Dear Readers,

I had my surgery on Tuesday the 21^st. It has been a painful recovery thus far, but I’m getting through it. I’m walking as much as I can without overdoing it, of course. And using lots of ice packs. I won’t be running any marathons for a while, but then again, I wasn’t running any to begin with. I’m hoping to be relatively back to normal in another couple of weeks, if everything goes well.

I haven’t really given a writing update in a while, so I thought I would fill you in on what I’ve got going on. I’m juggling several different projects. The first, and probably the most important, is the sequel to Molly’s Song, tentatively titled Molly’s War. Second, I am working on scripts for a TV/streaming series based on Molly’s Song. That’s actually been a fun exercise trying to adapt the story for the screen. I already have the treatment and look book done, so if you know anyone with HBO/Netflix/Amazon/STARZ/BBC/ITV, etc, send them my way! Finally, I am working on a submission for a writing contest that will award a five book contract to the winner. This is the first time I have ever really worked on multiple projects at once. It isn’t nearly as hard as I feared it would be.

As I’m working on the script, I have been indulging in a common fantasy among others; mentally casting the show. Keep in mind, more often than not, writers get zero say in this sort of thing anyway, but it is fun nonetheless. I figured I would share my musings with you here. To start with, every show needs a readily identifiable theme song, am I right? Something that really stands out and blends in with the program, like the Skye Boat Song does for Outlander or I Don’t Want To Wait does for Dawson’s Creek. You get the idea. Although Runaway Train by Soul Asylum helped inspire my novel, it is too modern to be the show’s theme, so I say it can run over the closing credits. Instead, I think this one would be perfect. Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí by Dervish. You can listen to it here.

So with further delay, here is my dream casting list. (Note this is not all the characters, just the major and major-minor characters).

Molly O’Sullivan:       Ann Skelly

Lord Sanderson           Tobias Menzies

Patrick McMahon       Barry Keoghan

Frank Lynch                Liam Ainsworthy

Miss Cecilia                Diane Lane

Madame Delacroix      Sasha Higgins

Dr. Howard                 Ryan Gosling

Daphne                        Dakota Fanning

Liza Randolph            Maisie Williams

Katie                           Abigail Breslin

Timothy Warlow         Nicholas Hoult

So there you have it. Until next time, friends, take care of yourselves and each other.

L.H.