Our visiting author today, Marilyn Meredith talks about growing up in Southern California. Her latest book is Bears With Us and Deputy Tempe Crabtree has her hands full when bears turn up in and around Bear Creek, a young teen commits suicide and his parents’ actions are suspicious, a prominent woman files a complaint against Tempe and her preacher husband Hutch, a love affair from long ago comes to light, and a woman suffering from dementia disappears.
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Marilyn: I was born in Southern California, Glendale to be exact. I grew up in that bit of L.A. between Glendale and Pasadena. My father worked for Paramount Studios and we went to the movies every Friday. Going to the movies back in those days was an event. First, the previews of coming attractions, the newsreel came next, then the main feature. Intermission had some sort of talent show, or a game similar to Bingo. The second film usually was a B-movie of some sort, quite often about gangsters. It didn’t matter, our family stayed through the whole thing.
I collected movie magazines and cut out the photos of my favorite stars, and taped them to my closet door. My dad wasn’t fond of most actors, though he did have some favorites he brought home. One in particular was Rod Redwing. He was in almost every Western, when Westerns were really popular, playing an Indian and often doing the trick shooting for the hero.
This brings me to what I really wanted to say about movies and my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. I’ve had numerous people say, “Your books ought to be made into movies.” That would be great, but that’s not for me to decide. Don’t get me wrong, if someone wanted to option one of my books for a movie, I’d certainly sign on the dotted line.
Think about it though, how many movies have you seen with a female Indian as the star? I’m talking about the Native American variety. There aren’t many movies with a male Indian even as a supporting actor. I can’t tell you who I’d like to see play Deputy Tempe Crabtree because I don’t know any female Indian stars. The same goes for her friend, Nick Two John. (Rod Redwing would’ve made the perfect Nick Two John.) Though I know who the usual male Indian stars are, none of them look like the Indians I know and envision as Tempe and Nick Two John.
If you have any ideas about who’d make a good Deputy Tempe Crabtree, leave a comment. Same if you have a suggestion for Nick Two John.
In my latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, Bears With Us, bears play an important part. Hollywood never has a problem finding animals to be in films—or even using special effects to get the right animal action, so I don’t think that would be a problem.
There are plenty of people who could play the other parts—Tempe’s husband for instance, just needs to be someone who looks kind and has auburn hair. Anyone envision a certain actor for Pastor Hutch?
What about Detective Morrison who looks like an old and battered full-back?
Anyone who is familiar with any of the other characters in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series and has suggestions for actors to play them, by all means, make the suggestion here in the comment section.
I’d love to see Bears With Us come to life on the silver screen. Anyone want to do it?
Bio: Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest Bears With Us from Mundania Press. Writing as F. M. Meredith, her latest Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel is Angel Lost, the third from Oak Tree Press. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, Four chapters of Sisters in Crime, including the Central Coast chapter, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/
CONTEST DETAILS: Would you like to be immortalized in print? Marilyn Meredith is running a contest during her BEARS WITH US virtual book tour. Whoever leaves a comment on the most blog sites during the tour, will have his or her name used for a character in Marilyn’s next book. Please visit http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2011/08/11/bears-with-us-virtual-book-tour-october-2011/ for her entire schedule. Good luck!
12 comments:
Thanks for hosting Marilyn today. Good luck to all who enter the contest.
Hi, Cheryl. I love this blog and Rebecca for hosting me again.
Marilyn
I see Tempe as a comely looking woman with soft, dark (but no nonsense) eyes. Slim. Self-possessed. Maggie Gyllenhal with brown contacts?
Another fun stop along your blog tour. I really enjoy how you share a little tidbit about yourself, Marilyn. As to who should play Tempe, I'll leave that to the movie makers as I've just begun to read Bears With Us. I'll report in later!
Hi, Sue, I never even thought about non-Native American stars--but that would be a solution.
Anne, let me know how you like Bears with us, and thanks for stopping by.
I grew up in Burbank, Marilyn...I don't think you were very far from me!
Yes, Dorothy, Burbank was really close to where I grew up. Things have sure changed since I lived in the area.
Marilyn
So interesting to learn more about a successful author and where they are from, where ideas come from, and all that goes into being a writer. It is encouraging as I continue to work to make my writing be my full time job.
Congrats on the new book, Marilyn. How about Angie Harmon to play Tempe? Not exactly fitting your description of the character, but would probably draw a lot of male viewers. LOL
The more I hear about this book, the more I want to pick up the series. Thanks for posting.
I feel the same, VR. :)
Well, now I won't be able to read your books without trying to put an actor's face to the characters. :) Actually, that will make it more fun.
Good thoughts, Marilyn. I enjoyed this blog very much.
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