Thank you to all those who entered the fifth annual Cheerios® New Author Contest!
Laurie Isop won the top prize for her story, How Do You Hug a Porcupine? In addition to winning a $5,000 cash prize from Cheerios, Laurie will have her book published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division. Laurie's book will release in 2011 as a paperback inside Cheerios cereal boxes, and later in hardcover sold in the market.
Catch a glimpse of Laurie's Story, How Do You Hug a Porcupine?
Plus, look for Can I Just Take a Nap? written by Ron Rauss, the 2010 Cheerios New Author Contest winner in specially marked boxes of Cheerios cereal. The book, printed in both English and Spanish, is now available, while supplies last.
Ron Rauss won the top prize for his story, Can I Just Take a Nap? In addition to winning a $5,000 cash prize from Cheerios, Ron will have his book published by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing. In 2012, Ron’s book will be distributed free in paperback inside Cheerios cereal boxes, and later in hardcover sold in the market.
Lori Degman was the grand prize winner of the 2nd Cheerios New Author Contest for her story, 1 Zany Zoo. Degman, her husband and two sons live in Vernon Hills, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. She grew up in Willmette, Ill., and attended MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill., graduating with a degree in deaf education, followed by a master's degree in early childhood education from National-Lewis University. Degman started writing for pleasure 17 years ago, and picked it up again in 2007, after her two sons went to college.
Braeuner, a resident of Nashville, Tenn., who works as a nanny for a family with four children, was washing the family dog when she came up with her idea for the story. Shellie also holds a Masters in Education and has worked as a child/adolescent counselor and often uses stories as a way to communicate with children.
