The Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) recently announced a contest for aspiring children’s authors. The winning authors will have their books published.

“We are excited to present this opportunity to everyone who has thought about or worked on, had a great idea, or written a manuscript that they feel is worthy of being published. Any topic is open to everyone in Michigan and, if living beyond our great state borders, to anyone who would like to write about Michigan,” said MEMSPA Executive Director Robert E. Howe, Jr. “I meet people every week who have great children’s book ideas and manuscripts. This is their opportunity to break through the huge walls of publishing to get their material reviewed by our awards publishing team.

We will pick two winners each year to publish—a chapter book and a picture book, to reach children from 3-14 years of age.”

“We have partnered with an award-winning publishing company, Mackinac Island
Press, who have a great track record of publishing exceptional books that are distributed across our country. The Association of Booksellers for Children refer them as ‘being on the cutting edge of publishing’ and we agree—they publish excellent and important children’s books and we are excited to partner with them.

Not only will they publish the winners, they’ve also agreed to offer all of their books at a 40% discount on their website (www.mackinacislandpress.com) with the discount code ‘MEMSPA’. This originally started as a member benefit and we decided to offer it to all of our communities in these tough times.

You won’t find children’s books any better than theirs,” said Howe. “They’ve been endorsed by parent, library, kid, teacher and principal groups around the country. They have a new technology on their website to preview every single page of their books – online – that showcases their great books, as it will our winners, which is another reason why we are excited to be partnering with them.

MIP publisher and author Anne Margaret Lewis is happy about this opportunity for aspiring authors. “This contest can fulfill a dream and even launch a career. If you go to our website, you can see the quality of book that the winners will be associated with,” said Lewis.

Submissions should be sent to the MEMSPA office. Each entry costs $40 for processing with additional entries per person at $25. Entries must be sent with check or credit card information to MEMSPA, 1980 North College Road, Mason, MI 48854. No email entries are accepted, however entry forms are available at the MEMSPA website,
www.memspa.org/pdf/MIBookAwardApp2009.pdf.

Entries can be submitted until August 31, 2009. Five finalists will be announced for each category, with one winner for each category receiving a contract to have their book published and released during Michigan Week in May the following year.

For additional information contact:
Robert E. Howe, Jr., Executive Director
Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association
1980 North College Road
Mason, MI 48854
O - 517.694.8955
F - 517.694.8945
C - 517.927.5028
bob@memspa.org

OR:

Brian A. Lewis
Associate Publisher/Director of Branding & Licensing
Mackinac Island Press, Inc.
216 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
ph 231.946.7737
fax 231.946.7754