VIP Guest Lectures
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You’ll have a front-row seat for our monthly VIP Guest Lectures Series
Experience a monthly journey of inspiration and insights with the ultimate VIP lecture series, showcasing luminaries from the world of publishing and entertainment.
Each month, we welcome a guest speaker who embodies excellence in their field of publishing or entertainment. You’ll learn the secrets of success and behind-the-scenes insights from bestselling authors, acclaimed editors, renowned screenwriters, and influential managers and producers. These exclusive events are designed to elevate your knowledge with the help of industry titans.
Check out our schedule to discover the lineup of esteemed speakers, and mark your calendar to learn from the best of the best.
As a Story Summit member, you can enjoy this exclusive benefit at no additional cost.
Introducing Our Upcoming VIP Guest
July 13, 2026
8 – 9 PM ET
Robert "Bobs" Gannaway is an Emmy, Humanitas, and Annie Award-winning animation creator, writer, producer, and director whose career at Disney spans several decades. In his very early days, Bobs sold one of his original screenplays, Housematic, to David Kirkpatrick while he was at Paramount.
Bobs truly began at Walt Disney Feature Animation, then wrote for Hanna Barbera on 2 Stupid Dogs and Secret Squirrel before returning to Disney Television Animation in 1994 as supervising producer of the Emmy-winning Timon & Pumbaa.
A storyteller with a rare gift for bringing beloved characters to life, Bobs has shaped some of Disney's most memorable animated worlds, including Mickey Mouse Works, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, House of Mouse, 101 Dalmatians: The Series, The Emperor's New School, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. He co-wrote and directed the feature film Planes: Fire & Rescue and co-directed Secret of the Wings from the Disney Fairies franchise.
He most recently developed and executive produced Monsters at Work for Disney+, and served as showrunner for WondLa on Apple TV+. A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bobs attended the University of Oklahoma on a cartooning scholarship before graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he received the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship.
July 27, 2026
8 – 9 PM ET
Joel Fotinos is the founder and publisher of St. Martin's Essentials, an imprint of Macmillan dedicated to practical transformation across mind, body, and spirit. With over two decades at Penguin Random House, he built his career working alongside many of the most influential voices in personal growth and spirituality, including a long-standing collaboration with Julia Cameron, author of the landmark creative guide "The Artist's Way."
A publishing veteran with a rare gift for recognizing ideas that matter, Joel has guided countless books from first concept to finished publication, shaping works that have reached and resonated with readers around the world. He speaks frequently about creativity and the publishing process, helping writers understand how to craft their work, connect with their audience, and navigate the journey from manuscript to marketplace.
Check Out Our Previous Guests Speakers
New York Times Bestselling Author, Lessons in Chemistry
President Emeritus, Producers Guild of America
New York Times Bestselling Author, Cedar Cove Series
Producer, President of Nuyorican Productions. Author, Climbing in Heels
Writer and Co-Creator, Friends and Grace and Frankie
Writer and director, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull
New York Times Bestselling Author, The Many Lives of Mama Love
Academy Award Winner, Best Picture, Nomadland
Chairman, Motion Picture Corporation of America
Screenwriter, There’s Something About Mary
Emmy winning writer and executive producer, The Bear
President Emeritus, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
Former CAA Motion Picture Group Head & Oscar Winners’ Mentor
NYT Bestselling Author, Younger
New York Times Bestselling Author, The Henna Artist
Pulitzer Prize, Doubt; Academy Award, Moonstruck
President Emeritus of Women in Film, and Producer
Essayist and former editor on Interview magazine
Producer, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast
Songwriter, multiple Grammy winner and Oscar winner
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Annual Membership
997$Every yearSave $167 when billed annually- VIP Lecture Series by Top-Tier Professionals
- Monthly Group Coaching Sessions
- Write Together Sessions
- The Power Hour Program
- Quarterly Agent Pitching Panels
- Access to Class Recordings from 2020 through 2024
- Reading Pages
- Full Access to Story Summit classes
- Private Facebook Summiteers Page
- Free Programs
- Living to Write Podcast
- First Dibs for Registration to On-Site Events
- VIP Treatment at On-Site Events
- Regular Surprises and Special Offers
- 12 Months for the Price of 10
Quarterly Membership
277$Every 3 months- VIP Lecture Series by Top-Tier Professionals
- Monthly Group Coaching Sessions
- Write Together Sessions
- The Power Hour Program
- Quarterly Agent Pitching Panels
- Access to Class Recordings from 2020 through 2024
- Reading Pages
- Full Access to Story Summit classes
- Private Facebook Summiteers Page
- Free Programs
- Living to Write Podcast
- Most Popular
Monthly Membership
97$Every month- VIP Lecture Series by Top-Tier Professionals
- Monthly Group Coaching Sessions
- Write Together Sessions
- The Power Hour Program
- Quarterly Agent Pitching Panels
- Access to Class Recordings from 2020 through 2024
- Reading Pages
- Full Access to Story Summit classes
- Private Facebook Summiteers Page
- Free Programs
- Living to Write Podcast
Best Value
Important Note: If you have a promo code for a subscription, your fee will stay at that rate as long as you keep your subscription active.
TESTIMONIALS
“I believe that, when you know something, the gift is in sharing it with others. Iron sharpens iron, and teaching at Story Summit has made me a better writer. I often tell my students that I get as much out of the classes as they do.”
—Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author
