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Show Me My Characters Contest and Week 5 of the His Salvation Blog Tour 
Well we are on week number 5 of my His Salvation Blog Tour and this week's stop is on Hayley B. James's Bee-Hive! Thanks for having me, Hayley. :D
I think the blog tour has been extremely successful so far. Thank you to everyone who has been participating and remember to keep commenting as each week counts as one new entry into the Grand Prize drawing! This week's contest is going to an easy, but interesting one. The prize? A signed paperback copy of His Salvation! Keep reading to find out how to win. :)
Am I the only one who pictures the characters of a story differently than the way the cover art portrays them? Or what about when a movie is made from one of those books and they cast someone and you can't help but wonder, what the hell were they thinking? When I'm reading a story and the writer describes them a certain way, that forms an image in my mind and it sticks. That's what I see as I read and it usually doesn't match the person on the front cover and a majority of the time it definitely doesn't match who they cast for the film.
There are a couple of movies made from novels that I was disappointed in who they cast. Twilight being the main one, but I have since seen who they cast for The Host and wanted to rant and rave and throw something at the casting director's head. How can you possibly tell me Melanie looks like that?! Not even close!
Or the upcoming movie The Mortal Instruments... I loved the books, read the original three she put out, and really enjoyed all of the characters she created. Especially Magnus. ;) But I'm really disappointed in who they cast as Clary and Jace and Simon. I think it's pretty obvious when the casting directors choose the people they do that they have never read the books the movies are being made from.
JK Rowling was smart. She made sure they gave her the choice of who and made sure that they stayed as true to the books as possible. You definitely can't deny that the three main actors looked just like the characters in the novels. Stephenie Meyer should never have given up the right to have a hand in the development of her stories. Granted, it hasn't hurt her bank account any by allowing them to do so since people are still flocking to see the movies, but I do know if I ever have the chance to have one of my books made into a real live feature film, I am going to insist on having a say in who is cast as my characters.
Well there's my take on it. What's yours?
The contest this week is to find me pictures on the internet of who YOU think my characters look like when you're reading my books. You can choose any book of mine - Touch Me Gently, Chasing Seth, Swift's Temptation, His Salvation, White Rain or Fragments of a Unicorn's Soul. You can either link to them in your comment or send me a separate email with the pictures in it after you've commented at jrloveless (at) gmail (dot) com. Make sure you DO post your comment if you choose to email the images in order to enter for this week's contest of an autographed paperback copy of His Salvation as well as an entry into the Grand Prize drawing.
Websites to follow updates on my current works in progress, blog tour posts, events, contests, and upcoming releases: jrloveless.blogspot.com or facebook.com/authorjrloveless
Blurb: In an attempt to atone for his sins and find some solace, ADA Agent Gabriel Romero helps other Deviants in need. But with threats from both sides—Normals and the Deviants who despise them—he finds it harder and harder to outrun his ghosts, especially after a difficult mission to rescue twin brothers held at an enemy compound, where Gabriel meets Alexander Ryker. Gabriel finds his new charge unexpectedly attractive, and that’s a complication he does not want—one he thinks he doesn't deserve.
Despite the frosty reception from the stubborn agent who rescued him, sheltered telepath Alex feels an instant connection through the pain he sees in Gabriel's eyes, and he does everything he can to gain his attention. The realities he must face while mastering his ability are hard, but failing to learn to defend himself is not an option. Soon he'll need his newfound strength to convince Gabriel he deserves to live and love again.
Excerpt:
They set a time for after dinner, and Alex accompanied Hayley back into the farmhouse. He trudged upstairs to his bedroom, deciding to take a nap for a little while. He thought back over Lizard’s claim of Bryan assigning Gabriel to train him. Why would the man push Gabriel to spend time with him? Sighing, he shoved open the door to his room and entered, closing it behind him. His eyes downcast, he didn’t notice the small package resting on his pillow until he flopped down on top of the bedspread and it poked him in his cheek.
