Nan Marino's "Neil Armstrong is My Uncle..."

Nan Marino is the author of middle grade books and a librarian who lives at the Jersey shore.Here's her take on casting an adaptation of her debut novel, Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me (Roaring Book Press, 2009):Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me takes place on Ramble Street in 1969 in the Long Island town of Massapequa Park, NY during the week of the first moonwalk. While this story is written for middle grade children, it’s got some serious moments as well as humor. The actors need to be able to do both comedy and d

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Jenn McKinlay's "Sprinkle With Murder"

Jenn McKinlay-Orf writes mysteries under the names Lucy Lawrence and Jenn McKinlay.Here she shares some casting ideas for an adaptation of Sprinkle With Murder, the first novel in McKinlay's new series set in a cupcake bakery: I think a cupcake bakery definitely lends itself to the visual. My three main characters (Melanie, Angie and Tate) happen to be old movie aficionados, and spend their weekends watching old movies together. They are always trying to stump one another with movie quotes. If this book were made into a film, it would be a kick to see the movie maker edit in the original

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Natasha Friend's "For Keeps"

Natasha Friend is the author of the YA novels Perfect, Bounce, Lush, and the newly released For Keeps.Here she shares some ideas for casting a big screen adaptation of For Keeps:The storyline:For sixteen years, Josie Gardner and her mom, Kate, have been a team. It’s been the Gardner Girls against the world, and that’s how Josie likes it. Until one day, in the pet food aisle of Shop-Co, they run into the parents of Paul Tucci, Kate’s high school boyfriend—the father Josie has never met. If Mr. and Mrs. Tucci are back in town, it’s only a matter of time until Paul shows up. Suddenly Josie’s mat

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Carol Snow's "Just Like Me, Only Better"

Carol Snow, a former contributor to Salon.com, lives in California with her family where she writes books for teens as well as for adults.Here she shares some casting ideas for a film adaptation of her new novel, Just Like Me, Only Better:Just Like Me, Only Better tells the story of a struggling suburban single mother and substitute teacher (yes, I overdid on the s’s) named Veronica Czaplicki who gets hired to be a celebrity double for an imploding young Hollywood starlet named Haley Rush. In her job, Veronica must deal with Haley’s controlling manager, Jay Sharpie. Fake dates with Haley’s

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Edward M. Lerner's "InterstellarNet: Origins"

For thirty years, Edward M. Lerner toiled in the vineyards of high tech. Then, suitably intoxicated, he began writing science fiction full-time. He writes both near-future, Earth-based techno-thrillers (like Fools’ Experiments and Small Miracles) and -- as with his latest novel, InterstellarNet: Origins -- more traditional spacefaring adventures.Here he explains some casting challenges for a cinematic adaptation of InterstellarNet: Origins, as well his choice of a couple of stars with significant sci fi credits for the lead roles:InterstellarNet: Origins, as its cover suggests, sta

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Mark Terry's "The Fallen"

Mark Terry is the author of three Derek Stillwater novels, The Devil's Pitchfork, The Serpent's Kiss, and The Fallen, as well as two standalone novels, Dirty Deeds and Dancing in the Dark. In addition, he is the author of Catfish Guru, a collection of mystery novellas, numerous short stories and literally hundreds of magazine and trade journal articles.Here he shares some guidance for casting a big screen adaptation of his series:My new book, The Fallen, is the third to feature Homeland Security troubleshooter Dr. Derek Stillwater. He’s a PhD in microbiology and biochemistry, an exper

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Jenny Gardiner's "Winging It"

Jenny Gardiner is the author of the novel Sleeping with Ward Cleaver. Her writing has appeared in Ladies Home Journal, the Washington Post, and NPR’s Day to Day, and she has a column of humorous slice-of-life essays that runs in the Charlottesville, VA Daily Progress. Gardiner lives in central Virginia with her husband, three kids, two dogs, one cat, and one gregarious parrot.Here she explains some casting ideas for a big screen adaptation of her new book, Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who's Determined to Kill Me:Well, it might be a little tricky, what with the p

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Jennifer Stevenson's "Trash Sex Magic"

Jennifer Stevenson is the author of four books that only look like they’re way too much about sex. She is a founding member of Book View Cafe, speed roller skater, swimmer, horsewoman, crow fancier, and messy gardener.Here she shares some thoughts on casting a big screen adaptation of her acclaimed novel Trash Sex Magic:Trash Sex Magic, my book--the movie, ooo, I love this question.I started writing Trash Sex Magic (Small Beer Press) in 1986 while I was on jury duty. The book took eighteen years to become fit to publish, so my ideal cast progressed a lot over that time.Hero Alexander Cae

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