I thought I’d have a little fun with my post today ~
It’s no secret that I love romantic movies. With a houseful of boys (actually men now) who love everything about sports, this can make for some eye-rolling and snarky comments (in a teasing kind of way) when I choose to watch something like Pride and Prejudice or Crossfire Trail for the umpteenth time on the family room TV. It’s a good thing my husband is the world’s biggest western movie buff. At least with westerns, there is often a love story and so we are both satisfied, although I sure wish they would make some new ones! (I’m looking forward to the DVD of The Longest Ride to be released!)
With the books I write, it helps to “cast” my stories to get a feel for the characters. Often I will change halfway through the writing because I realize the actor or model I’ve chosen no longer fits or portrays the mood of my character.
Here are the ones I used for my latest two stories –
Dance With a Cowboy in the Wild West Christmas Anthology my hero look-a-like was a sensitive, moody Garrett Hedlund and the fire-cracker heroine was Julianne Hough
The Gunslinger and the Heiress ~ I felt the Heiress should definitely have Kate Hudson’s spunk. And for the hero, I chose a model from one of Pam Crooks earlier Harlequin books ~ Her Lone Protector. (I wish I could give you his name…I have no idea what it is!)
Looking at these four now, I see that they are very similar in looks so I am glad I made a change for my next story!
For Familiar Stranger in Clear Springs ~ the story I have just finished rewrites on, my heroine and hero inspirations were Kiera Knightley for the sweet spinster mercantile owner and Dylan McDermott as the world-weary government field agent. (Next time I post, I hope to have a book cover to share with you!)
If my life were set back in western days, and the story of my life and romance were to go to the big screen (LOL) I would like a young Kate Hudson to play my part and probably Garrett Hedlund to play the part of my husband.
What about you? How many of you who are writers do this type of thing to envision your characters? Which actor/model would you chose to play your movie-star self in a western?
