Comments about the 2007 Competition What has this competition meant to students, families, teachers, and judges? Here are their responses:   From Family Members: When our daughter, Brie, first heard of the Tweener Ministries Cover Art Competition, she was intrigued by the concept that she had a chance to design a book cover that would actually appear on a published book. Winning second place with a generous scholarship has been very exciting for her. . . . An added blessing has been the opportunity to complete two additional book covers for other winning manuscripts in the contest. I noticed her process: read the manuscript for ideas, work on a concept design with guidance and input from Tweener Ministries staff, and then eventually seeing the artwork on the cover. Such a valuable experience for a young person! Lila Jenkins, mother of Brie Jenkins, second place winner in the 2007 Cover Art Competition.   Thanks for hosting this great competition. It is a great idea to give those who have recently been devoted readers of preteen chapter books the opportunity to write what they enjoy. As I have told my daughter/student- just writing a book is the major reward from this project. How many people ever take their books from their heads to paper? It was great to see her work so passionately and diligently even as we took a 5 week vacation across the US. She hogged our laptop to get her quota of pages/day. . . . I am thankful for your competition as it has helped Beth develop her God-given ability to write. And she is thinking about the art competition and the next book competition already! Carole Dellinger, mother-teacher of semi-finalist Beth Dellinger   On behalf of Sam (Wiorek) I want to thank you for this opportunity, not only for the chance of a scholarship, but also for the invaluable experience of writing such a book.  While it was difficult at times, Sam truly enjoyed the experience.  I believe the project has enriched his life by stretching his creative abilities and by giving him a glimpse of what he's capable of.  He has completed the project with a deep sense of pride and satisfaction.  My hope is that he builds on that experience and it helps shape his future life goals.  Thanks again, Chris Wiorek   From Students: Writing has been a part of my life for several years now, and in that time I've learned many things about the craft. One of those things is that the real satisfaction of working on a story is not necessarily the reception it receives from others; it is the art of writing the story and knowing that no matter what the results are, you've given it your best shot. On that note, I know that we've all heard the saying "It's not the destination, it's the journey that matters."  For me, at least, the Journey was in the writing.  Thank you so much for the oppurtunity. Noah Lantz, Lantz Homeschool, Kentwood, MI, USA Entry: Crair's Journey  Teaacher: Hilda Lantz   Thank you so much for this opportunity!  I can't tell you how much it means to me that you take the time to read thousands of teenagers' manuscripts, each one hoping that theirs will be the winner.  I know I would feel tremendous pressure.  But the important thing is that all of us managed to complete one - and who knows?  Perhaps this will inspire us all to follow our dreams until we actually get one published!  Thanks again for the time you've put into this.  I really feel it is an honor to compete. Rachael Purta, Elyria Catholic High School, Elyria, OH, USA   Entry: Dreamer     Teacher: M. Heinrich   The great philosopher Calvin (as in "Calvin and Hobbes," not John Calvin) observed that in order to write one must have the proper motivation: panic.  I had an idea for a story but no time in which to write it.  Then I was informed of this competition and had the chance to turn my idea into a book.  After many hours and many cups of tea, I finished and submitted it with a deep sense of relief. I would like to thank Tweener Ministries for giving me this opportunity (as well as to Mr. Quiring, who told me about it in the first place).  I would also like to thank my parents for their encouragement and patience.  Finally, my profound gratitude to the REAL Nathan Quist and the rest of the people whose names I borrowed!  Adam Stuck, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador, Alliance Academy International  Entry: Nathan Quist and the Curious Affair of the Cresent Earrings      Teacher: Robert Quiring I would like to thank everyone who put their time into this competition. Competing has been a very positive experience for me because I had the motivation to actually finish a book (something I'd never done before). I was already 400 pages into a completely unrelated book when I heard about the contest. I knew I just had to submit a manuscript, so I dropped my other project, pulled together a story line and opened my laptop. Fifteen days later, I emerged from my room grinning ear-to-ear. It was finished. The feeling of having accomplished that feat was so rewarding it doesn't matter if my manuscript made it through the first round of judging; the book itself is my true award. Thanks again, from the bottom of my heart. And I look forward to reading the winner's book! Hannah Stahlhut, Danville, IN, Homeschool   Entry: Journey to the Homeland   Teacher: Monica Stahlhut   I must admit that this has been quite the experience!  For awhile I was very worried while I was writing my manuscript; things just kept going wrong!  Like for instance, the computer crashing and taking the first 8 chapters of the work with it, but your competition has given me some more confidence in my own writing, I think.  And of course I'm curious to know who will win, and I can't wait to read the winning manuscript; I know for a fact that there are a lot of other highschoolers who like to write and I think that your competition is a great way to get us out of our shells.  It helped pull me from mine...  Thanks again.  Nichole White,  Secor, IL,  Homeschool   Entry: Song of the Daystar     Teacher: Carolyn White I'm excited just to be part of such a great competitive learning experience. (And to have made the deadline!) As far as T-shirt sizes are concerned, I would prefer a size large. I think of you and Mr. Trittin often, and hope to see more of you both when we get settled in Indiana. I appreciate the way you two are encouraging teens to write. Many Thanks!  God Bless You, Kari Lynn Travis, Jordan, NY,  RoseLynn Christian Academy    Entry: The Fairies' Lair     Teacher: Linda Travis I first learned about this competition in my Creative Writing class in my junior year.  I wanted to become a fiction writer, so I took that class for half a semester.  Then I found the entry form for the competition and discussed with my teacher about it during the school days and the summer vacation.  I knew this competition would be my first step to get near to my fiction writer career, so I worked hard and wrote my story for the entry.  As I finished, I was having this new feeling that made me queasy because I had never written such long chapter-containing story.  I made sure I proof read and finally turned it in to the competition.  I really had to thank God for providing me and letting me know about this competition and for putting me into the creative writing class because if it weren't for the creative writing class, I would have never known about this competition.  And also because of this competition, I feel like I am another step close to being a fiction writer.  And thank Tweener Ministries. Inc for providing the people who wanted to become a writer (including me) a competition.  Joseph Suh, Daejeon, South Korea,  Taejon Christian International School Entry: Light in the Soul     Teacher: Bryan Munson Writing is something I truly love to do. For me, writing is not just a quick fling or pastime; it is a passion, so naturally I jumped at the chance to write a book.  This is not my first completion of a written work of novel length; I have written many others, but none of them are published. I must say that writing this book came as more of a challenge than I expected, although I never expected it to be simple since it was on a lower age level than what I usually aim for.  When I had finally finished the first draft and realized that I had to rewrite the thing thanks to length, I knew it wouldn't be a picnic anymore.  Even though I was in a rush to get everything finished and sent off by the deadline, I still enjoyed it, quitting was never an option even when things were hard, and when it was all done I was extremely glad I had at least gotten to give it my shot and not given up. I think this experience was extremely good for me, win or not, because I believe that anything I do, no matter what, should be worked at, given my all, and not left until completed, and I needed this experience to remind me of that. Thank-you very much for allowing me this extraordinary privilege. Ellenna Eccles, Lake Jackson, TX,  Brazosport Christian School  Entry: Magic Island  Teacher: Tammy L. DeLeon I am glad I had the opportunity to write for this competition.  It was just the motivation I needed to finish my book.  This competition was a very positive experience; it has given me self-confidence.  Annie Horrocks, Kalamazoo, MI,  Heritage Christian Academy  Entry: Extraordinary     Teacher: Lalerie L. Mickley   I appreciate the time you have put into the competition. Estee Wells, Roanoke, IN,       Entry:  Dimensions   Teacher: PeggySue Wells   I would like to thank you for this chance. My friends have been pushing me to send something of mine in to a publisher for years, and this competition opened up a new door to a confidence I have never known before. Thank you for this experience. Even if my book is not chosen, I will have come away with something very valuable. Thank you so very much!  This has been an amazing experience for me.  If my book is not chosen I will send it on to other places. It is going to have to take an amazing author to win this thing, and if that's me then one dream will have come true.  If it's not, then it just wasn't time for my book to surface yet.  Thanks again! Lauren J. Gebers, Littleton, CO  Front Range Christian High School     Entry: Scarlet Rose     Teacher: Sharon Payne Writing the story was such a wonderful experience. May God bless you always.    Dorothy Mae Anat, Quezon City, Philippines  Cornerstone Christian Academy of Quezon City   Entry: Dugong Song      Teacher: Melissa Lourdes C. Cumpio   Regardless of winning, losing, and everything in between, this competition has been a stretching experience for me. It's been a pleasure to construct a story longer than anything I've ever written in my life, a story with space for character development, theme development, plot development, and even personal development of my own skills as a writer. I have evolved along with my story, and I hope that anyone who reads it will share in that metamorphosis with me. Greg Coles, Bandung, Indonesia,  Bandung Alliance International School              Entry: Against the Current     Teacher: Janine B. Hegle   Comments from Judges: "I'm impressed. I could not have done this myself." "Hope to see this on the shelf one day." "Congratulations! You have finished writing a book. That alone makes your efforts special because many people begin books, but few finish . . . Thanks for an entertaining , enjoyable story!" "I was really impressed by the descriptive writing and variety of style, the conciseness and clarity of the writing. I was also impressed by the creativity and ingenuity regarding the details and locations portrayed. Excellent writing!" "You are a wonderful imaginative writer! Your story lends itself to visual communication - film?  The problem is that it's geared to older readers." "The quality of the manuscript is better than many adult novels by aspiring writers I've critiqued." "Some excellent touches to sustain the classic tone and style. You established a different era with different sensibilities and customs and sustained it to the end." "I want to start by saying your book was fantastic! The concept is phenomenal and I especially liked the intensity of the climax. Good job!" From Others:  “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 Meyers, author of the award winning books series My Life as . . .  and the Forbidden Door series, and co-creator of Focus on the Family’s McGee and Me. "We deal with the nuts and bolts. You make writing fly!" Andrew Pudewa, President, Institute for Excellence in Writing.