GNA CAMPUS- Last school year, Mrs. Williams had her sixth-grade reading class write mini-sagas. After writing these, the stories were sent to Young Writers’ Survival Sagas: Mission Catastrophe Contest. 

Young Writers’ was established in 1991 in a small warehouse in Eastern England. Young Writers’ is a part of the award-winning Bonacia family. Also, they are a family run business but they have blossomed into a worldwide brand with over 25 years of experience.

On September 9, 2019, a letter was sent out saying how out of the 7,500 entries, a number of mini-sagas that were written by our students were chosen for publication in Mission Catastrophe-Tales from Pennsylvania. They like to put the children in the books because it boosts confidence and showcases writing skills as well as giving the students a real audience and purpose for their writing.

Mission Catastrophe-Tales from Pennsylvania is scheduled for publication on November 30,  2019. As for our school participating, we will receive a complimentary copy of the book.

The GNA Insider interviewed those students who were involved:

Name: Noah Stachyco

Grade: 7th

What inspired you to write your mini-saga?

I always thought a story about a nuclear war would be interesting, but my story was inspired by Fallout 4. It’s setting is after a nuclear war. 

What is your mini-saga about?

My mini-saga is about a kid in a car that is driving away from a recently bombed the city. 

How did you feel when you heard that your mini-saga was getting published? 

I felt excited and surprised that my mini-saga was getting published. Mainly surprised because I never thought I was a good writer. 

What was your favorite part about writing your mini-saga? 

My favorite part in writing my mini-saga would probably be coming up with a story about a nuclear war. The concept of a nuclear war fascinates me. 

Name: Katie Krieger

Grade: 7th

What inspired you to write your mini-saga?

Space inspired me but then I thought of the sun and a great collision like The Big Bang that took place billions of years before. 

What is your mini-saga about?

The sun is coming down and fast, it is going to collide with the Earth. The world will never be the same as it was the day the sun fell.

How did you feel when you heard that your mini-saga was getting published? 

I was excited and shocked. We hadn’t heard about the mini-saga since last year so it came as a surprise. 

What was your favorite part about writing your mini-saga? 

The one sentence, “The world would never be the same again..”

Name: Olivia Cromer

Grade: 7th

What inspired you to write your mini-saga?

Nothing special to be honest, I just thought it was the most chaotic thing at the time. 

What is your mini-saga about?

A fiery tornado destroying a small town and a small child fighting for his life 

Name: Gracie Jean Miller

Grade: 7th

What inspired you to write your mini-saga?

I have always loved tsunamis and water-related things. I find them fascinating. 

What is your mini-saga about?

It is about a huge tsunami that wiped out a large population of people. 

How did you feel when you heard that your mini-saga was getting published? 

I was excited and really happy. I also felt accomplished.

What was your favorite part about writing your mini-saga? 

The fact that I got to write about whatever I wanted. 

Name: Isabella Selner

Grade: 7th

What inspired you to write your mini-saga?

Tsunamis because they are interesting. 

What is your mini-saga about?

A tsunami. 

How did you feel when you heard that your mini-saga was getting published? 

I felt accomplished. 

What was your favorite part about writing your mini-saga? 

My favorite part was writing the end.

Name: Alexa O’Looney

Grade: 7th

What inspired you to write your mini-saga?

The Purge movies. 

What is your mini-saga about?

The Purge.

How did you feel when you heard that your mini-saga was getting published? 

I was happy and excited.

What was your favorite part about writing your mini-saga? 

My favorite part was everything.

Name: Brady Rushton

Grade: 7th

What inspired you to write your mini-saga?

The Netflix original Bird Box.

What is your mini-saga about?

A kid who is with his brother who leaves to go out to get supplies and never comes back. 

How did you feel when you heard that your mini-saga was getting published? 

I felt really happy and excited that is getting published. 

What was your favorite part about writing your mini-saga? 

My favorite part was writing it and having the ideas.