Writer Wednesday - Moving From the Printed Page to the Screen

Wild Women Authors 

with Kat Henry Doran 

Moving From the Printed Page to the Screen 

Since my day job keeps me either in front of a sewing machine or behind the wheel of a car, I’ve developed an interest in audio books to help pass the time. Over the years, I discovered several interesting characters and look for them as soon as the latest book is released. After I discovered several had been brought to the small screen, I jumped right on them—then watched them over and over again. 

While not every book I’ve listened to made a successful transfer from page to screen, I offer three examples of talented script writers who followed the authors’ descriptions of the characters and kept true to the original concept. In each case the heroes literally jumped off the screen and into my heart. 

Lee Child writes the Jack Reacher series [some of which have been made into movies for the big screen with Tom Cruise]. I’m speaking of the 2022 Amazon Prime Video series with Alan Ritchson who, in real life is 6’5” and perhaps more, possesses that memorable thousand-yard stare which he uses to superb effect when dealing with bad guys. Plus, he captured the dialogue just the way Mr. Child wrote it. A quick Google search told me this series will return in 2023-24 and I can’t wait. 

Michael Connolly, famous for his Harry Bosch series [also on the small screen] writes Mickey Haller of

the Lincoln Lawyer books. Late in 2022, the Lincoln Lawyer made the small screen with actor Manuel Garcia Rulfo. This character stays true to his Hispanic roots as he struggles to defend the less-thans of the world while rebuilding a relationship with his ex-wife and daughter. This is a beautifully done series—also found on Netflix—and will be back in 2023-24. 

Last, and perhaps my favorite, is ABC’s Will Trent which based on the books by Karin Slaughter. Each new book breaks my heart; the TV series closely follows the plot lines; the casting is impeccable; and the actor Ramon Rodriguez who plays Will jumps right off the screen. 

I hope you will enjoy these three series as much as I do. 

© 2023 Kat Henry Doran All Rights Reserved Former legal nurse consultant, victim advocate, sexual assault nurse examiner author Kat Henry Doran (and her alter ego Veronica Lynch) has been there and done that--many times over. The name she treasures most is Nana to the four brightest lights in her life: Meredith, Ashlin, Owen, and Kieran. She frequently travels from her home close to the shores of Lake Ontario in Western New York State to the Saint Lawrence River region as well as the historic Adirondack and Catskill Mountain ranges for settings in her books which feature strong characters who stand for the ‘less thans’ in this world. www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com