Lost Girls (Book One in the Academy Series)

If The Academy Was A TV Show

I've often imagined this story as a TV show. If you've ever watched Pretty Little Liars (The OG Version) or The Vampire Diaries, you can probably picture it as well.

Not coincidentally, I've entered a pilot script based on my book in several contests.

Check it out on Coverfly

https://writers.coverfly.com/projects/view/91bfa25f-2b77-4de0-87b4-213342cb5e4b/The_Academy

The setting is an elite boarding school in The Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The Academy offers a topnotch music and arts education for teens. Unfortunately, its students sometimes wind up dead....

The story begins when Sheila goes missing. A world famous violinist, she's been helping our protagonist prepare for her second shot at her first choice school. You see, the main character is at The Academy because she tanked her first audition at the Manhattan Conservatory. It didn't help that she showed up hungover and reeling from an ill-time party.

Sheila is a petite blonde. I could picture Olivia Holt, who was amazing in Cruel Summer season one...

Admittedly, she may be a bit old now for the part. Maybe Ruby Rose Turner?

If you haven't watched her in Coop and Cami Ask the World, check it out. Not only is the show hilarious, but every once in a while her character "gets real..."

I started watching Disney and Nick shows during the early days of the pandemic. Don't judge. Anything else precipitated the worst nightmares. I'm a horror writer. You can not even imagine how bad my nightmares were in 2020. But these happy kid's shows saved me. It's nice to watch a show where no one gets brutally murdered or hooks up with someone who puts everything they did online.

What can I say, it got me through. And as someone who has worked peripherally with some amazing actors, one of my fav experiences was watching those moments where a skilled thespian really brought their talents to bear. It's why I think Bella Thorne was a better actor than Zendaya on Shake it Up. It's also why I think Isabella Pappas would be an amazing Emily.

This is an insanely talented actress and pretty much the only reason to watch Villains of Valley View.

Lest you think my only frame of reference is Kids TV, here is the most obvious choice for the Headmaster, Mr. Collins, a man the main character describes thusly:

"... there's a spray of lines around his eyes, but his forehead is so tight and smooth it reminds me of my mother's friends. His clenched jaw emphasizes his cheekbones. Glancing down, I see muscles beneath thin cashmere, the sweater's pale blue probably selected by someone who promised it would bring out his eyes.
"I've overheard a few girls crushing on him. Pretty gross, considering he's probably old enough to be their grandfather. "

Who else could it be but...

If you are under 30, you owe it to yourself to take a look at St Elmo's Fire. Crazy dated, for sure but still... However, unlike any other character in my novel Rob Lowe was literally the only model for the homicidal headmaster. He played a killer in another 80s movie (Masquerade) just a few years before his threesome with a pair of teens went the equivalent of viral in 1992. However, my frame of reference for him as the Headmaster is definitely Parks and Rec (which was in its heyday when the above photo was taken). I was an extra on one of the first eps he did. I can attest to the fact that he had a t-shirt and denim oxford tucked smoothly into a pair of 32 inch waist Levis.

For Darlene, it was a struggle but then I realized the number one choice would have to be Addison Riecke:

If you have only seen her in The Thundermans or A Girl Named Jo, check out her performance in Banana Split. It's incredibly profane but incredible. And yes, I think she's skilled enough to portray a Junior Powerlifting champ –– with just a bit of pro training.

Of course, when you read this story you'll see the characters differently than I did. I'd love to hear from you –– who do you think should play Sheila or Emily? Of course I haven't mentioned the lead. I honestly don't know who should play Casey. Let me know your thoughts. Please comment below.