Blue Dasher Productions Announces Short Film Homecomings to Begin Filming This September in Sacramento

Blue Dasher Productions is proud to officially announce Homecomings, a poignant and powerful new short film that will begin production this September on location in Sacramento, California.

Written and directed by Wren Valentino, Homecomings is a moving character study set in a small-town laundromat where two former high school rivals—now in their sixties—unexpectedly cross paths for the first time in over forty years. What begins as an awkward reunion soon unearths buried memories, deep-seated regrets, and the fragile hope for redemption.

The film stars acclaimed actress Hester Wagner as Leslie, a once-revered beauty queen whose glow has long since faded in the eyes of the town—and perhaps herself. 

Opposite her, Desirae Velasquez delivers a layered performance as Cathy, a woman who has fought hard not to let the disappointments of life embitter her entirely. Together, they bring to life a story about time, memory, and the elusive nature of forgiveness.

Wren Valentino not only penned the screenplay but will also direct and serve as executive producer under the Blue Dasher Productions banner. The film is produced in association with Candid Life Entertainment and Hoop Earrings Entertainment, with Adam Michael producing on behalf of Candid Life and Frankie Hernandez representing Hoop Earrings.

Additional producers include Cynthia Lopez-Spencer and Edward C. Ortiz for Blue Dasher Productions, with Mindy Scranton-Morgan serving as Associate Producer. Seth Scranton-Morgan has been named Second Unit Director, contributing additional visual storytelling to enrich the film’s emotional landscape.

Valentino shared his inspiration for the project, stating:

“I’m deeply committed to exploring the lives of ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary emotional circumstances—those pivotal moments that shift the course of a life forever. I’ve always been inspired by the inner worlds of women and the untold stories they carry. With Homecomings, I wanted to give voice to two women shaped by time, silence, and the things left unsaid.”

Homecomings marks another exciting step forward for Blue Dasher Productions in its mission to tell emotionally resonant, character-driven stories. With an evocative script, a powerhouse cast, and a dedicated production team, Homecomings promises to leave a lasting impact on audiences.

Stay tuned for more updates as production begins this fall.

Blue Dasher Press: February Update

As we welcome the month of February, we at Blue Dasher Press would like to take a moment to wish all of our readers a Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re spending the day with a special someone, enjoying time with friends, or embracing the joy of self-love, we hope it’s filled with warmth, kindness, and a great book.

From the world premiere of
I Bet She Has a Party to Go To

February is also Black History Month, a time to honor the rich history, culture, and contributions of Black individuals past and present. At Blue Dasher Press, we are deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. We are proud to publish stage plays that celebrate Black voices and Black lives, including False Hopes, I Bet She Has a Party to Go To, A Rum Cake for Rita, Sky Lines, and Tagged. These works continue to inspire, challenge, and illuminate the many facets of the Black experience.

This month, we’ve had some exciting new releases! Our latest offerings include:

• Just Forget the World (Short Story) – Grieving over the loss of loved ones, Naomi and Dominic find a deep connection while spending time together in a cemetery.

• Homecomings (Short Play) – In a small-town laundromat, two former high school rivals come face-to-face for the first time in over forty years.

• Love in the Shadows (Novel) – Quintin Pearson, an American magazine staff writer in London, finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue after an ambassador’s assassination. In the darkness, he meets Luca, a mysterious Italian spy, and the two form an undeniable connection as they work to uncover the truth.

We’re also thrilled to announce that our short play I Bet She Has a Party to Go To has been selected for inclusion in The Best 10-Minute Plays of 2025, published by Smith & Kraus and edited by Debbie Lamedman. This powerful play follows three women who, after watching a beautiful, free-spirited woman roller skate through a city park, confront their own resentment and assumptions about her seemingly carefree life.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the upcoming release of the supernatural young adult novel Wonder Land. Following the loss of her mother, fifteen-year-old Destiny Moore moves to Avalon Cove, a mysterious island in South Carolina. There, she forms close bonds with two fellow outsiders and is drawn to the enigmatic world of Wonder Land, a former boarding house with secrets waiting to be uncovered. A story of love, loss, and discovery, Wonder Land will be available exclusively on Kindle Unlimited beginning February 18.

As always, we are grateful for our readers, writers, and the entire Blue Dasher Press community. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more incredible stories with you in the months ahead!

Happy reading!

The Blue Dasher Press Team

Blue Dasher Press Announces the Publication of Homecomings by Wren Valentino

We are thrilled to announce the publication of Homecomings, the latest short stage play from award-winning playwright Wren Valentino. The play explores the fragile, often painful nature of reconnection through the lens of two former high school rivals who cross paths once again after forty years. Set in a small-town laundromat on a Wednesday night, Homecomings delves deep into the lives of Cathy and Leslie, two women in their 50s whose pasts have shaped them in unexpected ways.

The Story: Cathy is a woman struggling with the bitterness of unfulfilled dreams, while Leslie, a once-celebrated beauty queen, now faces the harsh reality of being forgotten by time. As they confront one another in this seemingly mundane setting, tensions rise, and the weight of their shared history becomes undeniable. The laundromat, a place of routine and solitude, acts as the perfect backdrop for their emotional reckoning.

Cast of Characters:

Cathy – In her 50s, struggling to not let the bitterness of life take over.

Leslie – In her 50s, a former beauty queen grappling with the feeling that she’s been left behind.

Time and Place:

A local laundromat in a small town, on a Wednesday night, in the present year.

Acknowledgments:

Homecomings received its world premiere on October 12, 2024, as part of The Play Crawl series, produced by the Funky Little Theater Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The production, directed by John Longo, featured captivating performances by Karen Kennedy and Suzanne Lucas.

A Word from the Playwright:

"I wrote Homecomings to explore the ways people live in the shadow of their pasts. Cathy and Leslie are each trapped in a different way—one cannot move past what she was, and the other fears she has no future at all. I wanted to give voice to those moments in life when two people face each other and realize that time has not only changed them but has also left them questioning who they are now." – Wren Valentino.

Get your copy of Homecomings today and witness the emotional depth of these two characters as they navigate their complex relationship and the passage of time.

Happy New Year from Blue Dasher Press!

Happy New Year from Blue Dasher Press!

We hope your year is off to a fantastic start! As we settle into 2025, we wanted to take a moment to thank you, our amazing readers, for your support. It's your enthusiasm for storytelling that keeps us going, and we couldn't be more grateful. We look forward to bringing you more exciting releases, exclusive offers, and great content in the months ahead.

Monthly Kindle Unlimited Giveaways

To kick off the new year, we're continuing our monthly Kindle Unlimited giveaway! Every third Wednesday of the month, all of our Kindle Unlimited titles will be available to download for free. It's a little something special for our readers, and a great way to try out one of Wren Valentino's titles. Mark your calendars—our first giveaway of 2025 will be on January 17!

Upcoming Releases You Won’t Want to Miss

We have a jam-packed month of new releases in January that we’re so excited to share with you!

Just Forget the World – A brand-new short story available in Kindle Unlimited on January 14. Sometimes, the best way to cope with heartbreak is to forget everything—if only for a while.

Bells and Spells – Originally slated for an October release, this Halloween-themed short story will now be available in Kindle Unlimited on January 21. Who doesn’t love a bit of magic, mischief, and mystery?

Homecomings – This one-act stage play will be released on January 28. It had its world premiere last year in Colorado Springs, and we’re thrilled to share it with a broader audience. It’s a touching exploration of what it means to return home—and what it means to stay.

Visit Our PayHip Store for More Options

If you’re a fan of stage plays, be sure to visit our digital store on PayHip. There, you can download printable copies of all of our stage plays at a pay-what-you-want rate. We believe in making our works as accessible as possible, so whether you're a theater company, a drama student, or a stage enthusiast, we hope our plays bring something special to your life.

New Releases from Wren Valentino

We have several exciting new works from co-founder Wren Valentino. Here’s a quick rundown of his latest releases:

Subterfuge – A film-noir-inspired short stage play set in 1942, featuring a woman and a man caught in the world of espionage. A thrilling, tense piece you won’t want to miss!

Toy – Set in 2057, this futuristic short stage play explores the failure of a male android prototype. With roles for one woman and one man, it’s a chilling look at what it means to create the “perfect” human.

Riding with James Dean – A novelette that captures the spirit of youth, love, and rebellion. Follow Johnny as he navigates a new town, forging friendships with a diverse group of characters who show him the transformative power of summer. New edition!

Mesmerized – This young adult novel centers on Serena Albright, a teen who’s struggling with grief after the tragic death of her brother. Set in 1986 Sacramento, Serena finds herself caught between two boys, Brodie and Lance, who will change her life forever. This book won the Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Coming of Age/Young Adult Novel, and we’re proud to share it with you.

Royalty-Free Stage Plays

And don’t forget—all of our stage plays can be produced royalty-free! We firmly believe that theater should be accessible to everyone, which is why there’s never a charge to produce one of our scripts. Whether you’re a school, a community theater, or a small troupe, we want to support your creative endeavors without any added costs.

Looking Forward to a Great Month!

It’s going to be a fantastic month, and we can’t wait to share all of our new releases, giveaways, and creative projects with you. Thank you again for your continued support, and here's to a year filled with great books, plays, and unforgettable stories!

Until next time,

The Blue Dasher Press Team