Marc Calderwood

When we were kids my father would make us sit and listen while he read Service, Kipling, Twain, Burrows and the other great story tellers. We would wiggle around until the tale took hold, but within a short time we were lost in whatever wonderful adventure was taking place in our living room that evening. A master story reader, my father would never finish a story in one night, even though we begged for more. We would complain, and eventually he would read one final paragraph, then we were trotted off to bed to wait until the next installation. There, lights out, we would lay, drifting away, wonderful stories playing into our dreams.

I write because of my father and these tales, and because I have to. There is little of real value in life other than the things you love greatly and to me these would be my family, this life and the desire to write and tell good stories. I don’t know a preposition from a dangling participle without looking them up. I still struggle with “it’s -vs- its” and most likely always will, but I believe that I know a good story when I hear one, read one, write one.

I started writing when I was 28 then surrendered to the compelling desire to feed my children and pay the rent. After 22 years as a successful business owner I learned three valuable lessons:

1. There is no such thing as a non-profit business ... for long.
2. I don’t want to be anyone’s boss......ever again.
3. You can never fail if you do what you love.

Oh, and one other:

4. Happiness is worth everything.


I have been writing full-time since January of 2002 and these are the results (I know, I know, it's now 2009 and I'm way behind on adding to this area.):

2008
.... stuff coming soon ....

2007
.... stuff coming soon ....

2006
CineStory, Finalist for "Emiliano De La Garza and The Genie"
Latino Screenplay Competition, Finalist for "Emiliano De La Garza and The Genie"
Writers Digest, Screenplay Competition, 6th Place for "My Late Wife"
SouthWest Writers, Screenplay Competition, 1st Place Award for “My Late Wife”
Filmmakers International Competition, Quarterfinals, “My Late Wife”
Page International Screenwriting Competition, Quarter Finalist for “My Late Wife”

2005
FilmMakers Magazine, Fourth Place for “Emiliano De La Garza And The Genie” Short script
CineStory Screenwriting Awards, Finalist for “Emiliano De La Garza And The Genie” Short script
The Writers Network, Quarter Finalist for “Emiliano De La Garza And The Genie” Short script

2004
FilmMakers Magazine, First Place for “The Christmas Card” Short script
SouthWest Writers Screenplay Competition, Third Place for “The Clone Chronicles”
DigiFest Southwest Film Festival, Finalist for “The Real Secret Life of Dogs” Short script
Page International Screenwriting Competition, Silver Award for “Emiliano De La Garza And the Genie” Short script
Fade In Awards, Quarter Finalist for “Purpose” Short script
Fade In Awards, Quarter Finalist for “Leaving Friendly” Short script

2003
Oshun55 Screenplay Contest, Third Place for “Leaving Friendly” Short script
Fade In Awards, Semi-Finalist for “The Magdalena Fault”
AA Screenplay Contest, Honorable Mention for “Two Beautiful Ladies, A Foggy Night and A Body In The Trunk” Short script

2002
KUNM Radio Drama Competition, Finalist for “Miserable Kingdom”
Flicks On 66 Film Festival, Finalist for “Two Beautiful Ladies, A Foggy Night and A Body In The Trunk” Short script


Publication and Production Credits
2006 - Screenwriter - New Mexico Directors Cut - Art of The Interview and Art of Story Telling.
By-line, Film Review - Prime Time, Albuquerque
Produced, “Miserable Kingdom” - KUNM & Endowment for the Arts
Published, “The Pot of Gold” - Gator Springs Gazette, English literary journal
Published, “Getting Your Bearings” - Highlights for Children
Published, “A Pueblo Gentleman’s Story” - Prime Time Magazine
Published, “Eating Pablo Neruda” - Gator Springs Gazette a literary Journal
Published, “The Hills Are Alive” - FASST Magzine
Published, “The Writeout” - Southwest Writers Sage Magazine
Published, “Writing For The Blood” - Southwest Writers Sage Magazine