Jennifer David Hesse's Blog, page 8

Six questions to ask yourself on New Year's Eve

2016 is finally coming to a close and you know what that means: Resolutions!

I know, I know. Not everyone loves resolutions as much as I do. But in spite of their bad rap, I’m a big believer in resolutions. It's all too easy to let one day blend into the next, doing the same ol’-same ol’. Without goals, how do you know where you’re going? Without intentions, how can anything be accomplished? Without resolutions, how can I make any improvements in my life?

I guess I can't help myself.When the e...

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Christmas future is far away
Christmas past is past
Christmas present is here today
Bringing joy that will last

I just love this sweet little holiday classic. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, was sung by Judy Garland in the 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis—and then performed by many artists since. But my favorite version, hands down, is the 1978 release by the Carpenters.

One of the most memorable lines in the song is the starkly simple: “Christ...

And the winner is...

Cue the drum roll... because the results are in. After our whirlwind pretend "casting call," in which, over the course of seven days, we profiled five characters and reviewed various actor candidates for the starring roles... the fans have spoken. Below are the top-vote winners in each character category.

And then... coming up next, I have a real-life contest in which YOU might be the winner! Beginning tomorrow, I'm running a 3-day raffle to give away three advance copies of Bell, Book & Candl...

Character Profile #5: The Nemesis

Here we are at the end of Character Profile Week already! It’s been fun to imagine what my characters would look like if they were to step out of the pages of the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries. When browsing for representative photos, I tried to find actors who are approximately the right age and who possess at least some of the physical traits mentioned in the books. Of course, if I were really a casting director, I would need to see some auditions. Besides physical appearance, I’d want to evaluate...

Character Profile: "The Good Witch"

Holly leaf on our back porch rail"Since we've no place to go... Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!"

That's what I was singing this weekend. Here in Chicago I'm not sure how many inches we got, but it seemed to snow nonstop. And I was perfectly happy to stay inside! It was fine weather to catch up on some chores, do some reading and writing... and dream a little more about my book series someday being made into a feature film. Or perhaps a TV series. That would be cool too.Speaking of TV sh...

Character Profile #3: The Sidekick

Sherlock had Watson, Lucy had Ethel, and Nancy had Bess and George. All main characters can benefit from a BFF or two, don't you think? Our heroes need someone to bounce ideas off of and someone to commiserate with. Sometimes they need their "partners in crime" to keep them out of trouble… and sometimes it’s the partner who drags them into trouble in the first place.

Regardless of the circumstances, sidekicks can add a lot of fun and humor to a story. When it comes to the Wiccan Wheel Mysterie...

Tall, dark and handsome: Casting our male lead

Well, I must say I’m having fun with my little movie casting project this week! There’s nothing quite like scouring Google images for “dark haired actors under 40.” Naturally all the swoonworthy stars appear first on the page.

As they say, it’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it. Ha!So, today is the second day of “Profile Week,” in which I’m featuring various characters from the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries. Yesterday, I introduced the protagonist, Wiccan sleuth Keli Milanni. (If you haven’t vo...

If my book becomes a movie...

...who should play the main characters?

All writers dream of seeing their books come to life on the big screen. At least, I assume they do. I, for one, think it would be super cool!

Just for fun, I’ve been thinking about who I would cast to play the characters in Midsummer Night’s Mischief . Which contemporary actors fit the bill?Care to help me out?

In today’s blog post, I’m kicking off “Profile Week.” Between now and next Thursday, I will profile five characters from the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries...

How to add more sparkle to your December days

By Jennifer David Hesse (Photo by Scott Hesse) Is it just me, or is there a certain sense of dreariness in the air lately? Maybe it’s just the gray Chicago weather. Or the overcrowded stores. Or perhaps it’s all the negativity in the news and the corresponding feelings this brings up (fear, worry, dread, disgust...). For sure, part of the problem is the fact that it’s already dark outside before I leave the office. Then there’s the knowledge that the temps will only be dropping from here on o...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here it is, the "most magical Thursday of the year!" (As Kristen Wiig pointed out in her funny and factually incorrect Thanksgiving songon SNL last Saturday.)

Wherever you are today, whether you'respending time with good company, watching a parade, savoring delicious food, or simply taking a break from work and worry...I hope you have a lovely time.

I also hope you have a chance to do something that fills your heart with gratitude. After all, being thankful = being happy. Don't you think? Oh....