In researching mermaid legend and lore, a common theme popped up: mermaids can be lured to the surface by a handsome guy. If he's a good singer, he might even convince the mermaid to hang around awhile. :)
Surfacing's large cast meant some pretty vivid secondary characters, who recur quite often throughout the novel.
Here's the story blurb:
AJ Dillon is trouble. The former lead singer of an indie band has no home, no money and no future. His grandfather is the only relative willing to take another chance on him. AJ arrives in Weeki Wachee, Florida, with his guitar, a few clothes and a bad attitude. The only good thing about Weeki Wachee is the ocean -- the one place AJ feels at home.
Grandpa lines up a job for AJ at Weeki Wachee Springs, where beautiful women perform as mermaids. Grandpa says real mermaids exist, but AJ doesn’t believe – until he meets Cassiopeia. She helps his passion for music resurfaces. But greedy Chaz finds out about her, and threatens to kill them if AJ doesn't go along with his plan to make a fortune with a real mermaid show. Can AJ save Cassie, even if it means losing her?
Though a fantasy, Surfacing delves less "under da sea" than above it, into familial relationships and all their inherent problems.
AJ Dillon, a talented musician, has no direction in life. In the story's opener, when he arrives at his grandfather's house, he's run out of money and options. Maybe I have a bit of mermaid in me, but I've always found handsome singers pretty irresistible too. While writing Surfacing, Ben Barnes seemed a perfect fit as AJ.
Though I have no idea about Ben's singing ability, he most vividly starred in the part.
Since seeing Liv Tyler in The Lord of the Rings, I knew she was perfect to play Casseiopeia the mermaid. This photo seemed tailor-made for the part too. :)
Like Liv, Casseiopeia's incredibly beautiful. Not only does she admire AJ's guitar prowess, she wants to learn how to play too, even though the strings hurt her fingers.
Metal repels most fae, but the strings are narrow enough for her to withstand the discomfort.
AJ's grandfather, Walt, is a lonely ex-schoolteacher. Recently retired, he lives in the past, and has an unhealthy obsession with mermaids.
I imagined Alec Baldwin as Walt. Alec's intelligent and witty, and still a pretty virile guy.
A perfect match for the timeless beauty of Rene Russo, who I imagined as his wife.
Carmine Giovinazzo, of CSI New York fame, seemed a perfect fit for the villain, Chaz. A good guy on CSI NY, Carmine has the acting chops to play a multidimensional villain. Chaz is desperate to make a fortune.
Even if his people skills leave something to be desired, he's perceptive and smart. He's willing to do anything to get what he wants.
For Tobias, the owner of the Weeki Wachee Springs mermaid show, Christopher Plummer was ideal. Stoic, sometimes seen as harsh, Tobias has a heart of gold, and goes out of his way to help.
If you enjoyed this Casting Call, you might want to look at the Story Elements in Surfacing.
Or purchase your copy. :)
Available on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/368154
And Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FY94HA6
