This month’s spotlight is on one of our original G10 Writers members, Christopher J. Valin. He has been an important cog in our writing machine, and never misses a deadline even though he’s one of the busiest in our group!
Chris is a writer, teacher, artist, and historian living in the Los Angeles area. He has a master’s degree with honors in military history from American Military University and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. Christopher’s book about his 5x-great-grandfather, Fortune’s Favorite: Sir Charles and the Breaking of the Line, was published in 2009 by Fireship Press. He also edited and wrote an introduction for the new edition of Naval Evolutions by Sir Charles’ son, Sir Howard Douglas, in 2010. In addition, Christopher has worked as a writer, editor, and inker in the comic book industry and a professional musician. He has had one screenplay optioned and a couple of short animated films produced, and has won or placed in numerous writing contests, including:
Wins:
- Golden Age of Television Pilot Contest
-Cowrite Script, Week 9
-Scriptwriters Network, Producers Outreach Program
-Fanlib.com, Kirk v. Picard screenwriting contest, Week 3
-L.A. Times “Birds of Paradise” collaborative novel, Chapter 14
-TVWriter.com’s “Not a Contest” TV script competition
-2nd Place, TVWriter.com’s Spec Scriptacular
Finals:
-Cowrite Script, Week 7
-Scriptapalooza TV
-Fanlib.com, Speed Racer story contest
Semi-Finals:
-TVWriter.com People’s Pilot Competition
-Chesterfield Screenwriting Fellowship
-Fade In Awards
-Storypros Screenwriting Contest
Quarterfinals:
-Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting
-Scriptapalooza
-Scriptapalooza TV
Top Ten Percent:
-Austin Film Festival, Screenwriting Competition
-Austin Film Festival, Teleplay Pilot Competition