Sunday, March 3, 2013

Nancy Drew Strikes Again!

Growing up, I was an avid reader, one of those stereotypical, “nose in a book” girls!  I spent much time outdoors on the farm, working and playing, but also loved reading in my room. I started to enjoy creative writing in third grade. Friday afternoons were traditionally when our teachers assigned stories to write. Oh how I treasured those times designated for writing!

As I began reading more grown up books, I received Nancy Drew books as gifts. These were timeless classics when I read them and are even more so today. Recently, I checked out a Nancy Drew book for my fourth grade daughter. She was hooked after the first chapter of “The Secret of the Old Clock”! She’s been devouring these books ever since and told me that one night she woke up at 2:00 a.m. and wanted to read. Though we don’t look or act alike, we share a passion for reading and writing. Alexandra is a bookworm, just like me, and she’s written dozens of lovely stories. While home from school recovering from the flu, she wrote a single spaced, five page mystery. She spent two days working on it and was excited when she finished. As I read her story, I overlooked punctuation errors and realized how much her writing had improved in just a few months. I told her that I loved her story, and she asked me if I would edit it for her. She later asked if I would publish it for her. Even though I was so proud of her and thrilled that her interest had reached that point, I told her that her story wasn’t quite ready to be published and that she should continue to polish it.

One day, I would love my daughter’s books to be published through Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, and I would be her biggest fan. Until then, we continue to accept submissions from other authors. Please visit the Submissions Guidelines tab at www.progressiverisingphoenix.com for information on submitting your work. We look forward to working with a wide range of authors and their corresponding books. You never know who might end up being the next Carolyn Keene; it could be you!