Screenwriter. Author. Filmmaker. Teacher. (In need of a nap!)

NEWS

RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS longlisted in Tadpole Press' latest contest

I AM THE WARRIOR screened at CineVet @ Lincoln Center

ABOUT ME

Ever since I wrote my first story as a kid, Days of Our Knives (yes, that really was the title), I’ve loved storytelling in all its forms—page, stage, and screen. An avid reader growing up, I devoured picture books, middle grade, and YA stories, and borrowed any film I could get my hands on at the library.

As a writer, I first set my sights on drama—likely from years of watching All My Children with my mom—but found I couldn’t keep comedy out of my writing—likely from years of watching Saturday Night Live with my dad. So, I combined the two, settled on dramedy as my main genre, and have been running with it ever since!

My writing style includes humor, heart, heartbreak, witty banter, flawed but well-intentioned characters, and too many parentheses. (I can’t help it. I love them.)

My distributed dramedy films include the feature Cloudy With a Chance of Sunshine (Indie Rights and House Lights Media) and short films On Becoming a Man and Doodles (Shorts International). My micro-short, Toasted, won the Audience Choice Award in the Canadian Film Centre’s ShortsNonStop competition, and was distributed by Telus on mobile phones in Canada.

You can catch my films on Apple TV, Tubi, Prime Video, ShortsTV, Google Play, and even on old-school DVD.

My work has screened in film festivals worldwide including Cannes, Dances with Films, Hollyshorts, Manhattan Film Festival, Breckenridge Film Festival, and the Sedona International Film Festival, and has won and been nominated for numerous awards.

I have also been fortunate to have my one-act comedic play, Misfortune Cookies, selected for the

Disney Television Discovers programs in both New York and Los Angeles.

I dipped my toe into even shorter stories with my microfiction piece RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS, which was just longlisted in Tadpole Press' winter microfiction contest. See the long list HERE.

Since I became a mom, my love of children’s literature has been rekindled. I recently completed a comedic YA Christmas romance manuscript (say that five times fast) that I’m so excited about and that was a blast to write. I'm currently developing another rom-com feature, doing continued edits on my dramedy stageplay, UNBURIED, and seeking distribution for my newest short, I AM THE WARRIOR.

When not typing away on my latest work-in-progress, I write for Script Magazine, where I've authored nearly 100 articles about writing and filmmaking, and teach classes for Writer’s Digest University.

I live with my family in Georgia, where I love to make friendship bracelets with my daughter, chase our wily tuxedo cat, Sox, go on waterfall hikes, and eat as much mac and cheese as possible. (I can't help it. I love it!)

DISTRIBUTED FILMS

Cloudy With a Chance of Sunshine

94 min, romantic dramedy

A lovelorn single father has his life turned upside down when a new-age yogi mysteriously shows up in his kitchen and forces him to confront his past in a way he never imagined.

Select Honors:

Best Feature Film (student) - Manhattan Film Festival, New York

Best Quality Entertainment - Grand Rapids Film Festival, Michigan

Best Film (nominated) - Love International Film Festival, Los Angeles

Best Screenplay (nominated) - Love International Film Festival, LA

Best Director (nominated) - Love International Film Festival, LA

Official Selection - Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona Arizona

Official Selection - Breckenridge Film Festival, Colorado

Official Selection - Julien Dubuque f International Film Festival, Iowa

Official Selection - Illinois International Film Festival, Chicago

Official Selection - Hoboken International Film Festival, New Jersey

Official Selection - Borrego Springs Film Festival, California

Official Selection - Action On Film Festival, Pasadena California

Distributed by Indie Rights (digital) and House Lights Media (DVD)

WATCH ON TUBI, PRIME VIDEO, and GOOGLE PLAY

On Becoming a Man

15 min, dramedy

An awkward young boy struggles to find his voice and deal with his mishugina family in the days leading up to his Bar Mitzvah.

Select Honors:

Best Comedy Film - IFS Film Festival, Los Angeles

Best Short Film - Athens Jewish Film Festival, Georgia

Award of Merit - Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood

Audience Favorite - Media Film Festival, Pennsylvania

Official Selection - Cannes Film Festival, France

Official Selection - HollyShorts Film Festival, Los Angeles

Official Selection - Downtown Film Festival, Los Angeles

Official Selection - Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, Iowa

Official Selection - San Pedro International Film Festival, California

Official Selection - Laughlin International Film Festival, Nevada

Official Selection - Carmel Art & Film Festival, California

Official Selection - First Glance Film Festival, Philadelphia

Official Selection - New Hope Film Festival, Pennsylvania

Distributed by Shorts International

WATCH ON APPLE TV and GOOGLE PLAY

Toasted

2 min, comedy

A commercial director gets more than she bargained for when she's forced to deal with an unorthodox diva talent.

Select Honors:

Audience Choice Award - CFC ShortsNonStop Competition, Toronto

Finalist - Dances with Films 2-Min, 2-Step Competition, Los Angeles

Distributed by Telus and iThentic (digital, Canada)

WATCH ON YouTube

Doodles

6 min, comedy

In this homage to Film Noir, a rash of cat-nappings have broken out across town and Feline Detective Jake Keyes is on the case.

Distributed by Shorts International

WATCH ON ShortsTV

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

WINNER

Selected writer - Disney Television Discovers showcase, NYC and LA - MISFORTUNE COOKIES

Selected writer - Smashcut Filmmakers Fellowship and Grant, Los Angeles

Best Feature Film - Manhattan Film Festival, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Best Quality Entertainment - Grand Rapids Film Fest, CLOUDY W/A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Best Short Film - Athens Jewish Film Festival, ON BECOMING A MAN

Audience Choice Award - Canadian Film Center ShortsNonStop Competition, TOASTED

Best Comedy Film - IFS Film Festival Los Angeles, ON BECOMING A MAN

Award of Merit - Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood, ON BECOMING A MAN

Audience Favorite Award - Media Film Festival, ON BECOMING A MAN

Bronze Award - Spotlight Film Festival Atlanta, I AM THE WARRIOR

NOMINEE

Best Screenplay - Love International Film Festival, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Best Feature Film - Love International Film Festival, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Best Short Film - LA WebFest, I AM THE WARRIOR

FINALIST

Finalist - Dances With Films 2 Minute, 2 Step Script Competition, TOASTED

(Film produced with sponsorship from Dances With Films, Canon, and Adobe)

Finalist - DWF 2 Minute, 2 Step Script Competition, THE PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE PRESENCE

(Film produced with sponsorship from Dances With Films, Canon, and Wexler)

Finalist, Seedlings Playwriting Competition, Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum Theater,

Los Angeles, for UNBURIED

SEMI-FINALIST

Semi-Finalist - National Playwright's Conference at the O'Neill, UNBURIED

HONORS

Second Rounder - Austin Film Festival, UNBURIED

Certificate of Merit - Southern Shorts Awards, I AM THE WARRIOR

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Cannes Film Festival - Short Film Corner, France - ON BECOMING A MAN

CineVet New York City Veteran Film Showcase, NYC - I AM THE WARRIOR

Sedona International Film Festival, Arizona - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Breckenridge Film Festival, Colorado - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, Iowa - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE and ON BECOMING A MAN

Illinois International Film Festival, Chicago - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Hoboken International Film Festival, New Jersey - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Borrego Springs Film Festival, California - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

HollyShorts Film Festival, Los Angeles - ON BECOMING A MAN

Action On Film Festival, Los Angeles - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

San Pedro International Film Festival, California - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SUNSHINE

Downtown Film Festival, Los Angeles - ON BECOMING A MAN

Laughlin International Film Festival, Nevada - ON BECOMING A MAN

Carmel Art & Film Festival, California - ON BECOMING A MAN

First Glance Film Festival, Philadelphia - ON BECOMING A MAN

New Hope Film Festival, Pennsylvania - ON BECOMING A MAN

Georgia Comedy Film Festival, Atlanta - I AM THE WARRIOR

RollCall Film Festival, Atlanta - I AM THE WARRIOR

Q&As

Where did you study writing?

All over the place! I honed my comedy skills at the Second City Conservatory in Chicago and Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles, and over years of theater work, where you find out from the live audience right away if your jokes are working or not!

I received my B.A. in Theater from Columbia College Chicago, where I learned much about the craft of analyzing a script and creating a character. I also spent a fantastic summer doing the UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting in Los Angeles.

Additionally, I've taken a number of classes in both the craft and business of writing.

I recommend Writer's Digest University, Story Summit, and BBC Maestro for online options you can do from anywhere.

The biggest teacher, though, is life itself! There's nothing more interesting to me than people watching and learning about human behavior.

What classes do you teach?

I currently teach four writing classes through Writer's Digest University, and eight tutorials through Writer's Digest Tutorials.

Do you read other writer's scripts or manuscripts?

For several years, I was a script analyst for a number of script competitions, programs, and production companies, including the Sundance Institute Lab, Screen Queensland, Screencraft, and QED Entertainment (District 9, Fury).

I also worked in development for production companies in Los Angeles and judged for the International Emmys and NYC Midnight competitions. In these capacities, I read hundreds of scripts, which was the best writing education one could ask for.

Since I love working directly with writers, I formed a consultancy and script doctoring service, Script Authority, where I have consulted with dozens of writers over the years, and provided comprehensive development notes and coaching. Due to my workload, I'm closed to new clients while I continue to consult with some long-time clients on their projects.

Is there a novelist you're enjoying at the moment?

I'm currently loving everything by JoJo Moyes, and her class on BBC Maestro!

What is your favorite film and book?

My all-time favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption. Full stop. But a close second is Sense and Sensibility for its gorgeous script, acting, and direction. When Harry Met Sally would probably come in third. I'm a sucker for a great rom-com.

I have so many favorite books, though. The Me Before You trilogy by JoJo Moyes (talk about dramedy!) and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt are recent faves. I really enjoyed The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes as well. I adore Lisa Wingate's writing, which always pulls on my heartstrings. Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis blew me away when it came out back in the day.

As far as kidlit, I inhaled Beverly Cleary books as a kid, with Dear Mr. Henshaw being my favorite. Currently, I enjoy anything by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. For picture books, I love offbeat, hilarious stories like Dragons Love Tacos and the Pigeon and Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems. I also love reading beautifully-illustrated educational books to my daughter, like Lola Schaefer's Because of an Acorn.

What are you currently reading?

I'm fortunate to belong to an eclectic book club! I recently finished The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali and The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Next up is The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins.

Why do you love mac & cheese so much?

Because it's warm, comforting, and delicious! Try it with a little black pepper sprinkled on top. Yum!