Working screenwriter & YA novelist repped by Leyla Kader Dahm, Zero Gravity Management. Currently writing on assignment (screen adaptation of IP) for producers. Optioned writer. Drama-Comedy. Contemporary & period pieces.
Talent Manager
ZERO GRAVITY MANAGEMENT (Leyla Kader Dahm)
    On ISA's list of Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2023. Recently, I've written a screenplay, "The Girl From Krakow", and a TV pilot script, "Instruments of Night", on assignment for producers Afterglow Pictures and Two Jacks Productions. Both were based on IP. My scripts "Saving Mark Twain" and "Betsy and the Emperor" (the latter is based on my novel from Simon & Schuster published in 15 languages globally) are both on Coverfly's Red List. "Saving Mark Twain" is the Historical Genre Winner of the ISA Fast Track XII screenwriting completion, the Winner of the Ridgefield Independent Film Festival Screenplay Competition, a Top 10 Finalist (Historical/Bio Genre) in the Table Read My Screenplay competition, a Finalist in the WeScreenplay Screenwriting Competition (2022), a Finalist in the SWN Screenplay Competition, a Semifinalist in the Cinequest Screenwriting Competition and in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition, a Semifinalist in the Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Competition, a Top 5 Finalist in the Mystic Film Festival Feature Screenwriting Competition, and a Semi-Finalist in the PAGE Screenwriting Awards. "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sussex Skull" (a mystery/comedy inspired by Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories) is a feature script that has been named an Official Selection of Ink & Cinema's 2023 The Crime List, and was also an Honorable Mention in the Sleepy Hollow Film Festival's Screenplay Competition, as reported in "Variety".
    "Betsy and the Emperor" is the Winner of "Best Unproduced Feature Script" in the Montreal Independent Film Festival. It's also a Finalist in the Big Apple Film Festival Screenwriting Contest, a Semifinalist in the Shore Scripts Feature Screenwriting Competition, the #1 Finalist (3rd place) in the Dallas Film Festival Screenplay Contest, and a Semifinalist in the ScreenCraft Drama Feature Screenwriting Contest. It's also the #1 1-Hour TV Family script on Coverfly's Red List. Another YA novel of mine from Simon & Schuster, THE CURSE OF THE ROMANOVS, is a Finalist in the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Contest (announced in 2020). I've taught screenwriting on occasion at NYU (from which I got my BFA in film), and elsewhere. I've written three YA historical novels for Simon & Schuster and adapted two of them into screenplays. My screenplay "In Annie's Arms"-- about young Abraham Lincoln-- won the Illinois International Film Festival and is a semi-finalist in the Great American Script Contest. I'm one of the judges (readers) for Final Draft, Inc.'s Big Break Screenwriting Contest. An article in "Variety" mentioning the award for my spec script ("Sherlock Holmes & the Case of the Sussex Skull") was published in "Variety" on October 9, 2019. I'm a screenwriter, a novelist for Simon & Schuster-- and a freelance story analyst who has worked for Warner Bros. Pictures, the William Morris Agency, Final Draft, etc.
    • Writer (9 Credits)
      "Betsy and the Emperor" (Pilot, limited TV series)
      Television Script
      "Dear Ringo"
      Treatment
      "Operation Noel" : A Treatment for a Christmas movie
      Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)
      Screenplay
      BETSY AND THE EMPEROR (YA novel published by Simon & Schuster)
      BLACK POWDER
      Screenplay
      In Annie's Arms
      Screenplay
      SAVING MARK TWAIN
      Screenplay
      Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sussex Skull
      Screenplay
    • Acting (2 Credits)
      "Operation Noel" : A Treatment for a Christmas movie
      BETSY AND THE EMPEROR (YA novel published by Simon & Schuster)
    • Producer (2 Credits)
      "Operation Noel" : A Treatment for a Christmas movie
      BETSY AND THE EMPEROR (YA novel published by Simon & Schuster)
    • Director (1 Credit)
      BETSY AND THE EMPEROR (YA novel published by Simon & Schuster)
    Official Selection (BETSY AND THE EMPEROR, novel and screenplay)
    BETSY AND THE EMPEROR (YA novel published by Simon & Schuster)
    Festival Napoleon on Champs Elysees in Paris
    Paris, France
    2021
    Top Ten Historical/Bio Genre
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    Top 10 Finalist, Historical/Bio Genre, 2021 Table Read My Screenplay Genre Competition
    Los Angeles, CA
    2021
    Genre Winner
    "Betsy and the Emperor" (Pilot, limited TV series)

    Los Angeles
    2020
    For the YA novel this book is based on: Semifinalist, ScreenCraft Cinematic Books Contest
    Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)

    2020
    Top 5 Finalist
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    Mystic Film Festival Screenplay Competition ("Saving Mark Twain")
    Mystic, CT
    2020
    Winner
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    Ridgefield Independent Film Festival Screenplay Competition ("Saving Mark Twain")
    Ridgefield, CT
    2020
    Historical/Bio Genre Winner
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    ISA Fast Track Fellowship ("Saving Mark Twain")
    2020
    FINALIST
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    FINALIST 2020 Mystic Film Festival Feature Screenplay Competition ("Saving Mark Twain")
    Mystic, Connecticut
    2020
    SEMIFINALIST
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    Semiflinalist 2020 Cinequest Screenwriting Competition for "Saving Mark Twain"
    San Jose, CA
    2020
    Finalist ("Betsy and the Emperor")
    BLACK POWDER
    2019 Big Apple Film Festival Screenwriting Contest (FInalist, "Betsy and the Emperor")
    New York, NY
    2019
    Semi-Finalist ("Saving Mark Twain")
    BLACK POWDER
    ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship (Semi-Finalist, "Saving Mark Twain")
    2019
    Semi-Finalist (top 25 script in its genre) for "Saving Mark Twain"
    BLACK POWDER
    PAGE International Screenwriting Awards (Semi-Finalist, "SAVING MARK TWAIN")
    2019
    Semifinalist
    Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)
    Semifinalist ("Betsy and the Emperor"), ScreenCraft Drama Screenplay Contest 2019
    2019
    Semifinalist
    Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)
    ScreenCraft Drama Contest
    2019
    Quarterfinalist (top 10% of all scripts entered)
    Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)
    Shore Scripts Feature Contest
    England
    2019
    Screenplay (Finalist)
    Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)
    Finalist - Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition for "Betsy and the Emperor"
    New York
    2019
    Honorable Mention, see "Variety" Oct. 9, 2019.
    Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sussex Skull
    "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sussex Skull"
    Sleepy Hollow International Film Festival
    2019
    Semifinalist
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    StoryPros International Screenplay Contest - Semifinalist ("Saving Mark Twain")
    2019
    Semifinalist for "Betsy and the Emperor"
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    Shore Scripts Feature Screenwriting Contest ("Betsy and the Emperor", Semifinalist)
    UK and US
    2019
    Semifinalist
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    Semifinalist, ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship ("Saving Mark Twain")
    2019
    Semifinalist (Top 25 in its category)
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    PAGE Screenwriting Awards (Semi-Finalist) - "Saving Mark Twain"
    2019
    BETSY AND THE EMPEROR (Simon & Schuster; book published in 16 languages globally) was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. My novel and my script were both optioned for Al Pacino in the past)
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age (for BETSY AND THE EMPEROR)
    New York, New York
    2005
    Historical/Bio Genre Winner, for "Saving Mark Twain"
    "Dear Ringo"
    ISA Fast Track Genre Winner
    Los Angeles
    Finalist
    "Betsy and the Emperor" (Pilot, limited TV series)

    FINALIST
    BLACK POWDER
    "BLACK POWDER" (under the title, "Dr. Miracle", Moondance Film Festival
    ABA/Book Sense Pick for Teens, for BETSY AND THE EMPEROR (Simon & Schuster)
    In Annie's Arms
    American Booksellers' Association
    Endorsement for MR. LINCOLN'S BOYS (Viking)
    In Annie's Arms
    Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission 2009
    See above. For BETSY AND THE EMPEROR (Simon & Schuster).
    In Annie's Arms
    New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age (for BETSY AND THE EMEPROR, Simon & Schuster)
    "In Annie's Arms" won the top screenwriting award in the Illinois International Film Festival.
    In Annie's Arms
    Illinois International Film Festival
    Illinois
    Winner
    Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)
    Winner, Ridgefield Film Festival Screenplay Competition
    Ridgefield, CT
    Won their top screenwriting award
    Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)
    Illinois International Film Festival (entered "In Annie's Arms", another script of mine)
    Illinois
    Genre Winner (
    Betsy and the Emperor (a screenplay based on my YA novel from Simon & Schuster)
    Genre Winner, ISA Fast Track XII
    CA
    On the list from the YA librarians of Westchester County, NY for my YA novel BETSY AND THE EMPEROR
    Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sussex Skull
    "Westchester Best Book"
    Westchester County, NY
    For BETSY AND THE EMPEROR, my historical novel from Simon & Schuster
    Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sussex Skull
    New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age (re: my YA novel from Simon & Schuster, BETSY AND THE EMEPROR)
    NY
    Top Screenwriting Award for my script, "In Annie's Arms"
    Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sussex Skull
    Illinois International Film Festival (re: my screenplay, "In Annie's Arms")
    Illinois
    Another screenplay of mine, "In Annie's Arms", won the Top Award in their Screenwriting Competition.
    SAVING MARK TWAIN
    Illinois International Film Festival (won for "In Annie's Arms)
    Ilinois, US
    College
    New. York University
    Film (BFA)
    Gender
    Female
    Working screenwriter & YA novelist repped by Leyla Kader Dahm, Zero Gravity Management. Currently writing on assignment (screen adaptation of IP) for producers. Optioned writer. Drama-Comedy. Contemporary & period pieces.
    Talent Manager
    ZERO GRAVITY MANAGEMENT (Leyla Kader Dahm)
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