Kay’s Outreach Programs
If you’re a regular reader of Kay’s You 2.0 blog or Living Your Five, you know that she’s passionate about gratitude and paying it forward. In keeping with those values, Kay created two extensive outreach programs as her way of saying thanks and giving back. And stay tuned for a cool new bookseller program coming soon!
The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest | The Teen Author Challenge
The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest
For school and public libraries
Kay created The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest to provide assistance to the many wonderful libraries facing staff reductions and budget cuts in today’s tight economy. This unique, trivia-based reading program offers teen and youth librarians year-round free programming and free prizes while also promoting a wide range of YA and MG/tween fiction. Participation is 100% free for everyone – authors, librarians, and readers alike. Kay funds the entire program as part of her Giving Back campaign.
More than 150 authors are currently participating, including many New York Times bestselling authors and winners or finalists of the Newbery Medal, Printz Award, National Book Award, and Edgar Award. Since launching in April, more than 200 libraries have already registered with more joining every week. The program has been promoted by librarians at library conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada, featured on readergirlz and YPulse, and endorsed by several state library associations via a statewide announcement to all teen and youth librarians.
If you’re a librarian at a school or public library in the U.S. or Canada and are looking for ways to keep your kids and teens reading, The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest is here to help. Find out more details and register today!
The Teen Author Challenge
For aspiring writers and school/library/bookstore-based writing groups
If you’re an aspiring writer of YA or middle grades fiction (or an English teacher or writing group leader!), this unique writing challenge is for you. Kay created the year-long Teen Author Challenge as her way of paying it forward to help other writers achieve their dreams of publication.
The year-long program runs from July 14, 2009 to July 13, 2010. New participants and creative writing classes are welcome to join at any time! A new Teen Author Challenge is posted every Tuesday on the You 2.0 blog, covering everything from manuscript prep to writing the first draft to editing, polishing, and making the story shine. You’ll wrap up the year with the ins and outs of the submission process for participants ready to take the next step toward publication.
This unique program incorporates an inspirational quote of the week from your favorite authors plus tips and techniques from successful YA and middle grades authors and from Kay herself. Kay firmly believes there’s no One Right Way to write a novel. The Teen Author Challenge helps writers find and embrace their own unique writing process.
Click here for full details about the program. Join the challenge today!
