Second time around: Catherine Ryan Hyde talks about the film adaptation of her second novel

Five years ago, Cambria author Catherine Ryan Hyde caught one of fame's big waves when her novel, "Pay It Forward," and the movie adaptation of the same name captured the popular imagination.

But as so often happens in surfing and book publishing, one good wave doesn't necessarily follow another. Her next novel had more modest success, never generating the high-volume sales — and hype — that surrounded "Pay It Forward."

Now, however, that less-successful title appears poised to drop in on a big wave of its own. "Electric God," which Hyde wrote in 1996, published in 2000 and optioned to Hollywood that same year, is finally going to be made into a movie. Tentatively due out in 2007, the film will chronicle how a man ruled by rage finds redemption. It will star Oscar winner Nicolas Cage.

"I'm thrilled with the Cage idea," Hyde said. "When I heard, I thought, ‘Yeah,' because he can be that character who is out of control, but who retains that humanness."

Cage will also help produce the film. His company, Saturn Films, is partnering with Mission Pictures ("Millions") on the project. Mark Pellington ("The Mothman Prophecies") will direct, a fact that also pleases Hyde. Pellington was the one who first optioned the movie, and he impressed Hyde with his dedication to the story.

"Mark Pellington really believes in this," Hyde said. "Contractually, I don't have any more control over the film than I did over ‘Pay It Forward,' which is to say, zero. But I can almost guarantee that it will land closer to the book than ‘Pay It Forward' did."

Since the movie is just starting the production phase, there are still plenty of things that can go wrong. But if "Electric God" does reach theaters and is successful, it could lead to renewed recognition for Hyde and her work.

This is ironic, given how much her work has changed since she wrote that novel. She's even focusing on a whole new audience these days.

"I'm going in a new direction, which is young adult titles," Hyde said. "This is really for the oldest teens, a very discerning teen audience."

Hyde was drawn to the YA market when she realized how enthusiastic teens were about "Pay It Forward." After the American Library Association put the book on their list of best books for young adult, Hyde soon began getting letters from younger readers.

"It crossed over in a big way to a young adult audience," she said. "The most common thing they'd say was, ‘I used to think I didn't like to read, but then I read your book.'"

Another factor in her shift into YA was her frustration with the adult trade market.

"Adult fiction is not a pretty world," Hyde said. "I'm not casting aspersions on the quality; I'm talking about the publishing experience. As it gets harder and harder to sell books, they start leaning toward the celebrity books and the books with a very simple hook that marketing can make something out of. You start getting the sense that whatever you write, there is someone in publishing telling you that this isn't ‘it.'"

Hyde tried to ignore that nagging feeling, but was soon worried she would never resurrect her career. She even asked herself if she ought to stop writing altogether.

"I could give up the idea of trying to publish books in the adult market," Hyde said, "but I couldn't see myself not writing."

Uneasy adult fans shouldn't worry too much, however. She hasn't ruled out writing the occasional adult book, and just recently sold a manuscript meant for adult readers.

"Becoming Chloe," her first YA title, is due out next spring. It's intended for older teens, but Hyde hopes adults will also give it a chance.

"I worry that people who would have liked the book won't try it," Hyde said. "This is very much adult crossover stuff. It's not a kid's book and it's not a dippy little teen thing about teens falling in love at the high school. It's about a couple of throwaway street teens who kind of rescue each other and save each other's lives."

Her second title, "Broken People," will be published in 2007. It will likely attract a younger audience because its protagonist is just 13. Still the theme — alcoholism and recovery — is mature. "The only real difference between YA and adult literature is that the protagonist has to be someone of an age that the teen can relate to," Hyde said. "The thing I like about it is that it feels much more directly emotional. I'm getting a little tired of the existential angst thing. I like young adult literature because it's really about life smacking you in the face."

As for the upcoming movie, Hyde is too savvy to expect to like everything the filmmakers do with her story.

"You have to not be short-sighted about a movie; it's worth whatever aggravation it causes you." Hyde said. "It's what every author wants. And I don't feel all that attached to it. When they made ‘Pay It Forward,' I drew a line and said, ‘Here's where "Pay It Forward" the movie begins and "Pay It Forward" the book ends.' It's the only way to stay sane."

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