Free Word Associates was born out of a desire to encourage writers to push the proverbial pen. I had a lot of friends and acquaintances that weren't finishing their manuscripts and screenplays. 

The story of Free Word Associates starts with a friendship, my first friendship with another writer. We met in college and shared our writing. We used to play Free Word Association — We knew a lot of words. He was a poet. I knew almost nothing about writing, but I liked to read novels. 

We weren't very good but we were determined to polish our skills. Over the years, we became the best of friends, but he gradually stopped writing. I always pestered him about it because I felt his talent deserved to be exercised — the world needed to hear his voice. 

Then, he died young, and we, the living, went through his voluminous writings, but it was really difficult to know if we should publish. What would he have wanted? What were his favorite poems?

If you're a writer, take your work seriously. Don't let anybody tell you, least of all fears, that you're not a writer. Don't let your writing sit on a shelf or in a drawer or folder. Do something with it. Put it out there. Don't leave your loved ones to wonder what you wanted. 

We at Free Word Associates want to put wind in the sails of creatives. We want to represent writers and adapt feature and television works into films. 

Tim Tolka - Founder & Director of Fiction

Tim Tolka is a screenwriter, author, and editor based in Puerto Rico and Mexico City. His work explores corruption, justice, and resistance through thrillers, crime stories, and high-concept narratives. A journalist at heart with roots in the Midwest and the Deep South, Tim writes full-time for producers, directors, and authors—crafting stories that amplify bold, urgent voices.

His series Blue Mafia, adapted from his debut nonfiction book, follows a civil rights attorney taking on two corrupt Ohio police departments. The book was ranked #12 on Book Authority’s Best Police Brutality Books and praised as “exceptionally well written” by Midwest Book Review. His feature thriller Obstructing Town Business and Western series Mingo dramatize real-life rebellions against lawless authorities.

Tim has ghostwritten a near-future dystopian novel, collaborated on sci-fi game scripts, and developed TV pilots across genres. His path into writing began when he and his then-girlfriend reopened a criminal case in Ohio—an experience that continues to fuel his commitment to telling stories with impact.

He holds a Master’s in international political economy from American University and a BA in literature from the University of Colorado. He’s traveled through 40 countries and lived in NYC, SF, and DC.

Joe Leone - Director of Screenwriting

Joe Leone is a New York native writer/director with over 200 festival selections, nominations, and wins — with seventeen produced features. Since 2018, he’s received the Best Screenplay Award at the Sydney Indie Film Festival for the acerbic comedy Meant to Be Broken, was co-winner of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition with the fantastical Death of a Fool, and was named “Best Writer” at the Accord Cine Fest for his slow-burn mystery Death Sentences. 

His psychological thriller Half Sisters (starring Kristy Dawn Dinsmore, Vikings) was produced by No Sunrise Wasted, LLC in Portland, Oregon, and received a limited theatrical release. Last year his dark comedy Breakup Mountain won “Best Thriller” at the Golden Lion International Film Festival and “Best Feature” at the Aasha International Film Festival. Joe began his writing career as a copywriter at the legendary downtown NYC newspaper The Village Voice, followed by a position at the cultural tastemaker, New York Magazine. He currently is working on a project with director Jonathan Zuck commissioned by Lionsgate.

Michelle is a writer-editor, researcher, and campus organizer based in Boston, Massachusetts, where she expects to earn her Master’s degree in Public Policy from Simmons University in the spring of 2024. Previously, she has worked for political campaigns, nonprofit organizations, and digital newsrooms where she has been able to hone her skills in editorial and academic writing and research, project management, and community outreach.

Michelle particularly enjoys writing about topics at the intersection of public policy, law, social justice, and community health. Her Master’s capstone research engages the outcomes of drug courts and pre-arrest diversion programs with current discourses in criminal justice reform, harm reduction social work, and evidence-based policy. 

Additionally, she has been fortunate to present her scholarship at the New England Political Science Association’s annual meeting as both an undergraduate and graduate student. Beyond completing graduate school and beginning her writing career, Michelle is engaged in her community as a campus organizer with the Simmons Harm Reduction Coalition, a student-led grassroots organization and naloxone distribution program.