Latest news with #TheVoiceInside
Miami Herald
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘These stories can be a lifeline.' How a Miami creator found her mission on stage
As a 17-year-old, Gena Sims found inspiration while taking care of her sister. Now, she is sharing that inspiration with the world. 'Everyone has voice, whether or not they can easily speak.' Those words and lessons from growing up with her autistic sister helped set the course for helping others. Her vision became the Autism Theater Project, which she founded in 2014. 'The Autism Theater Project was created to inspire hope by sharing authentic stories of struggle, triumph, and resilience,' she says on her theater's website. A start at New World School of the Arts in Miami The 28-year-old Sims, who lives in Cutler Bay, found her passion for theater when she started the organization in her senior year of high school at New World School of the Arts in Miami. She then brought the program to college at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Sims produced her first play, 'In the Life of a Child,' at the university and graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting and musical theater in 2019. Since then, she has performed in an off-Broadway production of 'An Enchanted April,' opened for Oprah Winfrey's 2020 Vision tour, and continued her work and mission with her Autism Theater Project. The Miami-based organization, through its various theater productions and entertainment projects, continues the path Sims is paving for those on the spectrum. Besides Florida, members of the organization live in Nigeria, the Philippines, Canada and New York. 'We work very closely with people with disabilities who are exceptional at what they do, but who have also overcome exceptional obstacles in order to get to where they are,' Sims said in an interview with the Miami Herald in July. How the Autism Theater Project was born The theater program showcases lives on and off the spectrum in an authentic way, helping crew members and actors work on productions. 'In the Life of a Child' was one of the first productions developed through the program about Sims' sister. 'Accepting that a child will have a life different from what you imagined can be painful — but it's also incredibly eye-opening,' Sims said. 'I realized the world could benefit from understanding her perspective.' Her sister's autism diagnosis when she was 2 had a big impact on her family in the early 2000s. It was a heartbreaking time, but perseverance helped Sims' find inspiration. While her sister wasn't able to express herself in the same ways as others, seeing her get through her daily challenges helped form Sims' future mission. 'That realization fuels my mission to create positive, realistic portrayals of people with autism and their families, because for many, these stories can be a lifeline,' Sims said. On PBS South Florida In addition to live theater, the project has a new television series, 'The Voice Inside,' which discusses grief, trauma and growing up against the odds. 'Oftentimes, people with disabilities are overlooked or not given the same opportunities. However, this show has given actors and actresses with autism or who are neurodiverse a chance to be a part of something groundbreaking,' said Kaylah Taylor, a Miami actress who plays Lily in 'The Voice Inside.' 'The stories that the Autism Theater Project tells and the way it shows the realness of being a person on the spectrum really moves me,' Taylor said. The show, which has had its first three episodes featured on South Florida PBS and streaming on the station's YouTube page, aims to show audiences a realistic look at people who often aren't showcased in a three-dimensional way. It also helps to further one of the many goals of the organization. Jeneissy Azcuy, vice president of communications at South Florida PBS, said the show came to the station's attention in a routine way — but that the content was anything but routine. ''The Voice Inside' was submitted to South Florida PBS through our submissions process. At first, we were mostly intrigued by the concept: a dramatic series about young people dealing with being on the autism spectrum — performed, written and produced by, among others, people on the autism spectrum,' she said. 'As we found out more about the series and saw actual episodes, we were very impressed by the compelling nature of the programs and the quality of the production,' Azcuy said. 'We heard it won top awards at film festivals and thought it would be an excellent fit for the South Florida PBS audience.' With the productions, talent that can often be overlooked can find a way into the spotlight. 'It's important that we're here in South Florida as we feel that there's so much potential for the entertainment industry here,' Sims said. 'Our goal is to get to the point where we have the funding to be able to create these professional and competitive jobs that can change people's lives, whether they have a disability or not.' If you go to ATP Music concert Upcoming events for the Autism Theater Project include a new music program, 'ATP Music'. On July 18, in collaboration with the South Beach Jazz Festival, 'ATP Music' will host a full-length concert as a part of the summer series, 'ATP Voices.' When: 7:30 p.m. July 18Where: Euclid Oval, 660 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139Cost: Free If you can't see the form below, click here to fill it out.
7NEWS
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
RecipeTin Eats founder Nagi Maehashi scores big win over accused copycat Brooke Bellamy
Recipe book writer Nagi Maehashi has beaten cupcake queen Brooke Bellamy at the publishing industry's annual awards, after Maehashi and other authors accused Bellamy of plagiarism. Maehashi won the illustrated book of the year prize a second time at the Australian Book Industry Awards in Melbourne on Wednesday for her most recent book RecipeTin Eats: Tonight. In April the prize-winning author accused Bellamy, who runs the popular Brooki Bakehouse in Brisbane, of copying her caramel slice and baklava recipes in her bestselling book, Bake with Brooki. Another author, US-based Sally McKenney from the blog Sally's Baking Addiction, has alleged Bellamy copied her Best Vanilla Cake recipe. Bellamy denies the allegations, which she has described online as 'deeply distressing'. She did not attend the awards night and she's understood to be attending a pop-up bakery venture in the United Arab Emirates. The Brisbane baker and online influencer has previously said she offered to remove the recipes that are the subject of Maehashi's allegations from any reprints 'to prevent further aggravation'. Maehashi beat five finalists including Bellamy to take out the prestigious industry prize, with her second cookbook Tonight selling more than 78,000 copies in its first week on shelves, breaking Australian records for first week non-fiction title sales. Bake with Brooki was published in October by Penguin Random House Australia, which was awarded a gong for publisher of the year and has been contacted for comment. The awards are not only about authors but the whole publishing industry, according to Australian Publishers Association chief executive Patrizia Di Biase-Dyson. 'The industry judges cast their eagle eyes over the whole process of bringing books to consumers - from editing the manuscript through to the sales, marketing and publicity,' she said. Cookbook allegations aside, music legend John Farnham and filmmaker Poppy Stockell were the big winners at the 25th annual awards, winning the overall book of the year Award, audiobook of the year and biography of the year for The Voice Inside. Journalist Joe Aston's Qantas exposé The Chairman's Lounge won general non-fiction book of the year, while 2024 co-Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer won social impact book of the year for Brainstorm, about his fight against brain cancer. ABIA winners 2025 Audiobook of the Year: The Voice Inside, John Farnham with Poppy Stockell Biography Book of the Year: The Voice Inside, John Farnham with Poppy Stockell The John Marsden Book of the Year for Older Children: My Family and Other Suspects, Kate Emery Book of the Year for Younger Children: Wurrtoo, Tylissa Elisara, illustrated by Dylan Finney Children's Picture Book of the Year: The Truck Cat, Deborah Frenkel, illustrated by Danny Snell General Fiction Book of the Year: What Happened to Nina?, Dervla McTiernan General Non-fiction Book of the Year: The Chairman's Lounge, Joe Aston Literary Fiction Book of the Year: Dusk, Robbie Arnott Publisher of the Year: Penguin Random House Australia
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Book prize follows copycat claims against cupcake queen
Recipe book writer Nagi Maehashi has beaten cupcake queen Brooke Bellamy at the publishing industry's annual awards, after Maehashi and other authors accused Bellamy of plagiarism. Maehashi won the illustrated book of the year prize a second time at the Australian Book Industry Awards in Melbourne on Wednesday for her most recent book RecipeTin Eats: Tonight. In April the prize-winning author accused Bellamy, who runs the popular Brooki Bakehouse in Brisbane, of copying her caramel slice and baklava recipes in her bestselling book, Bake with Brooki. Another author, US-based Sally McKenney from the blog Sally's Baking Addiction, has alleged Bellamy copied her Best Vanilla Cake recipe. Bellamy denies the allegations, which she has described online as "deeply distressing". She did not attend the awards night and she's understood to be attending a pop-up bakery venture in the United Arab Emirates. The Brisbane baker and online influencer has previously said she offered to remove the recipes that are the subject of Maehashi's allegations from any reprints "to prevent further aggravation". Maehashi beat five finalists including Bellamy to take out the prestigious industry prize, with her second cookbook Tonight selling more than 78,000 copies in its first week on shelves, breaking Australian records for first week non-fiction title sales. Bake with Brooki was published in October by Penguin Random House Australia, which was awarded a gong for publisher of the year and has been contacted for comment. The awards are not only about authors but the whole publishing industry, according to Australian Publishers Association chief executive Patrizia Di Biase-Dyson. "The industry judges cast their eagle eyes over the whole process of bringing books to consumers - from editing the manuscript through to the sales, marketing and publicity," she said. Cookbook allegations aside, music legend John Farnham and filmmaker Poppy Stockell were the big winners at the 25th annual awards, winning the overall book of the year Award, audiobook of the year and biography of the year for The Voice Inside. Journalist Joe Aston's Qantas exposé The Chairman's Lounge won general non-fiction book of the year, while 2024 co-Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer won social impact book of the year for Brainstorm, about his fight against brain cancer. ABIA WINNERS 2025: * Audiobook of the Year: The Voice Inside, John Farnham with Poppy Stockell * Biography Book of the Year: The Voice Inside, John Farnham with Poppy Stockell * The John Marsden Book of the Year for Older Children: My Family and Other Suspects, Kate Emery * Book of the Year for Younger Children: Wurrtoo, Tylissa Elisara, illustrated by Dylan Finney * Children's Picture Book of the Year: The Truck Cat, Deborah Frenkel, illustrated by Danny Snell * General Fiction Book of the Year: What Happened to Nina?, Dervla McTiernan * General Non-fiction Book of the Year: The Chairman's Lounge, Joe Aston * Illustrated Book of the Year: RecipeTin Eats: Tonight, Nagi Maehashi * Literary Fiction Book of the Year: Dusk, Robbie Arnott * Social Impact Book of the Year: Brainstorm, Richard Scolyer with Garry Maddox * The Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year: We Are the Stars, Gina Chick * Publisher of the Year: Penguin Random House Australia
Sydney Morning Herald
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Nagi Maehashi, John Farnham and Richard Scolyer win at book awards
Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats has won for illustrated book of the year at the Australian Book Industry Awards, beating fellow cook Brooke Bellamy and others to the prize a week after accusing Bellamy of copying two of her recipes. It's the second year in a row that Maehashi, a contributor to this masthead, has won the award, this time for her cookbook Tonight. Bellamy's Bake with Brooki was on the shortlist in the same category. Maehashi accused Bellamy last week of plagiarism, arguing she was forced to go public after six months of unsuccessfully trying to reach an agreement with Bellamy's publisher Penguin. Both Penguin and Bellamy, who owns three cafes in Brisbane, denied the allegations, and the dispute is unresolved. Penguin, meanwhile, won the title of best publisher for the fourth time in five years. John Farnham was the big winner at the awards, which were announced in Melbourne on Wednesday evening, as he took home the overall award for book of the year, as well as audiobook of the year and biography of the year for The Voice Inside, written with filmmaker Poppy Stockell. Having nearly died during surgery for throat cancer in 2022, Farnham is unsure whether he'll sing again. World-renowned pathologist Richard Scolyer was awarded social impact book of the year for Brainstorm, which tells the story of his life during revolutionary brain cancer treatment. Co-written with Garry Maddox, a journalist with this masthead, the book provides extraordinary insight into living with a terminal illness. Maddox brings an intimate perspective: Scolyer's pioneering immunotherapy treatment helped save him when he was diagnosed with metastasised melanoma. Gina Chick took home the Matt Richell award for new writer of the year for her autobiography We Are the Stars, which she describes as 'a misfit's story of love, connection and letting go'.
The Age
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Nagi Maehashi, John Farnham and Richard Scolyer win at book awards
Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats has won for illustrated book of the year at the Australian Book Industry Awards, beating fellow cook Brooke Bellamy and others to the prize a week after accusing Bellamy of copying two of her recipes. It's the second year in a row that Maehashi, a contributor to this masthead, has won the award, this time for her cookbook Tonight. Bellamy's Bake with Brooki was on the shortlist in the same category. Maehashi accused Bellamy last week of plagiarism, arguing she was forced to go public after six months of unsuccessfully trying to reach an agreement with Bellamy's publisher Penguin. Both Penguin and Bellamy, who owns three cafes in Brisbane, denied the allegations, and the dispute is unresolved. Penguin, meanwhile, won the title of best publisher for the fourth time in five years. John Farnham was the big winner at the awards, which were announced in Melbourne on Wednesday evening, as he took home the overall award for book of the year, as well as audiobook of the year and biography of the year for The Voice Inside, written with filmmaker Poppy Stockell. Having nearly died during surgery for throat cancer in 2022, Farnham is unsure whether he'll sing again. World-renowned pathologist Richard Scolyer was awarded social impact book of the year for Brainstorm, which tells the story of his life during revolutionary brain cancer treatment. Co-written with Garry Maddox, a journalist with this masthead, the book provides extraordinary insight into living with a terminal illness. Maddox brings an intimate perspective: Scolyer's pioneering immunotherapy treatment helped save him when he was diagnosed with metastasised melanoma. Gina Chick took home the Matt Richell award for new writer of the year for her autobiography We Are the Stars, which she describes as 'a misfit's story of love, connection and letting go'.
