On a Bender

by Nancy and Jeanne

N: Jeanne and I both enjoy books that don't fit squarely into a niche, romances or books with strong romantic elements that bend the genre lines. So today we're chatting about those.

J: You know, that always sounds hinky. In a Bend-it-like-Beckham kind of way. (Speaking of Genre Bending)

N: Bwhahaha! I didn't start out reading as much romance as I do now. I discovered science fiction (and comic books) and mystery first. I read YA romances without realizing that's what they were, courtesy of my local library and the Scholastic Book Club, but I didn't read romance as an adult. I did read historical fiction with romance in it, but I didn't pay much attention when the romance genre exploded in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I read a handful of those early sagas, but I was in school, preoccupied with trying to decide where my life was going. I stuck to the genres I'd come to know better.

J: Nancy, you and I kind of followed the same path on this. I too read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, as well as a lot of historical fiction. I also read a lot of biographies when I was younger.

N: Once I started reading romance, however, I was hooked. Even when reading other genres, I now much prefer books that have a strong romantic plot line to those that don't, although I'll settle for a pretty low threshold of romance in a thriller. A couple of years back, I read a debut military science fiction novel with an interesting premise. It was well done but didn't draw me in, and I realized that was because there was no romance in it. None. Zip. Zilch. Nada. So I didn't read the next book.

The series is now in hardcover, so it clearly has many avid readers. I just don't happen to be among them.

N: The current market is doing a lot to make me happy. Romance is slowly, sometimes grudgingly, allowing elements from other genres, like action, magic, and suspense, to assume prominent roles. At the same time, romance is establishing a strong presence in science fiction, fantasy and in mystery, bending the genre lines to a degree that wouldn't have been possible several years ago. I love historical and contemporary romances that are pure romance--nothing extra added in, but I also love the extra elements crossing genres. So today's blog is about the line benders.

A couple of books I recently put me in mind of this change. One was Meljean Brook's The Iron Duke, which I read because Barbara Vey recommended it when I interviewed her at Dragon*Con. It's steampunk, with a dark, gritty, distinct world. The worldbuilding and the dark tone are worthy of science fiction, but the romance is the core of the story. The setting seems to be around the turn of the last century, considering the references to King Edward.

The title character saved England from invaders known as The Horde. The heroine is a police inspector on the trail of a killer who dumped a body onto the hero's house. He joins her because, well, it's personal now, doubly so when he learns he knew and respected the victim who drew her to his home. Pursuing the killer drags them into a conspiracy to kill the thousands of English men and women, including the two of them, who carry Horde technology they can't live without.

Conspiracy to commit mass murder is more common in thrillers than in romance. There's the worldbuilding, as I said, and the dark, gritty tone. Oh, and zombies, who technically belong to horror but have begun cropping up in romance.

J: That's another mindbender, isn't it? I mean zombies? In Romance? Seriously? But I've been seeing it too. Since you mentioned it to me, I picked up Iron Duke. haven't had a chance to read it yet though.

N: I know you'll enjoy it. The other book was Bloodlands, by Christine Cody, who also writes the Vampire Babylon series as Chris Marie Green. Now, I'm not a huge fan of vampire books, particularly not of vampire heroes. But I am a big fan of post-apocalyptic stories, and this is a post-apocalyptic vampire romance Western. Yes, really. I debated with myself in the store for some time, fearing this could be truly terrible, but I couldn't resist that combination of elements.

While I found the first quarter a bit slow, it was good enough that I felt it was going to get better. So I kept reading. Once the bad guy appeared, things picked up quickly. The hero is a vampire searching for his lost (human) love in the wreck of civilization. People kill monsters--vampires, shifters, and others--so he doesn't want anyone to know what he is. He has become very good at passing for human. The heroine is part of an isolated community with secrets to keep.

Naturally, his quest and her secrets collide in the midst of the final confrontation against the villain who wants to wipe out the heroine's community. Despite the paranormal elements and the setting, this book reads like a romance. But it's published by ROC--perhaps because HEA isn't guaranteed at the end of the book, and romance requires that.

J: This is another one I'm going to have to read. I mean vampire westerns? Really? But this sounds quite good.

N: I liked it a lot. I'd like to see some continuing couples in romance, romantic arcs that don't tie up with HEA at the end of the book. The popularity of Eve Dallas and Roarke among romance readers implies that's do-able, but it isn't happening so far. Speaking of genre benders, those books are, first and foremost, serial killer police procedurals. The romantic arc, though, is much more intense than is usual in the mystery/suspense genre. It's a line bender. I'm not featuring it here, though, because with the latest book just out, I don't want us to spoil New York to Dallas for anyone who hasn't read it yet.

J: I'd love to see more of this too, Nancy. Her series is also a futuristic, and Nora is known to frequently bring other paranormal elements, like witchcraft and psychic abilities.

N: You know I loved Nora's Sign of Seven trilogy, and that actually had horror elements in it. I don't usually read horror. Jessica Andersen's Nightkeepers are romance with strong, strong fantasy elements. Jon Land's Caitlin Strong series are thrillers with a strong romance element. C. S. Harris's Sebastian St. Cyr novels are mysteries, but Sebastian's love life plays a prominent role.

I'm also seeing a lot of urban fantasy with romance-like plots but romantic arcs that continue beyond the end of the first book. Laura Anne Gilman's Retrievers are a prime example. Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels books (starting with Magic Bites) have become increasingly romantic as the series continued, with the romantic arc being a driving element in the last couple of books.

J: As you know, I love the Retriever Series as well. Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris's Adept series (although there hasn't been a book out in that series for several years) has quite the long arc. The ongoing/developing romance in The Adept is subtle, but quite good. The longer arc on the romance seems to actually be more intense in some ways than in a one-book.

N: I just started M. J. Scott's Shadow Kin, which is technically urban fantasy but starts out just like a romance. The heroine is an assassin with paranormal abilities who comes to kill the hero. He has abilities of his own and turns the tables. I'm assuming this couple will stick together in future books, but we'll see. I haven't finished it. The author's website describes a different couple for the next book, so maybe this one ends with HEA. The book is unusual, at least in my experience, in that both characters are written in first person.

N: Anne Aguirre's RITA-nominated Sirantha Jax series (first one is Grimspace) are also prime examples. There's a science fiction primary plot, but the romance between Jax and March is iKathern ntense and often painful. With one more book to go, I'm hoping for a big payoff there.

J: As you know, I love Anne Aguirre's novels. Grimspace was superb. And since you sent it to me, I'm guessing that's why I liked it so much!

So, we'd love to know, what are you reading now? Do you like your romances straight, with no paranormal or other elements? Or do you like a bit of boom or magic or other paranormal elements with your romance?

Trish and Nancy Go Geeky

Over the Labor Day weekend, Nancy and I and and more than 40,000 of our geekiest friends converged on downtown Atlanta for Dragon*Con, a celebration of all things sci-fi, fantasy and general geekiness. Think ComicCon, just about a third of the size and not quite as many celebrities. Now, don't get me wrong, there are stars aplenty, along with panels, workshops, costumes both awesome and cringe-worthy, photo-taking opportunities, parties, concerts, and tons of other stuff to fill the four days to the brim. We thought we'd share some of our favorite highlights from this year's con.

Nancy: The costumes. They're always inspired and often amazing. The steampunk ones again seemed to be most elaborate and also the ones I'd least like to wear in Atlanta in late summer. I thought the various Lego people walking around were cute. As always, superheroes and stormtroopers wandered in great numbers. I didn't see as many Klingons or Rebel Alliance pilots this year as usual.

Trish: I think you could have a ton of fun at Dragon*Con just sitting in the lobby of one of the host hotels and watching all the costumes. Last year, I did a costume as Alice from Twilight, but it was basically real clothes so I didn't stand out much. This year, I had a costume made and went as Kahlen Amnell from Legend of the Seeker. That's me on the left sporting a long wig and without my glasses. Yes, I was the nearly blind Mother Confessor. :) A group of Legend of the Seeker fans got together on Friday night and did a group photo. Nancy mentioned how hot the steampunk costumes must be, but I've got to say the Mord Sith costumes (full-body leather) had to have been a million times worse. I only had on a leather bustier and I was sweating.

Nancy: The parade. It's such a gathering of enthusiastic people and so much fun. Every year, fantasy author and illustrator Janny Wurts leads off, marching down Peachtree Street and playing "Scotland the Brave" on her bagpipes. The boy was in the anime section but on the wrong side of the street, so I didn't get good photos of him. This year, a firetruck came down the street, slanted diagonally across the street but rolling forward (I have no idea how they do that) to clear it before the parade stepped off. Many cheers and loud applause greeted the fireman, who looked a bit bemused.

Kevin Sorbo rode in the parade. He comes to Dragon*Con almost every year, and I've never heard of his being less than gracious. A few years back, I looked ahead as I rode up the escalator and there, about ten feet in front of me, were Sorbo and Andromeda co-star Steve Bacic, just the two of them, no security, and nobody was bothering them.

Trish: I've yet to make it to the parade. I tend to always want to go to a panel or have my picture taken with someone more. This year at that time, I was having my photo taken with the lovely and very sweet Jewel Staite (Kaylee from Firefly/Serenity). I didn't do as many star photos this year, but I couldn't pass up ones with Jewel, Morena Baccarin (Inara from Firefly/Serenity and Anna on V), Sean Maher (Simon from Firefly/Serenity) -- yes, I'm a huge fan/Browncoat -- and Michael Shanks from Stargate SG-1.

It is fun and surreal to pass by stars in the hallways, on the escalators, and in the elevators. My roomie for the weekend, fellow author Tanya Michaels, and I were headed up some narrow back stairs to another level of the Hilton one of the days and met Sendhil Ramamurthy and Adrian Pasdar from Heroes going the other way. When we got to the next floor, I looked at Tanya and said, "Well, that doesn't happen every day."

Nancy: The art show. I love the art show. I always see many beautiful things I covet, especially paintings, but I have no room for any more, a result of many years of seeing beautiful pictures we coveted in a variety of settings. Still, I go and look. The work is so creative, not just paintings and drawings but sculptures, jewelry, chain mail, all kinds of things. I considered buying a small print we could surely squeeze in somewhere but ultimately resisted. I did get a Christmas gift, though.

Trish: I didn't make it to the art show this year. I started to one afternoon, but by the time I'd gotten through one of the dealer rooms, I had a splitting headache and went to my room instead. I did, however, stroll through the Walk of Fame where the stars meet fans and sign autographs. Tanya and I met James and Oliver Phelps, the Weasley twins from the Harry Potter movies, who were very nice, and talked with Mark Sheppard, who plays Crowley on Supernatural, about his character and the upcoming season. He's been in so many of our favorite shows (Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, etc.)

Nancy: The dealers' rooms. Talk about coveting--there are some beautiful things down there, weapons, costumes, jewelry, art work. I mostly resisted, though. I haven't worn the beautiful glass dragon necklace I got last year. I'd love to have a broadsword but not keep in the closet. There's that space thing again. It's narrow but long, takes up a lot of room on the wall. I did get an HMS Fearless, CL-56 shirt, commemorating the Royal Manticoran Navy light cruiser (Honor Harrington series, for those who care).

Trish: I told myself I was going to be good this year, and I suppose compared to last year I was. I added a couple of Firefly shirts to my collection, three Firefly-inspired necklaces, and one book Cold Magic by Kate Elliott).

Nancy: The programs. I went to one on "The Physics of Magic" that included Lair guest Laura Anne Gilman that had plenty of food for thought. I enjoyed "An Hour With Elizabeth Moon" on the Anne McCaffrey track. I love Moon's Vatta's War series--in which there will not be anything new for a while, alas--and enjoyed her Paksenarrion series, which she is now expanding.

I closed out my weekend at the "Shooting Science Fiction in Canada" panel with Alaina Huffman of Smallville (Black Canary) and Stargate Universe, Michael Shanks of Stargate SG-1 and Smallville (Hawkman), and Mark Sheppard of BSG, Supernatural (where he plays a "sexually ambivalent crossroads demon"), and lots of other sff series. They were laid back and funny. I'm always grateful to stars who stick around on Monday, when the thinning crowd means I can go to their panels without standing in a long line for 90 minutes.

Trish: There are so many great things to choose from. I've been to writer's track programs before, but this year I went to all TV-related things. The first panel Tanya and I went to was on V, and it ended up being the Morena Baccarin show since Laura Vandervoort and Joel Gretsch canceled their appearances, but she did a great job. We stood in line for more than 2 hours to get into the Firefly panel with Morena, Jewel, Sean and Summer Glau (River) on Saturday. The line literally wrapped around the entire block twice, so long that the Dragon*Con officials had to start counting back the line and when they got to the fire marshal limit for the ballroom, they had to tell everyone behind that they couldn't get in. Yes, this for a show that was canceled before it aired an entire season. Grrr, Fox! Sunday morning, we got great seats at the Warehouse 13 panel. I think it was less attended than the ones held on the previous days because everyone thought Eddie McClintock (Pete) was going to be gone already. Well, turns out he was having such a good time that he stuck around to do this panel with Saul Rubinek (Artie), Tia Carrere (Katie), and Mark Sheppard (Valda). It was a great panel! And I started following Eddie's hilarious tweets on Twitter.

Nancy: Pervading it all, of course, is the energy and enthusiasm of people who've come to celebrate things they love in the company of other people celebrating what THEY love. It was a great weekend.

Trish: Ditto what Nancy said. :)

Okay, now we're curious. If you were to go to Dragon*Con and dress up, who would you dress up as?

Casting Call, Round 2: Banditas!

by Jeanne Adams and Nancy Northcott

Taking a break from turning out new pages, Jeanne and Nancy descended on the Lair kitchen late one night. "Are we the only ones here?" Jeanne asked as she pulled a Diet Coke from the refrigerator.

"I think so, unless someone's down in the deadline cave. " Nancy dragged a stool up to the island. Popping the lid on the big cake server Sven had left by a stack of dessert plates, she asked, "Hey, can you grab me a Cherry Coke Zero?"

Jeanne grimaced. "As long as you don't expect me to taste it."

"More for me that way, and--ooh, look, cinnamon coffee cake." Nancy reached for the dessert plates. "Do you want some? I'm having some."

"With that drink--never mind. Yes, please. So what're you working on?" Jeanne swapped the soda can for coffee cake, and the two banditas nodded thanks to each other.

"I just finished a fight scene in the paranormal. What about you?"

"I'm working on proposals, a smorgasbord, really. Nice and murderous. But I've been at it all week, pretty steady. Have to say, I'm ready for a break from my characters. I need to let things percolate."

"Mmm. Me, too."

They munched in silence for a few minutes.

"You know," Jeanne said, "we could play with other people's characters for a while. We know the Bandit books pretty well."

"So do our buddies, I'd bet. What're you thinking--another casting call?"

Jeanne's eyes gleamed. "Exactly. Great minds, and so forth."

"Well, that's fun, so sure. You know the easiest one, of course."

"Anna Campbell. Claiming the Courtesan. Kylemore."

Grinning at each other, they simultaneously said, "Richard Armitage," then laughed.

"Okay, Armitage for Kylemore," Nancy said. "What about Verity?"

"Ohhh, it has to be someone who's all interesting angles, fab body and wicked smart. She'd have to be to play Verity, after all. What about Angelina Jolie, with those pouty lips and come hither ways?"

"I could see that. Or maybe Julia Roberts. Has to be somebody strong, like those two, or she won't be convincing in the last part of the story. We get to regress or advance people for this, make them the correct ages, right?"

"Absolutely." Jeanne nodded. "What about Donna? Should we go for Seduction of a Duke?"

"A nice, smokin' book, that one. For the heroine . . ." Nancy chewed thoughtfully, mulling it over. "I like Sandra Bullock, I think. Or maybe Sasha Alexander from NCIS." Nancy took a long pull of the drink Jeanne and other banditas called fake cherry stuff. "What about the hero, William, Duke of Bedford?

Munching, Jeanne looked into the distance. "Hmm. Brandon Routh? But he'd have to learn a British accent--maybe from Anna Sugden." She paused and raised her voice a bit. "That's British, not Irish." At Nancy's inquiring look, she added, "Had to say it, you know, in case the ever-delicious Russell Crowe is hanging out with the gladiators again tonight."

Nancy wiped crumbs off her fingers. "Very funny. I haven't seen Robin Hood, so I didn't notice the accent. Hard for anyone to compete with Errol Flynn in the role, I think. The guy buckled a mean swash. Last time Crowe was here, there was very nearly a riot. The Goddess Sangria had him reprising his gladiator role, and the guys got huffy."

Jeanne shook her head. "They said he had the costume wrong, not caring, of course, that he wasn't the one who came up with it. They liked Gerard Butler better, thanks to 300."

"Which is weird,considering that's Greece and Crowe's movie was Rome, but at least they're all making nice now. You know, Brandon would look amazing in period dress, and he has way more ability than he got to showcase in Superman Returns. But no, I'm not going off on that again."

"I promise we'll do a blog on superheros sometime soon. That should give us both plenty of airtime for our personal pet peeves - Superman for you and Daredevil for me!" Jeanne shook her head at the thought. "But enough about that. What about Christie Kelley's Every Time We Kiss? That one was a fabulous read. Her Jennette was so intense and Matthew, Earl of Blackburn, so guilt-ridden. Gotta love that. I'm thinking Jamie Bamber, of Battlestar Galactica fame, for Matthew, and perhaps, if I could grow her up a bit, Selina Gomez of Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney, for Jennette. Wonder what Christie would think?"

"We'll ask her when she comes out of the cave. Y'know, I'm liking that casting. Bamber can do tormented honor really well." Nancy paused for a moment. "Yep. That's good. She really tortured that pair."

Lars, the quietest of the cabana boys, strolled into the kitchen. "Everything all right, ladies? Need anything?"

The two banditas shook their heads, and Jeanne said, "We're good, thanks. Unless you know who should be cast as Christine's latest hero, Jardine from Sweetest Little Sin."

Lars frowned. "I don't pay attention to actors, but Jardine's wife, Louisa, is hot. And tough. How about Scarlett Johansson?"

Jeanne raised an eyebrow at Nancy. "I could go with that."

"Me, too. She was great as my favorite Marvel super-heroine, the Black Widow, in Iron Man 2, and Louisa does have to get physical in this book. Which I love, of course. And maybe Hugh Jackman, the perennial Lair favorite, for Jardine. Thanks, Lars."

"No problem. I'm off to give Ermingarde her midnight snack." He took a large beef joint from the walk-in freezer and sauntered out with it.

"At least he's not afraid of her," Nancy said. "Speaking of fear, have you seen Paolo lately?"

Grinning, Jeanne gestured toward the cabana boys' quarters. "He took the ARC of Money, Honey out of the library a while ago. It was all very furtive, I think he was hiding it under napkins on a tray." Making a face, Jeanne added, "I was hoping to get MY hands on it, you know? I'm dying to read it."

"Oh, geez. I had dibs after you. I know it'll have that funny Susan edge to it--and RT gave it 4 stars. Well, not having read it, I don't guess we can cast that one. Maybe Susan will pop in and do that. And Kirsten for Delcroix Academy. Kids with super-powers, gotta love it! That ARC's gone missing, too."

"It did? Rats! I was going for that next, in lieu of Money, Honey. I'm telling you, AC's Wild Irish Sea ARC better still be there. I know the book's out in 17 days, but still...Banditas first, right?"

Demetrius stalked into the kitchen wearing his gladiator rig, which meant he was on duty. "My sources tell me the cabana boys are reading in corners and hiding the books there. I'll roust them out if you like."

"Mayhem would ensue," Jeanne said, but pondered it anyway. "Attractive thought, but probably not worth the resulting fuss or clean up. Besides, it's always good to have new readers, and if the Cabana boys like them, and tell all our guests...yep. MORE readers." She grinned at Demetrius, as always enjoying the view and mentally thanking the Goddess Sangria for hauling all the gladiators to the Lair. "Thanks, though."

Fingering the hilt of his sword, Demetrius frowned. "I can handle cabana boy 'fuss.' I don't even need reinforcements."

"We know," Nancy assured him, exchanging amused glances with Jeanne. "Thanks. We just like it quiet for now."

"Well, then, if you change your minds . . ." Still frowning, Demetrius took a beer from the fridge and departed.

The two banditas grinned at each other. "Getting back to business," Jeanne said, "We don't even have an ARC for our "Just-Sold-Suz" yet. We've only been privileged to read that snippet from the book." Jeanne pantomimed fanning herself. "Talk about HAWT! Whew! Maybe she'll pop in, too and give us some good leading ladies for Lacy and leading men for...well...her men!"

"Let's hope. You know, National's coming up, and we have a RITA nominee in the Lair, Beth's A Not So Perfect Past. Which I absolutely loved. Both characters had such huge obstacles to overcome, both within themselves and with public perceptions. I think Taylor Kitsch, who played Gambit in the Wolverine movie--speaking of Jackman--would be great for Dillon. He can do scruffy and physical but chivalrous, too."

"And Drew Barrymore, maybe, for Nina, the heroine?" Jeanne said, considering. "She can do waifish but also tough, so she could morph the way the character does. She might have to stretch a bit as an actress even, to play Nina. That's a complex character, and a lot of ground to cover in a short time."

"While we're talking category books, what about Trish and Tawny?" Nancy set her fork aside, her plate, clean as a whistle.

"Wow, Tawny's men are going to be hard..." Raises an eyebrow at Nancy's immediate , snarky grin. "Ooops. Correction. Casting her CHARACTERS is going to be challenging, okay? Wow, your mind is SO in the gutter."

Nancy laughed. "Well, around here, that's just par for the course."

"True. I guess Tawny's Double Dare, one of my favorites, would be a good one to try. Her hunks are hothothot, though. Who's just too hot to handle?" Jeanne took the dessert plates to the sink.

"Thanks for taking the plates. Well, she'd like Johnny Depp, I think."

Grinning as she slid back onto her stool, Jeanne said, "Ya think? He's great anti-hero material, but he's just not...alpha-ish."

"Ha! Not like she pulled her Tawny-Depp nickname out of the ether. I can so see him as Jesse, but good point on the alpha thing. She might accept Nathan Fillion. He does bad boys so well."

"So true, on the nickname. I kinda could see Depp as Jesse," Jeanne closed her eyes, getting a visual. "Nathan would be better though. Yes, that would be good. And for his Audra, how about Cote de Pablo from NCIS? She's really awesome."

"I like her. She can do tough as well as vulnerable. Or Teri Hatcher from her Lois and Clark days, not the Desperate Housewives version. It's all about timing - and age. Speaking of ageless and timeless, you know AC just got back from another fabulous trip. She has such great locations - both in time and through the ages - in her books. And all that conflict."

"Umm, "Jeanne hesitated, sighing. "In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say I'm a weeeee bit jealous of all that wonderful travel. I love the way she described Venice in The Treasures of Venice." Looking into the distance, she added, "I'd cast David Conrad, from Ghost Whisperer, as Kiernan, the hero in that one. He's got that smoldery thing going."

"Plus he's really cute." Grinning, Nancy asked, "What about the Sam, the heroine?"

"Oooh, well...hmmm...tougher. Why are the heroines tougher?" Jeanne frowned into her Diet Coke.

Nancy squinted. "Because we don't fall in love with them but we do with the guys? I dunno."

"Well we don't LUST after the heroines, I guess. For Sam, I think I like Judy Greer. She's the sidekick in 27 Dresses and The Wedding Planner. I think she'd be a great leading lady and has the kind of strength of character Aunty Cindy writes into her heroines."

"I like it. Obviously, you see more movies than I do." Nancy shook her soda can and, judging it empty, tossed it into recycling. "For Trish, I'm partial to A Firefighter in the Family. The heroine needs to be somebody you could believe has the physical strength to be a firefighter. What about Anna Paquin? She was great in the X-Men movies and does a lot of physical stuff in True Blood."

"Oooh, good one. For Zac, what about Chris Pine? He can do physical as well as vulnerable. Or Ryan Reynolds?"

"I think Michael Trucco from Battlestar Galactica and Castle would be really good."

"Mmmmmm," Jeanne demurred. "Chris Pine, I think, for Zac. It's the eyes, you know." Jeanne two-pointed her can into the bin as well. "Want another fake cherry thingie?" At Nancy's nod, she got two more soft drinks from the fridge. "You know, I like Anna and Chris. That would be really a good match for them. I want Michael Trucco, for Dark and Deadly. I think he'd be a great Paul, don't you?"

"I do, I do. Excellent! He has great screen presence. Though Trish might overrule us on Chris Pine in favor of Jensen Ackles from Supernatural. What about Paul's Torie? Who did you have in mind for her?"

"AJ Cook," Jeanne answered immediately. "I've been thinking about this since we did our other blog. She plays JJ Prentiss on Criminal Minds. Tough, but vulnerable, she could capture that inner core of sadness Torie carries."

"Oh, I can see that! Well done. You really used those characters' past to yank them in knots in the present. You know, there's another important one we've not gotten to."

Jeanne slugged back more Diet Coke, now that the pressure to cast her OWN book was off. "Who'd we miss, and how could we possibly miss anything?"

Nancy laughed, but tapped the new soda can in a staccatto beat. "One of our own superstars, you know. Let's not forget our NYT Bestseller, Kate Carlisle."

"Oh course! Bookbinder Brooklyn and the ever so yummy Derek."

"Great books, aren't they?" Nancy thought for a bit. "You know, I could see Catherine Heigl as Brooklyn. Or maybe Piper Perabo, who's starring in that new series on USA, Covert Operations. You know I love spies."

"I like that actress. She's got a great face. And you rock writing them. The spies, that is."

"Why thank you! I do so enjoy creating boom. What about Derek, though?"

"Let's see...Derek...British, able to do secret agent stunts. You know we like Clive Owen around here. What about Clive for Derek? All that intensity and brooding." Jeanne made a eyebrow-lowered face, immitating brooding.

"Funny. However, I can so see Clive as Derek. He does humor, too, which Derek also needs. You know, we have yet to use one of my favorites in here, Michael Biehn. He might be a more menacing bad boy for Tawny than Fillion. I'd like to use him even if he won't be at DragonCon this year, which is only 75 days away, you know."

"Not that you're counting or anything." Both women grinned again. "Seriously, I have to get down there one of these years."

"Down where?" Zack, the head hockey hunk, wandered into the kitchen. Noting his wet hair, the H3 t-shirt sticking to his broad shoulders, and the running shorts he wore, the two banditas exchanged a look.

"I'd say something really, really risque here, but I'm not sure I could do it with a straight face," Jeanne said, snorking a bit at the thought of saying down THERE to a hunky man, fresh in from an obviously strenuous jog. "We were actually talking about DragonCon in Atlanta."

Zack looked a bit alarmed as he opened a bottle of water. "You're not thinking of taking Ermingarde to Atlanta are you? I mean, didn't it already burn once?"

Both women laughed. "Yes, it did," Nancy said, "Burn that is. And no, Ermingarde would hate the crowds and costumes. Besides, talk about lawsuits. With her eyesight she'd be firing up everytime a Klingon walked by."

Now Zack looked really alarmed. "We can't have that."

"Relax, it's actually a convention, and we'll be sure to leave the dragon in the Lair. Anyway, I've been saying I wanted to go to DragonCon for years, and both Nancy and Trish go every year." Jeanne shrugged. "Now I'm on a campaign to actually DO it, and go next year."

With a gleam of mischief, Nancy asked, "So, Zack, if you were casting one of Tawny's books, would you put Nathan Fillion in the lead, or Jamie Bamber?"

Zack chugged the water and pitched the bottle, rattling it into the recycling bin. "That one with the cowboy, I'd put Edward Burns in that role--though he'd need dark hair, not light like he sometimes has."

"You read Going Down Hard?" Nancy asked, watching the blush color Zack's face.

"Yeah, that one."

"Good choice," Jeanne jumped in, trying to keep a straight face and failing. With a mumbled "Gotta shower" Zack hurried out of the kitchen. "I'm telling you, it never fails to amaze me that they all read our books. Gladiators and hockey hunks included. Pretty cool."

"It is pretty cool, isn't is?" Nancy's gaze followed Zack's retreating form. Her crooked smile was for the embarrassment, rather than the view, although that was nice too. Returning to the matter at hand, she added, "The Bandita Buddies read them all, too. It was such a blast to talk about all the JD Robb books the other week, and some hadn't even read them but joined in the fun. Knowing our crew, and how much of the Bandit books they DO read, this should be even more fun!"

"Let's let them all have a go, then, shall we?"

What do you say, Banditas and Buddies? Who gets to play whom if we were casting Bandita books as movies?

Who would you cast in some of the other Bandita Books, other than the ones we named?

If you had one favorite male actor to cast as a romantic lead, and one favorite female actor to cast as a romantic lead, whom would you pick?

Casting Calll!!!

*It's several mornings after the long night of reading in the Lair. Bandita Nancy and Bandita Jeanne have convened in the Lair's cavernous, but immaculate kitchen, seeking coffee and a snack. As usual, the conversation starts with books.....*

Jeanne, contemplating Kathy Reichs' latest Temperance Brennan book: Why is it that it's so hard to cast people for books-to-movies or books-to-TV who actually resemble the characters? I mean, seriously. I look at who gets cast for stuff sometimes and just wince. Temperance Brennan on TV isn't at ALL like she's described in the book. And we won't even mention the comic-book heroes....

(Nancy rolls her eyes, having heard Jeanne's complaint that Karl Urban should have been chosen for Thor, rather than Chris Hemsworth.)

Nancy, stirring cream into her coffee and contemplating the tray of pastries Sven left out for the Banditas: Well, they got Iron Man right. Not too many people could play Iron Man any better than Robert Downey Jr. And Christopher Reeve was Superman to the life. Brandon Routh was fine but could've been better if he'd had a good script. And then there's Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

Jeanne: *grudging concession* That's true. Bad choices aside, there are some books and comic books that are incredibly difficult to cast. Take the In Death series.

*Jeanne points to the copy in Nancy's "To Be Shelved - Keeper" cubby, over by the door.*

I noticed you caught up with all the J.D. Robb books, when you finished Fantasy in Death.

Nancy: Of all the Eve Dallas books, this is the one most perfect for me. It's got gaming, for cryin' out loud. And a convention. And Star Wars references. Right up my street, as Anna Sugden would say.

Jeanne: Now THERE's a series that would be fun to cast. I hear our own Romance Champion, Nora, thinks that would be one of the hardest casting jobs of all time. I think I'd agree with her on that. What do you think, Nancy?

(Long, thoughtful, coffee-drinking pause)

Nancy: Bet we could come up with something.

Jeanne: *Grins* Ah, the gauntlet is cast. Let's do it. Starting at the top....Who would play Eve?

Nancy: Ohhhh, no, let's start with the minor characters first. That's easier!

Jeanne: Good plan. Okay, Summerset, the butler, factotem, and what the historical authors might have called the Reeve, for the most gorgeous Irish-American hero ever (barring Aunty Cindy's boys), Roarke. Who gets to play Summerset and sneer at Eve?

Nancy: Ralph Richardson would be perfect for Summerset, but alas, he's dead.

Jeanne: Let's do cast LIVE people, yes. *Grins* What about Michael Caine for Summerset. No one can do disdainful like Michael Caine. He was fabulous at it in Miss Congeniality.

Nancy: Either Michael Caine or perhaps David McCallum (NCIS Coroner) would be good for that. But I think Caine has the edge. You know, I think Dennis Haysbert from The Unit would be perfect for Tibble. And possibly my pal Teal'C of Stargate (Christopher Judge) would be perfect for Mavis's beau, Leonardo.

Jeanne: Oh, he would!! What about Samuel L. Jackson for Whitney? He'd be great as Whitney. And perhaps Michael Clarke Duncan for Crack, from the Down and Dirty Club.

Nancy: Samuel L. Jackson is perfect as pretty much anything. I can see Michael Clarke Duncan for Crack.

Jeanne: What about Mavis?

Nancy: Katherine Heigel or Amy Adams might do for Mavis, or maybe Helena Bonham Carter, she's got that curly hair and sort of flighty sensibility that Mavis has.

Jeanne: Excellent. I think James Marsden (27 Dresses) would be great for Baxter, and maybe Eddie Cibrian from CSI Miami for Webster.

Nancy: You know James Marsden was fabulous as my favorite guy X-Man, Cyclops, just as an aside, and he can sing, too. I can see Cibrian as Webster. I think Ewan McGregor has to play McNabb. Or maybe Michael Cera from Juno.

Jeanne: Good ones!! I've got the perfect actor for Troy Trueheart. He's on Disney Channel's Aaron Stone, and his name is Kelly Blatz. He's just that "perfect" all-American boy-type. Or maybe Casper Van Dein, from Starship Troopers. He's got that "Lettered-in-every-sport" kind of Troy-Trueheart look too.

Nancy: Good choices there, either one. On the female side, I think Sasha Alexander (NCIS) or maybe Emily Proctor (CSI - Miami), who's a North Carolina native, just to confess my bias, for Assistant ADA Cher Rio. That would be good.

Jeanne: It would! And I'm partial to those NC actors too, as you know! Now for the harder ones...Delia Peabody. She's going to be a toughie.

Nancy: *hmmmm* Zoey Deschanel? Pauley Perrette (NCIS)?

Jeanne, munching a pastry to buy thinking time: Perrette's got the chuzpah for it. May be Leighton Meester from Gossip Girl. Body-type wise, she's more the Peabody type.

Nancy: Hmmm, yes, but it's all about the attitude. That's what makes it hard to consider casting Eve. She's not classically beautiful, she's interesting. She's tall. She's whipcord rather than brawn, and she's no lightweight in terms of her abilities. Not just any frou-frou actress can pull that off.

Jeanne: Okay brainstorming for Eve....Jessica Alba has the chops (too pretty?)

Nancy: Lena Headey from the Terminator TV series (too short?) Maybe Mary MacCormack from West Wing and In Plain Sight. She's got an interesting face and is a take-no-prisoners kind of actress no matter what she's wearing. Heeeeeey, Stana Katic from Castle would be excellent!

Jeanne: Ooh, good one. I'm considering Daniela Ruah, from NCIS - LA. She's got that same attitude as Mary, with a little more interest in the face. Grins.

Nancy: I haven't seen that show yet. I'm still not satisfied with the choices here, and we forgot one of the most important people! Charlotte Mira! Oh, and Head Lab Tech, Dickie "Dickhead" Berenski, and of all things, YOU forgot the lead Coroner, Morris! Maybe the Bandita Buddies who've read the series can help.

Jeanne: Capital idea! (Can't believe I forgot Mira AND Morris...gotta think on that!) I think we're going to need help for Roarke too. He's got so many well-described attributes that you have to be verrrrry picky. I thought about Dermot Mulrooney (The Wedding Date), or Eddie Cahill (CSI-NY) But neither have that certain Je nais ce quoi that Roarke needs.

Nancy: So true! I did the same thing. Roarke is an action hero, but he has lots and lots of layers, darkness and light. Doing him justice requires real acting chops. Eve, too, for that matter.

Returning to Roarke, though, Milo Ventimiglia's too short, but otherwise has the right looks. Brandon Routh doesn't have blue eyes. Clive Owen is too greyhound lean, and Hugh Grant's too associated with Romantic Comedy. Matt Bomer from the new series White Collar is good, looks-wise, but he's too short and too young.

Jeanne: Yep, gotta have some acting chops to do Roarke. Christian Bale? David Conrad from Ghost Whisperer? Pierce Brosnan from 25 years ago would be good, but we can't regress him in time. Too bad about that. Charles Durning's a bit too old now, but he would have made a great Feeney.

Nancy: You're digressing again! Focus! Neeson's also too old for Roarke, and Colin Farrell's too short and too...something. Karl Urban and Hugh Jackman could do it, but they're so famous. Deservedly because they're so good, but it's sometimes hard to overlook who they are when they're onscreen. Though I have to say Urban did a great job of disappearing into Dr. McCoy in Star Trek. And Jackman was great in a role very different for him in Australia. Did I tell you how many times I watched Australia on HBO?

Jeanne (snorking): Yes! Yes you did. *grins* (About as many times as I've watched Star Trek, I'll bet.) Getting back to the point, as much as I perv over Karl Urban, you're right there. One of my other favorites, Adrian Paul is too short, too old, and doesn't have blue eyes. He's got the smoldering, smirky capacity, but not the other stuff. I'm going to digress again and say that Jon Voight would make an absolutely perfect Senator DeBlass from the first book, with Kevin Bacon as his smarmy aide-de-camp.

Nancy: Darn it, we need to get the main characters, not go haring off into side trips. Remember, we still don't have Morris or Mira! On balance, among our current choices, I'd go with Jackman for Roarke and Katic for Eve. She's just a shade on the young side, but I think she'd be good.

Jeanne: Okay, okay! *Grins* Not that we're taking this seriously or anything. I guess I'd go Christian Bale for Roarke and Daniella Ruah for Eve.

Nancy: Way too early in the morning for serious. I can see Bale, though, and I'll take your word that Ruah'd be good. But I think it's time to get some help from people who watch either more TV and Movies that you and I do, or who watch different shows than you and I do. There's a lot of BOOM movies and Crime shows represented in our lists. Maybe something else?

Jeanne: You know Anna Campbell's going to suggest Richard Armitage, don't you?

Nancy: Yep. She's like you are with Karl Urban.

Jeanne: Heehee. Well, we all have our favorites....

So what about it, Banditas and Bandit Buddies? Who would you cast as Eve, Roarke, and Co. from J.D. Robb's famous In Death series?

Do you have a favorite series or book (not bandita books this time, please, 'cause we're doing those on June 19) for which you'd like to cast the characters?

Let's talk CASTING, People!!