Kim Krizan is an American writer, actress, and educator best known for originating the story and characters in the Before trilogy with her writing on Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004), the latter earning her Academy Award and Writers Guild nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay. She first emerged from the independent film scene in Austin, appearing in Slacker, Dazed and Confused, and Waking Life. Beyond film, Krizan is the author of Original Sins and Spy in the House of Anaïs Nin, where she explores identity, creativity, and the inner lives of women through both writing and archival research. Based in Los Angeles, she teaches screenwriting and creative writing, and continues to mentor writers through her online class, The Magic Hour, fostering a deeply intuitive and human approach to storytelling. Kim will share what it was like growing up in Tustin—a place with quiet roots and a deep sense of history—and how Southern California, with its unique blend of landscapes, cultures, and imagination, shaped her early sense of storytelling and her creative voice. https://www.patreon.com/cw/kimkrizan www.inthemoodforcalifornia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maria.korpacheva.3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemoodforcalifornia/ Twitter: @InTheMoodForCA