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We're talking comic book movies on this week's Podcorn Podcast!

Sophie Turner, Photo: Tatler UK

A couple of months back, The Wrap had reported a list of young actors and actresses that were in contention to take over the roles of Young Jean Grey and Scott Summers in the forthcoming X-Men: Apocalypse. While movement on these roles had slowed a bit due the holidays, it looks like some more contenders have joined the fray, along with an additional shortlist of actresses that are testing for the role of Storm.

According to Latino Review, Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Jamie Blackley (If I Stay), and Tye Sheridan (Mud) are in line for the role of Cyclops. Jeff Sneider over at The Wrap states that Sheridan is the leading contender for the role. He’s a phenomenal talent, so its hard not to get excited about that possibility, especially if Bryan Singer might finally give Cyclops his due for once.

Also, in that same tweet, Sneider states that Chloe Grace Moretz passed on the role of Jean Grey, opening up the possibility of Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) or Saoirse Ronan (Hanna, The Grand Budapest Hotel). We’ve yet to see Turner put on an American accent as far as I know, but she seems the more ideal choice. Though truthfully, if you dye Ronan’s hair red, I’d probably say the same for her. She’s the performer with the most diverse resume of anyone on this list.

Alexandra Shipp, publicity photo

As for Ororo, its being reported that Alexandra Shipp (Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B) and Zendaya Coleman (Shake It Up) are testing for the role. Given that Apocalypse takes place in the 1980’s, the chances of getting a Mohawked Storm are pretty high.

Whoever is cast, they’ll be joining the already returning Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence, and the recently cast as the title villain Oscar Isaac. X-Men: Apocalypse will release on May 27. 2016.

[Addendum: The server hosting Bonny's website is down momentarily. I hope by the time you read this, the links from her site will be working fine] 

I'm thrilled to announce the fabulous Bonny Becker's new picture book, A Visitor for Bear, which comes out this week! Bear is a curmudgeon who just wants to be left alone, but Mouse is insistent that Bear needs a friend. Bear been getting great reviews, including a starred review in School Library Journal! "The lively repetition and superb pacing make this an ideal choice for storytime," the SLJ review (scroll down to find the review) says, in part. Way to go, Bonny!

Bonny recently learned that A Visitor for Bear was going to be featured on the picture book wall at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide. You know how when you go into the children's area, there's always a wall display with 10-20 picture books face out on it? Where all the big names and bestsellers (or anticipated bestsellers) are? Where you hope your book will be one day? That's where her book will be! I can't wait to visit my B&N this weekend and see Bonny's book! I asked Bonny how all this came about.

According to Bonny, to get on the picture book wall display, first your publisher nominates your book, then B&N selects about 8 to 10 titles from all those nominated to be featured nationally. The individual stores pick the other books on the picture book wall. If selected, the publisher pays co-op money to help with the promotion of the book.

Co-op money has long been a feature of bookselling. Publishers help bookstores, including independents, pay for selected book signings, author appearances, etc. So it's always worth asking a bookstore if they have access to co-op money and to ask your publisher if they provide co-op money.




Now, how do I know all this, you're wondering? I'm lucky enough to be in a critique group with Bonny. She's the author of Holbrook: A Lizard's Tale, An Ant's Day Off, Christmas Crocodile, and more. Check out her books here. And besides being a talented and diverse writer, Bonny is a terrific teacher. She offers private critiquing and teaches through the The Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Program. She has a terrific grasp on structure, especially, and I have benefited greatly from her comments on my own work.

Anyway, our critique group got to watch Bonny tweak and polish this manuscript until it was absolutely irresistible, and we're all very proud and happy to see Bear finally come to bookstores and libraries. I hope you'll look for Bonny's book! I bet you'll love it as much as I do.