Young Authors Have Adventures in Publishing

There was no brie, Chardonnay or cucumber sandwiches at this reading and book-signing. When the applause died down, it was strictly apple juice and animal cookies.

But if the snacks were juvenile, the prose was quite mature, given that the authors were all under 14 years old. Eleven young authors made their public debut Saturday at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Costa Mesa, with several of them reading from portions of their new book, “Adventures in the Library.”

The youngsters read their own short stories and later signed copies for family, friends and regular customers. Profits from the books, which cost $10 each, go to Friends of the Library.

The 15 stories in the book were evidence that when you hang around books long enough, literacy rubs off.

The event was the culmination of a one-year project sponsored by the Orange County Public Library and the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

More than a year ago, the theater and the library sponsored a “short-short” story writing contest for children 8 to 12 years old. About 160 entries were submitted in December 1995. The winning 15 entries, published by the library, were included in the paperback book.

The topics of the stories ranged as far as the authors’ imaginations could take them. The library played a central role in each story, but from that point the plots spun out in all directions.

Take 13-year-old London Pyle’s entry, “Ketchup and Green Smoke.” Literary pals Amanda and Felix Riggins encounter in the pages of library books cowboys, detectives, pirates, even the Queen of England, who come home with them in the flesh.

Another story--”In A Book,” by 10-year-old Michael Blatchford-- features heroes Ryan and Jamie who encounter a space alien. His space ship is a book in disguise. Blatchford read the part of the alien in an appropriately other-worldly voice.

And there was 11-year-old Erika Rae White’s “Mischief,” a dark story of an evil being, who is “possessing” the heroine’s father. The girl takes refuge in the library.

“It’s amazing some of the imagination that went into these,” said novelist and television writer Neal Shusterman of Mission Viejo, who helped judge the contest. “And every one was different.”

The common ground for all the authors, however, was a love of books and well-developed imaginations--as well as good grades in English composition.

“It’s exciting, really,” said Pyle, of Corona del Mar, who said she wants to be a writer and elementary school teacher. “I just suddenly get an idea and go for it.”

Pyle’s mother, Delia, said her daughter “makes up a lot of stories. Our computer is completely full. There’s no memory left.”

Blatchford, a mystery and science-fiction fan, said his story took a month to produce, “but it was worth it. It felt good to get published.”

White said her inspiration was “a really weird dream. Also, I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of dark forces.”

She said she’s hasn’t decided whether to be a woman of letters or a veterinarian. There’s already an author in the family: her mother, who is in the process of publishing two books.

The daughter beat her into print and, after the initial run of 100 copies, “Adventures in the Library” will go into a second printing.