Dream Cast for 'Completing the Puzzle'

As with the Mummy Misfit diaries, today I'm letting my imagination run away with me and I'm casting the main characters for a TV production of my latest novel 'Completing the Puzzle.'

If you've read or are reading it, let me know your thoughts - do you agree or disagree with my choices?  If you've not read it, can I tempt you to a story that contains wonderful characters like these?

First up, FEE.  She's an attractive 'woman of a certain age'  - not a raving beauty but she clearly has a special 'something' to attract Marcus.  I know that my choice of actress is slightly older but I still believe she could fit the bill very well.

EMMA THOMPSON

Then we move on to HUGH, Fee's troubled husband.  We go on a bit of an emotional journey with this man and at the beginning we meet him in a distressed mental state.  He's carrying the troubles of the world on his shoulders and that needs to be apparent.  So I bring you ...

ANGUS DEAYTON

Fee's oldest friend, the actress and drama queen, CORDELIA, was an easy choice!  Larger than life and dominating every situation with her theatrical and attention seeking outbursts, who better than ...

HELENA BONHAM-CARTER

Next we move on to Fee's Dad, MALCOLM.  In his eighties and widowed, a bit of a flirt and a fantastic grandad.  He's making the most of his Twilight Years and, although living under Fee and Hugh's roof, retains his independence and likes to speak his mind when fighting his corner.  My No1 choice ...

RICHARD BRIERS

I made myself chuckle a bit when choosing the irritating but (eventually) loveable VERA - the cleaner from hell who has her heart set on Malcolm.  Her ear shattering nasal snorts can be heard for miles and she can turn any positive to a negative.  Well it had to be ...

JUNE BROWN

This brings us to the wonderful SIR F (or Sir F*ckwit) the affluent owner of the private school Fee works in as a nurse.  There is more to Sir F than originally meets the eye and it has to be said  that, by the end of the book, I'd actually developed a little bit of a crush on this sometimes rude and often blunt man.  It's been lovely to hear that some of my readers have felt the same way.  I wonder if this gentleman would fit the bill for them?

CHARLES DANCE

The twins, WILL & TOBY proved slightly tricky as I couldn't think of any nineteen year old actors with a similar look.  They're not identical twins in looks or personality but they do need to be seen as twins. When writing them, I found myself remembering the boys in Carla Lane's 'Butterflies'.  So a modern day version of these two ...

WILL (left) TOBY (right)

Getting just a tad excited now as we're moving on to the 'lurve interest,' MARCUS.  So many delicious actors to choose from but he had to be strong and rugged with a soft and caring side.  After many hours of steamy research, I have decided on ...

ALFIE BOE

OK, so he's not really an actor but he's just so perfect for the part, I refuse to be swayed.

So there you have it.  My cast for 'Completing the Puzzle.'  Are there any that have you screaming at your screen in horror?  Answers below please ...

'Completing the Puzzle' can be bought at Amazon for Kindle, PC, Smartphone etc and in paperback at Lulu.  Don't forget to check out the Mummy Misfit books too - bitching, Botox and designer handbags.

Misfit's Month

Here I go again!

                       

My soon to be released novel, ‘Completing the Puzzle’ left the nest for a proof-read by a trusted friend and I should have used the gap in the traffic to have a bit of a rest or just generally promote my other two babies.

But no … my brain decided it wasn’t happy without characters and plots running around in it.  So what happened?  Bam!  A new heroine came trampling through in her size nines and dragged a whole heap of friends and plotlines in with her - and they’re a pretty noisy lot!

Yes, that first little seed was planted and then, before I knew it, a thriving jungle had sprouted.  Book four had decided it was time to be written and I was not to ignore it.

How does this happen?  I wasn’t planning on starting a new work until July.  I really did want to give my brain a rest.  Really, I did!

Now I could, of course, just make notes and plan and then put it all away until I want  to write but there’s always that little part of me that says, ‘Strike while the iron’s hot!’  Weirdly, there are those times that I don’t want to write but I have to.  It’s ready to come out and it can’t be stopped.

Sometimes I find that a bit scary.  A bit like I’m not in control.  But I now know that once the characters are there, waiting in the wings, it’s just all systems go - whether I like it or not.

So what does the next month hold for me, now that I won’t be putting my feet up?

• Lots of research.  This is the first book I’ll have tackled where I need to be in possession of some hard facts.  I’ve spent the last three days working on this and it’s taken me to some eye-opening websites and filled my inbox with some great emails.  I’m on the threshold of a whole new and exciting world!

• Pages of notes on plot and characters will be put together.  Plots and sub-plots will emerge and I’ll find myself constantly surprised by the direction my characters decide to take me.  Just last Friday, a song playing in the background told me where to head with a part of the book I was having troubles with.  That’s exciting!

• That all important opening line will be typed.  Once this happens, there’s no stopping me.  I’m away!

• I’ll be waiting on tender-hooks for ‘Completing the Puzzle’ to return to my clutches.  This will be the first read by anyone other than my husband.  Have I got it right?  Is it a truly enjoyable read?  Will people accept me as the writer of books that aren’t Mummy Misfit?

• I’ll be putting the finishing touches to my cover (or rather hubbie will!) and also cracking the whip over my son to complete the back cover for the paperback.  All this while nagging him to revise for his AS levels which begin NEXT WEEK.

• Once ‘Completing the Puzzle’ returns, I will commence my next read-through, dealing with any typos (there will always be some we didn’t spot) and generally doing a brush up and polish.

• Hubbie will begin the arduous task of formatting the book, first for Kindle and then for Lulu.  It takes FOREVER and each header and footer needs to be checked and double checked.  Much wine for me, much whisky for hubbie.

• Before I press the ‘live’ button on Amazon, I’ll do my final check on my own Kindle.  I’ll also order my own copy of the paperback and read again.

• Wednesday 6^th June!!!!!  Both formats of the book will be out there to be purchased and I’ll become a nervous wreck as I watch sales and wait for those first reviews.

• Saturday 9^th June we’ll celebrate with a book launch dinner hosted by ‘Fenella’ - she really is like a proud mother hen, spoils me rotten and supports me every step of the way.  I am truly grateful for her friendship.  Without my hubbie or her, I wouldn’t be doing this writing lark.  I know our ‘intimate’ launch will be a hoot and a night to remember.  Watch this space, I may post some pictures.

So there you have it.  Once again my brain has taken control and I don’t intend to argue with it.  Who knows, one day those ideas may stop popping up and then I’ll be moaning.

But for now … DO NOT DISTURB!

The Mummy Misfit books are available at Amazon for Kindle and at Lulu in paperback.

WEDNESDAY 6^TH JUNE - ‘COMPLETING THE PUZZLE’ is released in both formats.