Local girl is finalist in writing contest

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.

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