Mystery Youth Writing Contest and Jacqueline West Author Visit
On Thursday October 30, the library will host Minnesota Book Award Winner Jacqueline West! Celebrate local young authors and learn more about Jacqueline’s writing process and books.
The author visit will be the final event in our young authors’ writing contest based on Jacqueline West’s middle grade novels "The Books of Elsewhere" and "Long Lost". You do not need to participate in the writing contest to attend.
Writing contest entries are due by Friday October 17th. Entries can be submitted in person or at 2025 Youth Writing Contest Registration Form
- Date:
- Thursday, October 30, 2025
- Time:
- 6:00pm - 7:30pm
- Location:
- Margaret Rivers A&B
- Library:
- Stillwater Public Library
- Audience:
- Children Age 6-12
- Categories:
- Books, Authors, and Writing
Writing Prompt 1: The tagline for “The Books of Elsewhere” is "This house is keeping secrets." Imagine a story where you (or your main character) discover a powerful secret hidden somewhere within your own home. What might it be? Where might it lead? Who might have put it there in the first place?
Writing Prompt 2: In “Long Lost”, the characters trade tales about "The Searcher," a mysterious being that lurks in the woods on the outskirts of town. Create your own Searcher lore. Who—or what—is it? A ghost, an animal, a monster, a human, or nothing at all? What might happen to a character who enters the Searcher's woods?
The author and our youth services librarian will choose a grand prize winner to receive their own personalized, autographed copy of Long Lost, and have their story published on the library’s webpage. Runner-ups will receive signed copies of The Books of Elsewhere, the first of a duology written by Jacqueline West, and have their stories published on the library’s webpage.