Jennifer Brown's "Life on Mars"

Jennifer Brown is the author of the young adult novels, Hate List, Bitter End, Perfect Escape, Thousand Words, and Torn Away.

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her first middle grade novel, Life on Mars:

My superstitious side rarely lets me indulge in if-my-book-was-made-into-a-movie fantasies, but I will admit that Life on Mars was such fun for me to write, and came to life so vividly for me, I might have occasionally thought about what it would look like on the big screen.

In my mind, Life on Mars, the movie, is something along the lines of The Goonies meets Holes meets Stand By Me, three of my favorite kid movies that all have a few things in common: an unlikely combination of comedy, gravity, quirk, and believability, with characters who are lovable and fun, and whose goals are adventurous and maybe even a bit fantastic, all woven together with an underlying thread of delicious storytelling.

Arty would need to be played by someone who can pull off smart and quirky with just a hint of rebellion hiding somewhere deep within. I imagine Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs) or maybe Atticus Shaffer (The Middle) as Arty. Tripp really has only one job—be adorable—and I think he’s a perfect fit for future Jack Gore (The Michael J. Fox Show). Bring in Cecilia Bagalot, who was adorably spunky in Desperate Housewives, as Priya, and you’ve got what I think is a perfect Life on Mars best friend trio.

As for Cash Maddux, the movie needs someone tough and grizzled. Someone cranky and loud about it. But also someone with that little melty heart that he shows when he has to, even if he doesn’t like it. Someone that a boy could look up to, and also be afraid of. This is a role that calls for ... Ed Asner, hands-down.

And, of course, Life on Mars, the movie, would have to be a summer release, so we can all go outside afterward and pick out the constellations, and maybe even find Betelgeuse, the “armpit” star.

While I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about my books as movies, I have to admit ... scuffed Keds in summer grass, fart scenes and dog-peeing scenes, tears and sleeping bags and stars ... I suppose that’s a book-to-movie fantasy I could get into. Where’s the popcorn?

Learn more about the book and author at Jennifer Brown's website.

Read: Coffee with a Canine: Jennifer Brown & Ursula and Aragorn.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kathryn Erskine's "The Badger Knight"

Kathryn Erskine is the acclaimed author of many distinguished novels for young readers, including Mockingbird, winner of the National Book Award; The Absolute Value of Mike, an Amazon Best Book and ALA Notable Book; and Quaking, an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.

Here Erskine dreamcasts an adaatation of her new novel, The Badger Knight:

Here's the cast of (main) characters -- this is always such fun to do!

Adrian (the Badger): Dusty Burwell
Adrian is young (just turning 13). He's very small for his age and has albinism so the actor, if one with albinism couldn't be found, would need to be pale and quite young like Dusty. Part of why I made him have albinism is that so often in literature and film the character with albinism is the bad guy or the weird guy. In this story, Adrian is the hero.

Hugh (Adrian's best friend): Dakota Goyo

Bess (Adrian's cousin, Hugh's love interest): Kiernan Shipka

Donald (Scottish soldier whom Adrian and Hugh protect, against all social norms): Robbie Coltrane (naturally!)

Nigel (young monk who befriends Adrian): Jack Kaeding

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

Coffee with a Canine: Kathryn Erskine & Fletcher.

The Page 69 Test: The Badger Knight.

Writers Read: Kathryn Erskine.

--Marshal Zeringue

Natalie Haynes's "The Furies"

Natalie Haynes is a graduate of Cambridge University and an award-winning comedian, journalist, and broadcaster. She judged the Man Booker Prize in 2013 and was a judge for the final Orange Prize in 2012. Natalie is a regular panelist on BBC2’s Newsnight Review, Radio 4’s Saturday Review, and the long-running arts show, Front Row. She is a guest columnist for The Independent and The Guardian.

Here Haynes dreamcasts an adaptation of The Furies, her first novel:

The lead character in The Furies is Alex: a woman in her mid-twenties, who has suffered a terrible loss, and is about to embark on a course of action that will indirectly cause another. She’s from London, England, and is working in Edinburgh, in Scotland. I have always thought she should be played by Anna Maxwell Martin, who you probably last saw as Philomena’s daughter (who pesters Steve Coogan into investigating her mother’s case, in Philomena). I think she is slightly older than Alex, but it couldn’t matter less, because she is a) a brilliant actor, and b) has the saddest face I’ve ever seen on the big or small screen. There is something compelling about her eyes: they seem to be on the verge of tears at all times. I can’t think of anyone who could better capture Alex’s grief and anger.

I don’t think I was thinking about her when I started writing Furies, but whenever anyone asks who would play Alex in a movie, I always say it would be her: she looks like Alex (or maybe it’s the other way round). And it is a pretty tough role. At the beginning of the book, Alex is numb with grief, but she gradually thaws out as she starts teaching a difficult group of students. So Alex needs to be charismatic, too: the audience would have to believe this woman could control a room of aggressive kids.

But here’s the thing. Last year, my boyfriend was in a movie with Anna Maxwell Martin, and he came back from a week of filming saying she is the quickest person to laugh in any room (and he’s pretty quick to laugh himself). And for a moment, when he told me that, I thought I’d made the wrong choice in my fantasy-film-casting daydreams. Then I realised this actually made her even better casting.

Alex is not an intrinsically miserable character. She’s a smart, funny person, to whom something truly awful has happened. The whole time I was writing her, I wanted those two levels to be readable: she is wretchedly unhappy, but beneath that, she’s someone you would want to hang out with. She isn’t a gag-a-minute, or anything, but if you were having a beer with her, she would listen to you and she would make you laugh.

Having said all that, I think there is a possibility that if Furies was made into a film, it would be relocated to America. And in that case, I would pick Elizabeth Olsen to play Alex: she has the same qualities of intense emotion and cleverness which Alex has. And she has an extraordinary capacity to show vulnerability and toughness at once. I’m not picky: I’d be overjoyed with either of them.

Who would direct it? Why, Joss Whedon, of course. I’m not an idiot.

Visit Natalie Haynes's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Furies.

--Marshal Zeringue

Elizabeth Little's "Dear Daughter"

Elizabeth Little was born and raised in St. Louis and graduated from Harvard University. She has written two works of nonfiction: Biting the Wax Tadpole: Confessions of a Language Fanatic and Trip of the Tongue: Cross-Country Travels in Search of America's Languages.

Here Little dreamcasts an adaptation of Dear Daughter, her debut novel:

Dear Daughter is the story of Jane Jenkins, an ex-Hollywood It Girl who was convicted of killing her mother. Ten years later, released on a technicality, she adopts a new identity, gives the media the slip, and heads to a tiny town in South Dakota to try to uncover the truth about what really happened the night of her mother’s murder.

In many ways, Dear Daughter is a riff on a classic noir setup—that of The Wrong Man—so instead of casting the roles with modern actors I thought I’d look instead to the greatest actors of the golden age of Hollywood noir.

Keeping in mind that I made my choices based on spirit and not physicality, here is my All-Star Dear Daughter Noircast:

Rue, a sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued seventeen-year-old, is beautiful and devious ... but maybe not quite as good at planning as she thinks she is: Lana Turner

Renee, the local shop owner who seems to know everything about everyone—not that she’s telling—is brassy, brainy, boozy, and funny as hell: Myrna Loy

Kelley is a cute, caring bookworm with a backbone, and she may just be Jane’s most important ally: Dorothy Malone

Noah, Jane’s long-sufferingly loyal lawyer, would probably be better at his job if he weren’t far too romantic for his own good: Dana Andrews

Leo, the shady, smart-mouthed police chief, doesn’t know what Jane is up to, but he suspects it’s No Good. He’s simultaneously noble and self-serving—although he’d only admit to the latter: Humphrey Bogart

... and finally Jane, my prickly, haunted heroine: Lauren Bacall, the woman who once said, “There are a lot of people who don’t like me at all, I’m very sure of that. But I wasn’t put on earth to be liked.” Whether people loved her or hated her, though, none of them could take their eyes off her. I hope readers feel the same about Jane.

Visit Elizabeth Little's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Laird Hunt's "Neverhome"

Laird Hunt is the award-winning author of a book of short stories, mock parables and histories, The Paris Stories (2000), and five novels from Coffee House Press: The Impossibly (2001), Indiana, Indiana (2003), The Exquisite (2006) Ray of the Star (2009) and Kind One (2012), which was a finalist for both the 2013 Pen/Faulkner award and the 2013 Pen USA Literary Award in Fiction and the winner of a 2013 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction.

Here Hunt dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, Neverhome:

Of course as I was writing my novel about a woman who disguises herself as a man and goes to fight for the Union army during the Civil War it was hard, when I was pipe dreaming about filmic adaptation, not to think of Hilary Swank who played “Brandon Teena” so brilliantly in Boys Don’t Cry. My thoughts about how she would play my character, Ash Thompson, were given an extra charge when I spotted her a couple of times last summer when I was doing a writing residency to work on edits to Neverhome in Marfa, Texas. Still, the fact that she has already done it – and with such success – made it hard to imagine it happening again and my mind has turned elsewhere. Recently, watching the final episodes of the most recent season of Game of Thrones, I thought of Rose Leslie, who plays the fierce wildling Ygritte. My character Ash can be pretty ferocious and is good in a fight, to say the least. Leslie plays ferocity with convincing skill and one could well imagine her in disguise as a soldier. She would look great in a kepi! And just last week a friend alerted me to an interview given by the great French actress Marion Cotillard in which she remarks that she would enjoy the challenge of playing a man in a film. I would love to be able to pitch the idea of playing a woman “playing” a man not playing at war 150 years ago to her. I think she just might find the idea intriguing.

Visit Laird Hunt's website, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

The Page 69 Test: Neverhome.

--Marshal Zeringue

Holly Schindler's "Feral"

Holly Schindler is the author of the critically acclaimed A Blue So Dark (Booklist starred review, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year silver medal recipient, IPPY Awards gold medal recipient) as well as Playing Hurt (both YAs).

Her debut MG, The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky also released in ’14, and became a favorite of teachers and librarians, who used the book as a read-aloud. Kirkus Reviews called The Junction “...a heartwarming and uplifting story...[that] shines...with vibrant themes of community, self-empowerment and artistic vision delivered with a satisfying verve.”

Feral is Schindler’s third YA and first psychological thriller. Publishers Weekly gave Feral a starred review, stating, “Opening with back-to-back scenes of exquisitely imagined yet very real horror, Schindler’s third YA novel hearkens to the uncompromising demands of her debut, A Blue So Dark… This time, the focus is on women’s voices and the consequences they suffer for speaking… This is a story about reclaiming and healing, a process that is scary, imperfect, and carries no guarantees.”

Here Schindler shares some ideas for a big screen adaptation of Feral:

Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m an enormous vintage movie buff. Can’t get enough of it. Love anything black and white. Also a big fan of Hitchcock (I think Rear Window might actually be my favorite).

My love of vintage movies influenced the writing of Feral, which falls squarely into the realm of the classic psychological thriller. The novel features a Hitchcockian pace and focus on character development (here, we’re exploring the inner workings of the main character, Claire Cain, as she attempts to restart her life following a brutal gang beating).

Like vintage psychological thrillers, Feral does borrow from other genres: mystery, horror, even paranormal, but the emphasis is on the “psychological” rather than thriller / action. Essentially, every aspect of Feral is used to explore Claire’s inner workings—that includes the wintry Ozarks setting. The water metaphor is employed frequently in psychological thrillers to represent the subconscious, and here is incorporated in the form of a brutal ice storm (that represents Claire’s “frozen” inner state). The attempt to untangle what is real from what is unreal (another frequently-used aspect of the psychological thriller) also begins to highlight the extent to which Claire was hurt in that Chicago alley. Even the explanation of the odd occurrences in the town of Peculiar offers an exploration into and portrait of Claire’s psyche.

Ultimately, Feral is a book about recovering from violence—that’s an inner process, a terrifying process. The classic psychological thriller allowed me to explore that frightening process in detail.

Because of the vintage-movie influence, I’d shoot it exactly like a movie made fifty years ago—black and white, full of shadows. (Actually, the black and white filming would emphasize the stark coldness of certain scenes—especially those that take place in snow-filled woods, those white mounds contrasting with dark, bare tree trunks…) The stars I’d chose would be lookalike throwbacks to yesterday’s stars. Think Tony Perkins, think Troy Donahue, think a really young Janet Leigh. Think Natalie Wood for Serena. And we need to make a movie poster that looks like The Birds, only with plenty of ragged-looking feral cats…

I would absolutely relish seeing Feral come to life on the screen, looking like those vintage psychological thrillers I’ve long loved.

Visit Holly Schindler's website, blog, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue

J. M. Hayes's "The Spirit and the Skull"

J. M. “Mike” Hayes was born and raised on the flat earth of Central Kansas. He studied anthropology at Wichita State University and the University of Arizona and lives in Tucson with his wife and a small herd of German Shepherds.

Here Hayes dreamcasts an adaptation his new novel, The Spirit and the Skull:

Even with the infinite casting ability of someone whose choices are limited only by imagination, this was a tough job for me. The Spirit and the Skull is set 15,000 years ago on the North Alaskan tundra. The main characters are among the earliest immigrants into the New World, on their way to become American Indians. So I think they should look the part. The easiest way to do that is to cast American Indian actors. Since Westerns don't exactly crowd our theaters, TV series, or DVD selections these days, American Indian actors aren't so easy to find. Nevertheless, here goes.

Wes Studi – Raven
Raven is a forty-something Spirit Man and the central character in the novel. Wes Studi is older than that, but Raven would have lived his entire life exposed to wind, sun, weather, heat, and cold. I picture him as still lean and hard, but with a weathered face that's filled with character. Wes Studi has that kind of face, and one many people will recognize, since he's appeared in a lot of films and television. He's probably most famous for playing Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn in Robert Redford's PBS productions of Skinwalkers, Coyote Waits, and A Thief of Time. Studi is Cherokee.

Tantoo Cardinal – Willow/The Mother
Willow was Raven's woman when they were very young, but drowned as they crossed a swift, icy river. Or did she? She's back, claiming to have been restored to her body by The Mother, whose spirit now shares it. And sometimes dominates it. Tantoo Cardinal played in Dances With Wolves with Wes Studi and has a long history in motion pictures and television. She is of Cree and French descent.

Amber Midthunder - Down
Down is a young woman, just coming of age. Amber Midthunder is still quite young, very beautiful, and, with that gleam of intelligence in her eyes, might be ideal for the part. She's had a surprising amount of acting experience. You may have seen her on Longmire. Midthunder is Lakota Sioux, Asian, and European.

Harrison Ford - Ice Eyes
Who else springs to mind when you think of an archaeologist on film? Indiana Jones would add a nice touch to my casting.

Scarlett Johansson – Perfect Woman
“Perfect” pretty much describes Scarlett Johansson. So, since I'm fantasizing, I'll add someone repeatedly listed among the world's most beautiful women, especially since she's also a fine and proven actor.

Given the chance, I might do a walk-on as one of the elders who is no longer considered productive enough to the band's survival—type casting.

Learn more about the book and author at The Words & Worlds of J.M. Hayes website.

The Page 69 Test: The Spirit and the Skull.

Writers Read: J. M. Hayes.

--Marshal Zeringue

Thomas H. Cook's "A Dancer in the Dust"

Thomas H. Cook is the author of more than 30 critically-acclaimed fiction and non-fiction books. Born in Fort Payne, Alabama, Cook published his first novel, Blood Innocents, in 1980 while serving as the book review editor of Atlanta magazine. Two years later, on the release of his second novel, The Orchids, he turned to writing full-time. Cook published steadily through the 1980s, penning such works as the Frank Clemons trilogy, a series of mysteries starring a jaded cop.

He found breakout success with The Chatham School Affair (1996), which won an Edgar Award for best novel. His work has been praised by critics for his attention to psychology and the lyrical nature of his prose. Besides mysteries, Cook has written two true-crime books, Early Graves (1992) and the Edgar-nominated Blood Echoes (1993), as well as several literary novels, including Elena (1986).

Here Cook dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, A Dancer in the Dust:

I had no problem in deciding who I’d like to play Martine Aubert, the heroine—and she is exactly that—in my latest novel, A Dancer in the Dust. From the first line, and probably even before the first line, I had an actress in mind, namely, Jessica Chastain. I had very much enjoyed her performance in Zero Dark Thirty. She gave her character toughness, courage and iron-clad determination, and these, along with a terrible vulnerability and sense of impending loss, are exactly the qualities I imagined for Martine, a white, native Lubandan who stands against various schemes for her country’s “development.” Even love cannot distract her from the love she has for her country, though in the end, it is not a country that loved her back. A weepy, over-the-top performance would be completely wrong for this character, and I saw none of those characteristics in Ms. Chastain’s performance in Zero Dark Thirty. Even at the moment when she stares at Osama Bin Laden’s dead face, a man she has been tracking all her professional career, Ms. Chastain does not descend to melodrama. She stares at that malignant visage with the same determined gaze with which she has trailed him through the years. I only wish he could have opened his eyes long enough to see this proud, competent and utterly professional young American woman towering over him. That I felt this way at the end of the film is a tribute to Ms. Chastain, and I feel certain that she could bring the same resolve and sense of purpose to Martine Aubert.

Learn about Thomas H. Cook's top ten mystery books and his five top books on the writing life.

Visit Thomas H. Cook's website.

Writers Read: Thomas H. Cook.

--Marshal Zeringue

Shannon Stoker's "The Alliance"

Shannon Stoker has been writing her entire life. She decided to give writing a serious try after her husband bought her a small dog as a birthday gift. Nucky stole her heart immediately and she wanted a job that provided more flexibility to stay with him.

When she’s not writing Stoker enjoys watching an insane amount of television shows as well as horror movies. She got a little taste of television herself when she competed on an episode of TLC’s Four Weddings. You can catch her episode in replays on the channel. Her latest book is The Alliance: A Registry Novel.

Stoker was born in Clawson, Michigan and raised in Elgin, Illinois. She currently lives in DeKalb, Illinois with her husband Andy and small dog Nucky.

Here Stoker dreamcasts an adaptation of The Alliance:

First off I have to say I change my mind on this topic a lot. Who I imagined during the first draft of The Registry is very different from who I imagined when I wrote The Alliance and I’m sure they will change again.

Mia – She is described as beautiful, so I would have to cast Cara Delevinge, who I think is probably the most beautiful woman in the world.

Andrew – I have the hardest time imagining him. I don’t think I have one particular actor in mind, but when I was first writing The Registry I pictured Shiloh Fernandez. Multiple people have told me they picture Liam Hemsworth in the role, but I picture someone with darker features.

Carter - Michael Welch. I saw him in a Lifetime movie on lazy afternoon and thought he would make a perfect Carter. He has that charming surfer boy appeal. Actually now that I think about it now whenever I write a blond male character Welch is the first one who comes to mind.

Grant – Matthew Goode. This is the only choice that never changed. I imagined Goode in the role from the first draft all the way to right now. I think he could really pull off some of Grant’s outfit choices too.

Visit Shannon Stoker's website.

Coffee with a Canine: Shannon Stoker & Nucky.

Writers Read: Shannon Stoker.

The Page 69 Test: The Alliance.

--Marshal Zeringue

Stuart Rojstaczer's "The Mathematician's Shiva"

Stuart Rojstaczer was raised in Milwaukee and has degrees from the University of Wisconsin, the University of Illinois, and Stanford. For many years, he was a professor of geophysics at Duke University.

Here he dreamcasts an adaptation of his debut novel, The Mathematician’s Shiva:

I just sent an advance copy of my novel, The Mathematician’s Shiva, to a producer with an IMDB credit list as long as a Hummer limo so, of course, I’ve thought about how my novel should be done by Hollywood. The rule of thumb is that bad books make good movies and good books make bad movies, but I think my novel, a good book, can be an exception to the rule and be a good movie. Here’s the elevator pitch. A math genius dies. Rumor has it she’s gone to her grave with a solution to a million-dollar problem that, out of spite, she revealed to no one. The math community descends upon her funeral desperately looking for the solution. There’s greed, chaos, mystery, comedy and lust. All I need is the right screenwriter – me, certainly – and the right cast and director. Here’s my wish list.

Rachela Karnokovitch. She is the queen bee, a mathematical genius to whom others defer to almost always. I need someone who can play royalty with a Polish accent. Meryl Streep? Helen Mirren? Those two would both be fabulous. Let them battle it out with screen tests.

Alexander “Sasha” Karnokovitch. The mostly dutiful son of Rachela, he’s an inveterate skirt chaser who somehow, in approaching middle age, must find a way to finally grow up. I need someone who can be dark, intense and also can tell a joke. It’s Liev Shreiber or bust.

Anna Laknova. As close to a daughter as Rachela will ever have and an orphan raised in the Soviet Union, Anna is a mercurial figure who never settles for second best. Cate Blanchett would own this role like no one else. But wait, Isabelle Huppert would kill, too. Decisions, decisions.

Shlomo Czerneski. Rachela’s brother - separated from his family by war and Stalinism for nearly twenty years - is by far the most resourceful of a very resourceful family. It’s Mandy Patinkin. In the bloopers section of the DVD, he can say, “My name is Shlomo Czerneski. You killed my father. Prepare to die!”

Cynthia Czerneski. Second wife of Shlomo and Texas born and raised, Cynthia must somehow try to understand and fit into this polyglot, Eastern European family scarred by war and Stalin. It’s Julianne Moore.

Viktor Karnokovitch. Ex-husband of Rachela. Raised in Soviet privilege, Viktor’s reflexive arrogance is softened by his strong paternal instincts and his deep-seated admiration for the intellect of his wife. Ian McKellan, come on down.

Jenny Rivkin. Admirer of Rachela for her strength and ability to operate with panache in a male dominated academic field. I need someone who can do a spot on Wisconsin accent and can believably hold onto her 12-year-old crush for decades. I’m casting a bit against girl-next-door type here, but summon me Heather Graham, please.

Governor Dombrowski. A man with great hair, great teeth who possesses both a once athletic body gone a little to seed and the ability to sound sincere and greasy at the same time. Where are you, Alec Baldwin?

Bruce Czerneski. Son of Shlomo, Bruce is the only one in the family who was born in the US (and the only one who has adopted anything close to American ways). He can sing, he can dance, and his libido gets him into trouble. Neil Patrick Harris, what are you doing in the spring of 2016?

Yakov Epshtein. Stuck in Nebraska and a perennial loser at love, Yakov is a genial soul who never strays too far from a kitchen and who can surprise with both his warmth and intellect. Give Stanley Tucci a month full of knishes and vatrushkas and he’ll shine in this role.

Vladimir Zhelezniak. Arch-enemy of Rachela. He’s come all the way from Moscow for Rachela’s shiva and for what purpose? I need someone who can play a bad, cunning, hot-blooded Slav. Calling John Malkovich.

Now that I’ve assembled this all star cast, I need a modern Ernst Lubitsch, someone who can seamlessly mix sophisticated, witty comedy with slapstick. He’s young, sure, but he’s very, very good: Jason Reitman.

Visit Stuart Rojstaczer's website.

--Marshal Zeringue