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Spring, 2004
Volume 9, No. 1 Lights, camera, action! For some reason, writers want their books to be validated by a Hollywood production, complete with movie stars, lavish sets, and excellent production values. And of course, a script that closely follows the excellent source material—the book from which it was taken. Although Hollywood's attention can be a mixed blessing, it certainly brings benefits to boost the writer's sometimes battered ego—and bank account. So it's no wonder authors wait for that call from southern California!
Lee Harris What a question! The Good Friday Murder has just been produced by the Hallmark Channel for airing in September 2004 under the title Murder Without Conviction! Obviously, somebody thinks that's the book that should be made into a movie. But what do I think? I think it's a great candidate for a movie, especially with the twins as young men and as old men, with the memories of a Brooklyn of the past, and with a first look at a secular Chris meeting the NYPD Detective Sergeant who will later become her husband. If I were choosing one of the Christine books to be a movie, the first one on my list would be The Christening Day Murder. The small, flooded town emerging as the lake dries up, the beautiful church reaching out of the basin and then, later, when the drought ends, receding into the water until only the steeple is visible, are powerful visual images, the stuff of movies. But of all the books I've written, my first choice to be transformed into a movie would be Murder in Hell's Kitchen with its scenes of old New York, Chinatown, Hell's Kitchen, the subways, the courthouses and the cops that work them. Lee Harris's newest book is The Bar Mitzvah Murder, in which Chris chases a killer in Jerusalem and New York. Lee can be e-mailed at MysMurder@aol.com.
Jonnie Jacobs I've published ten books, and only one has garnered any interest from the movie folks. It's not the one you'd expect. My Kate Austen series lends itself to a lighter treatment—humor and romance against the backdrop of murder. Kate is a spunky single mom with a young daughter, a teen-age foster daughter, a jerky ex-husband and a hunky cop love interest. It's a combination that works well on the page, but is rarely translated to screen. The books in the Kali O'Brien legal drama series are darker in tone and offer more suspense. Shadow of Doubt explores secrets from Kali's own past. Witness for the Defense (date rape and murder) and Motion to Dismiss (adoption and murder) are more in the courtroom drama tradition, and Cold Justice deals with a string of murders that bear the signature of a recently executed serial killer. Any of them could be successfully adapted to the screen, but my pick would be my latest, Intent to Harm, because of the intrigue—a mysterious client who is killed before she can explain her problem, a young woman on the run, a hit man who fears for his life; and colorful settings—Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. So which one was optioned for film? Murder Among Neighbors, first in the Kate Austen series. (No, it was never made into a film.) You can email Jonnie at jonnie@jonniejacobs.com.
Lora Roberts Okay, so Hollywood wasn't interested in a vagabond woman who does temp work for a living. I chose poorly in terms of future movie rights when creating decidedly non-glamorous Liz Sullivan. However, despite that drawback (an exasperated reader asked me, "Can't Liz buy herself something new just once?"), I still think the last in that series, Murder Follows Money, would make a great movie. Good scenery-chewing parts, topical subject matter of style maven exposed as not so nice, visual tour of the photogenic Bay Area—all the elements are there. And my new book, The Affair of the Incognito Tenant, is perfect for Mystery or Masterpiece Theatre. It's set in 1903, in a picturesque Sussex village (I made the village up, so it is just as picturesque as I want it to be). The narrator, Charlotte Dodson, is easy on the eyes, though she does dress soberly in her position as housekeeper. The small manor house where she works would look lovely on film—I'm sure it exists somewhere. The Upstairs, Downstairs aspect is a draw, and Mrs. Clithoe would make Dame Judi happy. There's action, adventure, and Sherlock Holmes is revealed as having the capacity to powerfully attract an intelligent and discerning woman. Take note, Hollywood! Lora's new book is available from Perseverance Press. E-mail Lora at myslora@pacbell.net.
Valerie Wolzien Susan Henshaw has already had her fifteen minutes of fame. Murder at the PTA Luncheon was made into a CBS Movie of the Week years ago. It can still be seen in reruns. (My husband caught it on TV in Zurich, Switzerland). The title was changed to Menu for Murder. Julia Duffy played Susan, Ed Marinaro played Brett Fortesque, and Morgan Fairchild was the victim. These days television is filled with shows about remodeling, but not about the people who actually do the work. In fact, very little work is shown. Walls are torn down and built up, pipes are welded in place, tiles are laid, but it all happens when the cameras are turned off. So wouldn't it be a good time for Josie Pigeon to have her own TV show? Think Designing Women in jeans. Think Trading Spaces meets CSI. Josie is young, independent, and struggling to make a life for herself and her son. The continuing romance between Josie and Sam, a man who is older and more sophisticated, would add a human element. The setting of the novels—a barrier island—is photogenic. But, most importantly, Josie and the women she hires make their living in a non-traditional field—a field that already interests television viewers. In Valerie's new mystery, Death in a Beach Chair, Susan and Jed Henshaw vacation in the Bahamas with Kathleen and Jerry Gordon. The most work anyone does is lift a large rum punch or two—recipe included. E-mail Valerie at valerie@wolzien.com.
Lee Harris ~ Jonnie Jacobs ~ Lora Roberts ~ Valerie Wolzien ©2005-06 by Lee Harris, Jonnie Jacobs, Lora Roberts and Valerie Wolzien. |
