Rene DeFazio

Born and raised in the Vancouver area, Rene DeFazio is an actor, screenwriter, and producer with numerous film and television roles to his credit and countless commercials and print ads. After many years of backpacking and filming around the globe, Rene drew upon many unusual and exciting experiences to create One Great Year, which won an honorable mention at the New York and London Book Festivals. His tireless research and firsthand knowledge of exotic locations, customs, sights, and smells helped to bring this epic story to life. Rene was awarded an "Empowered Writers Award" at the Vancouver 2014 World International Peace Festival. In 2019 Rene won the Gold Medal for Best Visionary Fiction for The Emissary at the Readers Favorites Awards, while his second book in The One Great Year Series, The Emerald Tablet, took the Bronze Medal.