Bloomfield Author Wins National Publishing Contest

When Westminster Arts Center Managing Director Gregory G. Allen decided to write a children’s book about Gabe, his godson with autism, he never imagined how quickly people would be able to see Gabe’s experience come to life as a picture book.  But now, just seven months later, Gabe’s story is out in print. 

This week Allen was notified that his manuscript, “Chicken Boy: The Amazing Adventures of a Super Hero with Autism” won the People’s Choice Grand Prize in the MeeGenius Author Challenge, a national publishing contest.  One of 400 entries in the contest, the People’s Choice was determined by popular vote.  Allen received over 2,000 votes in round one and another 1,500 in round two.

“It truly was an amazing experience,” Allen said. “There were two rounds of voting each lasting three weeks. During that time, so many people would read the story and share with me how it touched them or reminded them of someone in their life with autism.”

"MeeGenius is extremely proud of the work that Gregory has done," said Wandy Hoh, CEO and Co-Founder of MeeGenius. "This book speaks not only to parents and children who are familiar with autism, but also to anyone who loves a great kid's book." 

Allen decided to write the book after having dinner at his godson Gabe’s favorite restaurant last summer.  Along with Gabe’s older sister, Allen began to imagine a super hero with autism and the story was born.  After completing manuscript, he entered it in the MeeGenius competition in September.

“It was important to me to share the story from the perspective of the child,” Allen said. “I wanted to promote autism awareness by saying – ‘don’t be afraid of someone simply because they may seem different’.”

As many people are aware, the autism spectrum is a wide spectrum and no two children are alike.   Though Allen wrote a book based on one child, he is thrilled that others are able to see their children in the story as well.

Calling itself “the world's largest virtual store for enhanced children's books,” the MeeGenius Author Challenge gives new authors a chance to have their manuscripts edited, illustrated and published.  For The Chicken Boy, Allen won a $1,500 cash prize, a publishing contract with MeeGenius and a digital library of more than 300 titles to be donated to Radcliffe Elementary School in Nutley, New Jersey, the very school that his godson attends. His work was also illustrated by Dennis Culver, who gave the book its colorful super hero look.

“I would highly recommend other authors do this challenge in the fall,” Allen said. “I met some really wonderful people – from competing authors to the strangers reading and responding to the book. When story-telling can affect others, it is all worth it.”