Script File

What Mae Brings: A Novel

An exciting Mystery/Thriller! Mae is a shy, but not so naive young woman, hopeful in starting her new life alone. She wants to attend college for the arts, get a job, and begin an independent life in a brand new town. Renting an inexpensive guesthouse sounds like a perfect start. Until she discovers a hidden duffel bag and finds herself over-her-head in clues that grow sinister. There's a missing girl in town, Genevieve. Who is Genevieve and what happened to her?
Genevieve too had lived at this guesthouse - that’s all Mae knows. The police get involved and then Mae turns up missing. This quiet town has secrets...and some secrets beg to stay buried.
This rollercoaster ride never lessens as we follow Mae, Genevieve, and more, on a tale-by-tale story that intertwines and unveils a final surprising conclusion. One spark, one moment in time, one accident...can ignite a fire that spreads and cannot be controlled.
“Justice, revenge, compassion, and grief, are emotions that can overtake one's soul.”
Will Mae bring hope? Will she find the answers in time? Will she get justice? And will she survive?

  • Melissa L. Berger
    Writer
    "Beyond the Wall"(Short Film festival selection)
  • Project Type:
    Other
  • Number of Pages:
    184
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Writer Biography - Melissa L. Berger

About Me: I am a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

I have worked over 28 years in the Arts & Entertainment Industry, both in NYC and Los Angeles, as an Actress (under the SAG name, Melissa Mandisa), director, editor, producer, and documentary filmmaker. See: IMDb

I was a VJ (Video Jockey) in New York City and hosted a Syndicated Music Video show for many years, I have a recorded album of my songwriting, and I have appeared in numerous Commercials, Tv and Movies. I have worked as a Performer, Circus Artist, Fire-dancer, Sword performer, Bellydancer, Body Double, and Stand-In.. My latest film, I played Aristiana's Mother in 'The True Adventures of Wolfboy'.

I also am a Painter, (Custom Paintings, Portraits, Fabrics, and Original Porcelain designs).

I am a 5 star Etsy Artist! See: Meli-RLO Art Studios

Writing credits include screen-plays for festival selected films, and a large number of Children’s books (both as writer and illustrator). Search Melissa L. Berger on Amazon to see children's books that I've illustrated for other outstanding Authors.

“What Mae Brings” is my first full-length Adult Novel. It is an exciting mystery thriller!

I am currently writing my second novel, a psychological thriller, TBA.

I am a 5 star Etsy Artist! See: Meli-RLO Art Studios

Writing credits include screen-plays for festival selected films, and a large number of Children’s books (both as writer and illustrator). Search Melissa L. Berger on Amazon to see children's books that I've illustrated for other outstanding Authors.

“What Mae Brings” is my first full-length Adult Novel. It is an exciting mystery thriller!

I am currently writing my second novel, a psychological thriller, TBA.

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Writer Statement

My varied experiences throughout my life inspired me to write “What Mae Brings.” I always strived for an honest and meaningful life, and grew up rather innocent in my outlook on the world. I’ve experienced great times in my life, but with that I’ve also experienced many of the darker sides of humanity and society, especially living in the bigger cities. Never wanting to be victimized, I often struggled with my independence in this big world. I’ve learned there is good and bad in everyone and everything, and that life is trying to understand where you fit, without falling into the gaps, in your quest for a good life. How staying strong and being brave can help one grow, but how do you keep from hardening along the way, or losing the innocence of one’s own humanity and compassion? There is a fine line, and I wanted my characters to explore that line.
Some of my more negative experiences or feelings, I tried to give to my characters in the search for an understanding of my own feelings through their eyes, and to also free myself of their hurtfulness and burden. Now, if I think of some of my more difficult memories, I feel I have passed them on to a character that handled the situation perhaps differently than I did, and that was a very interesting and profound experience for me. I feel very close to the characters I created. I really tried to give them my honest breath and yet let them continue to breathe on their own.
Thank you for your time in reading this and supporting a new writer with ambitious dreams. It means the world to me.