Amanda Meuwissen's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-release"
Changeling - The Incubus Saga: Book 2 - COMING SOON!
To Drako from Amazon, THANK YOU for this wonderful review!
"I was instantly in love with this story. I was wondering through the beginning if the Incubus would turn out to be a dark Fae that the brothers have to get rid of. Instead, the Incubus is my favorite. Not to say the twins aren't great as well. They are awesome. Jim is a changeling, which is apparently not such a great thing and the cause of him being hunted. Nathan is his twin brother, human, and is the epitome of brotherly devotion and love. Rough around the edges, sure, and clearly at home in the sex department. The twist is, Nathan's straight, but when faced with the Incubus, Sasha, it became clear that he wouldn't get to stay that way. Nathan is a bit more sarcastic, very blunt and direct, and I love that about him. He's loving, but not emotional, displaying his frustrations quite simply at several points throughout the book. The budding romance mixed with the conflict of the nature of Sasha, plus the fact that Jim is a much wanted changeling by the Fae dark court, made this a book I absolutely had to fly through once I started. The author should definitely get on putting out the next book."
And you're in luck, because Changeling - The Incubus Saga: Book 2 is set to release in just a couple weeks. Just waiting on seeing the proof copies before I announce the official date.
Working on the next Incubus book has me nearly pulling my hair out, I'll admit, not because I'm not excited - I am SO excited, because it is SO good, I'm so happy with my final revisions - but the bad reviews are bound to come in with the good, just like they did the first time, and it is not easy to get through that.
There is nothing more disheartening than a negative review, even if it isn't all hate. But there is also nothing more uplifting than a positive one like Drako's.
We all need to remember that we can't please everyone. There will always be someone who says the exact opposite in a review that everyone else is saying, the important thing is to take what you can that can better your writing, and leave the rest in the dirt where it belongs.
"I was instantly in love with this story. I was wondering through the beginning if the Incubus would turn out to be a dark Fae that the brothers have to get rid of. Instead, the Incubus is my favorite. Not to say the twins aren't great as well. They are awesome. Jim is a changeling, which is apparently not such a great thing and the cause of him being hunted. Nathan is his twin brother, human, and is the epitome of brotherly devotion and love. Rough around the edges, sure, and clearly at home in the sex department. The twist is, Nathan's straight, but when faced with the Incubus, Sasha, it became clear that he wouldn't get to stay that way. Nathan is a bit more sarcastic, very blunt and direct, and I love that about him. He's loving, but not emotional, displaying his frustrations quite simply at several points throughout the book. The budding romance mixed with the conflict of the nature of Sasha, plus the fact that Jim is a much wanted changeling by the Fae dark court, made this a book I absolutely had to fly through once I started. The author should definitely get on putting out the next book."
And you're in luck, because Changeling - The Incubus Saga: Book 2 is set to release in just a couple weeks. Just waiting on seeing the proof copies before I announce the official date.
Working on the next Incubus book has me nearly pulling my hair out, I'll admit, not because I'm not excited - I am SO excited, because it is SO good, I'm so happy with my final revisions - but the bad reviews are bound to come in with the good, just like they did the first time, and it is not easy to get through that.
There is nothing more disheartening than a negative review, even if it isn't all hate. But there is also nothing more uplifting than a positive one like Drako's.
We all need to remember that we can't please everyone. There will always be someone who says the exact opposite in a review that everyone else is saying, the important thing is to take what you can that can better your writing, and leave the rest in the dirt where it belongs.
Paladin Pawn by Michael Young - New Release this Friday!
Fitting that today is my 70th blog post here, as I'm happily part of one of my fellow BWN author's blog tours with Silverbow Promotions.
Michael Young has been one of our dream authors; always on time, always with something new, and with a very fun variety of stories, from historical fantasy, religious supernatural, and even sci-fi end of the world.
Michael is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Western Governor’s University with degrees in German Teaching, Music, and Instructional Design. He puts his German to good use teaching online German courses for High School students. Though he grew up traveling the world with his military father, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Jen, and his two sons. Michael enjoys acting in community theater, playing and writing music and spending time with his family. He played for several years with the handbell choir Bells on Temple Square and is now a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
He is the author of the novels The Canticle Kingdom Series, The Last Archangel Series, and the Chess Quest Series. His also authors several web serials through BigWorldNetwork.com. He publishes anthologies for charity in his Advent Anthologies series. He has also had work featured in various online and print magazines such as Bards and Sages Quarterly, Mindflights, Meridian, The New Era, Allegory, and Ensign.
Follow Michael...
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
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Today's featured book for Michael is his upcoming middle grade fantasy release with Trifecta Books, Paladin Pawn, which comes out this week on Black Friday.
Book Synopsis:
When nerdy Rich Witz unwittingly becomes a Paladin, a white knight, in training, he is thrust into a world where flunking a test can change the course of history and a mysterious bully is playing for keeps with his life.
Rich’s grandmother leaves him with one thing before disappearing for good: a white chess pawn with his initials engraved on it. The pawn marks him as the next in an ancient line of white knights. He must prove himself in a life or death contest against his Nemesis, a dark knight in training, all while dealing with math homework and English projects. With the ghost of an ancestor for his guide, he has seven days to complete four tasks of valor before his Nemesis does, or join his guide in the realm of the dead.
As Rich rushes to complete the tasks, he realizes the chilling truth: his Nemesis is masquerading as someone at school and will stop at nothing to make him fail. As the tasks grow ever harder, the other knights reveal to him that his failure will break a centuries-old chain and bring the Paladin order to ruin. If he fails, the dark knights win the right to control the fate of the world, a world without hope or the possibility of a new dawn. So this is one exam Rich has to ace, with no curve and no extra credit.
And finally, here is a teaser to get you hooked on wanting to pick this up this weekend!
On the way to the door, something caught Rich’s eye, two boxes about the size of harmonicas sat on his dresser. One was wrapped in shiny silver paper and the other in black paper. His mother’s calls momentarily forgotten, Rich reached for the package and fumbled to find a place to tear the paper.
And it’s not even my birthday.
Working rapidly, he peeled back the paper and lifted the lid on the first box, ready for either surprise or disappointment.
What he felt next was a mixture of both. Inside the box in a black velvet casing, lay a hand-carved chess piece, a white pawn. He turned it over in his hands and found that the letters HWW had been etched into the surface.
“My initials,” he muttered, turning the piece over in his hands. He knew right away that he wasn’t going to put this piece where anyone could see it. They might ask him about his name.
As he had lifted the lid, a slip of paper had fluttered out. He replaced the pawn in its case and picked up the paper. Squinting in the low light, he made out the words written in his grandmother’s familiar script.
“For Heinrich—you will know when to use it.”
Rich laughed out loud. He already had a chessboard, and all of its pawns were working great. The last thing his social life needed was for him to join the chess club.
“With a monogrammed piece. That takes me from nerd to über-nerd.” He shook his head and replaced first the paper and then the lid. His curiosity piqued, he turned to the second box, picked it up, and shook it as he might a mysterious Christmas present. It did not make a sound. He thought his grandmother might have gotten him a black pawn to match, but the box didn’t feel heavy enough for anything like that.
He unwrapped the black paper, and the instant he slid off the lid, a fine black powder exploded from within and hung in the air. Rich jumped back, at first wondering if this was some kind of prank. It wouldn’t have been the first.
The sparkling black dust swirled in the air, forming into the form of another chess piece: a black pawn as long as his forearm. The lights in the room dimmed, giving it the feel of night though it was still the late afternoon.
Feeling his skin prickle, Rich stepped forward, thinking that if this were a prank, he’d have to ask how they pulled it off.
“You have been challenged,” came a deep voice from within the cloud of particles. “Do you accept?”
Rich glanced around the room, trying to see if someone had managed to hide in his room, or plant some kind of speaker. This was one committed prankster.
“Uh, who’s challenging me?” asked Rich. “Are we playing chess? ‘Cause I just got a lucky new piece.”
“Answer yes or no,” came the voice again.
Rich rolled his eyes, and played along. “Sure. Why not?”
“Answer yes or no,” insisted the voice.
He checked around his room to see if he could see the light of a camera somewhere filming him. Even if he couldn’t see it, he decided to give whoever was watching a good show. He bowed theatrically and said in a dramatic voice.
“Yes.”
The dust swirled back into the box and the lid snapped shut of its own accord. The lights returned to normal, and not a speck of the blackness remained in the air.
Michael Young has been one of our dream authors; always on time, always with something new, and with a very fun variety of stories, from historical fantasy, religious supernatural, and even sci-fi end of the world.
Michael is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Western Governor’s University with degrees in German Teaching, Music, and Instructional Design. He puts his German to good use teaching online German courses for High School students. Though he grew up traveling the world with his military father, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Jen, and his two sons. Michael enjoys acting in community theater, playing and writing music and spending time with his family. He played for several years with the handbell choir Bells on Temple Square and is now a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
He is the author of the novels The Canticle Kingdom Series, The Last Archangel Series, and the Chess Quest Series. His also authors several web serials through BigWorldNetwork.com. He publishes anthologies for charity in his Advent Anthologies series. He has also had work featured in various online and print magazines such as Bards and Sages Quarterly, Mindflights, Meridian, The New Era, Allegory, and Ensign.
Follow Michael...
Blog
Today's featured book for Michael is his upcoming middle grade fantasy release with Trifecta Books, Paladin Pawn, which comes out this week on Black Friday.
Book Synopsis:
When nerdy Rich Witz unwittingly becomes a Paladin, a white knight, in training, he is thrust into a world where flunking a test can change the course of history and a mysterious bully is playing for keeps with his life.
Rich’s grandmother leaves him with one thing before disappearing for good: a white chess pawn with his initials engraved on it. The pawn marks him as the next in an ancient line of white knights. He must prove himself in a life or death contest against his Nemesis, a dark knight in training, all while dealing with math homework and English projects. With the ghost of an ancestor for his guide, he has seven days to complete four tasks of valor before his Nemesis does, or join his guide in the realm of the dead.
As Rich rushes to complete the tasks, he realizes the chilling truth: his Nemesis is masquerading as someone at school and will stop at nothing to make him fail. As the tasks grow ever harder, the other knights reveal to him that his failure will break a centuries-old chain and bring the Paladin order to ruin. If he fails, the dark knights win the right to control the fate of the world, a world without hope or the possibility of a new dawn. So this is one exam Rich has to ace, with no curve and no extra credit.
And finally, here is a teaser to get you hooked on wanting to pick this up this weekend!
On the way to the door, something caught Rich’s eye, two boxes about the size of harmonicas sat on his dresser. One was wrapped in shiny silver paper and the other in black paper. His mother’s calls momentarily forgotten, Rich reached for the package and fumbled to find a place to tear the paper.
And it’s not even my birthday.
Working rapidly, he peeled back the paper and lifted the lid on the first box, ready for either surprise or disappointment.
What he felt next was a mixture of both. Inside the box in a black velvet casing, lay a hand-carved chess piece, a white pawn. He turned it over in his hands and found that the letters HWW had been etched into the surface.
“My initials,” he muttered, turning the piece over in his hands. He knew right away that he wasn’t going to put this piece where anyone could see it. They might ask him about his name.
As he had lifted the lid, a slip of paper had fluttered out. He replaced the pawn in its case and picked up the paper. Squinting in the low light, he made out the words written in his grandmother’s familiar script.
“For Heinrich—you will know when to use it.”
Rich laughed out loud. He already had a chessboard, and all of its pawns were working great. The last thing his social life needed was for him to join the chess club.
“With a monogrammed piece. That takes me from nerd to über-nerd.” He shook his head and replaced first the paper and then the lid. His curiosity piqued, he turned to the second box, picked it up, and shook it as he might a mysterious Christmas present. It did not make a sound. He thought his grandmother might have gotten him a black pawn to match, but the box didn’t feel heavy enough for anything like that.
He unwrapped the black paper, and the instant he slid off the lid, a fine black powder exploded from within and hung in the air. Rich jumped back, at first wondering if this was some kind of prank. It wouldn’t have been the first.
The sparkling black dust swirled in the air, forming into the form of another chess piece: a black pawn as long as his forearm. The lights in the room dimmed, giving it the feel of night though it was still the late afternoon.
Feeling his skin prickle, Rich stepped forward, thinking that if this were a prank, he’d have to ask how they pulled it off.
“You have been challenged,” came a deep voice from within the cloud of particles. “Do you accept?”
Rich glanced around the room, trying to see if someone had managed to hide in his room, or plant some kind of speaker. This was one committed prankster.
“Uh, who’s challenging me?” asked Rich. “Are we playing chess? ‘Cause I just got a lucky new piece.”
“Answer yes or no,” came the voice again.
Rich rolled his eyes, and played along. “Sure. Why not?”
“Answer yes or no,” insisted the voice.
He checked around his room to see if he could see the light of a camera somewhere filming him. Even if he couldn’t see it, he decided to give whoever was watching a good show. He bowed theatrically and said in a dramatic voice.
“Yes.”
The dust swirled back into the box and the lid snapped shut of its own accord. The lights returned to normal, and not a speck of the blackness remained in the air.
How Nathan Grier Got His Name
I finished the end of Incubus during the holidays.
I finished Incubus.
I’m surprised I didn’t burst into tears, though maybe that’ll happen when book 3 releases.
Of course there will still be edits throughout the running of season 12 on BigWorldNetwork, and then a complete overhaul of seasons 9-12 which comprise book 3 before it starts getting put together…but it is written and waiting for that process, so close, dear readers, from being in your hands.
To all of you who have expressed impatience, and ‘do we really have to wait until August!?’, my apologies and endless gratitude for your support. I am so happy you love this story as much as I do. Book 3 is coming soon!
So today, as a little treat, I wanted to share with you how Nathan got his name. I actually put it out to my readers at the time to help me decide. Grier actually came first, then Jim’s name. I have always loved the name Greer for a girl, after Marvel’s Tigra, and lived right next to Grier Lane at the time. Plus I wanted them to have Gaelic roots.
But Nathan’s name was tough. I wanted an easy, common one-syllable name that could be yelled out and still sound good. They call out ‘Nate’ quite a bit after all, so I was amenable to names that were longer but that had a single syllable nickname. A few fans mentioned ‘Nathan’, which was on my personal list as well.
I’d included ‘Nathan’ with the potentials…after Nathan Explosion from Metalocalypse (which I love) and Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls (which I was in senior year of high school). This melds Nathan’s love for rock/metal with his slightly more secret love for musicals and Sinatra.
Nathan was almost ‘Dexter’. THIS close. That was my second choice, first choice for a while, but it just didn’t sound as good screamed. ;-) And I don’t like ‘Dex’ as a nickname.
Sasha’s name is harder for me to pin down origin wise, since his first incarnation came to me in early 2007, but he was partially named after female redhead ‘Sasha’ from Kindred: The Embraced…and wow, am I dating myself now!
Stay tuned for the coming end of Incubus, folks, for it is nigh, but as I’ve been teasing, I have something very fun lined up for you with my vampire story. Time to get writing again…
I finished Incubus.
I’m surprised I didn’t burst into tears, though maybe that’ll happen when book 3 releases.
Of course there will still be edits throughout the running of season 12 on BigWorldNetwork, and then a complete overhaul of seasons 9-12 which comprise book 3 before it starts getting put together…but it is written and waiting for that process, so close, dear readers, from being in your hands.
To all of you who have expressed impatience, and ‘do we really have to wait until August!?’, my apologies and endless gratitude for your support. I am so happy you love this story as much as I do. Book 3 is coming soon!
So today, as a little treat, I wanted to share with you how Nathan got his name. I actually put it out to my readers at the time to help me decide. Grier actually came first, then Jim’s name. I have always loved the name Greer for a girl, after Marvel’s Tigra, and lived right next to Grier Lane at the time. Plus I wanted them to have Gaelic roots.
But Nathan’s name was tough. I wanted an easy, common one-syllable name that could be yelled out and still sound good. They call out ‘Nate’ quite a bit after all, so I was amenable to names that were longer but that had a single syllable nickname. A few fans mentioned ‘Nathan’, which was on my personal list as well.
I’d included ‘Nathan’ with the potentials…after Nathan Explosion from Metalocalypse (which I love) and Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls (which I was in senior year of high school). This melds Nathan’s love for rock/metal with his slightly more secret love for musicals and Sinatra.
Nathan was almost ‘Dexter’. THIS close. That was my second choice, first choice for a while, but it just didn’t sound as good screamed. ;-) And I don’t like ‘Dex’ as a nickname.
Sasha’s name is harder for me to pin down origin wise, since his first incarnation came to me in early 2007, but he was partially named after female redhead ‘Sasha’ from Kindred: The Embraced…and wow, am I dating myself now!
Stay tuned for the coming end of Incubus, folks, for it is nigh, but as I’ve been teasing, I have something very fun lined up for you with my vampire story. Time to get writing again…
Life as a Teenage Vampire - Chapter 1 is UP!
Emery Mavus just wants to survive his senior year of high school. Becoming a vampire complicates things. So does a bizarre mentor, a group of vampire hunters, and an unexpected, new attraction for his openly gay best friend, Connor. An occasional uncontrollable hunger for blood might be the least of his worries.
READ THE FIRST CHAPTER HERE!
And each week there will be a new chapter available at BWN, every Thursday, that you can either read or listen to the audio of with me narrating.
READ THE FIRST CHAPTER HERE!
And each week there will be a new chapter available at BWN, every Thursday, that you can either read or listen to the audio of with me narrating.
"You can kill a vampire however you want, because vampires don't exist" - an important lesson really
Interesting story to go with today’s episode of Life as a Teenage Vampire. I had a rather intense fan of my writing not too long ago who I discussed this story with when it was still in its infancy. You all know how I love to talk writing, and headcanon with people. It brings out the best ideas! But when things started getting deep into vampire lore, this person refused to accept that I could do things my own way, that I wouldn’t follow what to them was unequivocal fact.
First of all, if you’ve never watched The Death and Return of Superman, everyone should in general, but also, there’s a particular spot in this amazing little 16 minute film (around 15:19) where they bring up vampires, and I take the advice given there to heart, as it is spectacular. Seriously, watch the whole thing, but especially that part if you're a writer.
Anyway, the idea of tan vampires came up, addressed in part in this little excerpt:
This section in chapter 7 and the following interlude is my response to this reader who honestly made me sad when they railed against me for having a different opinion than them, because there is never only one way to do something, and as a writer, you should never, ever feel like there is.
Be creative. Make something your own. And always stay true to what your story means to you.
I never want the experience I had, which goes so much deeper than a disagreement on vampire lore, to discourage me from interacting with readers. I love you guys, whether you read my fanfiction, my original works, or both. Just keep in mind that sharing fiction stops being the beautiful thing that it is when we assume that our way is the only way.
First of all, if you’ve never watched The Death and Return of Superman, everyone should in general, but also, there’s a particular spot in this amazing little 16 minute film (around 15:19) where they bring up vampires, and I take the advice given there to heart, as it is spectacular. Seriously, watch the whole thing, but especially that part if you're a writer.
Anyway, the idea of tan vampires came up, addressed in part in this little excerpt:
Tan. Emery was naturally darker skinned, though he’d looked sickly pale up until he fed from Connor the other night. This thought successfully distracted Connor from his dreamy musings and launched him into a diatribe on vampires and white skin that lasted all the way to school.
This section in chapter 7 and the following interlude is my response to this reader who honestly made me sad when they railed against me for having a different opinion than them, because there is never only one way to do something, and as a writer, you should never, ever feel like there is.
Be creative. Make something your own. And always stay true to what your story means to you.
I never want the experience I had, which goes so much deeper than a disagreement on vampire lore, to discourage me from interacting with readers. I love you guys, whether you read my fanfiction, my original works, or both. Just keep in mind that sharing fiction stops being the beautiful thing that it is when we assume that our way is the only way.
Life as a Teenage Vampire - Cover Art!
I wanted something truly special for the cover to this story, and while I have a great cover at BWN right now for the series run, the BWN Creative Director helped get me in contact with one of my favorite artists at DeviantArt, Saga. And what a joy to work with. So talented and easy to coordinate with to get just what I wanted, and the final product is just remarkable.
The serialized version of this story is on chapter 10 this week, updated Thursdays, and I am so excited for it to get into season 2 in May, and eventually 3, which is the final season, and then to share the finished book with you. Thank you all who are following this story!
The serialized version of this story is on chapter 10 this week, updated Thursdays, and I am so excited for it to get into season 2 in May, and eventually 3, which is the final season, and then to share the finished book with you. Thank you all who are following this story!
Dream Cast for Life as a Teenage Vampire
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that thinking about who would play my characters in the TV or movie version of the story ALWAYS crosses my mind. It’s fun, it helps paint a picture, and you never know when a piece of fiction might legitimately turn into the next big technicolor hit.
For Life as a Teenage Vampire, it’s funny how much easier it was to think of who I wanted for the supporting cast, while thinking of the right actors for my leading men took some thought.
Emery – Jake T Austin (though possibly Kaiso Hill)
The main protagonist who becomes a vampire his senior year of high school. I had help coming up with Hill from one of my followers at Tumblr. He captures the look of Emery, and his martial arts knowledge would make the occasional action of the role an easier fit. But Austin just looks so much more like…Em.
Connor – Tom Holland
The secondary protagonist who is in love with Emery and becomes his romantic interest. Seeing this kid as Spider-Man in the recent Civil War movie clinched him for me as the adorable fast-talking nerd who can blow you away with his tech knowledge and quips.
Alec – Tom Hiddleston
The very eccentric and powerful vampire mentor that takes Emery under his wing. He was actually the first actor I ever thought of for this story, and in fact, I based the look of Alec on the picture I’ve included here. I was originally going for a more traditional, stoic vampire mentor, but as he became a more unconventional figure, this was who popped into my head.
Wendy – Mozhan Marnò
The vampire hunter who comes to Emery’s aid. Tall gorgeous badass? Done. Watching her as an agent on Blacklist helped me fall in love with this actress. I imagine she could bring Wendy to life beautifully.
Aurora – Lana Condor
The spit-fire friend of Connor and Emery. Condor is tiny, adorable, and just played the most recent incarnation of Jubliee in X-Men Apocalypse—WIN. Since the girl this character was based off of is a huge Jubilee fan, I think she’d approve.
Jules – Gage Golightly
The bubblier friend of Connor and Emery who is actually an amazing strategist. Golightly is that perfect blond bombshell, who I can totally imagine playing Pokemon in the high school hallways. Loved her short-lived role on Teen Wolf.
Michael – Sterling Knight
The all-American, boy next door, captain of the football team. Knight really has that infectious smile and blond heartthrob thing going that captures Michael perfectly.
Nick – Carlos Knight
The tall, quiet friend who is extremely observant. This boy is so adorably smiley, and while the character of Nick is less so, here he really captures how I picture him.
John – Oded Fehr
Emery’s father. I’ll never quite get over my crush on Fehr, ever since The Mummy and Resident Evil. So since part of this character is based off of my husband…it’s far too perfect casting.
Kay – Parker Posey
Emery’s mother, who is, I’ll admit, basically me, and I adore the fast-paced charm of Posey’s humor and ability to be very possessive and emotional in her characters as well.
Eli – Michael Ealy
The conflicted vampire hunter. This is another character who was based physically after the actor before I even started writing. I blame my addiction to the short-lived Almost Human, and how much Ealy held my attention so flawlessly. He can play tough and sympathetic beautifully.
Gamble – Adam Baldwin
The vampire hunter Connor and Emery first encounter, who threatens Connor more than once. There are few actors who can equally play characters you love and characters you love to hate. Baldwin is one of them. The gruffness he brings, the lack of empathy he can express in a character, would definitely help build the antagonistic feelings in the audience toward Gamble perfectly.
Bane – Michael Parks
The leader of the hunters with a sinister plan. Parks has proven his chops in many roles, and is still a lesser known actor for most people. From Dusk Til Dawn, Red State, Tusk…this man can play cruel villain who thinks he’s in the right better than anyone.
Georgia – Judy Greer
Connor’s mother. I love how this woman can play hilarious as well as serious so interchangeably, and she definitely does a great job portraying a concerned mother.
Paul – Corey Stoll
Connor’s father. I love this actor. I hope to see him in more after Ant-Man, since he wasn’t given much to work with in that role. He embodies the man this character is based off of, and has a real endearing side that shines through.
Tim – Dash Mihok
Chief of Police. This actor won me over as a sweet cop in Punisher Warzone. He can do the easy-going, joking kind of guy, but still pull off being serious. And if ever there was a type of role that gets people typecast a lot…it’s playing a cop.
So that’s my dream cast, covering all the major players. But I’d love to know what some of the early readers came up with and if you have any suggestions for me instead. And if you haven’t checked out the book yet, I encourage you to give it a try. Thank you so much for stopping by!
See blog with photos HERE.
For Life as a Teenage Vampire, it’s funny how much easier it was to think of who I wanted for the supporting cast, while thinking of the right actors for my leading men took some thought.
Emery – Jake T Austin (though possibly Kaiso Hill)
The main protagonist who becomes a vampire his senior year of high school. I had help coming up with Hill from one of my followers at Tumblr. He captures the look of Emery, and his martial arts knowledge would make the occasional action of the role an easier fit. But Austin just looks so much more like…Em.
Connor – Tom Holland
The secondary protagonist who is in love with Emery and becomes his romantic interest. Seeing this kid as Spider-Man in the recent Civil War movie clinched him for me as the adorable fast-talking nerd who can blow you away with his tech knowledge and quips.
Alec – Tom Hiddleston
The very eccentric and powerful vampire mentor that takes Emery under his wing. He was actually the first actor I ever thought of for this story, and in fact, I based the look of Alec on the picture I’ve included here. I was originally going for a more traditional, stoic vampire mentor, but as he became a more unconventional figure, this was who popped into my head.
Wendy – Mozhan Marnò
The vampire hunter who comes to Emery’s aid. Tall gorgeous badass? Done. Watching her as an agent on Blacklist helped me fall in love with this actress. I imagine she could bring Wendy to life beautifully.
Aurora – Lana Condor
The spit-fire friend of Connor and Emery. Condor is tiny, adorable, and just played the most recent incarnation of Jubliee in X-Men Apocalypse—WIN. Since the girl this character was based off of is a huge Jubilee fan, I think she’d approve.
Jules – Gage Golightly
The bubblier friend of Connor and Emery who is actually an amazing strategist. Golightly is that perfect blond bombshell, who I can totally imagine playing Pokemon in the high school hallways. Loved her short-lived role on Teen Wolf.
Michael – Sterling Knight
The all-American, boy next door, captain of the football team. Knight really has that infectious smile and blond heartthrob thing going that captures Michael perfectly.
Nick – Carlos Knight
The tall, quiet friend who is extremely observant. This boy is so adorably smiley, and while the character of Nick is less so, here he really captures how I picture him.
John – Oded Fehr
Emery’s father. I’ll never quite get over my crush on Fehr, ever since The Mummy and Resident Evil. So since part of this character is based off of my husband…it’s far too perfect casting.
Kay – Parker Posey
Emery’s mother, who is, I’ll admit, basically me, and I adore the fast-paced charm of Posey’s humor and ability to be very possessive and emotional in her characters as well.
Eli – Michael Ealy
The conflicted vampire hunter. This is another character who was based physically after the actor before I even started writing. I blame my addiction to the short-lived Almost Human, and how much Ealy held my attention so flawlessly. He can play tough and sympathetic beautifully.
Gamble – Adam Baldwin
The vampire hunter Connor and Emery first encounter, who threatens Connor more than once. There are few actors who can equally play characters you love and characters you love to hate. Baldwin is one of them. The gruffness he brings, the lack of empathy he can express in a character, would definitely help build the antagonistic feelings in the audience toward Gamble perfectly.
Bane – Michael Parks
The leader of the hunters with a sinister plan. Parks has proven his chops in many roles, and is still a lesser known actor for most people. From Dusk Til Dawn, Red State, Tusk…this man can play cruel villain who thinks he’s in the right better than anyone.
Georgia – Judy Greer
Connor’s mother. I love how this woman can play hilarious as well as serious so interchangeably, and she definitely does a great job portraying a concerned mother.
Paul – Corey Stoll
Connor’s father. I love this actor. I hope to see him in more after Ant-Man, since he wasn’t given much to work with in that role. He embodies the man this character is based off of, and has a real endearing side that shines through.
Tim – Dash Mihok
Chief of Police. This actor won me over as a sweet cop in Punisher Warzone. He can do the easy-going, joking kind of guy, but still pull off being serious. And if ever there was a type of role that gets people typecast a lot…it’s playing a cop.
So that’s my dream cast, covering all the major players. But I’d love to know what some of the early readers came up with and if you have any suggestions for me instead. And if you haven’t checked out the book yet, I encourage you to give it a try. Thank you so much for stopping by!
See blog with photos HERE.
