Clanton Intermediate School students were treated to visits from guest authors and illustrators on Friday as part of the Young Authors Conference.

“This is a time where the students can hear from authors and illustrators about how some of the books they enjoy reading are put together,” CIS librarian Donna McCary said.

This year, author Michael Shoulders from Clarksville, Tenn. spoke to students about the process of writing, how he gathers ideas for stories and even performed a rap song about Tennessee.

Author and illustrator David Biedrzycki also spoke to students about how he comes up with ideas for his stories and characters in the books he has published.

“A book always starts off with an idea,” Biedrzycki said. “I get ideas from a lot of things. Sometimes, I get ideas when I am dreaming so I keep a journal under my pillow to write down the ideas that I have in the middle of the night.”

The conference also highlighted the winners from the Young Authors Conference.

Every year, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students at CIS write stories and produce illustrations for a chance to win a Young Authors Conference Award.

Judges not affiliated with CIS chose entries for first, second and third place awards in Best Story and Best Illustrations categories for each grade.

“It is a good time for the students to learn about the process of writing a book and illustrating it,” McCary said.

Fifth grader Charlotte Blencowe is no stranger to the written word after entering the competition and winning awards the last two years.

“I just really enjoy writing,” Blencowe said. “I get ideas about things and think they make good stories so I write them down and then I draw pictures to go along with the ideas.”

Blencowe took home the second place prize in the best illustrations category for fifth grade for her book, “Mittens.”

“I found a cat and brought her home and she had kittens while she was laying on top of me so I decided that would make a great book,” Blencowe said. “I didn’t know she was going to have kittens when I brought her home.”

Although Blencowe is unsure what career path she might take in the future she knows she enjoys illustrating books.

“I think that is more fun than writing because you get to use a lot of different utensils to draw,” Blencowe said. “I like writing the stories, but being able to draw the ideas is a lot of fun.”

Blencowe said she has written three books so far, not including the books she wrote when she was a small-child to sell at her birthday parties.

“When I was like three or four I would write books and sell them for 5 cents each at my birthday party,” Blencowe said.

The following 18 students received 2015 Young Authors Conference awards:

Fifth grade, best story

•Sherya Simon, first place

•Anna Cleckler, second place

•Morgan Landreth, third place

 

Fifth grade, best illustrations

•Molly Myers, first place

•Charlotte Blencowe, second place

•Paris Edwards, third place

 

Fourth grade, best story

•Claire Parker, first place

•Lilly Speaks, second place

•Balen Falotico, third place

 

Fourth grade, best illustrations

•Claire Parker, first place

•Joshua Minor, second place

•Belle Richardson, third place

 

Third grade, best story

•Hannah Hubbard

•Ella Price

•Campbell Easterling

 

Third grade, best illustrations

•Kornelius Swindle

•Ella Price

•Hannah Hubbard