Welcome to the RPLA Showcase
Each year at the Royal Palm Literary Award Banquet, authors experience the joy of earning accolades for all the hard work that is often done in the privacy of the home with little to no recognition. Our goal is to showcase the best of the best at the 2015 Royal Palm Literary Awards and provide First Place winners with a well-deserved spotlight. Not only are we recognizing extraordinary talent, but we’re giving readers an opportunity to sample excerpts from the winning stories.
2015 RPLA DAHRIS CLAIR MEMORIAL AWARD:
Graceland Express by C.J. Godwin & Marie Vernon
Not only did C.J. Godwin and Marie Vernon win First Place in the Unproduced Screenplay/Stage Play/Teleplay category, but they also brought home the Dahris Clair Memorial Award, RPLA’s top prize for screenwriting.
In Graceland Express, it’s been ten years since Elvis’ death. Vangie O’Toole is determined to make a pilgrimage to Graceland, but she has to balance life with love and family issues, plus criminal activity.
Click the link to read a sample:
Excerpt from Graceland Express
Q & A with C.J. Godwin & Marie Vernon
Q: Where do you get your story ideas?
A: Graceland Express was sparked by Marie’s interview with the ultimate Elvis fan, but the story actually develops around the various aspects of Elvis—the man, the King, pop icon, gospel singer, country boy, and sex symbol—and how Elvis continues to hold the fascination of so many different people.
Q: Anything in particular about your award-winning RPLA entry that you’d like to share?
A: Ten years since Elvis’ death, Vangie O’Toole is determined to make a pilgrimage to Graceland, but she has to balance life with love and family issues, plus criminal activity—who wouldn’t have fun writing that! We began with Marie’s novel, Graceland Express—three hundred and ten pages with over 100 characters and 54 settings—and adapted the story into a 72-page script with a cast of nine. Recognized not only as a first place RPLA winner, this play also received the Dahris Clair Award. Our winning play is ready for production, and ripe for an agent.
Q: Who do you credit with inspiring your writing?
A: From Shakespeare to Neil Simon, both C. J. and Marie adore the lighter plays—the plays lined with laughter and tears, and often tears from laughter.
Q: Any tips for new writers?
A: In adapting a book into a play, take an acting class, go to plays, and read your work aloud.
