Nimrod Rising with Stephen Bradley

Tell us a little about each of these characters and then give us the names of several actors or actresses that you think should play them if a movie is made from you book.

What is the title of your book?-
Nimrod Rising

What name is the book released under? - Steven Clark Bradley

Hero- My main hero of the novel has to be the character, Shepard Michael. Shepard is the son of Manassa Dormin who is the villain in the story. He is abused and used by his father to bring about the final destruction, but he remembers the principles that his mother taught him and resists his natural inclination for evil. I think we can all relate to him in that we have all had to resist doing wrong, and the wrong has often been an easier decision for us than the good. He is a really powerful figure in the story and very profound in his outlook. I would choose Christian Bale, the fine actor from Batman Begins and the Prestige to play Shepard Michael during his grown up years and a fine young actor, Seth Adkins to play Shepard's younger years. Both roles are very powerful and need powerful actors.

Heroine - This is difficult to choose since there are three major female characters. The first two are Sally Michael, Shepard's mother. She was kidnapped as a believer in God and forced to have Manassa Dormin's child. She is really such a strong character and strong in faith. I would choose Sandra Bulloch to play this part. Sandra Bulloch is a powerful actress with a face of strength and purity. She too is Jewish as Sally is. Her talents would fill this role perfectly.

Also, there is Elif Michael (Karaoglu) the Turkish wife of Shepard Michael who worked for Manassa Dormin but finds faith and turns her life and family around. She too is large in meaning in the story. As to her role in a film, I would pick Kate Beckinsale, star of the TV series, Underworld Star. Elif is a trained assassin and is also a very feminine woman in the book. Kate Beckinsale fits the package in both catagories.

Yet, I have to say that the most powerful figure in the story is the six year old child of Shepard and Elif, Jesse. She possesses the powers of her daddy and grandfather, but the heart of the child shines through so powerfully how she reaches out to the grandfather and finds the miniscule residue of humanity left in Manassa Dormin. She can bring tears to the reader's eyes and truly wins the day through the wisdom of a child. I would choose Elle Fanning for this role. She is a fine little actress and fits my idea perfectly as I perceived Jesse.

The villain or bad guy - Manassa Dormin is really the focus of the story of Nimrod Rising. He is the 666^th generation from Nimrod some 4000 years earlier. Dormin is found at the door of a police station and his parent s are never found. He is adopted by an older couple and raised as a Christian. He believes himself to be a believer but is confronted with his fate as the antichrist. The transformation he endures and his struggle against accepting his calling is a profound adventure into the spiritual world of darkness. After he finally allows the force of darkness to invade him fully, he has no turning back and finally wrestles and wins control of the world. He is very human, but somehow very determined to destroy humanity. His character is vicious and brutal and smart. He is appealing and repelling at the same time, which is normal for the son of the devil. He is a very aggressive figure throughout the story. I would choose Keanu Reeves for the role of Manassa Dormin. He fits the part perfectly and has played very good people such as Neo in the Matrix and very evil in The Watcher. He can look good as a nice guy and appealing as a bad one. He is an excellent actor and would fit the part!

The two other very important characters in Nimrod Rising are Mike Wakely and Gabriel. Mike Wakely is an archeologist who knew Dormin in Pakistan where they both were missionaries at the beginning of the book. Mike plays a vital role as the brains of the opposition against Dormin and is British. He is witty and smart and has a large role in part two of the novel. I would pick actor Hugh Laurie of the TV drama, House. Laurie is an Englishman of tremendous wit and talent. He is the exact personification of Mike Wakely. He'd be magnificent! Gabriel is the founder of the movement called the MESSE, Messianic Servants of Elyon. He is a quiet soldier who shows lots of courage and intelligence and devotion to God and country. I would enlist Bruce Willis for this role. Willis has taken on many smaller roles that were yet strong and important in the film, such as in Pulp Fiction. He'd be excellent in the role.

Give us your website address - www.stevenbradley.net

Give us a link to where your book is for sale - www.publishamerica.com
publishamerica.com

amazon.com
booksamillion.com
powells.com
bordersstores.com
barnesandnoble.com
copperfields.booksense.com

We invite you to visit Stephen on his Virtual tour - he'll be available during the month of February at http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/steven-clark-bradley-author-nimrod-rising. He would love the chance to talk with you about his books.

Blog Tours - What Would You Like to Know

I'm doing a tele-seminar next week about blog tours and I would love input from you all.

There are many things to discuss about blog tours and I worked out some initial questions to get people thinking - they are:

Discover Ways to Promote Your Book on a Virtual Blog Tour to Gain Greater Visibility and Sales

• What are the benefits of doing a blog tour?

• Should you promote your book in a blog tour?

• Should fiction and non fiction books be promoted differently in a blog tour?

• Should you organize your own blog tour?

• Why hire a publicist to organize your tour?

• If you hire a publicist, will you still need to work on the tour?

• Can you use a blog tour to promote anything besides books?

• Is there a new option in book blog tours?

But, now I need to create a couple of handouts and I'd love your input. Is there any specific info about blog tours that any of you think would be most helpful? Some folks here have done tours, some have hosted touring authors and I bet some of you have thought about doing a tour. So, since many of the people here are authors, I figured it would be a great place to pose the question. What information would you suggest I offer in handouts? Thank you all for your thoughts. There will be plenty of blog tour info coming very soon .

Nikki Leigh

PS - The answer to the last question is - most definitely. Stay tuned for much more information about that option - SOON. Or, contact me to be added to the mailing list - nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com with Mailing List in the subject line.

Blood Web by Gary Starta

A mysterious crystal is found…
A teenager drifter named Shenk unwittingly links himself to the powers of an arrowhead shaped crystal and begins a journey across America, not to sightsee, but to exact revenge for crimes committed more than a century ago.

Maybe becoming part of this network isn’t such a good thing…
Acting as the crystal’s host, the teen is endowed with super abilities, enabling him to track his victims via a biological conduit. He has only goal in mind…murder.

Only one investigator may be capable of stopping the paranormal vigilante, but she has revenge issues herself…
FBI Special Agent Caitlin Diggs suddenly experiences visions relating to the traumatic murder of her former partner and lover. Always intuitive, the agent’s new psychic abilities intrigue and confound her. She must fight feelings of grief and revenge if she is to outwit the murderer and his biological Internet.

A connection will be attempted…
There is only one way to stop the murders. Diggs must take control of the crystal. But contact with the rock may invite an undesirable paranormal connection. If the crystal doesn’t kill Diggs - it just might lure her into its murderous blood web.

Tell us a little about each of these characters and then give us the names of several actors or actresses that you think should play them if a movie is made from you book.

What is the title of your book? Blood Web

What name is the book released under? Blood Web

Hero

Heroine – FBI Special Agent Caitlin Diggs – she is brazen, outspoken and certainly not afraid to abandon FBI protocols if it means catching her perp. She is a 15 year veteran and likes to solve cases on instinct. Ironically, she will eventually come into contact with a mysterious crystal which will transform her and give her visions. These visions will help her investigations. But right now her own dreams are haunting her because her former partner and lover, Geoffrey McAllister was killed under suspicious circumstances. Her gut tells her the FBI Director is involved, but necessity compels her to catch a serial killer who wears a crystal pendant that makes him invincible. I could see her being played by Sandra Bullock, Carla Gugino or Milla Jojovich.


The hero and/or heroine's children

The best friend (if there is one) her current partner, Agent Deondra Rivers is a no nonsense agent recently promoted from the Pittsburgh field office. She dreams of applying her biomedical expertise to nab suspects, but the mysterious crystal is sucking the life out of its victims, rupturing their brain and depleting their system of seratonin. Rivers is perplexed and very dismayed that her knowledge of biochemistry isn’t helping to profile the killer. She is described as a dead ringer for Halle Berry – so only Halley Berry or a look-a-like actress would do.

The villain or bad guy - Shenk – a teen who unwittingly picks up the crystal while hiking away from the flooded ruins of his Texas home. He will help the crystal avenge the deaths of Cheyenne Indians massacred back in 1864 in Sand Creek, Colorado.

Give us your website address – garystarta.com

Give us a link to where your book is for sale - http://www.charlesriverpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=14

Any other special character that really stands out to readers. In this case, tell us the part they play in the book, some details about them and who should play them in the movie.

Stormy View by Nikki Leigh - Who Should Play Me in the Movie? - Nominees

Stormy View by Nikki Leigh

Casting Contest Nominees

September 2006

CONGRATULATIONS to DANA OZAK -

She is the Stormy View Contest Winner.

For more information about Dana - visit her website -

www.ohioromance.net

The entries are in and I have compiled the list of nominees. Now, I need to know who you think would be the best actor or actress to play each of my characters. I have gotten some interesting ideas about my characters after reading your ideas :) Below I will list each actor or actress that was nominated and I need your votes to determine the winner. You will pick the winners - not me. In the case of a tie, my furry writing helpers will choose the final winner :)

(The number listed beside an actor is the percentage of votes they received. The total votes for each character could fluctuate by 1-3%.)

Kennalyn Jones -

Young bright woman who grew up along the Cape Ann coast of Massachusetts. She attends Law School at Harvard, a dream she shared with her mother, before her death. Kennalyn met David Stevens at law school and they married. They move to Los Angeles and find jobs in a prestigious law firm. Several years later they have a daughter, they name Brittany. Life is wonderful and they plan a big celebration for their tenth anniversary. The party plans are almost complete when a police officer knocks on the Stevens’ door. He is there to tell Kennalyn that David was in an accident. The following weeks set off a chain of events that make it necessary for Kennalyn to return to her childhood home and her chauvinistic father. Can she handle the disappointments that life hands her?

Kennalyn is just under 6’ tall, thin, very pretty and friendly. She has shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes. There is an air of confidence about Kennalyn, but several things cause her to be insecure. She is a loving mother and a good friend.

Nominees -

__6%__ Faith Hill __13%__ Anne Hathaway __0%__ Claire Danes

__0%__ Angelina Jolie __13%__ Julia Roberts __13%__ Meg Ryan

__13%__ Reese Witherspoon __25%__ Kate Hudson _6%_ Teri Hatcher

__6%__ Kyra Sedgwick __6%__ Patricia Arquette __0%__ Charlize Theron

Captain Bartholomew Jones -

Kennalyn's father is the proud keeper of the Stormy View Lighthouse. For generations, his ancestors stood guard over the coastline to ensure the safety of people who traveled along the Cape Ann coast. He feels women need to stay in their place, which isn't working along side men. Can he swallow his pride and attitude to help Kennalyn through problems she never anticipated? Can he show his support?

Captain Bart is a gruff “sea dog” who is certainly rough around the edges. He treats Kennalyn very badly when she goes away to school, although it is less than an hour away. She feels that she is abandoning him and arranges for a long time family friend to clean house, cook for him and check on her father. This works out better than Kennalyn expected and Captain Bart marries Sadie. Can Sadie manage to smooth Captain Bart’s rough edges?

__19__ Peter Falk ___12___ Jack Nicholson __12__ Tom Skerritt

__19___ Michael Douglas __12___ Chris Cooper __6___ Bob Hoskins

__19___ Paul Newman

David Stevens -

He's the son of a powerful Los Angeles attorney. David had everything handed to him for years. He's used to debutantes and self centered women. Can he understand the kind of woman that Kennalyn Jones is? Will he appreciate the quiet strength that makes her a special woman? David is just over 6’ tall and has brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. He’s a successful attorney and is very much in love with Kennalyn. Or, is he? You can never talk about David without mentioning his mother… Hilda Stevens.

__6__ Tim McGraw _6__ Chuck Norris __32__ Matt Damon __6__ Jude Law

__0__ Brandon Routh _6__ Ben Affleck _25__ Matthew McConnaughy

__13__ Kevin Bacon _0__ Ewan McGregor __6___ Adam Baldwin

Hilda Stevens -

She enjoys her social standing in the community. This position is based on her husband's skill and success as an attorney. Over the years, she uses that power to form and chair committees to help the city. This gives her power in her own right. Will she use this power to help her son? Or, will she turn against Kennalyn in a time of crisis?

Hilda Stevens makes a powerful appearance in the opening pages of the book. Actually, she makes a powerful impression every time she appears in the book. She stands ram rod straight, has finely manicured and bony fingers. She is a powerful woman who will leave a definite impression on each reader.

___6___ Glenn Close __50___ Meryl Streep __6___ Sharon Stone

__25____ Faye Dunaway __6____ Jane Fonda __6___ Diana Rigg

Parmer Stevens -

He's a powerful attorney will lets his wife Hilda do whatever she wants, no matter how he feels about it. Can he find the strength to confront her, or will she continue to have her way?

__38___ Tommy Lee Jones _19___ Kevin Costner __13___ Nicholas Cage

__5___ Michael Caine __0__ Clint Eastwood _5__ Michael Douglas

__0__ Charlie Sheen ___19___ Robert Wagner __0___ Burt Reynolds

__0__ Barry Bostwick

Ebbie Montoya -

She was David Stevens' nanny as he grew up. She stays with the Stevens long after he is past the age of needing a nanny, to remain close to him. There is never a time when she doesn't support David and she loves Kennalyn as well. When Kennalyn returns to Misty Cove, Ebbie goes with her. Will she make a life on the rugged New England coast? Ebbie is a strong personality who is fiercely loyal to the people she loves. She is of Spanish decent, a short woman with wild gray hair.

__0___ Jennifer Lopez __40__ Rita Moreno __5__Rosie Perez

__15___ Belita Moreno ___40___ Diane Keaton __0__ Lois Smith

__0___ Mariska Hargitay __0__ Jenny Gago _0__ Kathy Najimy

Sadie Jones -

She marries Captain Bart. Earlier, she was close friends with Kennalyn's mother and loves the family. Can she help Bart now that his family needs him? Will her influence cause him to soften his views toward women?

__0__ Vicki Lawrence __20__ Glenn Close __0_ Nichole Kidman

__6___ Ashley Judd __20__ Joan Cusack __14__ Emma Thompson

__40___ Sally Field __0__ Helen Mirren

Brittany Stevens -

The young daughter of Kennalyn and David. Bright eyed, and full of energy and mischief. Can she recover from a devastating event when she is very young? What kind of young woman will she become? Brittany is a precocious child with golden hair. She loves her parents and protects her younger brother. She will do whatever is needed to protect her mother and her father’s memory.

__15___ Miley Cyrus _30__ Dakota Fanning __40__ Carly Schroeder

__15___ Hannah Montana __0__ Anna Sophia Robb

David Stevens, Jr. -

Kennalyn and David's son. He's born during a rough time in Kennalyn's life. Will he be the apple of his grandfather's eye? Can he survive being raised with several "mothers"? David Jr is around 5 by the end of the book.

__7___ Cole Sprouse __35__ Dylan Sprouse __15___ Conner Rayburn

__7___ Mark Lester __35__ Sean Preston Federline

Rick Thomas -

He was David's college roommate. Over the years, he becomes the legal voice for a development company which works throughout New England. When he reappears in Kennalyn's life, why is he there?

__15___ Peter Reckell __15___Brad Pitt __40__ Johnny Depp

__4___ Tom Cruise __0___ Matt Damon __4__ Luke Wilson

__4___ Ben Affleck __4__ James Spader _15__ Paul Walker


The overall winning of the casting contest was Merryl Streep to play Mrs Stevens - the mother in law of the heroine - Kennalyn Jones Stevens. I think she could bring the evil nature of Mrs. Stevens to life on the screen.

Stormy View by Nikki Leigh - Who Should Play Me in the Movie?

It's Time to Cast Your Vote ----
(August - September 2006)

As an author, people frequently as me which actors or actresses would play my characters in a movie based on my books. I honestly don’t know and I thought you could offer your suggestions. I encourage you to read the book, but in the mean time, you can read some of my thoughts about the characters along with comments from reviewers.

I asked for suggestions about which actors and actresses should play the characters in Stormy View. Details were supplied below about each character for anyone who hasn't read the book... yet. Entries were sent in August and people had the opportunity to vote for their favorites in September. The winner received a gift certificate for Amazon.

Kennalyn Jones -

Young bright woman who grew up along the Cape Ann coast of Massachusetts. She attends Law School at Harvard, a dream she shared with her mother, before her death. Kennalyn met David Stevens at law school and they married. They move to Los Angeles and find jobs in a prestigious law firm. Several years later they have a daughter, they name Brittany. Life is wonderful and they plan a big celebration for their tenth anniversary. The party plans are almost complete when a police officer knocks on the Stevens’ door. He is there to tell Kennalyn that David was in an accident. The following weeks set off a chain of events that make it necessary for Kennalyn to return to her childhood home and her chauvinistic father. Can she handle the disappointments that life hands her?

Kennalyn is just under 6’ tall, thin, very pretty and friendly. She has shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes. There is an air of confidence about Kennalyn, but several things cause her to be insecure. She is a loving mother and a good friend.

Captain Bartholomew Jones -

Kennalyn's father is the proud keeper of the Stormy View Lighthouse. For generations, his ancestors stood guard over the coastline to ensure the safety of people who traveled along the Cape Ann coast. He feels women need to stay in their place, which isn't working along side men. Can he swallow his pride and attitude to help Kennalyn through problems she never anticipated? Can he show his support?

Captain Bart is a gruff “sea dog” who is certainly rough around the edges. He treats Kennalyn very badly when she goes away to school, although it is less than an hour away. She feels that she is abandoning him and arranges for a long time family friend to clean house, cook for him and check on her father. This works out better than Kennalyn expected and Captain Bart marries Sadie. Can Sadie manage to smooth Captain Bart’s rough edges?

David Stevens -

He's the son of a powerful Los Angeles attorney. David had everything handed to him for years. He's used to debutantes and self centered women. Can he understand the kind of woman that Kennalyn Jones is? Will he appreciate the quiet strength that makes her a special woman? David is just over 6’ tall and has brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. He’s a successful attorney and is very much in love with Kennalyn. Or, is he? You can never talk about David without mentioning his mother… Hilda Stevens.

Hilda Stevens -

She enjoys her social standing in the community. This position is based on her husband's skill and success as an attorney. Over the years, she uses that power to form and chair committees to help the city. This gives her power in her own right. Will she use this power to help her son? Or, will she turn against Kennalyn in a time of crisis?

Hilda Stevens makes a powerful appearance in the opening pages of the book. Actually, she makes a powerful impression every time she appears in the book. She stands ram rod straight, has finely manicured and bony fingers. She is a powerful woman who will leave a definite impression on each reader.

Parmer Stevens -

He's a powerful attorney will lets his wife Hilda do whatever she wants, no matter how he feels about it. Can he find the strength to confront her, or will she continue to have her way?

Ebbie Montoya -

She was David Stevens' nanny as he grew up. She stays with the Stevens long after he is past the age of needing a nanny, to remain close to him. There is never a time when she doesn't support David and she loves Kennalyn as well. When Kennalyn returns to Misty Cove, Ebbie goes with her. Will she make a life on the rugged New England coast? Ebbie is a strong personality who is fiercely loyal to the people she loves. She is of Spanish decent, a short woman with wild gray hair.

Sadie Jones -

She marries Captain Bart. Earlier, she was close friends with Kennalyn's mother and loves the family. Can she help Bart now that his family needs him? Will her influence cause him to soften his views toward women?

Brittany Stevens -

The young daughter of Kennalyn and David. Bright eyed, and full of energy and mischief. Can she recover from a devastating event when she is very young? What kind of young woman will she become? Brittany is a precocious child with golden hair. She loves her parents and protects her younger brother. She will do whatever is needed to protect her mother and her father’s memory.

David Stevens, Jr. -

Kennalyn and David's son. He's born during a rough time in Kennalyn's life. Will he be the apple of his grandfather's eye? Can he survive being raised with several "mothers"?

Rick Thomas -

He was David's college roommate. Over the years, he becomes the legal voice for a development company which works throughout New England. When he reappears in Kennalyn's life, why is he there?

For more details, visit - http://www.nikkileigh.com/svcasting_-_vote.htm

This book is currently not on the market. I have the only remaining copies and it will be re-released as Stormy Shores near the end of the year.

HOW TO SUBMIT

The purpose of the blog is to give authors a fun place to tell readers more about the characters in their books. How many times have you thought about the actors or actresses that should play your characters? This is a place to share those ideas with others. Who would you pick to play the characters who exist in your story? Tell us about your choices. Who would you pick and why are they the right person to play the part. The important thing... have fun with this.

I used this idea for a contest I held last year and I'll post some information about the characters from the book Stormy View (which is being rereleased later this year). I'll share details about the characters in one post and I'll share the nominations that I got from readers in another post. I think these posts will give you an idea of what I'm thinking about for this blog.

Here's what I need from you ---

Tell us a little about each of these characters and then give us the names of several actors or actresses that you think should play them if a movie is made from you book.

What is the title of your book?

What name is the book released under?

Hero

Heroine

The hero and/or heroine's children

The best friend (if there is one)

The villain or bad guy

Give us your website address -

Give us a link to where your book is for sale -

Any other special character that really stands out to readers. In this case, tell us the part they play in the book, some details about them and who should play them in the movie.

When you're finished, send the info to me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.coom and include "Movie Blog" in the subject line. This will help me grab you from my spam folder - if needed.

Feel free to submit info to any or all of my other book promo blogs. I've had a lot of submissions and people are telling me they are having a lot of fun with the blogs. If you send a copy of you cover art, I can include that as well. Please remember that I'm going to copy and paste the info you send me, so make sure the details etc are right :)

Nikki Leigh
http://www.nikkileigh.com/

These is the full list of all my promotional blogs -

First Chapter Blog - Share the First Chapter of Your Book
www.startatbeginning.blogspot.com

Share Details About the Best Friend in Your Book
www.mybestfriendsstory.blogspot.com

Share Your Book Cover and the Story Behind the Cover
www.judgebookbycover.blogspot.com

Tell Us More About the Setting of Your Book
www.itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com

Share Information About the Heroine of Your Book
www.shareyourheroine.blogspot.com
Share Information About the Hero
www.shareyourhero.blogspot.com

Tell Us About Your Bad Guy or Bad Girl
www.badguysandvillains.blogspot.com

Start With the Facts - For All Non Fiction Books and many Fiction
www.startwithfacts.blogspot.com

From Books to Movies
www.frombookstomovies.blogspot.com