Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Be Sure to 'Please Remember Me' with Wendi Zwaduk




I want to welcome Wendi Zwaduk back to My Odd Little World. She enjoyed her first visit so much, she decided to come back to have some more fun. And Wendi is awarding one lucky commenter on her tour a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC.

First, a bit about Wendi, for those new to the site, or who missed her last appearance.


I always dreamed of writing the stories in my head. Tall, dark, and handsome heroes are my favorites, as long as he has an independent woman keeping him in line. I tend to write books with titles taken from songs because music is one of my many muses.
I earned a BA in education at Kent State university and as well as a Masters in Education from Nova Southeastern University. I've tried my hand at teaching, waitressing, and retail sales, but writing holds my heart.
I love NASCAR, romance, books in general, Ohio farmland, dirt racing, and my menagerie of animals. I have eleven books under contract and more than my brain can handle percolating. I can't wait to share them with you!




Friend me on FaceBook and Follow me on Twitter!


Since I interviewed Wendi last time, I thought we'd try something a bit different this time. I asked Wendi to imagine that one of her books was being made into a big Hollywood movie, and asked her to cast the movie for us. Here is what she came up with.

Lights, Camera, Action! Casting Please Remember Me

I wanted to thank Nancy for having me at her blog again. I love being here. Always love hanging out with friends. Now on to the question at hand. She got me good with her interview questions last time. This time, she's asked me to cast a book. Talk about a tough job.

Ok, so here goes.

When I wrote Please Remember Me, I actually did have a cast in mind. A big cast. I write with the characters in my head, visually. They tend to take the form of someone I’ve seen in a recent movie or television. I’m a visual person. So for Please Remember Me, I certainly had a cast in mind.
Marlon would be played by Ewan McGregor. Hands down. Jaden even mentions at one point he reminds her of Ewan. The light hair, scruff, greenish eyes, crooked smile. Oh and the physique. Can’t forget that.
Jaden would be played by Cameron Diaz. Again, no question. She’s got the scrappy streak, the gorgeous looks, the slight air of fun and confusion. Oh and she’s tall and skinny. She has the look of “I know I’m pretty but it doesn’t mean I won’t kick your butt.”
Logan comes back in this book to a small degree. He’d still be played by Jonathan Togo from CSI Miami fame. I just can’t see him as anyone else. He’s not super tall, handsome, but a little rugged. Cocky but still sweet underneath.

Cass...she’s hard because I see so much of myself in her. If I could play her, I so would.
There are some minor characters who will become major in their own stories. I’d love to cast those as well.

If you know any country music you’ve probably come across Keith Anderson. He is the only person I can see to play Ray Russell. Tall, brooding, but with a smile. No hair. Huge muscles. Could crush you in his bare hands, but takes care of kittens because their tiny bodies amaze him. He’s a softie for critters.
Maggie would be Naomi Watts. Elegant, blonde, air of affluence, but she still knows how to have a good time.

There are a ton of characters, but those are the biggies. Thoughts? Did I pick the people you saw when you read Please Remember Me? I’d love to know. I could be swayed, you know.
Now we'll all have to read Please Remember Me, just to see if we agree with your casting of the characters, Wendi. Stay tuned for a blurb and an excerpt from Wendi's newest release, Please Remember Me.

 
Sometimes the hardest role in life is being true to yourself.
Jade Weir did the social scene. She played the ditzy Hollywood socialite and ran with the requisite fast crowds. Until one night. One night and a shooting changed everything. How? She met Deputy Marlon Cross.
Now she’s ready to go toe to toe with the handsome sheriff’s deputy. Toe to toe or kiss for kiss, whichever comes first. She’s not that celebutante from television and she’ll do whatever it takes to prove it.
But is he ready for her?
Marlon liked his quiet and simple existence. No ties so no one gets hurt. And then came Jade. She’s a hurricane in high heels and totally trouble for him. She has the power to raise the ghosts in his past, but his heart won’t let him walk away.
Can they find a way to make the lust simmering between them work or will they part the closest of friends?
Contains anal play, sex on the dining room table and a hero bound and determined to get his way.

Excerpt from Please Remember Me

“I’m sorry. I’ll get out of your w—Marlon?”
Despite his common sense not to touch her, he tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear. Sizzles went straight to his groin. Dear God, what if they really did become lovers? He’d never survive, and yet he liked the odds. Dying in her arms sounded rather pleasant. Satisfying.
When she licked her bottom lip, he came close to coming unglued. Her eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”
“Getting my boss’s order. I should be angry since you avoided me, but I can deal.” When her gaze raked over his body, he fisted his hand to keep from wrapping her in an embrace. “I see you’re checking out the want-ads. Which flyer caught your attention?”
She held her palm open. Three slips of paper lay crumpled in her hand. “One’s for a babysitter, one’s for a dog walker and the third is for a companion.”
Companion? His throat constricted. “Which one?”
“Which one what?”
“Who wants a companion?”
She pointed to a pink flyer. Elder in the community seeks companion. Must be able to lift a hundred pounds and willing to work nights and weekends. 555-0089 Ask for Dan. Dan Denoon, local businessman and suspected pimp. Hell, no. She didn’t know his story, but she wasn’t going to fall into his trap. Having a former celebrity would boost his popularity and get Jaden into a world she could probably handle but didn’t deserve.
“You don’t want to be his companion. He’s not looking for someone to care for his Gramma.” Despite his trust in her decisions, he sighed. “He wants an escort-slash-plaything. It’s bad news.”
Shrinking away from him, she handed him the paper. “Oh. Sorry.”
Her sweet nature would be the death of his sanity, but shit if she wasn’t cute when she was out of her element. Wriggling in his polo shirt, he shifted. When did the air get so damned hot in the little foyer? It was late October for crying out loud. “You didn’t know. Which one is for the dog walker?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t tell you. You shot my other option down.” The hint of a frown marred her coral lips. “Oh, what the hell? You’re a cop. I should trust you.” She pointed to a simple handwritten flyer. “This one. For a lady named Judi Pennywood. Know her? Does she run some sort of prostitution ring, too?” She put her hands up. “I can see it now. Granny’s Girlie Show. Come one, come all...or don’t come at all. No refunds.”
Gritting his teeth, he groaned and chuckled. “Jaden, honey, I didn’t mean that. I just—
Before he could finish his answer, she clamped a hand over his mouth. “I’m giving you grief. I know how to do that without any training.” She scrunched her nose and winked. “So what’s the skinny on this Pennywood character?”
Wrapping his fingers around hers, he removed her hand from his mouth. Being with her felt so natural, so right. He wanted to do it some more—every day. If she’d let him. “I work with her great niece, Carol Ann. She’s a nice lady. Around eighty-six-ish. I believe she still owns a Basset hound.”
Jaden cringed. “Do they drool? I hear they make a mess.”
Rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, he considered her questions. As far as he knew, Saint Bernards drooled. Did Bassets? “I guess you’ll have to call her and find out. Carol Ann loves to tell me stories. I’d say you, Judi, and Carol Ann would get along great.”
Slowly, her gaze met his. Eyes the colour of sea glass with twinges of azure mixed in for good measure, framed by dark lashes. A man could lose himself in those eyes. “You really think this is a good deal? I don’t want taken for a ride, but I can do this, Marlon.”
“Never said you couldn’t.” He nodded to the diner. “Although I’d love to stay here and talk, I need to take the order back to the department. Want to come along?”
Thanks once again for visiting, Wendi. Remeber, everyone who leaves a comment with their email address is entered for a chance to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC from Wendi, as well as a surprise gift from me. My winner will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG, as always.

13 comments:

  1. Hi Nancy! So glad to be here. Questions, thoughts? Comments?

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  2. Good Morning Wendi and Nancy! I haven't read "Please Remember Me" but I'm putting it on my buy list now. Loved the excerpt!

    maria63303(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. Good Morning. Enjoyed the excerpt and enjoyed reading who about who would be cast if this was made into a movie, good choices.

    skpetal at hotmail dot com

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  4. Maria - I'm so excited you put in the TBB list. :-) I hope you enjoy!!!

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  5. Jean - so glad to see ya here. :-) I'm glad you like my choices...now...how to get them into the movie and how to get Hollywood to notice....?

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  6. Hi Wendi. Great to see you touring around!

    The book sounds awesome and I'm sure I will be reading it as soon as possible.

    debbie@ournovelnotions.com

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  7. Hi Debbie!!! Sending cyber hugs!!! Hope you enjoy the book. It was a favorite of mine to write. See ya on the blogosphere and in Cincy!!!

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  8. Ewan McGregor is AWESOME! I heart him big time. Great picks!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  9. Thanks Chelsea! I love me some Ewan, too. :-)

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  10. Wonderful excerpt! Have to take a closer look at this one :-)

    Peggy

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  11. They are great choices and great actors! =)
    booksforcompany @ gmail.com

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  12. BooksForCompany - Glad you liked the choices. :-) Had a ball coming up with them. Enjoy PRM!

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