3.97 avg rating — 7,684 ratings

"As I was reading The Whip and the story unfolded, more and more I realized that it begs for a screen adaptation.

Inspired by the true story of Charley Parkhurst, who lived most of her life as a man during the great California Gold Rush - it wasn't only the fresh subject matter and strong visuals of the west that prompted this thought - but Charley herself.

I began making lists in my head which major actresses could play Charley. This role is any actor's dream. It's multi-layered, complex, compassionate, heroic, dark, flawed - it's awards bait for sure.

There are also perfect roles for character-actors alike.

Although the Western is a very old genre in filmmaking, the subject matter is contemporary and genre conventions are defied right from the get go. There is a universality in the story about never giving up when all is lost that will translate to film quite beautifully.

I am not only excited by this new book in general but truly excited to see it one day on the screen.

In The Whip, Karen has managed to take us on a visceral, emotional ride and journey through lush and stark landscapes of the west that makes it easy for us to see and feel in ways that recall why we go to the movies in the first place."