A Book and a Chat with Saundra Mitchell

Today on "A Book and a Chat" I was talking with the multi award winning author Saundra Mitchell about her life and her debut book "Shadowed Summer".

Saundra shared with us some of her early experiences, from writing a play on fourth grade where the hero kept getting punched, to her time in the armed forces and what lead to her leaving them.

During a thoroughly enjoyable sixty minute program, we covered all the aspects of not on writing, but editing and promoting as well, items that were enjoyed by the numerous guests we had in the chat room.

So what about Saundra, I can do nothing better than add what she herself says about her work…

Saundra Mitchell is a longtime screenwriter and author. Random House's Delacorte Press published her debut novel, Shadowed Summer, on February 10th, 2009. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's will publish her next novel, The Vespertine.

For almost ten years, she was the sole screenwriter for the Book of Stories, On the Road, Fresh Films and Girls in the Director's Chair short film series. In 2008, she headed and instructed the first Fresh Films Emerging Screenwriters program, and became the Head Writer and an Executive Producer for the film series.

Shadowed Summer is the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children's Fiction, and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection, and an ALAN Pick in 2009. Her short story "Ready to Wear" was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. In July, 2007, her essay, "Rapid Cycling," appeared in Common Ties.

Her short story, "Management" appeared in Zen Film's anthology "Love & Sacrifice" in February, 2007, and another short, "Kissing the Dog-Faced Boy" appeared in The Summerset Review's Spring Issue, 2007. She has also published in SmokeLong Quarterly, Edgar Literary Magazine, and The Parnassus.

Other screenwriting accomplishments include scripting Scholastic's "Get Active with Widget" webisode "Treasure Hunt" and the 2006 Girls in the Director's Chair image campaign (the foundation for a national PSA in association with Women in Film.) In 2005, she concept-designed and scripted the Metro Chicago United Way's Leadership Campaign. Her first feature film, Revenge Ends, will debut on the festival circuit in 2008.

Her films have been selected for competition at many national and international film festivals, including the juried Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Chicago International Children's Film Festival. In 2006, "Goodbye, Howard" and "Last Time We Met" were selected as part of the inaugural Chicago International New Filmmakers Festival. "Goodbye, Howard" was also selected as one of the Top 4 Best of Fest at the Gen Art Film Festival in 2006.

"No. 72" and "The Super Dupers" were selected to premiere at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival. These festivals are recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as Academy AwardTM qualifying events. Also in 2006, the 10th annual Webby Awards named Fresh Films an official honoree.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she's been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.

All this however does not show the humor of her chat nor the sharing of her work that Saundra produced during the show. From the 1140 rejections before “Shadowed Summer” got an agent and latterly a publisher, to the pure joy in her voice when she talks about her new book The Vespertine.

So listen and learn about this fabulous author, on todays "A Book and a Chat with Saundra Mitchell"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Saundra Mitchell "

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Saundra Mitchell"

You can find out more about my guest and their book at:
"Saundra Mitchell - Shadowed Summer"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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