Sometimes that story begins with a childhood dream. Sometimes it starts with a career change. And sometimes it begins with a family legend that simply refuses to be forgotten.

For the fifth episode of Beyond the Page, I had the pleasure of speaking with Angela Page, author, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, and president of the South Florida chapter of the Women’s National Book Association.

Our conversation began with her latest novel, Enrico G., but quickly grew into a fascinating discussion about storytelling, publishing, adaptation, and the creative process itself.

A Family Story Worth Telling

At the heart of Enrico G. is an unforgettable true family story.

Angela’s great-grandfather immigrated between Italy and New York throughout his life before returning to Italy during World War II. When Nazi soldiers occupied his home, he protected his family in a way that sounds almost too unbelievable to be true.

That remarkable piece of family history became the inspiration for both a screenplay and eventually the novel we discuss in this episode.

One Story, Many Mediums

Angela has a creative background unlike almost anyone I’ve interviewed so far.

Before becoming an author, she spent years working in the corporate world before transitioning into theater, screenwriting, filmmaking, and eventually novels.

That experience gives her a unique perspective on storytelling.

We discuss how different it is to write:

• A screenplay
• A stage play
• A novel
• A short story

Each medium demands something different, yet they all begin with the same core idea: creating characters readers and audiences genuinely care about.

Navigating Today’s Publishing World

One of my favorite parts of the conversation focuses on publishing.

Angela has experienced nearly every publishing path available today.

She shares her thoughts on:

• Traditional publishing
• Hybrid publishing
• Self-publishing
• Working with literary agents
• Querying publishers
• Marketing books after publication

For new writers, this section alone is packed with practical advice.

Publishing has changed dramatically over the past decade, and Angela offers an honest look at what authors should expect when trying to bring a book into the world.

AI, Marketing & Building a Writing Career

We also discuss one of the biggest topics facing authors today: artificial intelligence.

Rather than viewing AI as something that replaces writers, Angela explains how she sees it as another tool, one that can assist with editing, organization, and workflow while leaving the creativity firmly in human hands and not replace the creative aspects.

The conversation naturally expands into book marketing, writing communities, networking, adapting books for film, and the importance of continually learning throughout a creative career.

It’s an encouraging reminder that there isn’t one “correct” path to becoming an author.

It’s Never Too Late

One message stood out more than any other during our conversation.

Angela reinvented herself later in life.

After a successful corporate career, she chose to pursue storytelling, eventually becoming an author, filmmaker, playwright, and literary community leader.

Her advice is simple:

If there’s a story you’ve always wanted to tell, don’t assume it’s too late.

Listen to the Episode

Whether you’re fascinated by historical fiction, curious about adapting stories for film, or trying to navigate today’s publishing industry, I think you’ll find plenty to enjoy in this conversation with Angela Page.

This episode is filled with practical advice, memorable stories, and thoughtful reflections on creativity, perseverance, and why the best stories often begin with real life.

I hope you’ll join us for another episode of Beyond the Page, where we explore the stories behind the storytellers.

Let’s go Beyond the Page.