In addition to hosting this live online meeting, we will also record it and post the link in the next month’s issue of The eQuill newsletter.
August 21, 1:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern – Onsite at GSU-Dunwoody or Online – TBD (please add yourself to our mailing list to receive the email with the online meeting link or in-person meeting details: https://atlantawritersclub.org/contact/)
1:00-1:30 Bonus open forum: all-things-writing Q&A with AWC Executive Director George Weinstein
1:30-1:45 AWC announcements and upcoming events
1:45-3:00 Viana Siniscalchi – Finding the Story You’re Meant to Write
Viana Siniscalchi is a senior editor at Alloy Entertainment, where she has worked since 2017. Prior to this, she spent nearly six years as an assistant editor and then associate editor at the HarperCollins Children’s imprint Balzer + Bray.
She has edited a range of acclaimed YA and adult novels including Love in English by Maria E. Andreu, Rules for Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno, The Rehearsals by Annette Christie, Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe, When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris, and Gimme Everything You Got by Iva-Marie Palmer. Before Alloy, Viana worked at the HarperCollins Children’s imprint Balzer + Bray.
Alloy Entertainment is a creative thinktank and full-service editorial partner that develops and produces original books, television series, and feature films. As a book packager, they develop book intellectual property. They rarely (if ever) acquire manuscripts from writers; rather, they sign up writers for projects they develop in house. Alloy is always looking for new writing talent to work on one of their concepts.
On August 21st, Viana will explain how the book packaging business operates, how writers can obtain work opportunities with a book packager, and how you can find the story you are meant to write.
3:00-4:00 Markus Burns – Telling All: Transparency in Memoir-Writing
Markus Burns is an American producer for reality television and the CEO of Burns Avenue Entertainment.
Born and raised in St. Louis, he experienced more challenges than most young people which led to homelessness, dropping out of high school, becoming a father at 17 years of age, and cheating death not once, but twice along the way. . One life-changing gift of a camera gave him vision and caused him to pursue a career. He found mentors and opportunities to shadow active filmmakers. Moving to Atlanta expanded his network and with hard work and good ethics, in a short period of time he worked his way up in the land of television from PA to Producer. He has worked for reality show pioneers, including Carlos King and Mona Scott Young. The true story of how this troubled young man became a successful reality TV producer (Real Housewives of Atlanta, Sunday Best, Married at First Sight) is the subject of Markus Burns’ heartfelt and moving memoir, The Debriefing of Markus Burns.
The Atlanta-based producer and PGA guild member has earned credits on top reality shows and is currently creating a platform of information for like minded individuals seeking opportunities in the world of television, but need guidance on where to start. His main focus is encouraging young people to believe in their dreams and do the work needed to achieve those dreams. He is also looking to take his training, skill set and talent and apply it into his own show and develop a feature film. Markus is a true servant leader, sharing his resources and real life inspiration to transform visions into realities.
On August 21st, Markus will discuss the art of memoir-writing.