Now Starring Blogfest!

A chance to cast the characters from my novel-turned-blockbuster-movie?  How could I resist?
If you want to do the same, run over to Kore Averna and sign up!

Even though I'm not published (or even agented), I've given a lot of thought to this (yes, even prior to the blogfest).   My novel is based on a freaky dream I had, and the face of the first character we meet in the novel is still as fresh in my mind as the morning I woke up from it.  That face looked uncannily like:


Actress: Eva Longoria.  Granted, my character is younger than Eva, so I'd need a time machine if she were actually going to play the role, but hers is the face I've pictured ever since I had that dream.
Character Name: Rebecca Gaines
Description: Becca is fun, plucky, and not afraid to say what's on her mind.  She's also very fashionable, has a flair for dramatics, and is just a wee bit self absorbed.  Oh yeah, and recently deceased.  She can't move on to the afterlife until she completes a mission involving my next female mc....

Character Name: Alexis Beckman
Description: Alexis is skeptical, cynical, and in total disbelief that a dead girl is on call as her personal cupid.  She has no interest in helping Rebecca find her "true love", because she doesn't believe he exists.
And the role goes to: Dianna Agron.  Now, bear in mind Diana doesn't look much like the Alexis I see in my head.  In-my-head-Alexis has blonder hair, blue-green eyes, and a handful of freckles across her nose.  But I love Dianna, and I think her acting style is perfect.  Not to mention she's gorgeous, in that naturally pretty way that fits my character.  So she's my pick for Alexis.

And now the contenders for her heart....

Character Name: Jeremy Manning
Description: Jeremy is a hottie because, well, it's my book and I say so.  He has blondish hair, hazel eyes, a dimpled smile and a rockin' bod, thanks to his dedication to wrestling and fitness training.
And the role goes to: Kellan Lutz.  Again, not the exact image of the face I see in my head, but the body... Mmmm.  I'm sorry, was I saying something?  Oh right.  On to the next character...

Character Name: Michael Clark
Description: Total dreamboat.  I adore Michael, and yes, I can say that even though he's a product of my overactive imagination.  Blue-eyed,dark-haired, sweet, hard working, absolutely gorgeous, and oh - he has a secret, too...
And the role goes to: Steven McQueen.  Though I'd also consider Tom Welling or Zack Efron.  Something about Steven's face just makes me think of my character.  And look at him.  I'd accept his pink flower even if I didn't like pink.  Or flowers.  It certainly doesn't suck to be Alexis Beckman, does it?


Last but not least, I want to cast Alexis's best friend, Jamie.  Jamie's role in the novel isn't huge, but I loved her so much that I've outlined another just for her.  Jamie is a hard working, loyal friend who's had her share of bad luck.  She gets her happy ending... but how long will it last?  Unfortunately, when I tried to post a photo of my pick (Victoria Justice), I wound up with a virus on my computer.  So if you'd like to look her up for yourself, I encourage it.  Just don't click on anything!

Writer's Blog: Eye Candy Edition

I don't know about you, but I sometimes when I'm reading the description of a character I can't help but picture a face I've seen before.  More often than not I conjure a generic face, but when the opposite happens it's usually an actor, or a face I've seen in a magazine, or more rarely, someone I know in real life.

It's pretty easy to use actors for the hotties.  For example, I'm sure I've mentioned ad nauseum how much I loved the boys of Nightshade, Shay and Ren.  Ren is the sexy alpha male of the Bane pack, and the more I read, the more I saw a specific someone embodying this charismatic hottie.  I give you - and you can thank me later - Rick Malambri:

OOOOOH MY GOD HOW SEXY IS HE?? 

Ahem, 'scuse me.  Now that I've wiped the drool from my keyboard I can continue with the post.  I would LOVE if Rick were actually young enough to play Ren in a movie version of Nightshade.  But then again, how often are actual teenagers cast to play teenagers?  If he got rid of the 5:00 shadow, he might just pull it off.  Still, even Rick's tall-dark-n-sexiness couldn't distract me from how badly Step Up 3 sucked.  Aaaaand it's also kind of gross that he has the same name as my dad. 

Anyhow, I also found familiar faces floating around in my mind when I envisioned the male mc for my own story.  I mentioned a couple posts ago that I have a weakness for dark-haired, light-eyed boys, so it's no shock that my beloved Michael bears the killer combo.  At first, I pictured him looking a lot like a long-time crush of mine, Smallville's Tom Welling:

But since Tom is getting up there in years, eventually the image in my mind began to meld with a more age appropriate face, that of Vampire Diaries Steve McQueen:

Put 'em both together and whaddya got?  One smokin' mc, who's charming to boot.  I hope you'll all love him as much as I do one day!

So I'm curious-- do you ever picture actors or actresses in the roles of main characters?  Create a new face?  Or base them on someone you know? 

Or are you just scrolling back up to look at Rick again?  I know.  You're welcome : )