Tisch West: Novel Writing 101 For Screenwriters

Tisch West invites you to an in-person panel in Los Angeles with moderator Nina Sadowsky and alumnae Katelyn Monroe Howes '10 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) and Liz Kerin '08 (BFA, Department of Dramatic Writing), and Philip Fracassi. They will discuss their transitions from writing screenplays to writing novels, how they got published, and how their books led back around to new opportunities in film and television.

Join this enlightening conversation at the NYU LA Academic Center, meet fellow alumni before and after the panel, and enjoy light refreshments.

About the Panelists:

Kateyln Monroe Howes '10 (Kanbar Institute, Film & TV)

Katelyn is an award-winning writer and Emmy-nominated documentarian who examines systemic inequities and uninformed biases in an effort to challenge the status quo. The same can be said of the Atlanta native’s debut novel, THE AWOKEN, published by Penguin Random House.  The story centers on Alabine Rivers, a 23-year-old who is reanimated after being cryogenically frozen to avoid dying of a terminal cancer in 2020. The dystopian future she wakes up to 100 years later is a bleak landscape where Alabine’s life is declared illegal and anti-resurrectionists are authorized to shoot her on sight.

Liz Kerin '08 (BFA, Department of Dramatic Writing)

Liz is the author of mother-daughter vampire duology NIGHT'S EDGE and the upcoming sequel FIRST LIGHT which releases April 23rd.  She is also the writer of the dark YA fantasy saga THE PHANTOM FOREST, and is a screenwriter and award-winning playwright. Her novel NIGHT'S EDGE is in development as a television series.

Philip Fracassi

Philip is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and co-founder of the publishing/brand imprint, Altar Publishing. His debut collection of short horror, BEHOLD THE VOID, won "Story Collection of the Year" award from both This Is Horror and Strange Aeons Magazine. He also released the collection BENEATH A PALE SKY and the novel BOYS IN THE VALLEY in 2021. His stories have been printed in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Best Horror of the Year, Black Static, Cemetery Dance, and Nightmare Magazine. His work has been reviewed in The New York Times, LOCUS Magazine, Rue Morgue and many others. His screenplays include the Lifetime thriller Girl Missing and Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups, from Disney.

Nina Sadowsky (moderator)

Nina Sadowsky is an author, filmmaker and educator. She currently serves as Program Director of NYU Los Angeles, and taught producing and writing at USC for over a decade. She has written numerous screenplays, served as President of Production for Signpost Films, and served as President at Meg Ryan’s Prufrock Pictures. Sadowsky executive produced the hit film The Wedding Planner, as well as produced the films Desert Saints, Lost Souls, Northern Lights, and Jumpin' at the Boneyard. She has a multi-book deal with Penguin Random House, with her latest thriller PRIVACY released in 2022. Her debut thriller JUST FALL, was published in 2016 and her BURIAL SOCIETY series launched in 2018 with the second book in the series, THE EMPTY BED, published in 2020. Her fourth thriller CONVINCE ME was also released in 2020. THE BURIAL SOCIETY and THE EMPTY BED are in development for television.

*Parking: Metered street parking is available on Fairfax Ave, for up to 2 hours. There is also parking at The Farmer’s Market across the street for $5/hr for the first 3 hours and $2/hr beyond 3 hours

*Due to the limited space and high demand for this event, tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable

*Please plan to arrive on time. Due to the event space’s security system, late comers will not be admitted into the building once the event begins.