Do you dream of having your book adapted for the stage or screen? Join us for a virtual panel featuring authors who can share what it’s like to have a project optioned and/or produced. Authors Guild general counsel Cheryl Davis will join us as well to share tips on model contracts.

Panelists

Writer-Artist Clay Carmichael is the author-illustrator of three picture books, the middle grade novel Wild Things, and the young adult novel Brother, Brother. Wild Things has been optioned for TV/film. She lives with her sculptor-husband Mike Roig in Piedmont NC. Learn more at www.claycarmichael.com

Cheryl Davis is the general counsel of the Authors Guild. Prior to joining the Guild, she was a partner at the firm of Menaker & Herrmann LLP, where she specialized in intellectual property and wrote a number of articles and made presentations about how artists can protect their intellectual property.

Authors Guild Raleigh-Durham chapter co-ambassador Kelly Starling Lyons is a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, teaching artist and award-winning children’s book author. She has written 30 books for young people that span from easy readers to picture books and chapter books. Among her acclaimed titles are Caldecott Honor winner Going Down Home with Daddy, Geisel Honor Award recipient, Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom, Christopher Award winner Tiara’s Hat Parade and Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations, a Bank Street Best Book. Her latest picture book, My Hands Tell a Story, earned two starred reviews. Along with her acclaimed picture books, Kelly is the author of three popular series for young readers–chapter books starring her characters Jada Jones and Miles Lewis and the Ty’s Travels easy readers. Going Down Home with Daddy was licensed by The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences. Lyons and her mother are writing the stage play. Find out more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com

American Writer/Producer/Director, Doreen Spicer-Dannelly is best known for Disney Channel’s critically acclaimed animated series, The Proud Family where she is credited as Developed by and Supervising Producer. The series was nominated for an Image Award and won the BET Comedy Award for Best Children’s Program in 2003. The Proud Family has been rebooted as Louder and Prouder and nominated for three Emmys, including Outstanding Animated Series.

Spicer-Dannelly also developed and wrote the musically driven film, Jump In! which broke records in television cable with 8.2 million viewers and Variety deemed the film “…the highest rated MOW ever.” In 2018, Spicer’s first junior novel, Love Double Dutch! debuted on Penguin Random House Publishing which Kirkus praises as “A fun, well-paced read bubbling with energy and charming, diverse characters.” The book has been optioned for a live-action series by 20th Century FOX.

Spicer served as Consultant and Writer on the Emmy Award winning Netflix animated series, Motown Magic. Recently, Spicer served as Showrunner and Executive Producer for the animated series, Onyx Monster Mysteries for Amazon and YouTube TV. Spicer created the international tween hit sitcom, The Wannabes Starring Savvy, and served as Showrunner and Executive Producer. The independently produced series follows six teens who want to be popstars. Spicer was instrumental in licensing the twenty-six episode series around the world which debuted in Australia on ABC 1 & 3 and became their number one kid show as well as on HBO Latin America. The show aired in over 100 countries including Starz Kids & Family US.

In 2013, Spicer made her directorial debut with a musically driven short film, Playground Politix, featuring eight girls and eight boys battle dancing for space at a playground. The short is aimed at gender bullying and premiered at the esteemed LA Shorts Film Fest in 2014. Playground Politix also became the official selection at Dances with Films Kidz, Sunscreen, The Maryland Kids Film Fest and Reel Women UK.

Spicer earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications at HBCU, Morgan State University with a minor in English through the Warner Bros. Writing Program at the university. Having established expertise in writing and producing for television, animation and film, Doreen Spicer-Dannelly continues to develop multi-cultural and inclusive projects under the auspices of SpiceRack Productions Inc.

Moderator: Judy Allen Dodson is all about books—reading them as a librarian, preserving them as an archivist, and writing them as an author. Her latest book is, The Ashe Brothers: How Arthur and Johnnie Changed Tennis Forever and she’s also the author of Escape from . . . Hurricane Katrina, a Junior Library Guild selection. Judy is the winner of two Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) awards; On-the-Verge Emerging Voices and the Out From the Margins (OMA). She is the recipient of multiple North Carolina Arts Council grants, a Highlights Foundation Diversity Fellow in Children’s Literature, and the regional co-ambassador for The Authors Guild. Judy has a passion for celebrating diverse children’s literature and teaching young readers about history. She lives in North Carolina, with her family. Visit her online at judyallendodson.com and follow her on social media.