Dream Casting Books to TV: Susan Mallery Fool’s Gold Franchise (Part 1)

In March, we celebrated Women’s History Month and during off-line discussions among our staff we talked about what books written by women authors we would love to see come to the small screen as TV shows.

Obviously there have been countless books transformed into TV shows (or movies), such as Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, the Outlander franchise by Diana Gabaldon, Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard and the classics by Jane Austen [just to name a few].

New York Times best-selling author Susan Mallery, who has written more than 150 novels since 1991, has a series of books based in the fictional town of Fool’s Gold, California that I think would make a great new TV series. In fact, one of the books from that franchise – “Marry Me at Christmas” – has already been made into a made-for-TV movie over on the Hallmark Channel. Given that fact, it only makes sense that the TV series would air on that network.

Fool’s Gold, California is a charming community, but men don’t seem to stick around. The reason for that is presumed to be due to a matriarchal Native American tribe, the Ma’a-zib, that settled in that area in circa 1300, who would not let men become a part of their community.

Enter Mayor Marsha Tilson, the longest-serving mayor in the state of California, who seems to know everything about everyone and is a bit of a clairvoyant matchmaker. She has a way of convincing people to move or return to Fool’s Gold and reuniting or putting couples together.

The book series consists of nearly 30 books, focusing on a different romantic couple in each one. Each couple serves an important role within the town, some are business leaders, some are small business owners, and there are even a celebrity or two.

There is a site dedicated to the Fool’s Gold book series, which includes a map of the town, and timelines of the town as well as a Who’s Who on the main characters from each of the books.

Over the course of the next few months, I will detail that book series, focusing a little on what each book is about and spotlighting which actors and actresses I think would be terrific in the lead roles for each book. I made my casting choices based on the details listed in the Who’s Who (reference above), selecting cast members who were as close to those descriptions as possible.

Since the Hallmark Channel has already made TV shows based on Debbie Macomber’s books (Cedar Cove) and Sherryl Woods’s books (Chesapeake Shores), it would be great to see them bring Susan Mallery’s world of Fool’s Gold, California to life.

First let’s focus on who would play the legendary Marsha Tilson, the longest-serving mayor in the state of California, serving for over 40 years. She first stepped into office when she was 26, a young widow, looking for a way to make a difference. Now she seems to know everything about everyone, but no one minds because Marsha is always respectful and helpful.

In the books, Martha is described as a petite woman who wears tailored suits and elegant pearls, almost always wearing her beautiful white hair in a classic chignon. I think veteran actress Helen Mirren would be perfect for this part.

Here are the books in the Fool’s Gold series (in order of publication):

Chasing Perfect
Released: May 2010

Welcome to Fool’s Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There’s lots to do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there’s just one tiny problem in Fool’s Gold: the men don’t seem to stick around. Maybe it’s the lure of big-city life, or maybe it’s plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may be just the city planner to do it.

Charity’s nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer — everything, that is, except its sexiest and most famous resident, former world-class cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she’s not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he’s perfect just the way he is. But maybe that’s just what he needs — someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he’s just chasing perfect.

MY CASTING:

Charity Jones – Autumn Reeser (The O.C., The Arrangement and 6 Hallmark Channel movies, including A Country Wedding and Valentine Ever After)

Josh Golden – Lucas Bryant (Haven and Shoot the Messenger and the Hallmark Channel movies Summer Love and Tulips in Spring)

Almost Perfect
Released: July 2010

Back in high school, Liz Sutton was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Then she’d stolen the heart of the most popular boy in town, and their secret romance helped her through the worst of times. Until Ethan Hendrix betrayed her and everything they’d ever meant to each other. Devastated and pregnant, Liz left Fool’s Gold, California—forever, she thought….

Now Liz must return to town and face the man who doesn’t know of their son’s existence. And this time she won’t have the option of making a quick getaway. Ethan and Liz can’t deny their passionate attraction, even after all these years. But will their desire be enough to spark a second chance at love?

MY CASTING:

Liz Sutton – Leanne Lapp (iZombie and several Hallmark Channel movies, including The Perfect Bride and Ice Sculpture Christmas)

Ethan Hendrix – Ryan Kennedy (Hellcats and Major Crimes and several Hallmark Channel movies, including Unleashing Mr. Darcy and Lucky in Love)

Sister of the Bride
Released: August 2010

Somewhere between graduating MIT and becoming a multimillionaire, software developer Jackson Kent left his nerd days far behind. He has no trouble getting his own dates and only agrees to escort sportswriter Katie McCormick during her sister’s wedding (to Katie’s ex, no less) as a favor to his mother. But when he lays his eyes on Katie for the first time since they were kids, he has a feeling he’ll owe his mother a big thank you instead of the other way around.

Photo Credit: Michael Buckner/BAFTA LA/Getty Images

MY CASTING:

Jackson Kent – Jordan Gavaris (Unnatural History, Orphan Black and this summer’s drama Take Two)

Katie McCormick – Emily Bett Rickards (Arrow and the box office film Brooklyn)

Finding Perfect
Released: September 2010

When Pia O’Brian’s best friend dies, Pia expects to inherit her cherished cat. Instead, the woman leaves Pia three frozen embryos. With a disastrous track record in the romance department and the parenting skills of a hamster, Pia doesn’t think she’s meant for motherhood. But determined to do the right thing, Pia decides to become a single mother. Only to meet a gorgeous, sexy hunk the very same day.

A former foster-care kid now rich beyond his wildest dreams, Raoul Moreno runs a camp for needy children in Fool’s Gold, California. After his last relationship, Raoul thought he was done with women and commitment. Still, he can’t get sweet, sexy Pia out of his mind — and proposes a crazy plan. But can such an unconventional beginning really result in the perfect ending?

MY CASTING:

Raoul Moreno – Justin Baldoni (Jane the Virgin and Everwood and the Hallmark Channel movie Undercover Bridesmaid)

Pia O’Brian – Eve Harlow (The 100, Heroes Reborn and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

Please be on the look-out soon for the next part of this ongoing series of articles about making Susan Mallery’s books into a TV series.