Let me Tell You A Story about. . .my movie cast for Double Negative. For a few weeks I’ll be sharing my cast and a bit about them.
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Amy Schumer
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Casting Nyla and Maggie was challenging. I imagined them as strong, unique females characters.
Here’s a Nyla line after one of the “mean girls” tries to embarrass her in class:
“I would take the time to tell you exactly how inane, how deplorably bad your taste and sense of propriety are, but since you do not have the capacity for processing more than a single syllable or a single idea at a time, I won’t waste my breath.”
Yay for Nyla!
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Maggie was a joy to create. Smart, feisty, 70, and now facing a final challenge in her life. While writing this story I wondered who was saving whom. Was Maggie saving Hutch or Hutch saving Maggie? Here’s Maggie as I imagined her, and one short scene where she’s describing her appointment with a psychiatrist.
“Oh, he meant well, but that last question made me snap. ‘Who’s the president?’”
“Uh oh.” The priest leans back in his chair, his hands behind his head. “And you told him, right?”
“You bet. A tax and spend liberal who shouldn’t be licensed to drive a car let alone run a country. That’s who.”
Heather’s rubbing her eyes.
“Of course, then I backed up because I realized this kid had voted for him.” She turns to her daughter. “I gave him the answer, Heather.”
One Reviewer Says: “I really loved Nyla and Maggie. They’re very different, but both brilliant and—in Maggie’s case—hysterical, and I am literally sitting here at my computer grinning just thinking about them.”
Double Negative
Double Negative
Here are a couple more #AtoZ Challengers that I’m enjoying from the sidelines this year. Give them a visit, and you won’t be disappointed. The theme here is Materials in Mythology and Speculative Fiction, so if you’re a sci-fi reader, this one’s for you! And if you want some Speculative Fiction with a Telepathic twist, visit J. Lennie Dorner on his daily post from A to Z.
Tomato Report: They’ve been moved to the sunnier greenhouse and soaking up the rays of this April.
Quote of the Week: This meme says it all!
Do you like to read about feisty female characters regardless of their age? Are you visiting some interesting A to Z blogs this year? Are you at all passionate about garden-fresh tomatoes?
I'm passionate about garden-fresh anything! (Except maybe onions.)
And I adore feisty female characters of any age.
I LOVE Amy! Good pick.
Glad to read all of your tomato updates. I don't have a green thumb but my mom does and boy do the leafy greens add a lot to the home.
http://theglobaldig.blogspot.com/2017/04/y-is-for-yearlong-book-list.html
OH THIS IS SO COOL! I loved Double Negative (as I'm sure you remember. 😉 ), so getting to read your insight on the characters is doubly cool!
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
I am so passionate about fresh tomatoes from the garden- that I may straddle the line of fanatic. 🙂
Fun to learn about your casting! 🙂
~Jess
I like your quote. Very true! It looks like your tomatoes are doing well. I just got mine in the garden this week.
Looks like you've got casting and growing completely under control. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
What a neat idea for an A-Z Challenge, C. Lee! You've obviously figured out how to draw people into your book. I've never thought of "casting" any of the characters in my writing. That will give me something to think about. I am enjoying reading a number of the A-Z series of posts. Maybe next year for me. I have an idea I'd like to work on. I just need more time! Have a good one.
Oh, wow… Yes, these two ladies sound feisty indeed. It's a challenge to write them, too, so kudos to you on developing their personalities so well. And yes, garden tomatoes are THE BOMB. I'll be attempting to grow my own (again… three years ago some foster puppies dug out all the plants and, since we ended up keeping 3 of them, it seemed pointless to replant until they were old enough to leave them alone) in the next month. One advantage of living in the tropics: planting weather is a year-round thing 🙂 Yours look like they're doing great!
Thanks for stopping over at Quiet Laughter yesterday, Lee, and for the warm welcome back 🙂
Casting is always fun, and I'm loving the choices for today. I always wanted a greenhouse, and then we moved to Florida. The entire state is a greenhouse. Except then it gets too much water and sunshine. *sigh* Tomatoes every day. Agreed! Along with the cheese.
I've never read so many blog posts that made me hungry for tomatoes . . . and I'm a bit jealous of your greenhouse.
I think it's in our genes. When spring comes so do ideas of the perfect juicy tomato.
I love playing the 'casting' game. It's so much fun and helps my writing process. Strong female characters are a must for me. Great post, Lee. I hope all is well with you and your tomatoes – don't forget to share pics when they're ripe and ready to eat 🙂
I'm hoping I'll have some huge ones. Wouldn't it be embarrassing after all of this hoopla to have a fail?
I might have to play the casting game more often. I think it's fun, too.
I do like feisty women in books; they make things more interesting! As for garden fresh tomatoes, a big yes to that as well. Coming from NJ (the Garden State) to KY has left me a little wanting in the decent tomato department. Jersey's soil, where I was from, anyway, was better suited to them tastewise. I keep meaning to amend the soil in my garden to better suit them here. Maybe next year…Wishing you well with your tomatoes! They look great.
I've always thought of New Jersey as too cold for tomatoes. I'm obviously totally wrong. But wouldn't Kentucky have a great growing season for them? So beef up that soil and send us pictures.
Yes for feisty women and for visiting A-Z's. As for tomatoes, they're in the ground, about 12-15 inches tall, and even have a few blooms on them… the joy of living in a warm area. Tomato sandwiches by mid-May (I hope).
Now you've made me envious. Mine are coming along but because we live in the mountains, they're slow. I should move to Sacramento, but I hate that place, so I'll just have to be patient.
I think it's great to have interesting, sparky older characters. Must be fun to imagine different actors playing the characters you have created.
I'm kind of enjoying this.
Feisty is always good. 🙂
When a character can make me smile or laugh out loud then I feel like I know that person. The author has made them come alive for me. Those of the type of characters I enjoy reading about again and again. Yeah for tomatoes. I haven't planted any yet. Got to get busy with that.
Yes, I love relatable characters that stick to my ribs. You've got plenty of time to get those tomatoes in. I was just suffering the winter blahs and needed to think spring and summer.
Hi Lee – poor Amy … she'll bring some laughs to the set – and I think Sheila Hancock is a brilliant English actress … so good choices.
As to tomatoes … now they will be delicious … cheers Hilary
http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/o-is-for-orkney-islands-adapted-breeds.html
I should have mentioned Sheila Hancock's name and forgot. She is a brilliant actress and so attractive.
Love the way you are doing your story characterizations. Pulls me right in.
I believe you are as obsessed, er, involved in your tomatoes as my daughter is in hers:) Grin. Just pickin.
Thanks, Sandra. I like your daughter already. Any tomato fan is a friend of mine.
I like the sound of your feisty 70 year old. Great idea to add character depth.
And thanks for the heads up for J Lenni! 🙂
If you can get to 70 and still have some kick in you, you deserve to be admired! I just discovered the J. secret from Yolanda.
Thanks for sharing! I really love feisty women of any age. And I personally love Amy! I've seen her live and she was great.
Well, she certainly evokes strong reaction. I think I have the right actress because Nyla would also do that, yet she's quite kind behind that feistiness.
I like feisty characters, but if your Nyla is Amy Schumer, I'm out. I hate that woman. (No good reason. She just gets on my last nerve.)
I know nothing about her. I just wanted a large-sized young woman for the part and she popped up. Guess she has rubbed a few people the wrong way.
Nyala and Maggie seem like wonderful and strong women. Like them from the excerpts you shared. Love that tomatoes quote 🙂
Thanks, Shipla. Tomatoes seem to make people stop long enough to think about their significance.
Good post. I'm still chuckling over last week's tomato quote. Such a good one.
I thought it was interesting that an Irish athlete came up with that quote.
Feisty is always fun! Love the names too!
A salad with tomatoes isn't a salad! Let me know when they're ready, I'm coming over for a visit!
You bring the steak. I'll have the tomatoes! 🙂
Of course I adore feisty females. When I grow up I hope to become one.
Yay for tomatoes. One of the most delicious fruits.
I have no doubt you'll feisty with a capital F!
Hi, Cheryl!
Tell Dezmond I am one of the 10% who love Amy Schumer, love her style of humor, and applauded her when she told Trump supporters exactly what she thinks of them during her performance at a Tampa venue last year. Many members of the audience walked out on her. I think Amy is an ideal casting choice to play the quick witted Nyla.
I'm rooting (not rotting 🙂 for your tomatoes, dear friend. I love those cute little greenhouses. Most plants appreciate a certain amount of crowding and therefore you can raise a good number of crops and flowers in a small space.
Cheryl, tomorrow is a very important day on the Shady Dell calendar, a special birthday celebration. I would greatly appreciate it if you would swing by SDMM sometime tomorrow and leave a brief b-day greeting for the lady I will be honoring. Thank you very much, dear friend Cheryl!
Now you see I had no idea Amy had stirred any political controversy. I'm not a political animal.
Of course, I'll stop by and give your celebrant some good birthday wishes.
Yes, we need tomatoes!
Love Nyala and Maggie – both strong, wonderful characters.
Life without tomatoes? I don't think so.
Thanks. Glad the girls appealed to you.
can't stand Amy Schumer and I think 90% of people would agree with me 🙂 but I do love me homegrown tomatoes!
How come? What's Amy done? I'll send you a fresh tomato.
good for you for having a green house! I'm doing a lot of gardening right now, far more than I ever thought I would. I'm not going to say I like it but I don't hate it like I thought I would. 🙂
For me, gardening's a retreat. I can talk to my plants and they really listen. Some of my best ideas come while weeding between the onions and the parsley. 🙂
Love your characters, especially seeing Nyla as Amy Schumer. And I'm jealous that you and Diane are working on your tomatoes. In Michigan, it's still too cold to plant any vegetables. Though it is warming up.
Tomatoes are labor of love. It seems Diane has more success with hers than I do, but maybe now that I have a goal– 160+ lbs, I'll do better this year. Glad you like Amy S. as Nyla.
I always love feisty characters. ^_^
We need them to spice up our books, don't we?
Sure know characters are great when people think over them.
I've always found some characters stick with me and those that do, are from great books.
Love those quotes! I love fiesty characters!
Glad you do!
I like characters of all kinds, feisty included! I just had a delicious tomato yesterday.
They're on the way. My mouth waters.
I’m all for feisty female characters (I know a few). I enjoyed the tomato quote, but sadly I can no longer eat tomatoes. I wish I could because I love them. It’s no point me even trying them because they always make me ill – goodness knows why, but they do. Have a good week.
Sorry about the onset of tomato aversion. Maybe you'll outgrow the malady and be able to enjoy them again.
It was fun hearing our insight into your characters.
'Enjoyed reading. Happy A to Z Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Appreciate your stopping by!
My tomato plants are in the ground now. Only 6 this year. Last year's 8 plants yielded 160+ pounds of tomatoes and that was a bit too much.
You're setting a very high bar!
I like all of your characters, but especially Maggie. Maybe it's because I can relate to her.
Great quote too. Have a super week.
I like to include mature characters with dimension in my writing. A book with nothing but young people seems unusual to me. When I was young, I had a lot of older people in my life. They gave me a different context. I hope they do that in my books, too.
Hooray for feisty female characters! You do a great job bringing them to life.
You've been on their journey with me!
If you can make someone grin just thinking about your characters, you'd created them well.
Thanks for the tip on that one blog.
I'm really enjoying reading the blogs on the AtoZ this year. I actually have time to read them.