Many writers (and likely a few editors) roll their eyes at folks who think writing a novel is so easy, anyone can do it without training, practice, or smashed laptops. But the absolute worst is the dude who he says he’s not into reading, but he thinks he might like to write a novel so he can rake in the Benjamins when they make it into a movie.
Which is not to say some of us don’t fantasize about seeing our work in vivid color on the big—or even little—screen. For me, especially as I draft dialogue, I imagine the characters to be acting out a scene. As if I can hear them talking, and see them in action.
And when I start feeling their interaction, it brings new meaning—and hot flashes—to the concept of fantasy fiction.
Some of my inspiration comes from Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse vampire novels, made into an HBO series called True Blood, every episode watched numerous times.
I confess that when I hear my Red Orbiter Roger character speaking, I see and hear him as Viking vampire Eric Northman, acted by the oh-so-yummy Alexander Skarsgard. Breathe, ladies.
And don’t get me started on redhead Damian Lewis from Homeland. I should have named my dog Brody instead of Bodie, after his Marine character. He’s currently in Billions, and might just be the ultimate Rowdy Wilde…or former CIA spy Oswald Winslow, aka Win with his sin-soaked grin.
How much would I love to see Daniel Craig as my Red MacLeod, dashing Scotsman who was also a real-life James Bond? A gal can dream…and fantasize.
An example of the downside for me was One for the Money, the first novel from Janet Evanovich’s by-the-numbers books, made into a movie for the big screen. Wherein bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, a blue-eyed brunette, was played by brown-eyed blonde Katherine Heigl.
It didn’t matter to this loyal reader whether they dyed Heigl’s hair or if her acting did the character justice. It did. But the cast for this film was mostly disappointing, with actors not looking or seeming anything like the beloved characters. Then again, Lula is bigger and more bodacious than life itself and Ranger is just too delicious for any actual human to portray him in the flesh.
Some authors have no doubt been disappointed with screenplay adaptations of their works, others maybe not so much.
I don’t know how John Grisham felt, but I especially loved The Firm and Pelican Brief on the silver screen. Though I think maybe Carl Hiaasen (how much do I adore his snarky charm?) wasn’t enamored of Striptease, although one could argue Burt Reynolds deserved recognition for his portrayal of Florida Congressman David Dilbeck.
Striptease received an ignominious 11 percent “tomatometer” from Rotten Tomatoes, which is in no way a realistic reflection of the brilliance of Hiaasen and his novels.
So perhaps it isn’t always a good thing, imagining your literary world come to life on screen. But this gal can still pine for a made-for-cable series called Other Worldly. With Jessica Chastain as Rowan Layne. It even rhymes.
So what if she’s not old enough? She excels in fierce feminist roles. She’s also an Aries. Chastain could kick butt as Luna Moth Woman.