The Cozy Chicks | Cozy Up To Some Killer Books

Role Call

One of the questions I’m asked most at events is, Who would you want to play Nina Quinn in a movie?

This happens to be a question I can’t answer.

Okay, won’t. I won’t answer it.

Why?

Because maybe the person I have in mind for Nina isn’t who you have in mind. Ditto for Bobby, Kevin, Kit, etc.

Case in point. A good friend of mine thinks of Puddy from Seinfeld every time she reads about Kit. I don’t see Puddy at all. To me, he’s more—

Well, it doesn’t matter who I see him as.

I do love to hear how other people see my characters. Another friend was absolutely convinced that Bobby is dark-haired. He’s blond. Yet, when she reads the book, he’s as tall, dark, and handsome as she wants him to be.

I purposely try to write my books with as little physical description as I can manage because I want the readers to fill in the blanks with their imaginations. It’s the way I like to read books, to create images in my mind with very gentle guidance from an author. Because, really, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

There’s a chance, if Hollywood came knocking (a girl can dream), that I’d finally spill who I’d want to play Nina (and she’d be perrrrrfect), but until then my lips are sealed.

How much character description do you like in a book?

~heather

17 Responses to “Role Call”

I’m with you. I don’t like to get hit over the head with description about a character. I like to *hear* their voice myself. See them myself. And Kit and Anna, in particular, are very vivid to me in your books. Their behavior does that in my eyes. Not being told hair/eye color.

by Laura on July 27th, 2007 at 8:31 am
I do the same thing, Heather. I deliberately use light character descriptions of the lead and friends so that readers can “cast” those characters in their own imaginations.

by Maggie Sefton on July 27th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I am like you…I prefer just enough to give me an outline — hair color, age, maybe weight if the character has an issue with body image — but not all the details. Now, I know some people like more description. At a recent critique group, two of my colleagues said I didn’t have enough description, two said the work should be left as is, so….to each his own, I guess!

by Laura Kramarsky on July 27th, 2007 at 9:31 am
I’m a reader at heart and don’t watch television or movies much. So lots of description is important to me in a book. Give me details galore and I’m happy. There is one exception though. If anyone is Qwilleran in the Cat Who series, it has to be Tom Selleck. No ifs, ands, or mews about it. Don’t you think so?

by Dani on July 27th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Laura, I think behavior has a lot to do with description, too. And is equally important as hair and eye color!

by Heather on July 27th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Maggie, casting the characters in my head is one of the best things about reading!

by Heather on July 27th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Laura, LOL on the warring opinions. Just goes to show there really is no “right” way.

by Heather on July 27th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Oh, Dani, I’m not sure on Tom Selleck as Quill. I love Tom as much as any girl who grew up watching Magnum, PI, but as Quill??? I always pictured Quill older. Much older. Mr. Belvedere older. But that’s just me! I’m going to have to mull this over. Tom is getting up there in years now…

by Heather on July 27th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Who knew Bobby was blond?!??!?!

I love the details. I love sorting out the particulars in my head too. I have very specific ideas about your cast of characters, Heather. Especially Kit.

And Maggie, you’d be surprised to hear about how I “see” Kelly!

I’ll keep them to myself though. Ignorance is bliss, eh?

by debbie on July 27th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
In my mind’s eye, I always pictured Nina as bearing an uncanny resemblance to Betty White. Only taller. And with a limp.

by Jerry Remy on July 27th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Debbie, not you too! LOL. I’m with you. Ignorance is bliss. Sometimes. *g*

by Heather on July 28th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Heather, Tom Selleck IS much older! I always figured Qwill was sixty-ish…. and so is Tom. Hard to imagine, isn’t it, but it’s true. So he’s now perfect with that great mustache, those twinkling eyes, the salt & pepper hair. I really think it could work.

by Dani on August 1st, 2007 at 12:16 am
Hi Heather….I don’t like too much character description. Mostly because when I read a good character description, it bugs me that I’m not that good at descriptive writing…the downside to coming from a family of cops, I guess….You know, “Just the facts ma’am”. I’m like you I guess…I get a good idea who I can picture playing certain characters if it were turned into a movie. Then most of the time, when it is turned into a movie, my reaction is “What were they THINKING?” Case in point…The DaVinci Code. Tom Hanks? Ok, good actor…I like the guy…but did the casting director read the book? When I read the book, I clearly got a strong Harrison Ford vibe. I have refused to watch the movie simply because I feel like if I do, the book will be ruined for me. Ok, I know…I’m weird.

Traci

by Traci on August 2nd, 2007 at 11:08 am
It’s fascinating how we all approach things differently. I describe probably too much. I didn’t notice the absence of details when I read Hoe Lot of Trouble; I’ll have to go back and look.

Interesting post!

by Karen on August 2nd, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Dani, I think I just don’t want Tom Selleck to be older! LOL. To me, he’ll always be Magnum!

by Heather on August 3rd, 2007 at 6:57 am
Traci, I’ve seen a lot of movies where I was wondering what casting directors were thinking!

Sometimes it’s good to watch the movie version before reading a book version, for me. My mind will automatically put an actor into the character’s role, even if the descriptions are off…

by Heather on August 3rd, 2007 at 6:59 am
Karen, you might find that there’s more description in Hoe than the other books, simply because my editor liked it that way! LOL.

by Heather on August 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 am

Role Call

17 Responses to “Role Call”

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