Summary: Andrew learns that his partner has a new boyfriend and all his friends knew about, to make matters worse, as soon as he moves on to someone new, they all plan to help his ex get back together with him.

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your novel about?

Andrew Maras claims he isn’t stalking his impossibly handsome ex-boyfriend. He’s just curious when he sees Jake Riley on M Street in the heart of Georgetown on a Thursday evening. A little too curious. Andrew spends too much time watching Jake and not enough time watching the road. When the driver in front of him stops short, Andrew slams into her. The fender bender leads him to Wharton’s Auto Body, where he meets Marco Paresi—a romance blossoms between the Vice President of Marketing and the Bethesda auto body shop clerk. Andrew’s friends won’t let him date a mechanic. After all, his ex, Jake, is a catch, the CEO of a Fortune 500. It doesn’t matter that Jake is also a world-class jerk. Plans are hatched. Arrangements are made.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

The story is a RomCom.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Happy ending

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
What’s Up, Doc with Ryan O’Neal and Barbra Streisand.

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

I don’t know music. I like what I’m listening to when I’m listening to it.

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

I have read “Emma” and “Pride and Prejudice” a few times. I have also seen multiple movie and TV versions of each.

7. What motivated you to write this story?

“Why I Hate My Friends” is a partially true story, but a heightened version. I took a variety of incidents from my life and compiled them into one story.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
I’d love to have dinner with a publisher or producer who could turn this manuscript into a real book or movie.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I love to swim, hike, and travel. I got back from Italy recently, and my favorite thing was just walking around everywhere to get the “lay of the land.”

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I was looking for a place for people to see my stuff. I love writing, but it doesn’t do much good to have a project sit in a drawer.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Read other writers. Go to staged readings. See art. Immerse yourself in art and, of course, write as much as you can.

The story is of my personal journey after God first began pursuing me.

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your short story about?
God’s calling for salvation and my failure to do as I promised, followed by my running from a commitment I made to him, only to be permitted to fall into a pit of despair where I called out for him to save me.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

Spirituality

3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Saving Grace

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
Pride and prejudice

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
So Will I – Hillsong United

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
Villette or Jane Eyre equally

7. What motivated you to write this story?
I believe that is is encouraging to know that God does pursue us even we run away from him

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

John Adams or
Mother Teresa

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Drawing and Reading

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
I think that some people prefer not to read or are not able to for many reasons and I wanted to share this with everyone.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Don’t give up. Keep writing no matter what it is.

Although Annika is blind, she doesn’t need eyes to “see,” and she finds joy in the small things. This Easter is no different as she plays with her cousins, helps her family bake, and comforts her little sister.

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your short story about?
“Annika’s Easter” tells the tale of a little girl who enjoys celebrating Easter with her family, and who is able to join in the fun despite having a disability, as she is blind.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?
Most likely Children’s Fiction

3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Heart-warming and Simple

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

Probably the 1994 version of “Little Women!”

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
This is so hard for me to answer. I don’t have one favorite, but I do love Electronic Dance Music. I also really love “The Weeknd.” One song that has recently been on my playlist is “Cry For Me” by the Weeknd.

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

For a modern novel, I really love “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid!

7. What motivated you to write this story?

I wanted to depict a character with a disability who does normal, fun things and embraces her dis(ability). People who have a disability can lead lives just as happy as anyone else!

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Ooh. Probably Sylvia Plath! Her writing has always spoken to me.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I love animals, spending time with my dogs, reading, and traveling when possible.

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
I wanted to put out the story of a young character who was different, but utilized this uniqueness in a special way, demonstrating that all people can have full, productive lives, even with a disability!

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Write from the heart. Always from the heart, even when it’s scary. It will get you the best results.

LGBTQ+ Short Story Read: Devil’s in the Details, by Jordon Smeatin (interview)

SHORT STORY READINGS• 17m

Type of story- Speculative, religious fiction. ~3,100 words

Synopsis- A man working in public broadcasting is roped into a date with a beautiful and powerful man. Both outcasts in their own right, quickly fall in love and share what they hide from the world.

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your short story about?

– An office worker named Clay getting thrown into a date with a high-profile man, Sam Luz. The man named after an angel that has the power to make businesses crumble. They fall in love, of course, and share who they really are with each other.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

– Speculative, religious and LGBTQ+ fiction.

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

– Honesty and Beauty

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

– White Chicks

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

– I Will Be Here (Benny Benassi Remix) by Tiësto & Sneaky Sound System

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

– Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Beautifully written and I’m a sucker for anything that will make me cry.

7. What motivated you to write this story?

– I like to believe that Lucifer or the Devil- whatever people call him- isn’t the purest evil out there. He would be rather merciful yet straightforward about his behavior. I wanted to explore him falling in love with Adam, some regular guy that gets nervous about a date and also has his own secrets to hide. Even the Devil himself can be loved.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

– My Aunt Lisa. My favorite person in the world. I’d like to see her one last time to tell her how much I love her.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

– Singing! My voice is precious to me and I am very lucky to have it. Education. I love learning and higher education needs to be more accessible.

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

– The risk of putting my work out in the world. Maybe someone will listen to the performance and write something of their own or see a bit of themselves in Sam or Clay. I would only know if I went for it.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

– I am only just beginning so maybe more than a grain of salt is needed, but there are two things- You can’t fall in love with all of your words, but you can with some of them. And in the word’s of the great Mariah Carey, “Never, never listen to anybody when they try to discourage you. Cuz they do that.”

Watch the Best Scene Reading:

James Stuart Donovan Hastings, Earl of Billingswood, has had one headache after another. First his home is in disrepair, his nephew is too young for his own good, his best friend thinks he’s gone round the bend and now someone just tried to kill him. If it wasn’t for the angel with strawberry blonde hair and amethyst eyes, he might well be dead. Blasted horse, thinks he knows more than the master!

1. What is your screenplay about?

James Stuart Donovan Hastings, Earl of Billingswood, has a potentially deadly encounter on his way to Sandringham. He is rescued by a beautiful angel. His horse decides it is his right to make choices for the master. Can there be a happy ending?

2. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

With the success of other Historical Fiction/Romances such as Bridgerton allowing for viewers the chance to escape their day to day experiences, allowing them to immerse themselves in an era that has been romanticized.

3. How would you describe this script in two words?

Captivating drama

4. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Princess Bride

5. How long have you been working on this screenplay?

Couple of months

6. How many stories have you written?

Seven novellas

7. What motivated you to write this screenplay?

I really want to see it as a story in pictures.

8. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?

Finding someone to help turn into a reality.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Family, animals, reading and social justice

10. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?

Great feedback! More please. I want to advance to the next stage.

11. What movie have you watched the most times in your life?

Great feedback! More please. I want to advance to the next stage.

12. What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Historical Fiction/romance novels

Festival goes LIVE at 8pm EST today.

Watch from the main link: https://www.wildsound.ca/events/winniing-comedy-feature-staycation

STAYCATION, 93min,. USA
Directed by Russell Emanuel
How is the world affected by a catastrophic event? Everyday people live through a government mandated quarantine during a global pandemic while desperate scientists race to find a cure before it’s too late.

https://russem.com/
https://www.instagram.com/russem31/

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-staycation

HIGHLIGHTS: April 2025 COMEDY Festival