Blog Tour- INDEPENDENT STUDY Dream Cast and a Giveaway!

I am so excited to have Joelle Charbonneau here today! I freaking love her Testing Series yep I've read all 3 but if you want to see my review for INDEPENDENT STUDY go here! I love the realness of this dystopian world this could happen to us someday and it absolutely fascinating to read! Make sure to enter the giveaway below for a copy of the book!
Haven't heard of INDEPENDENT STUDY? Check it out!

Title: INDEPENDENT STUDY

Author: Joelle Charbonneau

Pub. Date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pages: 320

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

She's fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?

Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he's gone forever.

But there's a more immediate threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With armies in disarray and the dead not staying down, Avry's healing powers are needed now more than ever.Torn between love and loyalty, Avry must choose her path carefully. For the future of her world depends on her decision.

Now on to the Dream Cast!

A girl’s gotta dream….

I was really excited when Jaime asked me to come up with my dream cast for The Testing trilogy.  When I write, I never think about which actor could play which part.  In fact, even after Paramount optioned THE TESTING on launch week, I purposely didn’t give casting any real thought because I was too busy revising Graduation Day.  I could only see the characters that lived in my imagination.  They didn’t look like actors.  They looked like—well—them. 

But now that the series is written and I’ve had a chance to move onto a new project, I loved looking at the characters with the thought of which actors would best bring them to life on screen.   Now, I think I should best confess that I totally want to play a part if it ever really gets made into a movie.  I’m thinking I’d be great at Cia’s Mom or one of The Testing officials.  Of course, I’d also be happy if they just let me sneak on set for a day to watch a scene being filmed.   The idea of someone bringing The Testing off the page and onto the screen is just astonishing.  Here’s hoping it happens.  And if it does…ahem…here are my casting suggestions!

Malencia (Cia) Vale – Francesca Santoro

You can’t look her up on IMDB because she isn’t there – yet!  Francesca (Chessie) is currently finishing her senior year at Syracuse Univeristy where she is majoring in Musical Theater.  She is also my voice student and one of the main inspirations for The Testing.  She is also wickedly talented.  Cia is a girl who is idealistic as well as smart.  I think casting an unknown talent to play Cia is the best way to pull the reader into the world of The Testing.  That way they won’t be seeing a star from some other movie.  They’ll be seeing Cia all the way.

Tomas Endress –  Freddie Highmore

Boy next door cute, looks trustworthy and he knows how to bring great energy to the big screen!

Malachi – Nadji Jeter

I think he’d be fabulous as the shy, socially awkward Malachi.

Zandri –  Emma Roberts

She might be a little too old, but she has the abandon and fabulous hair of Zandri.

Stacia -  Emma Watson

Okay – the world might know her as Hermione Granger, but I see her as Stacia.  Especially with the short hair and the piercing looks she can give the camera.  Let’s face it-- no one would have a problem believing that she is smart enough to pass The Testing. 

 Michal – Chace Crawford

If I was Cia I’d trust him to help me.   Wouldn’t you?

Will –  Thomas Brodie-Sangster

He’s got a smile that would charm anyone.  And I think he could play the multi-layered Will with a great deal of skill.

Dr. Barnes – Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid is one of my favorite actors.  He has THE BEST smile.  He is also the type you would automatically believed had your best interest at heart.  Or does he?

President Collindar – Sigourney Weaver

Okay – I admit that this is taking some liberties with the casting.  Afterall, President Collindar is described as having almond eyes and dark hair.  I always pictured her as someone of Asian decent, but Sigourney Weaver is an amazing actress and she’s tall.  With Cia’s short stature, I think having a President with some height could make for some really interesting scenes.  Of course…you’ll have to read Independent Study and Graduation Day to know what those scenes are…

Raffe – Alexander Ludwig

Another controversial choice since he appeared as Cato in The Hunger Games movie.  However, I would argue that he didn’t get near enough to do in that movie and that he is perfect for Raffe.  (Who appears in Independent Study.) 

Symon – Ralph Fiennes

Another Independent Study character.  He could totally rock this role.  Trust me!

Damone – Tyler Posey

I think he’d make for an intriguing choice. 

 Professor Holt – Joanna Gleason

Since seeing her appear as The Baker’s Wife in Stephen Sondheim’s INTO THE WOODS, I have loved Joanna Gleason.  She has the ability to stop everything in a scene with just one glance.  She’d be awesome.  And, truth be told, I’d love to have an excuse to meet herJ

Thanks Joelle love the cast especially who you cast for Raffe! Love that guy :D

About Joelle:

Ever since I can remember I loved telling stories. As I grew up, I started performing those stories on the stage. Creating vivid characters and singing wonderfully complex songs were my passion. I graduated from Millikin University with a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance and then continued onto DePaul University for my Masters Degree in Opera Performance. From there I went onto perform across the Chicagoland area in a variety of Operas, Operettas and Musicals. I also started teaching acting classes and private voice lessons to pass my passion along to the next generation.

Not exactly the path you’d expect a writer to take.

I’d never dreamed of writing a novel. But I loved to read. Then one day I had an idea and I started to write. I found my passion for creating characters lived on the page as well as the stage. It is my hope that the characters I’ve created resonate with you and make you smile.

I still teach voice lessons and sing for the occasional professional event. But the rest of my time is spent with my husband and son while dreaming up new and interesting stories. I hope that someday I hear yours.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 INDEPENDENT STUDY prize packs with a finished copy of the book, a GRADUATION DAY ARC, a bracelet, pencil, & temporary tattoos! US only.

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Check out the Tour Schedule:

Week One:

12/30/2013- My Guilty Obsession- Review

12/31/2013- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Interview

1/1/2014- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Guest Post

1/2/2014- Hannah Reads Books- Review

1/3/2014- K-Books- Review

Week Two:

1/6/2014- Fiktshun- Interview

1/7/2014- Parajunkee's View- Interview

1/8/2014- Jenna Does Books- Review

1/9/2014- The Book Cellar- Guest Post

1/10/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post