Jocelyn Jones, a professional acting teacher and creative consultant, and Jane Sibbett, an actress best known for her role on the sitcom, Friends, tied for first place- honors in the non-fiction category for the Winter Story Summit. The non-fiction scholarship is underwritten by Michael D Publishers, a company specializing in successfully launching books into global distribution, onto best-sellers lists and into book stores around the planet.
Jocelyn Jones and Jane Sibbett win Michael D Publishers Writing Award
Emerging winners in what was described as “very intense competition” by Story Summit Director, Thom Black, Jocelyn Jones won for her unfinished memoir, Artist , and Jane Sibbett won for her four-year chronicle of spiritual awakening, About Jane.
“We are honored to be able to acknowledge both authors for this award, says Story Summit Mentor, Tab Murphy, the screenwriter of such animated Disney classics as Tarzan, Brother Bear, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. “Both Jones and Sibbett are in command of their vision, and their writing is lively, entertaining and eminently readable.”
Tab Murphy directing actor Tom Berenger from the screenplay he wrote, Last of the Dogmen
Joining other writers in the Caribbean in February, 2020, Jones and Sibbett will take advantage of a writing week in warm weather focused on art, commerce, craft, and community at the writers’ summit.
Each season, Story Summit gathers award-winning professionals from across the globe to provide intimate, meaningful and productive relationships with screenwriters and authors in an inspiring, immersive and naturally beautiful environment.
David Kirkpatrick, Story Summit Founder
“The vision of the Story Summits,” says David Kirkpatrick, Story Summit Founder, former President of Paramount Pictures and former Production Chief of Walt Disney Pictures, “ is to not only encourage the art of writing but to help authors launch commercial products in film, TV, and literature. More than ever before the world is in need of strong, wise voices and Jocelyn and Jane respond to that need.”
“Jocelyn Jones is working on a memoir as thrilling as James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man,” says Michael D Butler of Michael D Publishers. Jocelyn grew up in the Hudson River Valley. She is the daughter of character actor, Henry Jones, known for his work from Hitchcock’s Vertigo to Stephen Frear’s The Grifters.
“Jocelyn Jones’ memoir is about process, and connecting to the creative spirit in us all,” says Butler. “Artist is undoubtedly influenced by her work as an actor in her own right, with roles in Larry Pierce’s The Other Side of the Mountain, Clint Eastwood’s The Enforcer, and the cult classics, The Great Texas Dynamite Chase and Tourist Trap. Artist not only traverses the road from her troubled youth to the emergence of an artist and teacher but, also in an extraordinarily unique manner, intertwines the keys to good acting with pathways to a deeper spiritual sense for artists and civilians alike.” For many years, Jocelyn has shepherded 100 hand-picked actors at a time, at her esteemed actors and directors lab, the Jocelyn Jones Acting Studio.
Jones’ filmmaker husband, Miles Watkins , is currently working on a documentary of the thespian’s famous acting studio, entitled Masterclass.
Lana Parrilla (From ABC’s Once Upon a Time) and Joey Nisivoccia in a scene from Italian American Reconciliation
Rich Ting (Action Star in Asia) and Jeannie Lee in a scene from Crazy Rich Asians
“When I read the chapters from Jane Sibbett’s manuscript, About Jane, I was riveted in the same way as when I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s mesmerizing best seller, Eat, Pray, Love. Jane’s journey is really the hero’s journey,” says Michael Butler. “Jane answered a call that took her from the safety net of Los Angeles to the sacred and unknown lands of Tonga, Machu Picchu, and Santiago, Chile. For a successful actress to pursue a higher-purpose which she is compelled to answer is courageous and inspirational.”
Jane Sibbett as Carol and David Schwimmer as Ross in Friends
“This Winter Story Summit is shaping up as a wonderful dream-community of exceptional talents, especially for books,” says Summit Director, Thom Black. “It was so exciting to be able to phone Jane and Jocelyn with the news. One of our mentors is best selling author and legendary writing coach, Deb Engle whose new novel, Twenty, will be in bookstores in January 2020.
“Another one of our scholarship winners, Patricia Horan, who won an award from Tito’s Handmade Vodka for her delightful story, Bring Me Your Paws, is a forty-year veteran of New York book and magazine publishing. Patricia is the founding editor of a longstanding Crown/Random House division — Random House Value Publishing. It’s going to be wonderful to see how these synergies between all these great women play out against the warm, blue skies of the Caribbean. I can hardly wait.”
Dian Fossey’s life story was transformed by Tab Murphy into classic movie
“I believe the professional acting experience of both winners has helped them with both their observational and character-building skills,” says writing mentor, Tab Murphy. “I am hoping to learn as much from Jocelyn and Jane, as they hopefully learn from me.”
There is one scholarship program for the Winter Story Summit still open for applications. It’s the Reading is Fundamental Scholarship which you can read about here:
Winter Story Summit Announces Reading Is Fundamental Scholarship for Best Children’s Story Deadline is Friday, December 20th
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is committed to a literate America. As the nation’s largest nonprofit organization for children’s literacy, RIF has provided more than 416 million books to 50 million kids in all 50 states, inspiring generations to read, learn and grow.
If you are interested in the RIF scholarship, you can learn more and apply here. You must submit an example of your work, for children, that is, at least, 1500 words or more.
Story Summits acknowledge, refresh, and inspire gifted writers in an immersive and inviting global setting. A stimulating community of successful writers guide Summit participants in completing writing projects, the goal being to launch scripts and novels as commercial products. Go here for more information on the summits.
Michael D Publishers is an international hybrid-book publisher with headquarters in Dallas, Texas, USA. Michael D specializes in developing, producing and marketing bestselling non-fiction books for authors the world over. For information , please check out Michael D Publishers website.