BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
MrsP.com announced the names of
the 10 young writer finalists in its first
``Mrs. P Be a Famous Writer’’ contest.
Among the finalists for the age
group 9-13 is 12-year-old Isabella
Penola of Cooperstown. Penola was
chosen for her story ``Splattered
Mud and Crushed Petals.
Stories were submitted by children
age 4-13 from New York to California.
Nearly half the states in the country
were represented, according to a
press release on the website press.
mrsp.com.
Grand prize winners from each
age group, 4-8 and 9-13, will be announced
on January 15.
According to mrsp.com, the grand
prize winners will have their stories
produced as videos, with Mrs. P
reading them aloud from her online
Magic Library.
Mrsp.com stars television actress
Kathy Kinney, who played Mimi on
the Drew Carey Show.
According to mrsp.com, original
illustrations by professional artists
will help bring the stories to life. The
videos will be posted for a limited
time on the website for viewers all
over the world to watch and enjoy.
In addition, each winner will receive
a bound copy of his or her story
and illustrations as a keepsake to
treasure for years to come. Powell’s
Books (www.Powells.com), the
largest independent bookseller in
the world, and the sponsor of the
contest, will provide the finalists with
gift certificates.
``I had a feeling there were some
smart and talented young writers
out there in America, but I had
no idea there were so many,’’ said
Kinney, who portrays Mrs. P and is a
creator of the website.
Finalists were selected by a panel
of celebrity judges that included
four top professionals in the writing
field: Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prizewinning
humorist and author of
dozens of bestselling books; Andre
Bormanis, writer and producer of
the popular fantasy series, ``Legend
of the Seeker’’ and author of ``Star
Trek: Science Logs’’; Craig Ferguson,
host of the CBS Late Late Show
and author of the acclaimed novel,
``Between the Bridge and the River’’;
and Diana Leszczynski, author of
``Fern Verdant and the Silver Rose’’,
a comic adventure recently selected
as a Smithsonian Notable Children’s
Book and currently being developed
as a motion picture.
According to the media release,
Mrs. P Enterprises, LLC, was founded
in 2008 by Hollywood team Clay
Graham, Kathy Kinney and Dana
Plautz. After having built successful
careers in television and new
media, the three creators of MrsP.
com were brought together by a
love of reading and a desire to help
spark that same passion in young
people everywhere. The company
endeavors to expose young people
to great books and stories through
a celebrity storyteller and to spark
their imaginations and creativity
with on-line games and writing
contests. Its production offices are
located in Portland, Ore. and Los
Angeles, Calif.
The finalists for age group 4-8
include:
• ``Acting Camp’’ by Dana Chiueh,
age 8, N.Y.,
• `` Arietta Learns There’s No
Place Like Home’’ by Olympia
Hatz, age 7, Calif.,
• ``Pretty Princess and Funky
Frog’’ by Gabrielle Fuller, age 8,
N.C.,
• ``Sammy Goes to College’’ by
Rebecca Cox, age 8, Md.,
• ``Tina Says `Kazam’’’ by Anna
Thompson, age 8. Calif.
The finalists for age group 9-13
are:
• ``Goldilocks and the Three
Liars and Thieves’’ by Erin Smith,
age 9, Kan.,
• ``Little Bear and the Moon’’ by
Sabrina Manzie, age 11, Fla.,
• ``Spattered Mud and Crushed
Petals’’ by Isabella Penola, age 12,
N.Y.,
• ``The Fall’’ by Kayley Godek, age
13, Neb.,
• ``Two Gigantic Cookies’’ by Melodie
Liu, age 11, Calif.
inactive
January 7, 2010
Local girl is finalist in writing contest
- inactive
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- Olympic rower launches program A two-time Olympic rower and head coach of Cooperstown Crew will be starting a new indoor rowing program in partnership with the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club.
- Autism walk to be held Saturday at Glimmerglass State Park Cooperstown will be among five sites kicking off Autism Awareness Month this Saturday.
- Shooting leaves residents dismayed Village residents are expressing shock about Friday’s shooting incident and are eager to reach an understanding of why it happened in a small, close-knit community like Cooperstown.
- Earth Festival is Saturday at MCS The Earth Festival, now in its fifth year, is an environmentally focused, interactive event featuring exhibits, workshops, vendors, food and entertainment, all with a fun, earthfriendly twist.
- Booan takes the helm as new C’town leader Joe Booan was sworn in at noon Monday and later that evening set an aggressive agenda for the village during the board of trustees’ annual reorganizational meeting.
- Shooting leaves residents dismayed: New mayor’s statement After canceling a press conference scheduled for Monday afternoon, new Mayor Joe Booan made the following statement during the village’s reorganizational meeting Monday night concerning Friday’s shooting incident.
- Hage appointed village trustee Mayor Joe Booan appointed Charles Hage to the board of trustees to fill the vacancy created when he was elected mayor.
- CCS makes more cuts to lower tax levy Last-minute changes have been made to the Cooperstown Central School proposed 2010-11 budget.
- Cuts likely at CV-S Cherry Valley-Springfield Superintendent Robert Miller says he has been losing sleep during his time preparing for the 2010-11 school budget.
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