Library to Hold YA Writing Contest

Young Adult literature rules in the bookstore, at the movies, and at the Easton Area . 

Recognizing this interest in all things Young Adult, the YA librarians at the Main Library and the Palmer Branch have organized the Easton Area Public Library’s first YA Fest.

Scheduled for August 4, 2012, at the Palmer Branch, the YA Fest will run from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and include book signings, raffles, games, a bake sale, a YA book sale, and the chance to meet over 30 authors specializing in teen fiction.

In the meantime, aspiring writers of YA fiction between the ages of 10 and 19 may enter the “Write a Young Adult Book Contest.”

Here are the rules:

• Writers must be between grades 5 and 12 (ages 10 – 19) and have a valid EAPL card.
• Creations must be original and fall into one of the categories of the Summer Reading Program’s theme: Dream Big/Own the Night. Those categories are Creature of the Night (Vampire, Zombie, Werewolf, Ghost, etc.); Takes Place at Night; A Ghost Story, Urban Legend (Retelling); and Crime or Mystery.
• Entries cannot be longer than 20 pages. Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced on one side of each page.
• Writer must design a cover for the manuscript and include a title page (story title and author’s name).
• The back of the book must include the following: writer’s name, phone number, school, grade, and EAPL card number.

Judging will be in two stages: a preliminary narrowing of entries by YA librarians and then a winner selected from the finalists by YA authors Jennifer Murgia, Cyn Balog, and Josh Berk and librarian Ashley Supinski.

 The winner will receive a gift card to Barnes & Noble. In addition, the winner will sit with the author of his/her choice during YA Fest and sign and hand out bookmarks.

Entries may be submitted to the Main Library/Youth Services or the Palmer or South Side Branches or emailed. Entries must be received no later than 4:50 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012. Winners will be announced at the YA Fest.

For more information, contact Ashley at the Palmer Branch at 610-258-7492 or ashleys@eastonpl.org or Katie and Youth Services at the Main Library at 610-258-2917 ext 306 or katiec@eastonpl.org.