geoffrey Rush played Ezylryb in the last movie. So I vote for him again but Ezylryb was old then so we need a great actor to play him as a youngster in the first half of the book. My choice would be Daniel Radcliffe. For Ezylryb’s father, Rask, I would choose Sam Neill who played the villain in the movie. Now he can be a good guy. His mate should be Maggie Smith. The evil owl Bylyric should be played by Jack Nicholson. He’ll be perfect. Ezylryb’s best friend should be Brenton Thwaites who is playing the role of Jonas in Lois Lowry’s classic The Giver, which is about to start filming. Emma Watson would make a great Lil, Ezylryb’s love interest, and Carey Mulligan would make a terrific young Strix Struma.

Writing stories is all about finding voices and faces. So I do think about movie stars often. Of course when you are writing about owls it is more voices than faces as I don’t know of any living owls who are actors. I have to admit a lot of these voices for my owls have British or Aussie accents , but I heard them that way long before the film was made in Australia by the wonderful animators at Animal Logic.

Learn more about the book and author at Kathryn Lasky's website.

Writers Read: Kathryn Lasky.

--Marshal Zeringue

Sam Cabot's "Blood of the Lamb"

Sam Cabot is the pseudonym of Carlos Dews and S.J. Rozan.

Carlos Dews is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of English Language and Literature at John Cabot University where he directs the Institute for Creative Writing and Literary Translation. He lives in Rome, Italy.

S.J. Rozan is author of many critically acclaimed novels and short stories which have won crime fiction's greatest honors, including the Edgar, Shamus, Anthony, Macavity, and Nero awards. Born and raised in the Bronx, Rozan now lives in lower Manhattan.

Here Dews dreamcasts an adaptation of Sam Cabot's Blood of the Lamb:

When I first thought of the characters of Livia Pietro and Thomas Kelly I had actors in mind to play them (that is, in the ideal, fantasy adaptation of the novel that was already showing in my head). I thought someone like Ewan McGregor or a Philip Seymour Hoffman would be great as the Jesuit priest Thomas Kelly. Unfortunately both McGregor and Hoffman have played priests in previous films (McGregor in Angels & Demons and Seymour Hoffman in Doubt). For Livia Pietro my dream actors would be Angelica Huston, Isabella Rossellini, Julianne Moore, or Meryl Streep. The ages for Thomas and Livia are somewhat flexible, so actors of various ages could play them. A third character who has always had faces associated with him in my mind is Spencer George. The perfect actors for Spencer are Stephen Fry and Ian McKellen. I would love to hear who readers think of when they read the characters.

Follow Sam Cabot on Facebook, and learn more about Blood of the Lamb at the publisher's website.

The Page 69 Test: Blood of the Lamb.

--Marshal Zeringue

Susanna Daniel's "Sea Creatures"

Susanna Daniel is the author of two novels. Stiltsville was a winner of the 2011 PEN/Bingham award for debut fiction, and Sea Creatures was named an Amazon Editors’ Top Pick in August of 2013. Daniel is a co-founder of the Madison Writers’ Studio and is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and Columbia University. Her work has been published in Newsweek, Slate, Epoch, and elsewhere. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and now lives with her family in Madison, Wisconsin.

Here Daniel dreamcasts an adaptation of Sea Creatures:

Georgia, the narrator of Sea Creatures, has curly masses of dark, coarse hair, and large breasts – otherwise, she is keenly aware that she’s not particularly beautiful. If not for this last bit, I’d cast Catherine Keener, but Catherine is too striking and tall and not bosomy enough, sadly. And other than they are too young (and also too pretty), I’d cast Alia Shawkat or Ginnifer Goodwin or Ellen Page – so in the end, I’ll have to dye her hair and go with the talented and chameleonlike Jennifer Lawrence!

Twice in Sea Creatures, Georgia is compared to or drawn as a mermaid (there’s context, I promise), and for what it’s worth I think Jennifer Lawrence would be a stunning mermaid.

For the attractive, older recluse character, Charlie Hicks, I’d cast – who else? – Jeff Bridges (at his fittest and shortest and most groomed, to be frank).

Now I’m pausing to picture Jennifer Lawrence and Jeff Bridges in a scene thick with sexual tension. Which is not unpleasant.

For Graham, who is a parasomniac and avid cyclist and very tall, with prematurely white hair and deep-set eyes and flamingo legs, I’d cast Matthew Modine. If he’s not available, I’ll go with Ewan McGregor (who, by the by, can do no wrong).

For Lidia, the chatty but loving stepmother, I’d cast my old friend Raul’s mother Patricia Mendoza, who for some reason I pictured as the physical model for Lidia, and who would kill it on the big screen.

For Georgia’s late mother Gigi, seen in flashback, in homage to my own late mother, I’d cast a young Meryl Streep, but of course.

Learn more about the book and author at Susanna Daniel's website and blog.

The Page 69 Test: Stiltsville.

Writers Read: Susanna Daniel.

--Marshal Zeringue

Andrew Sean Greer's "The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells"

Andrew Sean Greer is the bestselling author of The Story of a Marriage and The Confessions of Max Tivoli, which was named one of the best books of 2004 by the San Francisco Chronicle and received a California Book Award. He is currently a fellow at the New York Public Library Cullman Center. He lives in San Francisco.

Here Greer shares some reflections on adapting his new novel, The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells, for the big screen:

It's a nice thought to put oneself to bed at night, that one day your meager book could be a movie! But, of course, the final form of a book is a book. Books can be "made into" movies, but movies can never be made into books, so in every way it is a diminution. And so of course I try to calm my anxieties by imagining Anne Hathaway running through the streets of 1918 New York! The anxiety it relieves is this: that Greta Wells is already being played, by actors I will never see, in the minds of everyone who owns the book.

Learn more about the book and author at Andrew Sean Greer's website and follow him on Facebook.

Writers Read: Andrew Sean Greer.

The Page 69 Test: The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells.

--Marshal Zeringue

Jessica Brody's "Unremembered"

Jessica Brody is the author of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, My Life Undecided, The Karma Club, and the recently released, Unremembered, the first in a sci-fi/suspense/romance trilogy. Her books have been translated and published in over 15 countries and several have been optioned for film and TV. Sometimes she wishes her memories could be erased so she could reread all her favorite books for the first time. She splits her time between California and Colorado.

Here Brody shares some suggestions for casting an adaptation of Unremembered:

Recently, I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful person named Michelle Levy who is an author and professional casting director She’s worked on projects like My Name Is Earl, Mr. Popper's Penguins, and she just worked on the new Vampire Academy film.

Michelle happened to have read Unremembered, my latest sci-fi thriller release and I was so thrilled when she put together a dream cast for me based on who she pictured while reading the book.

I’m usually very bad at dream casting my own books. But I think Michelle nailed these picks. And here they are…

SERAPHINA

Actress Name: India Eisley

Where You’ve Seen Her: The Secret Life of the American Teenager

My Reaction: Yes! Yes! Yes! With some purple contacts India is Seraphina!!!

ZEN

Actor Name: Steven R. McQueen

Where You’ve Seen Him: The Vampire Diaries

My Reaction: OMG! Zen! I’ve always loved The Vampire Diaries. And I think Steven definitely captures that “desperate need to protect” that Zen embodies.

CODY

Actor Name: Chandler Canterbury

Where You’ve Seen Him: The Host, Knowing, Fringe

My Reaction: This is exactly how I pictured Cody. We’ll have to “nerd” him up a bit, but Chandler is perfection!

About Unremembered:

When a sixteen year old girl wakes up among the wreckage of a devastating plane crash with no memories, she’s forced to piece together her forgotten past with only one clue to her identity— a mysterious boy who claims he helped her escape from a top-secret science experiment.

Learn more about the book and author at Jessica Brody's website and blog.

Writers Read: Jessica Brody (October 2009).

My Book, The Movie: 52 Reasons to Hate My Father.

Writers Read: Jessica Brody (August 2012).

--Marshal Zeringue