The Greenwich Set (An active roundtable discussion)
WILLIAM D. PRYSTAUK’s comedy-fantasy, "MegaClimax 5000" is in production as an animated R-rated Christmas short and is scheduled for release in December 2010 from Toonivation Films. His erotic crime thriller novel, “Bloodletting”, originally an award-winning screenplay, was recently accepted for publication. In 2008, William’s character driven, crime/action/horror script “Red Agenda” was the First Place Winner in the 2008 International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival and was a Top-Five Finalist at Screamfest. William is currently pursuing his Creative Writing MFA at Wilkes University and teaches English at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania where he reside. Bill is the backbone of the group. His constant enthusiasm, dedication week-to-week to discussion topics and sheer dedication allows the group to succeed. Bill is the Assistant Director of The Literary Journal.
DAWN LEAS is the director of admission at Wyoming Seminary Lower School in Forty Fort, PA. In a past life, she was an advertising copywriter and freelancers, and sometimes misses working on a deadline. In September she will move from the admission office into the classroom and teach eighth-grade English. She holds a M.F.A. in Creative Writing, Wilkes University, and her work has appeared on goldwakepress.org, Willows Wept Review, Writer's Bloc, and in Interstice. Dawn is a founding member of The Literary Journal. While not the only poet in the group, Dawn's approach to writing, creativity and discussions are unmistakably her own.
LORI MYERS is an award-winning freelance writer of fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, and plays. Her articles have been published in more than 40 national and regional magazines, and short fiction in print- and web journals such as Phase, Innsmouth Free Press, and Absent Willow Review. Lori has a masters degree in creative writing from Wilkes University and is part-time faculty at York College of Pennsylvania. She also is an actress with professional and regional theater credits. Lori resides in Harrisburg, PA. Lori's brilliance as an actor, playwright, novelist and teacher is only upstaged by her character and humanity. Lori has been a member since the journal's first post.
RYAN GEORGE (Reggie Fox) has written three plays including ristretto stiletto, Lost Angelenos, and To Tell the Story. He directed, produced and acted in To Tell the Story (1997). Presently Ryan is the author of Wilde Amphigories with Reggie Fox, (http://www.wildeamphigories.today.com); a collection of short fiction and non-fiction humor pieces for future publication. Ryan has a Masters of Arts degree in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. He writes in all five creative genres as well as working as a freelance journalist. In addition, he has started a novel. Much like the majority of his work, the novel is New York centric. Ryan shares time between New York City and his residence in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. Ryan founded The Literary Journal in August 2009 with the support and guidance of Dawn Leas and Bill Prystauk.
TED ELRICK is an active member of the Writers Guild of Canada and Mystery Writers of America, Ted is also a freelance writer and editor for a number of publications. He won consecutive "Editorial Excellence" awards and a Best Interview "Maggie" award for his articles and publications. He has written for Nickelodeon's "Are You Afraid of the Dark?," a history book on the Los Angeles River, the short indie film "Head Over Heels," several occasionally optioned screenplays and secretly doctored scripts for other writer/producers. Ted is a native of Pittsburgh and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. Ted's candor, congeniality and artistic integrity highlight discussions of all genres. Ted is a founding member of the journal.
CIGDEM.A. KOBU is from Istanbul, Turkey, but she will be relocating to the U.S. this year. She has a degree in media and film studies, and she is an awarded literary translator and editor. She has various published short stories, articles and interviews. Currently, she is working on a novel and two non-fiction books, writing an English-Turkish/Turkish-English dictionary of idioms, and supervising three thematic dictionaries by other writers (art, education, music). Cigdem is one of the first members of the Literary Journal. Cigdem's acumen as a writer and belief in a community of writers sharing has been pivotal in the groups success. She currently is an Assistant Director.
JOHN R. DASILVA was born in Danbury, CT in 1963 to a mother who was a Yankee and a father who was the son of first and second generation immigrants from Portugal and Italy. In 1985 John graduated from Princeton, then lived and worked for a year in NYC and another year in Philadelphia, then went to Yale for graduate school and stayed to work in New Haven for nine years, and finally moved to Cape Cod in 1998. While in Philadelphia John met Sharon McGinnis and married in 1989. They had their only child in 1995. John wanted to be an architect from a very young age and it continues to be his profession and passion. While John's career is in architecture, his ideas, interpretations and artistic integrity have added a whole different dimension to the weekly discussion posts.
ENGEMI FERREIRA has been 'writing' since the age of five, when intrigue with her mother's old Underwood got the upperhand. She has had a lifelong affairre du coeur with words in all their wonderous forms which will only stop when her breath does. She also paints, sings; used to be a lirical soprano, but has become a baritone and now only sings in very private places. Engemi trained in the theatre and never stopped acting - at home. She has worked in multiple professional disciplines most of which are part of life; healing, cooking, caring, organizing etc. She is at last and from the start wife of her lover of 45 years, and mother of their 6 children. Her eldest son died as a baby and this had a serious influence on her writing. Engemi became an anthroposophist. She loves life and resides in Nelspruit, South Africa. Engemi brings a gentle yet emotionally strong will to the group. She is a dedicated participant and always has a perspective that challenges the members to think differently. Engemi is a part of the foundation of members in the group.
BARBARA TAYLOR is a Scranton girl, born and raised. She’s been teaching high school English for the last 23 years, and started taking writing seriously about 4 years ago. Her first novel, Providence Square, is with her agent. She’s 90+ pages into her second lengthy work. In 1976, my 7th-grade American Legion essay appeared in the Scranton Times, making it my first publishing credit! Barbara brings a grace and wisdom of life and learning to the group. Her dedication and professionalism as a writer elevates each topic she engages. Barbara has been with the group since its first days.
DIANE (DEE) HASSAN is a contributing Writer for CT Media Group newspapers including Danbury Newstimes, CT Explored magazine and several other history/genealogy-related publications. Research Specialist for the Danbury Musem & Historical Society currently working on a narrative nonfiction book about a passion and psychosis fueled 1908 murder on Main Street. Favorite place to create: My sun porch on Mountainville Rd. in Danbury, CT in the 1940 home built by my grandparents. Since coming on board by way of recommendaton from John DaSilva, Dee has ascertained a unique approach, while bringing a unique background as a writer, intellect and historically preciseness. Dee has a Mark Twain quote for any and all of life's many challenges.
ART POSOCCO is an essayist and screenwriter living in Boston, Massachusetts. From 2000 to 2005, he studied English and philosophy at the University of Scranton. Then, in 2009, he completed his M.A. in creative writing at Wilkes University while also serving as the staff film critic on the now defunct web zine, Unbound Culture. Currently, he is working on his second feature length screenplay, as well as various shorts and film-related essays. Art's creativity as a screenwriter and essayist is benefited by his knowledge as a scholar of literature and philosophy. Art is soft-spoken but when he writes he opens the minds of everyone word-by-word. Art is one of the core members of the group.
CHARLES BERTON is a graphic artist turned author. From his earliest memories he has lived in a world of imagination, which includes making up and illustrating his own stories and writing songs, lyrics and poetry enabling his stories to live in a different medium: that of sound. Today, he has one novel under his belt and is now “expecting” another on its way. In addition, he writes a Book/Movie Review column in a localized Connecticut magazine. He is hosting his own comedy/talk show on an Internet TV station interviewing people involved in the arts and entertainment industry. Charles joined The Literary Journal after the group was off the ground, yet since his arrival he has played a pivotal role in the groups success.
ROSS KLAVAN recently finished the novel “Schmuck” and the screenplay for “The Colony”(based on the book by John Bowers.) His original screenplay “Tigerland” was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award and was directed by Joel Schumacher, starring Colin Farrell. He’s written screenplays for InterMedia, Walden Media, Miramax, Paramount, A&E and TNT. As a performer, his voice has been heard in dozens of feature films including “Revolutionary Road,” “Sometimes in April,” “Casino,” “In and Out,” and “You Can Count On Me” as well as in numerous TV and radio commercials. He’s a former reporter covering New York City and London, England and teaches screenwriting in the MFA program at Wilkes University and lives in NYC with the painter Mary Jones. Ross brings an ease and grace to the boards, challenging the group artistically and intellectually.
ELYSE DRAPER’s inspiration and understanding of the darker side of literature, and life, is drawn from the intimate experiences she has had in coping with hospice work and terminally ill patients. That knowledge brings humanism to her plots and unexpected emotions to her character development. She is a contributing author for "Voices of Autism: Stories of Courage, Comfort and Strength";" Ladies of Horror 2009"; has illustrated several others, and has three novels finished, a fourth in progress. Elyse resides in Denver, Colorado. Elyse came on board after the journal was up and running, yet she brings a fresh an unique perspective as a writer, style and ease to the group.
SHELAGH WATKINS is writer, editor and publisher at Mandinam Press, and author of two books: Mr. Planemaker’s Flying Machine and The Power of Persuasion. She set up the Children’s Fiction group on LibraryThing, the Published Authors group on Goodreads, and the Published Authors Network group on LinkedIn. Shelagh also created the Published Authors Network on Ning and is administrator of the Published Authors forum. There are over four thousand members in the combined groups and networks. When she is not networking, administrating, publishing or editing, she miraculously finds time to write! Shelagh lives in Manchester in the United Kingdom. Shelagh is the first member of the group from England and brings a unique cultural and literary approach to writing, communicating and living the life of a writer.
ANNASTAYSIA SAVAGE is a rabid writer and closet sculptor. She earned her BFA in Fine Art, with honors, from Arizona State University and had her first gallery show, “Sediment & Silica” at The Step Gallery in Tempe, Arizona. Although her art was a hit, it was her writing of the show proposal that won her the coveted gallery space. Writing is her first love, beginning at age 5 with her fist publication. She will be receiving her MA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. She has several short stories published in the last few years, her most recent a flash fiction horror piece for children and young adults in Crow’s Nest Magazine called “Grimalkins”. Annastaysia recently completed a young adult fantasy/horror novel that is being reworked for publication at present. Presently Annastaysia lives in western Pennsylvania.