Susan Emshwiller

Susan Emshwiller wears several hats: filmmaker, playwright, screenwriter, director, set decorator, actress, painter, teacher¿ undoubtedly because she was raised by writer Carol Emshwiller and sci-fi illustrator, avant-guard filmmaker Ed Emshwiller. She got her BFA from Syracuse University in painting and printmaking and her MFA from California Institute of the Arts where she studied film. As a set decorator, her "day job" in Los Angeles for many years, she worked with David Mamet, Michael Apted, and happily with Robert Altman on "The Player," (in which she is a featured actress) "Short Cuts," "Kansas City," and "Cookie's Fortune." Susan has written screenplays on spec and for hire; most notably- co-writer of the Academy Award winning film "Pollock" for actor/director Ed Harris. She has written and directed several plays including the critically acclaimed and award winning "Brushstrokes," inspired by paintings of Edward Hopper. Her play "Dominoes" is published by the Dramatists Play Service and "Defrosting Popsicles" by Playscripts Inc. Susan's feature film, "In the Land of Milk and Money," a wild social satire, garnered awards and rave reviews at festivals in the US and internationally. She has also written and directed short films, commercials, and music videos. Emshwiller's short story publication venues include The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Furious Gazelle, Independent Ink Magazine, Black Heart Magazine, Gone Lawn, and Smoky Blue Literary and Arts Magazine. For several years, Susan taught screenwriting at North Carolina State University. In addition, she has taught workshops in screenwriting, playwriting, and cinematic storytelling in Hollywood, at film festivals, community centers, and writer's conferences. Her first novel "Thar She Blows," published in 2023, was finalist in the Independent Author Network and the Wishing Shelf Awards. Her second novel "All My Ancestors Had Sex" came out in 2024. Emshwiller lives in Santa Fe, NM with her husband Chris Coulson and three dogs.