For young people in Newtown, a chance to have their poetry, short stories, and/or art published is here.

The New Stories For Newtown: Words and Images contest has a deadline approaching. Entries are due by October 31, and according to C.H. Booth Library staff, they are looking for as many student entries as possible before that time.

New Stories for Newtown started last year when Newtown resident and children’s author and illustrator Ross Macdonald suggested the idea to C.H. Booth Library Children’s Librarian Lana Bennison.

For the second year, authors and illustrators visited Newtown and local schools for the New Stories For Newtown program this June. Activities and presentations were offered on Saturday, June 7, at Reed Intermediate School, and authors and illustrators also visited schools for individual presentations on Friday, June 6.

The New Stories For Newtown: Words and Images contest was introduced this year with the theme, “What Inspires Me.”

The student submissions will be printed along with the works submitted by professional authors and illustrators, according to Ms Bennison. Special awards will also be given out to exceptional student submissions.

All Newtown students under the age of 19 are able to enter the contest, as well as Class of 2014 graduates, according to Ms Bennison.

Student work will be seen published with authors and illustrators Gale Carson Levine, R.L. Stine, Jennifer Thermes, Antoine Revoy, Kelly Murphy, Mo Willems, Jane Yolen, Kate DiCamillo, Judy Schachner, Tony DiTerlizzi, Tom Angleberger, Daniel Handler, Lisa Brown, Bethanie Murguia, David Shannon, Brian Selznick, Jarrett Krosoczka, Bruce Degen, Paul Meisel, Nathan Fox, Joe McKendry, Nick Bruel, Barbara McClintock, Alan Katz, Jerry Pinkney, and Robin Preiss Glasser, according to Mr MacDonald.

“We encourage kids that have pieces of poetry or art to seriously consider submitting them. We would like older kids to contribute as well; up to grade 12. We really want a wide range of age groups submitting,” Ms Bennison said.

So far, the contest has accumulated ten submissions from students in kindergarten to second grades, five from third and fourth graders, 11 from students in fifth and sixth grade, and 12 from students in grades seventh and eighth, and just three submissions from high school-aged students.

To submit an entry, there is a box called the “Fancy Box” in the Children’s Department at the Booth Library.

 “We just want to encourage the creative writing process,” said Ms Bennison.

More information and an entry form for the New Stories For Newtown: Words and Images contest is available online at Facebook.com/newstoriesfornewtown or at chboothlibrary.org. Original works of art, illustration, poetry, fiction, graphic novels, digital art, paintings, collages, prints, fabric art, and photography will be accepted through October 31. Mixed media or three-dimensional pieces can be submitted via a clear photograph of the piece. Each piece must relate to the theme “What inspires me.”