Annette Maxberry-Carrara wins the Moms@Work Writing Scholarship from Winter Story Summit
A mother living in Austin Texas, Annette Maxberry-Carrara, has won the top prize in the Moms@Work scholarships provided by the Winter Story Summit.
Moms@Work Scholarships reward working mothers who possess unique writing talents.
Annette Maxberry-Carrara is writing a biographical adventure screenplay about her and her own “adopted” daughter, Yalda. It was part of Annette’s submission which led to her winning the scholarship
“Annette’s story is riveting, involving her experiences with an Afghan exchange student, Yalda, who lived with her,” says Rosa Salazar, a judge and mentor for the summit and one of Televisa’s top writers. “At Christmas, Yalda’s family in Herat , Afghanistan received a ‘night letter’ from the Taliban which gave an ultimatum. Either the girl returns to be executed or they will slaughter her entire family.
“Fighting against the girl’s will to return and save her family, the US State Department , and Homeland Security, Annette Maxberry-Carrerra smuggled the teenage Yalda into Canada. Annette suffered greatly, was detained by the Canadians and held for human trafficking. Eventually, Annette was freed, and her Afghan daughter was allowed safe entry into Canada where she continues to thrive today.” Rosa Salazar adds, “It is a story of great courage, beautifully told, and I wept when I read it. Annette’s compassionate story is why awards were made.”
Annette will be mentored in screenwriting by Rosa Salazar; and in literature by Deb Engle, best-selling author with a new novel, Twenty, hitting bookstores in January 2020.
“I am a writer, a storyteller, and I have countless stories to convey through film and literature, “ says Annette. “ I want to make meaningful films about the topics that will touch lives and bring humanity together. I believe the Winter Story Summit will expose me to the experts in film and literature, give me more confidence in my own abilities, and help make my writing clearer and more relevant. And I’m down for anything with free liquor.”
Annette will be attending the Winter Story Summit this February in the Caribbean with another hundred writers, including Tab Murphy, writer of Disney’s Tarzan and Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Jeff Arch, the writer of Sleepless in Seattle. The summit takes place from February 22–27, 2020 and will visit Haiti and Jamaica.
Story Summits 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.
