Horses Inspire Girls to Read and Write

June 25, 2009 - Girls love horses. It doesn't matter if they live in the North America, South America, Europe, Asia or beyond--girls are connected to horses and horses connect girls.

Since 2001 Girls Horse Club™ has edited, illustrated, and published thousands of stories created by and for horse girls while providing a safe and fun online community. Each summer we host a virtual horse camp with activities, competitions, and giveaways that nurture a love for horses through writing, reading, drawing, photography, games, and more. This year we're raising the bar with a fiction competition judged by high-profile children's writers and media experts Terri Farley, Sharon Lerner and Jessica Burkhart. The goal is to give young authors a boost of confidence and a leg up toward achieving their goals, along with some fun prizes and great content for readers.

Entries are accepted starting Saturday June 27 and ending August 23, 2009. Winners will be announced September 12, 2009. Prizes donors include publishers Random House, Simon & Schuster, Sourcebooks, Precious Moments, Bella Sara, Templeton Thompson, each of the competition judges, and more. Please see the links below for additional details.

Competition Information | Prize Round-Up | Donor and Sponsor Information | Entry Form

JUDGE BIOS

TERRI FARLEY has authored more than 40 books including the best-selling Phantom Stallion and Wild Horse Island book series. When she's not writing, visiting classrooms or giving workshops for young writers, Terri is a wild horse advocate and avid student of horse behavior. She once spent two weeks on a remote island in rugged conditions recording the behavior of wild mares as a volunteer for EarthWatch.org.

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Jessica Burkhart started writing at age 14 to fill a void after spinal fusion for severe scoliosis meant she could no longer ride horses. She built her resume as a teen freelance writer, and as a senior in college she wrote a novel in 30 days as part of the National Novel Writing Month. By the time she graduated Magna Cum Laude at age 20 with a BA in English, she had an agent and a book deal with Simon & Schuster for her first series, Canterwood Crest.

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Sharon Lerner is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer who helped develop two highly acclaimed television series, Sesame Street and Between the Lions. As former head of Children's Media for Random House, she helped initiate their expansion beyond books into audio, video and software. She has also authored more than 10 books, most recently a picture book adaptation of Black Beauty. Sharon is a lifelong horse girl who enjoys Dressage with her horse Coda.

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