Today we welcome Adriana Herrera to SmexyBooks!
Her debut book, American Dreamer, releases on March 4, 2019.
The HEROES.
I was so excited when I got a request to do a casting list for American Dreamer. Folx I have had my list ready to for a while. If Netflix ever comes knocking, I WILL BE READY!
For Nesto, I have only one option, Johnny Sibilly. He is a Dominican-Cuban actor—you may have seen him as Costas on Pose—and he looks exactly how I envision my favorite Afro-Caribbean food truck chef!
Jude I initially thought had as Hunter Parrish vibe, but las year I started watching a BBC show called Grantchester where Brit actor James Norton stars. Honestly he would be perfect to play the sharp, warm-hearted librarian who steals Nesto’s heart.
The rest of the Crew! Of course I had to cast Nesto’s three best friends who we meet in American Dreamer and who all have books of their own in the series. First up is Camilo, the grumpy Cuban/Jamaican social worker, who’s the unofficial leader of the Afro-Caribbean foursome.
For Camilo I’ve always used a Dominican model I follow on IG for inspirations. His name is Christian Cruz and he is 100% Camilo.
Patrice was tough, because in the book he has long locs, but Winston Duke is the actor that I would unequivocally request to play him. A. Winston is also from the Caribbean and B. He’s GORGEOUS and physically perfect to play a broody Ivy League professor with a passion for activism and social justice.
Juan Pa, my favorite Puerto Rican fuckboy! LOL In the series, more than once Juan Pa’s resemblance to Drake comes up…So uh…Drizzy, where you at?
My next two are the main ladies in American Dreamer—Nurys, Nesto’s feisty mom and Carmen Jude’s BFF.
For Carmen, I of course needed to have a Dominicana with attitude to spare. Dascha Polanco is gorgeous and has exactly the level of sauce needed to play Jude’s bestie.
It is not easy to find Afro-Latinx actresses over fifty, but I always had Sonja Sohn in mind as Nesto’s mom. Even though she is not technically Latinx, I think this powerhouse of an actress would be perfect to play the strong, no-nonsense Caribbean matriarch.
The last two are two characters have minor parts in this story, but will resurface in future books, with much more central roles. They are, Nesto’s cousin Priscilla and Easton Archer, the local assistant district attorney, who becomes a trusted friend to both Jude and Nesto in American Dreamer.
For Pris, a badass bisexual Afro-Latina QUEEN, I needed an actress who is all those things…Tessa Thompson is the hottest and she would kill it as Priscilla Gutierrez.
Last but not least, I needed someone to embody Easton who is sexy, sharp, but also a great person. Matt Bomer, OBVIOUSLY is exactly who we need!
Here they are, my full cast for an American Dreamer film. I don’t know about you, but I think we have a potential Netflix runaway hit here!
Thank you Adriana for sharing the incredibly beautiful dream cast with us! We hope that Netflix sees this and starts making the calls to get the cast signed.
American Dreamer releases on March 4, 2019.
For Nesto Vasquez, moving his Afro-Caribbean food truck from New York City to the wilds of Upstate New York is a huge gamble. If it works? He’ll be a big fish in a little pond. If it doesn’t? He’ll have to give up the hustle and return to the day job he hates. He’s got six months to make it happen—the last thing he needs is a distraction.
Jude Fuller is proud of the life he’s built on the banks of Cayuga Lake. He has a job he loves and good friends. It’s safe. It’s quiet. And it’s damn lonely. Until he tries Ithaca’s most-talked-about new lunch spot and works up the courage to flirt with the handsome owner. Soon he can’t get enough—of Nesto’s food or of Nesto. For the first time in his life, Jude can finally taste the kind of happiness that’s always been just out of reach.
An opportunity too good to pass up could mean a way to stay together and an incredible future for them both…if Nesto can remember happiness isn’t always measured by business success. And if Jude can overcome his past and trust his man will never let him down.
You can find Adriana on the interweb in the following places-
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
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