And…Action!

Question of the week: What books or stories, (besides your own), would you like to see made into a movie?

When I read I tend to envision the events happening as if there’s a movie running through my mind. Books with better descriptions evoke clearer pictures, and those with engaging plots and heart-stopping moments are replayed often. So this was an easy question for me to answer because the books that inspired the most re-runs are the ones I would nominate.

At the top of my list would be romances by Rebecca Winters. This lady’s romances involve conflicts that really tug at my heart. Bride of My Heart, published by Harlequin in 1994, was the first romance I read that really turned me on to the genre. Her characters went through so much heartache I wasn’t sure how they would ever reach their happily-ever-after. And when they did I wanted to cheer out loud. After I read that book I devoured every title I could find by Rebecca Winters! I cried through The Nutcracker Prince and held my breath through the trials endured in Second Best Wife. I also loved the fact that many of her stories take place in locations I’d love to visit: the Pyrenees Mountains, the open fields of Montana, and the vibrant cities in Eastern Europe – all wonderful locales for movies. I was thrilled when some of Debbie Macomber’s books were made into films (Mrs. Miracle, Call Me Mrs. Miracle, and Trading Christmas) and then a television series (Cedar Cove). Now the TV and movie big-wigs need to discover Rebecca Winters!

Another author whose storylines inspire mental movies is mystery author Donna Andrews. Her Meg Langslow series are wonderfully written, and the main character is an intelligent woman who solves the mysteries through hard work and deduction, not through dumb luck. What I like about this series is that I’ve been able to see Meg age and have a realistic life. In the first book, Murder With Peacocks, she is young, single, and trying to make ends meet as a blacksmith in Caerphilly, Virginia. Through succeeding books (all with an avian theme) Meg meets, falls in love with, and marries Michael, gives birth to twins, and settles into a house. It’s interesting to see how she juggles everything with a pair of little boys in tow. There are now eighteen books in this series, and I’ve loved every single one! Yes, each story involves a murder, but it’s not described in gory detail, and the cast of minor characters is hilarious. Meg’s intellect and penchant for finding dead bodies in the most unusual situations makes me think of her as a younger version of Jessica Fletcher, the main character in the television show Murder, She Wrote. I think the entire series of Meg Langslow mysteries, starting with Murder With Peacocks and continuing right through the not-yet-released Lord of the Wings would make great made-for-TV movies!

I rarely read fantasy, but I read and loved S. G. Rogers’ Magical Misperception. After I devoured that I quickly purchased and read more of her lovely stories, including Minna and the Valentine, Clash of Wills, The Druid, and The Accidental Immortal. I could envision each of these on film. There is enough action to keep viewers entertained, enough angst to keep us watching, and enough of a happy ending to keep us remembering. What appealed to me was the fact that even though there were fantasy elements, the plot appealed to human emotions, making it realistic and believable. I’d definitely watch any of these titles!

So there is my long list of books I would love to see on either the small or large screen. What are your suggestions?

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