Jencey's Writer's Corner

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews for dropping by with her casting picks for Save the Date.  This is one novel you do not want to miss.   I don’t care what they say—every novelist I know secretly dreams of having a movie made from one of their books---and I’m no different.            Despite all the horror stories you hear about Hollywood “butchering” books, I have to think it would be a huge thrill to see one of my stories up on the big screen—or even on a little screen.             My newest book, SAVE THE DATE , comes out from St. Martin’s Press on June 3. It’s the story of a wedding florist/wedding planner whose own cynical view of marriage has her convinced that happy endings only happen in fairy tales. But all that changes when her beloved golden doodle Poppy runs away from her flower shop in historic downtown Savannah—and is inadvertently dog-napped by a hands...

Every author dreams that, one day, their book will be made into a movie, or a television series. Of course, it happens to few of us but it’s nice to dream and many writers cast their novels during the writing process; it can help with characterisation and visualising your leads. I’m not one of those authors but I have relished this opportunity to act out a fantasy, so many thanks to Jencey for this! Public Battles, Private Wars is quintessentially British, and like, say, Brassed Off, The Full Monty and Billy Elliot , chances are it would be made (if at all) with a British cast. However, as we’re in fantasy-land I’d also like to imagine it relocated to a small American mining town, somewhere outside Pittburg, let’s say. So here’s my dream-team cast lists: the cream of Hollywood and British acting royalty. Mandy Walker – my lead – a feisty young redhead who finds love and personal fulfilment during a terrible year of hardship and strife would be played by Karen Gillan and...

Thank you to Patti Callahan Henry for coming to Writer's Corner today to share her casting picks for THE STORIES WE TELL.  The main character in THE STORIES WE TELL, Eve, is in her forties and running a letterpress company. Eve is a creative spirit trying desperately to keep the image of her life together. If I close my eyes I can see Diane Lane playing this character exactly right. Oh, to hear her say. "Can't anyone be happy in your stories?" (a line from the book).   Eve's husband Cooper is cool enough to pull off the best of lies and look good doing it. Sean Penn would saunter through this role with ease. By the opening of the movie, he'd have a scar across his face and look good sporting it while keeping his life together. And Max, Oh my favorite character and Eve's co-worker. Mark Ruffalo definitely. I saw him while I was writing this part--his rugged good looks and raspy voice with a quick wit.   Eve also has an eighteen year o...

I’ve often been asked how I would “cast” my trilogy (which includes Click: An Online Love Story , Double Click and the newly-released final installment, Right Click ) if the books were made into a movie or series of movies.   Let me just put it out there in the universe that I would LOVE to see these hit the big screen.   I’ve often said the books marry the friendships of “Sex and the City,” the epistolary nature of “Bridget Jones’ Diary” and the online love story of “You’ve Got Mail” to be light and breezy stories for anyone who's ever been dumped, been in love, had a bad date or is still searching for "the one."   Considering 1 in 5 relationships today now begin online, the time is right for a modern digital love story with a lot of heart and humor.   That being said, these would be my recommendations and a brief rationale for each.   Casey Wilson as Renee Greene Casey has the humor and warmth to play the main character in this...