Yesterday over at the toberead blog, I posted a little thing about Random House making a deal with a production company to purchase film rights of Random House books, if available. As an author for Ballantine (an imprint of RH), I was of course intrigued. What author wouldn’t want their book made into a movie? The same author who says they “don’t care” if they hit the NYT list — one who lies.
One of the caveats is that they’re not looking at the mega bestsellers (like John Grisham whose books are already turned into blockbuster movies); they’re looking at other books — which I think bodes well for authors AND movie goers, for suspense and romance in particular. Jonathon Kellerman, one of my fave authors, writes for Ballantine and I can totally see Alex Delaware coming to life. And what about Tess Gerritsen . . . out of all her books, I’d love to see the most recent, VANISH, made into a movie. And as I said on the other blog, Julie Garwood‘s KILLJOY is my favorite of hers. And don’t forget Lisa Gardner . . . Bronwyn Jameson on the TBR blog pointed her out.
There are so many non-bestselling books (okay, all three of those authors have hit THE list, but I haven’t seen any of their books turned into movies . . . why, I have no idea) that have great characters and great stories . . . I can see them as movies.
But I’m a visual person. When I write, I “see” the scene. If I can’t visualize it, I can’t write it.
Last night I was working on a scene in THE KILL. My editor wanted more tension. Basically, it was too easy to catch the bad guy and we weren’t sufficiently scared for the heroine. The suggestion I received didn’t work. I sat my husband on the couch and said, “Okay, pretend you’re in the passenger seat of a stolen police cruiser and you’re holding a gun on me.”
“It’s awkward.”
“Right!” And I’m thinking, there’s NO WAY Olivia is going to be able to disarm the villain. She’s stuck.
Then it came to me. The solution. Something completely different than what I’d original written, what my editor suggested, and what had been running around my head. I stayed up until one in the morning pounding out the new scene, totally excited, because it worked and not only did it work, but I could picture the entire event unfolding . . . that’s how I KNEW it worked.
So I emailed my fabulous editor about the changes, and she called me all excited and said, “I love it. A little blood is always a good thing.”
Hee hee hee.
So, to get back to my original point . . . visual is good. I’d love to see some of the books I love made into movies, simply because I feel I’ve already seen them.
And, of course, I’d love to see my books made into movies . . . if I said I didn’t, I’d be lying.
Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly three dozen romantic thrillers and mysteries, including the Lucy Kincaid series and the Max Revere series. She lives in Northern California with her husband, five children, and assorted pets.
I can HARDLY wait to read Tess Gerritsen’s Vanish. Everyone knows I’m a huge Tess Gerritsen fan. Jonathan Kellerman is, and probably always will be, a must read for me. Lisa Gardner is another of my faves.
I like your taste, Allison…..
And I’m still waiting to read yours!
Your books would convert well on film, Allison. But I think the Hunt would be the most chilling. Hands down Gerritsen’s novels would make excellent movies.
I knew we were soul sisters, Natalie *g* VANISH is SOOOOOOO good. It’s my favorite of her books since THE APPRENTICE. I stayed up late to read it, which I rarely do anymore.
Thank you Jan for your vote of confidence! I think THE HUNT is the strongest, most visual of the three books, too. And of course, I’m not going to lie . . . I would LOVE to see one of my books made into a movie. And THE SURGEON would make an incredible movie, I think, followed by VANISH. Hmmm, Vanish is probably the most “movie-esque.”
The words we use are so important…yeah, you’re thinking, “Duh!”
I once went to a pshyic fair, and learned one very important thing, I’d never realised about people before. There are three types of pshyics, those who feel, those who see, those who hear. Ergo, there are three types of people. Those who feel their thoughs and concepts and those who process their thoughts and concepts visually or aurally. Of course, I guess there really is a fourth, the type who combines them altogether.
I see. Often when I understand, I will say, “I see what you mean.” You said you could see it all playing out. To me a book is so much more than a movie. I see it unfold in my mind, and it goes at a savoring pace that far exceeds the two hours allotted on celluloid. Movies are good, books are the best – thank you for your books and the wonderful mind that can place it comprehensively on a page for me to read.
btw, it was just kewl to understand your process.
Thanks Cele!
I took a workshop once where the guy explained that there are four types of learners — visual (40%); auditory (40%); tactile (touching) (10%) and another one I don’t remember, LOL. I took his test and my final score was almost perfectly in the middle of all four types, with a slight lean toward visual.
When I was in school, if a teacher told me something I’d forget it. If I wrote it down, I’d never have to look at my notes again — I’d remember it. I take lots of notes when I write (I have a notepad next to my computer), but I never look at them again . . . it’s like the PROCESS of writing them down imprints the item to memory.
This should be another blog, about the types of learners. 🙂 I think I’m the same as you, Allison. I rarely look back at my notes either, and I think I’m visual–and also auditory, tactile, and I wonder if the last one is learning through reading. So when I understand something, I say “I GOT it.”
Allison, that would be cool if your books were cholen to be in a movie. I can really SEE that! 😆
LOL, Edie.
When I get my own blog up and running, hopefully by the end of the month, I’m going to be doing a weekly article posted every Monday talking about a variety of things . . . more like “essays” about writing, I guess. I’ll do one on the types of learners . . . that would be interesting.
I am the same way. While my memory gets faulty, if I write it down I know it… I enevitably will forget one item off my shopping list, I found it isn’t any different if I take the list with me or leave it at home.
Reading a book is the same way, I will know if something isn’t right in a scene or a memory because I see it in my head. It is one of the things I enjoy about the book writing process – I get to go in and find the errors.
Allison,
I’d love to see some of my favorite books made into movies. Funny you mentioned Tess G.’s book VANISH. Did you catch that post on her blog about someone asking if they made the book into a movie? It seems the plot had become popular with many TV movies writers, too, at the same time.
BTW, this is a great blog. Can’t wait to read more from everyone!
Thanks Kelly! Yeah, I read Tess G.’s blog religiously. She posts about once a week, which is what I’m going to do on my personal blog when I get it up. She thinks that everyone read the same NYT report that she read that gave her the spark of the idea for the book.
We don’t live in a vacuum!