Here
is the cover of the 2007 contest winner:
I asked Marvin Baker to tell
us about the contest and what's happening for this year.
Here is what he had to say:
Bev:
In 2007, you were instrumental in organizing a chapter book
contest for teen writers worldwide. We would like to learn
about the contest...
Marvin:
Thanks for the privilege. I
truly hope people like yourself will help promoted the competition
and the sale of the books. You know what it means to be published,
so I want the winners to be encouraged.
Bev: What kind of response did you have from kids
and teachers?
Marvin:
The first news release went out in mid-January. A
news release in the region and a limited mailing to high schools
in Indiana and the four contiguous states was augmented with
the addition of the 2000 ACSI high schools around the world.
With only slightly more than five months from the public
announcement and the deadline, students from 11 foreign countries
and 20 states responded. The winners: 2 are homeschoolers,
1 one from public school, and 2 from international Christian
schools, and 1 from a Christian high school in the U.S. It
is doubtful that any high school had heard of Tweener Ministries.
A new competition sponsored by an unknown organization and
a small Christian college gave reason to be skeptical. But
there was a college professor from Oklahoma who told me, "I've
been praying for 12 years that someone would do exactly what
you are doing."
I was excited by the response, especially considering
the limited time. Since then as word has spread, the excitement
and anticipation has increased. The response from students
would be enough to make it worth while. But comments from
teachers and family members are added rewards. A mother offered
this anecdote. "My son has always said 'why bother to write?'
No one ever reads it except you and the teacher.' This
gave him a reason to write, and he is so proud of his accomplishment."
Books
by Teens for Tweens tells the story. Elementary teachers have
expressed the opinion that kids will look forward to reading
what their 'role models' have written. High school English
teachers have indicated that they might use the winning book
for a text in their creative writing class. "This is what
your peers are doing, and they are getting royalties for their
efforts. Go and do likewise."
Bev:
How did you choose judges for this contest and what
was the judging process like?
Marvin: A
committee was appointed to select judges for the Tweener Time
International Chapter Book and Cover Art Competition. PeggySue
Wells served as Chair of that committee. It was their responsibility
to select individuals qualified to serve as a judge of the chapter
books:
First Round judges were elementary teachers and administrators
and librarians. They know the audience.
Second Round judges were published authors and a few
college professors and book reviewers. They know the craft.
Third Round judges were editors and publishers from Christian
publishing houses. They know the market.
The
judges for the Cover Art competition were professional artists
and college and university faculty members and graphic artists.
Bev:
How many categories of prizes were there and what were the
prizes to the winners.
Marvin:
Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN provides $58,000 in scholarships
to the high school authors
$20,000
for first place
$10,000
each for second and third
$6,000 each
for fourth, fifth, and sixth.
The
winner receives a $1,000 cash price for the Gaither Charitable
Foundation.
Each
of the top six winners will have their books published by Baker
Trittin Press and distributed through their
national distributor, Baker and Taylor. Each author will receive
royalties on each of their books sold.
The
teacher of the winning student receives a 7 day trip to Paris
to study the rise of Western culture from a Christian
perspective.
There
are three scholarships awarded for the Tweener Time
International Cover Art Competition winners;
Anderson
University provides a $44,000 for first place
Bethel
College provides $10,000 each for second and third
place.
Bev:
Tell us about the publication and marketing of the winning
chapter books.
Marvin: Originally
we had expected to publish only the book by the first
place winner. The authors and editors serving as judges
were astonished at the quality of the writing by these high
school students who ranged in age from 15 to 18. One senior
editor of a major Christian publishing house sent his card
with a note regarding the publication of that manuscript,
and it was not the first place winner. At that point we made
the decision that the top six authors would be offered contracts.
So
far two individuals, a small rural church, the Gaither Charitable
Foundation, and Baker Trittin Press have made contributions
toward launching the Championship Series. We believe the sale
of the 2007 series will pay for the publication of the 2008
Championship Series and that can perpetuate the series.
This
is a demonstration of faith in the ability of high
school authors and artists. 2007 books will be
available through Baker Trittin Press and their national distributor,
Baker and Taylor.
I sincerely hope that students, writers, reviewers, parents, teachers,
and librarians will subscribe for the 2007 Championship Series.
They will be released every other month beginning in March,
2008. The 2007 Series is available for $75.00 including shipping
and handling. Each book may be purchased separately at $10.95
plus $3.50 for shipping and handling.
Bev:
Is there anyplace online where sample chapters are available?
Marvin:
At the present time the first chapter of the first
place winner, Journey to the Homeland, is posted
at www.tweenerministries.org. You
may obtain a free copy of the first chapter of each of the 2007
Championship books by emailing info@bakertrittinpress.com and ask
for the 2007 Championship Sampler.
Bev:
Tell us about the teen chapter book contest for 2008...the requirements
to enter, the deadlines and the prizes.
Marvin:
Students in grades nine through 12 or international equivalent
are eligible. A complete list of rules are posted at www.tweenerministries.org. The
deadline for the second annual Tweener Time Chapter Book Chapter
Book Competition is May 15, 2008.
The
prizes are the same as listed above.
Bev:
Is there anything else you would like to share with us.
Marvin:
The competition is sponsored by Tweener Ministries, a
non-profit organization created for the purpose of serving
tweeners and those who love them by promoting literacy
and positive moral values among tweeners (8-12). It is not
a religious organization. Developing Creative Potential is
the phrase that describes the purpose of this competition.
Our desire is to encourage high school authors and artists
to share their creative talents with tweeners.
Books
by Teens for Tweens can serve as a motivation for students
in middle schools and elementary schools to hone their own
creative talents. They may be used in high school creative
writing classes as examples of peer writing with financial
rewards for the best.
Inquiries about serving as a judge may be sent to info@tweenerministries.org and they
will be forwarded to the appropriate committee.
Contributions
to Tweener Ministries to support this competition are tax
deductible and should be sent to Tweener Ministries, Inc.
701 E. Main Street, Warsaw, IN 46580.
"This
is an incredible opportunity for high school students
to hone and present their writing skills with the possibility
of winning a scholarship to boot!" Bill Myers, co-creator
of Focus on the Family's McGee and Me, writer/director of
Adventures in Odyssey, author of the award winning books series,
My Life as... and the Forbidden Doors series
Thanks
so much for sharing with us. OK, kids, sharpen those
pencils, turn on the computer and get to writing that story
you have been thinking about.....you can do it!