Teens (ages 13-19) are invited to write an essay of 500 words or less describing how they would end the Twilight Series. Submission deadline is July 23, 2008. All submissions must include: full name, age, and phone number.

The winner will be announced at the Breaking Dawn Launch Party upstairs in the Kids Bookstore at our Saskatoon location, Saturday, August 2, 9:00-11:00 am.

Essays may be submitted via email. Call 955-1477 for more information.

Write and illustrate your own 10-15 page graphic novel, with original characters, story, and artwork. Content must be appropriate for ages 10-14.

The contest is open to anyone ages 10-14.

Submission deadline is August 9, 2008. 1st, 2nd and 3rd-place winners will be contacted August 16. All submissions must be left at the Kids Desk in an envelope marked with the author/illustrator’s name, age, address, phone number, and parent’s name.

Submissions may be retrieved after August 16, 2008.

Have fun, and good luck!

To check out some inspiring graphic novels that have already been published, click here.

Geist Magazine is running a short-short writing contest: 500 words or less, action in at least two different Canadian time zones. Find the full details here.

Kimbooktu points to this YouTube video of what to do with a naked wall and an old, unwanted book.

Personally, I don't own any old, unwanted books (except for maybe that box of university textbooks that I just know is going to be useful one day).

HarperCollins Canada is launching their "Pop Culture" email newsletter with a contest. Subscribe to their newsletter and you could win a "Pop Culture Prize Pack" consisting of one signed copy of Warren Ellis' new book, Crooked Little Vein as well as a limited Crooked Little Vein t-shirt! Also included in the pack is Neil Gaiman's Stardust, Scott McCloud's Making Comics, Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union and My Dead Girlfriend by Eric Wight.

If you're worried about spam, don't be- the newsletter is actually quite informative for pop-culture vultures. So, even if it is clever marketing, it's clever because its pretty good.

In October, 31 teen authors will be participating in online, interactive chats with fans as part of Readergirlz and YALSA's "31 Flavorites" event. Participating authors include Stephenie Meyer (of Twilight fame), John Green (author of the fantastic Looking for Alaska), Meg Cabot (author of too many books to even begin to mention) and many, many more. For the full schedule and further details, click here.