LOVE IS LOUDER
The six stories in this collection shift the storytelling paradigm from the traditional Male Myth (confront and conquer) to the life-affirming Female Myth (gather and grow). These female protagonists of all ages ignite the spirit of collaboration and compassion as they confront their challenges and support each other. Laced with humor, heart, and a hint of Magic Realism, the collection as a whole celebrates the triumph of love over hate and hope over fear.
AWARDS FOR THE NOVELLA & SHORT STORY COLLECTION:
Semifinalist, ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition 2019
Quarterfinalist, ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition 2017
AWARDS FOR FEATURE ADAPTATIONS:
Pearls has been adapted as a feature film script and was a semi-finalist (top 20) in ZOETROPE screenplay competition 2020
Quarterfinalist, Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition 2021
Love is Louder (Novella - 38,701 words)
LOVE IS LOUDER depicts the downfall of a sociopathic celebrity cult leader who has eroded the soul of society from a pulpit of lies, hate, and bullying as his RAGE events sweep the country. The collective scream therapy section seduces the crowd with an endorphin buzz, music, media, and manipulative, subliminal messages. A subculture known as the ‘Silent Suzies’ plot to overthrow him using love instead of hate. The protagonist, Tasha refuses to participate in the collective anger during her first rage event, which enrages the leader and puts her life in danger. He’s beyond threatening. She secretly launches the Silent Suzie moment to infiltrate his events to emit love instead of hate, which drives the sociopathic leader to the brink of sanity, then ultimately leads to his destruction. The novella is told from the points of view of Four different Silent Suzies who reveal their roles in his demise. They join forces and risk their lives to stop this soulless, destructive movement. This story illuminates the power of collaboration (the essence of the Female Myth), and shows how wide-spread compassion can shift the collective consciousness from hate to love.
Pearls - (9,477 words - Also a feature film)
Pearls is about a precocious nine-year-old named, Pearl who discovers that she can see fifteen minutes into her future the year her father disappears, but is really being held to testify at a mobster’s trial, which he refuses to do in order to keep his family safe. Pearl retreats into her imagination where she finds her resilience, her power, and this uncanny gift. She invents Future Self to help her cope with his absence, confront the bully at school, and eventually reunite her family. A recurring dream of a dying old woman reveals just how far this gift truly stretches into her own future.
In My Pocket (7,053 words)
In My Pocket is a whimsical and spiritual tale about a twenty-something Dreamer whose immigrant parents have returned to India to care for her dying grandmother and the challenges she faces as she starts her life alone. After she discovers the room key to a luxury hotel in the pocket of an expensive raincoat that she tries on in a store, she sneaks into the hotel, takes a swim in their indoor pool, and 'rebirths' herself into a new life. She carries the dignity and tenacity of her ancestors and fuels her courage with the love of her family.
Myra’s Magic Hot Sauce (7,717 words)
A middle-aged woman in the throes of Menopause and newly widowed invents a medicinal hot sauce that is rather unusual. Myra transforms her life with Myra’s Magic Hot Sauce, a condiment that relieves hot flashes, tastes great on hot chicken, and has an unexpected side effect - spontaneous orgasms. Myra joins forces with her ambitious niece to market the product, but turns it into a philanthropic endeavor because she want to make a difference in the world. The true magic is the way she transforms her life and learns to love every moment again, even without her husband.
Miss Nurse Hannah (8,000 words)
An homage to the women of Greek mythology, Gaia (Mother Earth) assembles a meeting of twelve goddesses to figure out a way to save the planet. Their discourse gives way to some unexpected trickery (pre-pandemic), which illuminates the desperate measures needed to slow the demise of the planet. It’s the first full moon of 2020 and Persephone, the Goddess of Spring arrives late to the meeting from Underworld. As the Goddesses argue in search of a solution, Persephone takes matters into her own hands.
A Womb with a View (2500 words)
This final short story ends on an optimist note as a pair of boy/girl twins have their last conversation in utero before being born. There souls still have the knowingness from the energetic realm that’s outside of linear time. They understand that they will forget everything from their past lives and any glimpses they have of their futures will be forgotten, so they make promises and connect energetically. A trauma unfolds during the birth and one of them is suddenly in great danger. Even before their birth, they find their power and ability to communicate telepathically, a talent that saves them both. The view from here resounds with love and hope for the future.