J Darin Wales is an award-winning editor, director, and screenwriter, having directed episodic television for the likes of Discovery Channel and Nat Geo. Darin writes drama, comedy/romantic comedy and historical pieces, which generally champion strong female characters. Recently, his historical drama script, The Witch of Pungo, placed as a Finalist at both the Nashville International Film Festival and the Richmond International Film Festival and finished Top 3 Historical in the Final Draft Big Break Competition as well as being named as a Second Rounder in the Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference 2023. In 2010, Darin was named winner of the 2010 Virginia Filmmaker Award at the James River Film Festival for his short PLiNK. He received his MFA from Queens University of Charlotte in 2014.

When he’s not screenwriting, directing, or teaching, Darin enjoys roasting his own coffee, barbecuing brisket, cooking prize-winning chili, and hanging out at home with his wife and three children. Darin lives in Lynchburg, VA, but, like any good misplaced Texan, he misses Texas. Darin teaches film production, directing, and screenwriting at Liberty University. One of his proudest achievements is being born in the State of Texas… with which he really had nothing to do.