Category Archives: Movies/TV

Anthologies, Awards, Consequences, Movies/TV

Unpublished Short Story Makes it into the Quarterfinals of the 2021 ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition

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An unpublished short story that I wrote, Consequences, has made it into the Quarterfinals of the 2021 ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition. The quarterfinals represent the top 356 stories out of over 1,500 submissions.

Consequences is historical fiction that tells the story of a real-life event in the life of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy religious order. Before she became a Sister, Catherine used her inheritance to build a refuge for poor women and children called the House of Mercy across from the Bank of Ireland in Dublin. One day while the House was still being constructed, a young domestic servant who was “in moral peril” due to poor treatment by her master came to Catherine seeking refuge. Catherine did everything she could to find a place for this girl to go, but failed. Instead of taking her into her own home, for some reason that has been lost to history, Catherine, a normally overly accommodating woman, turned the servant away. She never saw the girl again and it haunted her for the rest of her life. (Catherine is now on the path to sainthood in the Catholic church, being declared Venerable – step 1 of 3 to becoming a saint – in 1990.)

Consequences is the servant’s story or at least what I imagine it to be. I first heard about this story nearly 20 years ago and the paradox of Catherine’s normally charitable and saintly life with her actions in this incident has long stuck in my mind. I knew it was something I had to explore. Consequences was written for an anthology that has not taken shape. Hopefully I will be able to share it with you in the future, but I don’t want to put it online because then it would be considered published.

This is the best short story I’ve ever written, so I’m really proud of it. We’ll see if it goes anywhere in this competition. It looks like the semifinalists will be announced some time next month.

Awards, Been Searching for You, Camelot's Queen, Daughter of Destiny, Guinevere trilogy, Madame Presidentess, Movies/TV

Four of My Books Made Coverfly’s Year-End “Best of” List

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I am so happy to report that FOUR of my books have made Coverfly’s Red List, which means they ranked as their Top Manuscripts of the Year!!

Coverfly is the industry’s largest screenwriter talent-discovery platform, connecting emerging screenwriters with literary managers, agents, producers and development executives.

Daughter of Destiny

Oh and Daughter of Destiny was also named a Top Pick by Taleflick!

Camelot’s Queen

Madame Presidentess

Been Searching for You

Daughter of Destiny, Movies/TV

Daughter of Destiny a Semifinalist in Road to Development Contest

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I totally forgot the next round of results for the Taleflick Road to Development contest was going to be announced yesterday. I didn’t even see the email until late last night. But I am happy to say Daughter of Destiny made it into the semi-final round!

This contest is part of their efforts to use their own production company to develop some of the books they represent. I upgraded to the Standard level so that if I am chosen the winner for that level, an option will be a prize.

They will announce three finalists in each category on Jan. 25 and then one winner in each category on Feb. 22, so please send all the good vibes, prayers and cross your fingers or whatever it is you do. We are another step closer to Guinevere making it on screen!

Daughter of Destiny, Movies/TV

Daughter of Destiny a Quarterfinalist in Road to Development Contest

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Well, this a surprise. Taleflick, the company I use to sell dramatic rights to my self-published books, just announced that Daughter of Destiny is a quarterfinalist in their first Road to Development contest. This contest is part of their efforts to use their own production company to develop some of the books they represent. If your book is listed with them, you are automatically entered, which is why I wasn’t expecting anything.

I can’t say I fully understand the prizes. I’m in the Basic plan (which means I pay the least amount of money to use their services, which include more than this contest). The prizes for that are an upgrade to Standard and a winner badge. But the Standard package includes an option. So if they upgrade me, does the book get considered for option or does it have to go through another round first? I have no idea. I think I would have to upgrade to Standard before I could be considered for an option before the semi-finalists are announced Dec. 21.

My theory is what will be will be. But I’m thrilled that my little debut has yet another honor to add to the list, nearly five years after being published!

Daughter of Destiny, Movies/TV

Daughter of Destiny is in the Top 10 of the Launchpad Manuscript Contest

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Y’all I am shaking right now! Daughter of Destiny made the Top 10 of the Launchpad Manuscript book to movie Contest! I’ve been visualizing it for weeks, but I still can’t believe it. It has NOT sunk in yet.

This means that “you and your project will be showcased individually to agents, managers, executives, and producers who are looking for new clients, projects, and writers.” This is HUGE you guys!!!

According to the email they sent, all of the judges will now read all of the books to determine the winners. The final announcement of the three winners (and other prizes) will take place July 16. I consider this a propitious day because it is not only my grandpa’s birthday, but the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. (I wanted to become a Carmelite nun for a long time and still consider myself a Carmelite at heart.)

So please keep those prayers and good vibes coming! We’re really getting close to this being optioned!!! “Next Game of Thrones” is still my mantra and I plan to win this thing!

PS – What do you think of my new branding? I hadn’t planned to change it, but I found the picture and the rest just happened!

Daughter of Destiny, Guinevere trilogy, Movies/TV

Daughter of Destiny in Top 50 of Book-to-Movie Competition

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Things are getting serious, folks! Daughter of Destiny has made the Top 50 of the 2020 Launchpad Manuscript Competition. I am so happy!

This is a contest to find the books that will make great movies. They have some pretty heavy-hitting partners in Romark Entertainment (producers), Energy Entertainment (literary management and production) and Inkshares (publisher).

The next announcement is the Top 25 on June 18. Cross your fingers that someone sees the potential in DoD to become the next Game of Thrones!

Daughter of Destiny, Guinevere trilogy, Movies/TV

Daughter of Destiny in Top 75 of Book-to-Movie Competition

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Four years after publication, Daughter of Destiny  just keeps going strong! My baby, my debut, has made the Top 75 of the 2020 Launchpad Manuscript Competition. I am so happy right now I could cry.

This is a contest to find the books that will make great movies. They have some pretty heavy-hitting partners in Romark Entertainment (producers), Energy Entertainment (literary management and production) and Inkshares (publisher).

The next two months will be filled with additional announcements as they make their way down to the final winner. (Top 50 is June 4.) Cross your fingers that someone sees the potential in DoD to become the next Game of Thrones!

Daughter of Destiny, Guinevere trilogy, Movies/TV

Daughter of Destiny in Top 100 of Book-to-Movie Competition

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I am so proud to announce that Daughter of Destiny has made the Top 100 of the 2020 Launchpad Manuscript Competition. This is a contest to find the books that will make great movies. They have some pretty heavy-hitting partners in Romark Entertainment (producers), Energy Entertainment (literary management and production) and Inkshares (publisher).

The next two months will be filled with additional announcements as they make their way down to the final winner. (Top 75 is May 21.) But it sounds like all of the Top 100 will be presented before their Hollywood partners, so cross your fingers that someone sees the potential in DoD to become the next Game of Thrones!

And I realize it has been forever since I’ve blogged. My day job went went crazy when COVID-19 happened. (I’ll post about that some other time.) Outside of that, I’ve been working in the Minor biography. I’m about halfway done!

Madame Presidentess, Movies/TV, Women's History Month

Your Vote Can Help Make Madame Presidentess Into a Movie!

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Remember how Madame Presidentess was optioned for TV/film about a year ago? Well, that didn’t work out and I have the rights back again so Taleflick and I are working hard to get more producers interested. And you can help!

Madame Presidentess is part of a special TaleFlick Discovery contest celebrating International Women’s Day. That means it gets an extra chance to be made into a film or TV show. But only if you vote!

 

 

To vote, once you click the button above, find my book and click the Vote button that looks like an up arrow on the right.

Opens: Wed, March 11 at 1 p.m. ET/noon CT/10 a.m. PT

Ends: Fri. March 13 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT/4 p.m. PT

Officially, you can only vote once. But you can always try again on a different device…Not that I’m advising you to or anything.

If you get a message that you’ve already voted, it means someone on the same IP address has already voted. This happens in workplaces a lot. You will need to vote from home if that occurs. If you’re still getting that message, please don’t give up! Contact Taleflick support ASAP.

Winning books need thousands of votes, so please share with all your friends. Here are some graphics you can use.

Thank you!