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Friday, February 24, 2012

Casting Call: What Book? Which Stars?


Whenever I write a book, I always “cast” it. I pull images from magazines that I think look like my hero and heroine, and I paste them up around my computer screen for inspiration. I usually choose film stars for this, but that’s not because I dream of movie rights (okay, yeah, I DO dream of movie rights, but still, that’s not my main reason). I like to use movie stars as the visual representations of my characters because that way, I have plenty of images from which to choose . In my latest book, Trouble at the Wedding, the third book of my Abandoned at the Altar Series, I used images of Henry Cavill and Alicia Witt as my inspirations because they just looked like my characters. Other times, I’ve chosen movie stars not only because of their appearance, but also because films they’ve been in have inspired me. Colin Firth, for example, has been the image for several of my heroes, including Anthony from Guilty Pleasures and Phillip from Secret Desires of a Gentleman, all because of his quintessential role as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. To me, there is no other Mr. Darcy but Colin Firth, and there never will be. I know, I know, I can hear those of you who prefer Matthew MacFadyen screaming at me through the blogosphere, but that’s just the way I feel about it.

I know we all have our own idea of which movie stars look like the characters in our favorite books, so today, I’m going to ask you to be movie producers and casting directors for your favorite romance novels. Tell me which romance novel you’d most like to see made into a movie (and no, it doesn’t have to be one of mine) and also tell me which stars you’d cast as the hero and heroine, and you could win copies of the first two books of my Abandoned at the Altar Series, Wedding of the Season and Scandal of the Year. Oh, and which Mr. Darcy do you prefer: Colin Firth or Matthew MacFadyen?

Laura
http://lauraleeguhrke.com/

***Laura's winner is BookBunny68!!  Congratulations!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your full name and address so Laura can get the prize in the mail to you!***

15 comments:

Eli Yanti said...

i choice book from paranormal romance - first grave to right by darynda jones and from HR i think black hawk by joanna bourne ;)

Laura Lee Guhrke said...

Morning, everyone. Let's get this party started!

The_Book_Queen said...

Good question--Honestly, I think I could *almost* imagine any of the books I've read as movies (as long as they were done well...most book-to-movie cross overs are horrible). And as to the cast--Well, Henry Cavill can play the hero for any of them, as far as I am concerned! LOL. Okay, and Gerard Butler for our Scottish and Irish heroes. Heroines, I'm afraid, I don't usually picture much in my mind--but I would like to hope it wouldn't be any ditzy blondes which Hollywood is so full of (and I don't just mean haircolor...) :)

I've actually never watched Firth's Pride and Prejudice (ducks), so I can't comment on which one is better. I'm not a huge fan of the book (though I tried!) and the movie--eh, I can take it or leave it....And I think I'd better be leaving, there is an angry fan-mob gathering to attack me! LOL.

Enjoy!
TBQ
TBQ's Book Palace

Gail Nichols said...

The movie or mini-series I would like to see made is from the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon. Hugh Jackman as Jamie and Emilia Clarke(Game of Thrones) as Claire. As for Mr.Darcy I fell in love with Colin Firth.

girlygirlhoosier52 said...

Gerard Butler in anything.. well Hugh Jackman too..
I loved Colin Firth..a little more... oh heck they were all georgous!

Laura Lee Guhrke said...

I agree, Gail, Outlander would be awesome as a movie. And I second Gerard Butler in anything. Everyone keeps talking about Game of Thrones. I really need to watch that.

bookbunny68 said...

I liked Matthew Macfadyen in P & P too. Very brooding. Love Ian Somerhalder as a bad boy. Alexander Skarsgard is of course the perfect Viking type. Matt Bomer and his pretty eyes, Oh there are so so many.

bookbunny68 said...

I forgot to give my vote for Colin in Bridget Jones movies. He is perfect for that part. My girls and I love the fight scenes with him and Hugh.

Jane said...

I like Matthew MacFayden in the newer version of Pride and Prejudice. Just saw him as Athos in The Three Musketeers. I can see Richard Armitage as Alex in Lisa Kleypas'"Then Came You."

Dina said...

Colin was ok but love MAtthew as Mr Darcy :)

Na said...

I like Mathew MacFayden. He has those striking eyes and sharp features. I'm not too good at casting and usually i's only after I've seen them in action that I see the fit.

Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

Pat Cochran said...

I'm currently reading Gwyn Cready's Seducing
Mr.Darcy. I'd have to go with Colin Firth
(since he has so many fans here today)as Magnus
and as Flip, I can't think of anyone who would
fit the role. Any blonde females I can think of
are either too young or too old. LOL.

Pat Cochran

Mary Preston said...

I'm no good at casting. Seriously not. Colin Firth IS Mr Darcy. Matthew MacFayden pales by comparison.

Jeanne M said...

Since I read Pride and Prejudice over 40 years before any movie was released I'd definately have to go with Colin Firth as my choice for Mr. Darcy! I don't know if Pride and Prejudice is still "required" reading in High School but I sure enjoyed e my "summer mandatory" reading list that year! (Naturally the boys in the class didn't appreciate the "selections" that year!).

Chrisbails said...

I would love to see Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series made into a movie series or made for tv movie. There are lots of good actors/actresses for these parts. Amanda Seyfield, Dakota Fanning, Daniel Radcliffe, and Robert Pattinson would be some great people to use in the cast. Since they are a younger bunch, there are lots of good choices.
Thanks for the giveaway. Would love to win and read your book.
christinebails@yahoo.com