Stone Heart
Stone Heart began when I was in grad school circa 2014. I was experimenting with different genres and voice - trying to expand my skills. My cohort hated it. They just ripped it apart.
So I put it aside. But that opening scene with Edward walking the docks, drew me back. I had this really clear vision of this guy full of regret, trying to right a wrong he’d committed and that journey started with getting on a boat. And how his regret was physically weighing him down. I wrote a few odd chapters here or there, including Tilton's intro because I needed a character to offset Edward's grim personality, but the project was a mess. In 2020, I started passing chapters with fellow author Elaine Reed. I gave her a few options on books I was mid-process on and described this one as "historical adventure across Europe with arrogant lord and gay dandy bff." She said, "I want the gay dandy one." So we can all blame Tilton for me finishing this book. |
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THE cast
If I had my way, this is who'd be cast in a movie of Stone Heart.
Edward Pierce
At first I thought about Richard Madden for Edward, because he was so self-important and arrogant in GoT. Physically, he's not intimidating enough. Sean Faris is. He's got that black prince look to him and I can fully imagine him knocking someone out with one punch.
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Phoebe von Croy
I really liked Emma Roberts in Holidate. She's got the capacity to be vulnerable and assertive and that would work well for Phoebe's character. For Nancy Storace, they could cast Maya Hawke.
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Walter Tilton
Dylan Sprouse is a Disney Channel kid but he grew up. He's got plenty of acting chops and that young, reckless, mischievousness that Tilton embodies in the book.
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Rhys, Duke of brey
Rhys was almost as difficult to cast as Edward because whoever plays this character has to look as much like a villain as a good guy. Rhys is morally ambiguous. He collects knowledge and he is as ruthless. Xavier Samuel has that look about him.
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Linus Halkerstone
Not gonna lie, I've never seen anything Richard Rankin has been in. But I came across his photo and immediately thought "That's Linus." A good-looking, solid guy who could be a solicitor or come after you with a axe. He can do either. 100% Linus energy right here.
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Lady Eleanor
I don't think there are many women in the world as alluring or would-kill-for kind of beautiful like Monica Belluci. She's played assassins, Bond girls, vampires, you name it. But she remains this unparalleled force of nature and I would love to see her as Lady Eleanor.
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Comte St. Germaine
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is another child star that grew up. What I like about him for St. Germaine, is he looks like the kind of man that will burn down your entire world if you f*ck with his. And that's St. Germaine.
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bella st. Germaine
Bella St. Germaine is a survivor. Her good looks have landed in trouble enough times that she doesn't pay them much attention and she will slit your throat if you mess with her. That's why Lindsey Morgan fits the bill. She worked on The 100 where her character was not playing. I can totally see her as Bella.
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Ann Gordon
For Ann, I wanted someone who looks proper but with the character's one "flaw" which is freckles. Anna Popplewell wears her freckles beautifully and she fits the character very well.
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