There is nothing that a writer likes more than to have their work validated by someone other than their friends and family. I had been leery about entering writing contests. I wondered if I’d be able to take the rejection if my story didn’t place. And truth to tell, there have been quite a few where it didn’t. But that’s okay. If you’re a serious writer you know odds are you’re going to get rejected numerous times before your writing resonates with that one special agent or publisher.You submit your very best work, you hope and you pray, and sometimes you just forget you even entered with the time frames being so long. An envelope arrives. You don’t even recognize the name on the return address. But instead of throwing it away – you take a moment to open it and read “We (The Institute of Children’s Literature) are very excited to congratulate you on your success in winning our “Early Reader Mystery Contest. Your piece, “The Night Raiders,” was our panel’s third prize winner.” That’s what happened to me.
Woo Hoo!!! Validation! Maybe I really can write. Just the spark I needed to continue down the path of writing for children.
Because several of my friends and colleagues have asked, I am reprinting the story here. One day I hope to turn it into an actual book. Enjoy!
Read The Night Raiders by Caren Cantrell
