Lesley Manuel

Personal Bio

Lesley Manuel is a Texas-based author and screenwriter who has been creating stories professionally since 2015 under the pen name CARTER. A published novelist and novella writer, she has developed a diverse slate of 13 completed feature screenplays spanning drama, thriller, horror, sports, fantasy, romantic comedy, family/holiday, animation, crime, and supernatural genres.

Several of Manuel’s original stories have been adapted for the screen in collaboration with award-winning screenwriter, producer, and director Tania Meneguzzi. Her screenwriting has received numerous festival and competition honors, including Best Sci-Fi Feature for Time to Go at the 2022 Marina del Rey Film Festival and Best Feature Screenplay at the 2024 Palma Film Festival, along with finalist, semifinalist, quarterfinalist, official selection, and honorable mention placements for multiple projects.

Outside of writing, Manuel works as a registered nurse and EMT-Paramedic. Her firsthand experience with emergency medicine, trauma, and high-pressure situations brings authenticity to her medical, thriller, and survival-driven stories.

Her writing crosses genres, but her stories share a common foundation: ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances and forced to make difficult choices involving survival, family, relationships, redemption, and second chances.

Manuel is currently seeking literary representation and opportunities to connect with producers and production companies interested in developing compelling feature films.

Resume / CV