Semifinalist, The Dark Roads Horror & Thriller Feature Competition (2026)
Winner, Roadmap Writers Short Script Lab 2026
BIO
Tristan Young Mercado grew up in a tiny beach cottage in North Carolina with 24 dogs, a dozen cats, goats, pony, parrot, ferret, and a portly raccoon.. Wanting a bigger platform for her writing, she turned to screenwriting. With many of her scripts placing well on the competition circuit, including Austin Film Fest and in Roadmap Writer's Top Tier Competitions, she utilizes every opportunity to hone her craft and expand her portfolio.
Now a resident of Austin, Texas, Tristan's writing focuses on character driven stories that tend to be either comedic or thriller in nature. She specializes in writing heavy topics with a light hand. Her teenage son recently described her as old, impatient, and someone who doesn't fuck with the devil. She was offended by the old part.