Jocelyn Jones and Jane Sibbett Win Best Non-Fiction Writing Scholarships for Their Memoirs
By: David Paul Kirkpatrick
Tags: Jocelyn Jones, Creative Writing, Winter Story Summit, Jane Sibbett, Writers Life

Jocelyn Jones and Jane Sibbett Win Best Non-Fiction Writing Scholarships for Their Memoirs

Jocelyn Jones, a professional acting teacher and creative consultant, and Jane Sibbett, an actress best known for her role on the sitcom, Friends, tied for first place- honors in the non-fiction category for the Winter Story Summit. The non-fiction scholarship is underwritten by Michael D Publishers, a company specializing in successfully launching books into global distribution, onto best-sellers lists and into book stores around the planet.

In what was described as a “very intense and populated competition” by Story Summit Director, Thom Black, Jocelyn Jones won for her unfinished memoir, Artist , and Jane Sibbett won for her four-year chronicle of spiritual awakening, About Jane.

“We are honored to be able to acknowledge both authors for this award,” says Story Summit Mentor, Tab Murphy, the screenwriter of such animated Disney classics as Tarzan, Brother Bear, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. “Both Jones and Sibbett are in command of their vision, and their writing is lively, entertaining, and eminently readable.”

Tab Murphy directing actor Tom Berenger from the screenplay he wrote, Last of the Dogmen

Joining other writers in the Caribbean in February, 2020, Jones and Sibbett will take advantage of a writing week in warm weather focused on art, commerce, craft, and community at the writers’ summit.

Each season, Story Summit gathers award-winning professionals from across the globe to provide intimate, meaningful and productive relationships with screenwriters and authors in an inspiring, immersive and naturally beautiful environment.

David Kirkpatrick, Story Summit Founder

“The vision of the Story Summits,” says David Kirkpatrick, Story Summit Founder, former President of Paramount Pictures and former Production Chief of Walt Disney Pictures, “ is not only to encourage the art of writing but to help authors launch commercial products in film, TV, and literature. More than ever before the world is in need of strong, wise voices and Jocelyn and Jane respond to that need.”

“Jocelyn Jones is working on a memoir as thrilling as James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man,” says Michael D Butler of Michael D Publishers. Jocelyn grew up in the Hudson River Valley. She is the daughter of character actor, Henry Jones, known for his work from Hitchcock’s Vertigo to Stephen Frear’s The Grifters.

“Jocelyn Jones’ memoir is about process, and connecting to the creative spirit in us all,” says Butler. “ Artist is undoubtedly influenced by her work as an actor with roles in Larry Pierce’s The Other Side of the Mountain, Clint Eastwood’s The Enforcer, and the cult classics, The Great Texas Dynamite Chase and Tourist Trap. Artist not only traverses the road from her troubled youth to the emergence of an artist and teacher but, also in an extraordinarily unique manner, intertwines the keys to good acting with pathways to a deeper spiritual sense for artists and civilians alike.” Jocelyn has shepherded 100 hand-picked actors at a time, at her esteemed actors and directors lab, the Jocelyn Jones Acting Studio.

Jones’ filmmaker husband, Miles Watkins , is currently working on a documentary of the thespian’s famous acting studio, entitled Masterclass.

Lana Parrilla (From ABC’s Once Upon a Time) and Joey Nisivoccia in a scene from Italian American Reconciliation

Rich Ting (Warrior & The Man in the High Castle) and Jeannie Lee in a scene from Crazy Rich Asians

“When I read the chapters from Jane Sibbett’s manuscript, About Jane,” says Michael D Butler, “I was riveted in the same way as when I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s mesmerizing best seller, Eat, Pray, Love. Jane’s journey is really the hero’s journey. Jane answered a call that took her from the safety net of Los Angeles to the sacred and unknown lands of Tonga, Machu Picchu, and Santiago, Chile. For a successful actress to pursue a higher-purpose which she is compelled to answer is both courageous and inspirational.”

Jane Sibbett as Carol and David Schwimmer as Ross in Friends

“This Winter Story Summit is shaping up as a wonderful dream-community of exceptional talents, especially for books,” says Summit Director, Thom Black. “It was so exciting to be able to phone Jane and Jocelyn with the news.

“One of our mentors is best selling author and legendary writing coach, Deb Engle whose new novel, Twenty, will be in bookstores in January 2020. Along with Tab Murphy, Deb will be working with both Jane and Jocelyn.

“Another one of our scholarship winners, Patricia Horan, who won an award from Tito’s Handmade Vodka for her delightful story, Bring Me Your Paws, is a forty-year veteran of New York book and magazine publishing. Patricia is the founding editor of a longstanding Crown/Random House division — Random House Value Publishing. It’s going to be wonderful to see how these synergies between all these great women play out against the blue skies of the Caribbean. I can hardly wait.”

“I believe the professional acting experience of both winners has helped them with their observational and character-building skills,” says writing mentor, Tab Murphy. “I am hoping to learn as much from Jocelyn and Jane, as they hopefully learn from me.”