She’s Making Herstory: Meet Beverly Gandara

Posted in Pretty Herstory

Beverly Gandara is an Award-winning screenwriter/novelist who has written several screenplays, two novels, and one non-fiction book. A New York native, Bev attended Brooklyn College and Marymount Manhattan College before beginning her screenwriting studies at the Gotham Writers Workshop after retirement from the corporate world.

Writing in different genres, she completed several screenplays, many of which are contest-placed. Her comedy script, Rent Money won the Golden Palm Award for Best Screenplay at the 2012 Beverly Hills International Film Festival. Her Latin/Hispanic script Concrete Wings won the 2021 Accolade Global Film Competition for Best Screenplay in two categories, the 2021 World Film Carnival – Singapore for Best Feature Script,  2021 Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards  for Best Original Story and the 8 & Half Film Awards for Best International Writer.

Bev’s Five Star Readers’ Favorite, debut novel Concrete Wings, a family drama/coming of age story earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval with a recommendation for school and home libraries and 2021 Speak Up Radio Firebird Book Award. Her second novel, Soaring in Silence, a suspense thriller earned a Five Star Readers’ Favorite Seal. Her third book, Women, Work and Triumph is a compilation of interviews with a diverse group of 26 fascinating women from 5 countries in 26 careers from A – Z with 1 goal – acceptance and respect. It earned the 2020 Five Star Readers’ Favorite Seal and 2021 Speak Up Radio Firebird Book Award.

Bev lives with her husband Armando, whose experiences inspired the script and the novel, Concrete Wings.

Being able to sit down with women making Herstory in their lane of expertise is always amazing to us. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Beverly Gandara and ask a few questions about her journey thus far.

What inspired your start in entrepreneurship/Writing?

Since childhood, I have been fascinated by people and their stories. I wrote as a child and received some recognition in elementary school. Family circumstances got in the way and I focused on graduating early and going to work at 16. It wasn’t until retirement that I decided to revisit my passion for story-telling.

What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

The pride in my husband’s eyes when I won my first award, the Golden Palm Award for Best Screenplay at the 2012 Beverly Hills International Film Festival at 68.

If you could tribute your success to anyone in your life who would it be?

My husband, Armando has encouraged me from the first day I told him I wanted to write. He immediately bought me a subscription to a writer’s magazine. He made sure I had all the tools I needed and has never wavered in his support.

What message do you hope women take away from your platform?

Freedom to be, think independently, explore one’s talents (everyone has a gift.) Shed the cloak of suppression and repression from society, family, employers, etc., and follow one’s dream. Find a friend and a mentor.

Avoid people with negative attitudes and unfortunately, if they are family members, love them from afar. Seek love, it is a worthy pursuit. The right partner will support you in any endeavor you choose and hopefully, you will respond in kind.

What is your go-to quote for motivation?

These are my quotes based on my experiences:

  1. Always move forward from strength to strength.
  2. Success is not always measured by what one becomes, but often by what one overcomes.
  3. There is no expiration date on one’s dreams.

What does being a woman making Herstory mean to you?

Being a self-sufficient, independent, confident woman comfortable with her own beauty, reaching for the stars and soaring to new heights with strength and endurance to confront everyday life. Being physically fit, psychologically strong, spiritually stable, financially secure, and most of all happy with one’s self knowing she does her best in all situations.

For more information about Bev and her work, please visit www.bevgandara.com

Bev’s books are available on Amazon and all fine stores where books are sold. https://www.amazon.com/Beverly-Gandara/e/B01E7TYXJ8

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