About
Oscar J. Starr III — Award-Winning Author | Screenwriter | Cultural Commentator
Oscar J. Starr III is a visionary storyteller and cultural thought leader whose work spans the intersections of literature, film, and social transformation. As the award-winning author of The GameChanger Perspective, a forthcoming biographical drama to be published by Crown | Penguin Random House, Starr has established himself as a compelling voice in the world of narrative nonfiction and cinematic adaptation.
His literary universe continues to expand with Stolen Hearts, Hidden Shores, a sweeping, character-driven drama officially endorsed by Penguin Random House. The project has garnered early praise for its richly layered storytelling, emotional depth, and strong potential for cross-medium adaptation.
With a distinct gift for turning lived experience into literary and visual art, Starr’s screenwriting portfolio includes Built, Not Borrowed, The Featherington Legacy, and the highly anticipated Stolen Hearts, Hidden Shores—original properties celebrated for their dynamic character arcs, emotional intelligence, and market appeal. His works often center Black resilience, intergenerational insight, and the power of reinvention, carving new lanes in both mainstream and independent media.
Starr’s impact extends beyond the page. As a sought-after speaker, he brings a resonant mix of candor, humor, and strategy to conversations about authorship, entrepreneurship, and creative legacy. His thought leadership has earned him a growing audience of changemakers, artists, and cultural disruptors who look to him for clarity, courage, and vision.
Oscar J. Starr III is not just shaping stories—he’s shaping the future of who gets to tell them.
Inside the Mind - Oscar J. Starr III
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What inspired you to start writing?
What inspired me to start writing? Writing didn’t start as a career move—it started as survival. I began putting pen to paper to make sense of the chaos, to process pain, and to preserve memory. Early on, it was less about plot and more about presence—capturing what it felt like to be young, Black, and unheard in rooms that demanded silence from voices like mine. But somewhere along the line, those private pages became purpose. I realized I wasn’t just writing to heal—I was writing to build. To build bridges between generations. To build characters that looked like my people, dreamed like my people, and persevered like we always do. And to build a legacy of truth-telling that wouldn’t rely on permission or apology. The stories found me. All I did was agree to tell them.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
About Stolen Hearts, Hidden Shores Stolen Hearts, Hidden Shores is a multi-generational love story layered with betrayal, legacy, and the unspoken wounds we inherit. Set between a coastal southern town and the pulse of New York City, it follows two families—one bound by blood, the other by secrets—whose lives intersect in ways none of them could predict. At its core, the book explores what happens when love and ambition collide. It asks: How far will we go to protect the image of who we are… and what does it cost to finally tell the truth? This story came from a very personal place. It’s inspired by the quiet sacrifices made in families, especially Black families, where silence often speaks louder than words. It’s also about reclamation—of identity, of voice, and of love that refuses to be lost at sea. Endorsed by Penguin Random House, Stolen Hearts, Hidden Shores is not just a book—it’s a cinematic, emotional experience meant to stay with you long after the final page.
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