October 15, 2024:
We extend our warmest congratulations to all the young writers who participated in our writing contest! Sixteen talented writers, ages 8-12, submitted stories inspired by Just Keep Walking, a middle-grade novel by Erin Soderberg Downing.
Erin, who has authored over 100 books for children, shared her own writing journey with students, parents, and educators. She revealed that while she didn’t love writing as a child, she had a passion for reading. With her mother working next to the library, Erin spent countless hours immersed in books. She reflected, “I learned a lot about how to be a writer by being a reader first.”
We were truly impressed by the array of imaginative stories we received. Erin faced the tough task of reviewing them and selecting the top three. During her visit to the library on Thursday, October 10, she announced the winners: Amelia took home the grand prize for her story “The Nightmare Forest,” while Isra and Summer were recognized as runners-up for “Castia’s Quest” and “Lions, Foxes, and Statutes,” respectively.
Erin congratulated all participants for their creativity and hard work. Well done, everyone!
Winner: Amelia
Amelia, an 11-year-old sixth grader, is a creative spirit with a younger brother and a longing for a pet. She enjoys playing softball and soccer, crafting bracelets, and diving into games of Monopoly. As a member of Girl Scout Troop 56785, she’s always busy and engaged.
Unsurprisingly, Amelia has a passion for writing and has been developing a story, The Realm of Gaga Ball, for several years. Her reading recommendations include books by J.K. Rowling, Gordon Korman, and Suzanne Collins, along with a love for graphic novels. Some of her favorite books are The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, and Supergifted (the sequel to Ungifted).
Erin praised Amelia’s winning story, noting, “You have a wonderful, descriptive first line that immediately pulled me into your writing! You excel at telling scary tales—this is definitely the right kind of story for you as a writer! I was terrified. Your writing is beautiful—lines like, ‘Instead of dark swamp water green, it was a deep, resounding purple,’ really impressed me. Great job!”
Congratulations, Amelia!
Runner-Up: Isra
Isra, age 9.5, is a fourth grader at Stonebridge Elementary in Stillwater. She has a younger brother, Maksim, and a playful dog named Pongo. Isra enjoys playing the piano and has a passion for soccer, swimming, and rollerblading. She loves spending time with her little brother, friends, cousins, and, of course, her dog. Traveling is another adventure she relishes, and she has a special love for clam chowder!
Avid reader that she is, Isra’s favorite genre is fiction, with a particular fondness for the Percy Jackson series and the Warriors Cats series. She’s also excited to read Just Keep Walking and The Great Peach Experiment by Erin Soderberg Downing!
Erin complimented Isra’s story, stating, “I love how you twisted a realistic hiking adventure into a fantasy to create your own kind of story. The details were really solid, and I definitely felt like I was part of this world.”
Congratulations, Isra!
Runner-Up: Summer
Summer, age 11, is a sixth grader from Stillwater. She has two older sisters and an older brother, and she’s an aunt to one-year-old Ruby and Marco. Her family is lively, with three pets: a cat named Cheeto and two dogs named Radar and Missile.
In her free time, Summer enjoys writing, drawing, and, of course, reading. Her favorite authors include Tui T. Sutherland (Wings of Fire series), Erin Hunter (Warrior series), and Lisa McMann (The Unwanteds series). If you’re looking for a reading adventure, Summer highly recommends The Poison Jungle (Wings of Fire #13)—one of her all-time favorites!
Erin commended Summer’s story, saying, “You used great visual details that really helped me see what these places and characters look like, making me feel like I was part of the story! I’m eager to know what happens next—you definitely left things on a cliffhanger that made me want to keep reading!”
Congratulations, Summer!