Bragging Rights: My Son’s Book Publicity

This was featured in our local magazine…
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — Joey Conroy, 10, has won the Sylvan Dell Publishing Picture Book Writing Competition for Homeschooled Students for his imaginative manuscript, “Jumping Bugs.”

Editor Donna German describes Conroy’s submission as “a clever, rhythmic way to introduce basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.”

“Joey’s writing style flows with a maturity beyond his years and is really an impressive work. We receive and review about 30 manuscripts per day here at Sylvan Dell — submitted by authors from all over the world — and I can tell you that young Joey has a writing future ahead,” German said.

Conroy will receive a $200 prize, and his manuscript is being considered for publication in the company’s 2008 catalog.

While “Jumping Bugs” took top honors in the competition for students working on the high school level, Sylvan Dell also recognized two runners-up who will receive $75 each. Second place went to Michigan student Michaela Gneco for his manuscript, “Our Walk in the Forest.” Third place was awarded to Daniel Morin of Connecticut for his rhyming periodic table tale, “Albert’s Elements.”

Sylvan Dell launched the competition in February to encourage writing among homeschoolers and to promote their mission of bringing science and math to children through literature.