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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 19, 2007 - 37 Deadline approaches for Write2Xpress writing contest T here's still time to enter The Oakville Public Library's Write2Xpress writing contest for teens. Simply submit an original short story based on your interpretation of any or all of the three photos in the promotional material (a scene in Venice, the Eiffel Tower, or Stonehenge). The deadline for entries is Oct. 26. The awards night will be held on Nov. 13 at the Glen Abbey Branch where contest winners will be announced and all invited guests will have the opportunity to meet guest speaker and author, Marsha Skrypuch. Although Skrypuch didn't learn how to read until having to repeat Grade 4, she then became a reading fanatic and promised herself that she'd be a writer one day. In 1994 her first book, Silver Threads was published. Skrypuch is the author of many award-winning books for children and Young Adults. During the evening of the Write2Xpress awards ceremony, Skrypuch will discuss the writing life and her new book, Prisoners in a Promised Land ­ a heartwrenching depiction of one girl's experience at a Ukrainian internment camp in Quebec during World War I. Skrypuch's own grandfather was interned during WWI at Jasper Internment Camp in Alberta. She traveled to Spirit Lake Internment Camp in Montreal when researching for her book. Once arriving at the cemetery, Skrypuch was overcome with emotion at the sea of crosses, the landscaping all overgrown and abandoned. Mary Manko, the real life person whom the main character in her new book is based on, had a two year-old sister buried in that very cemetery. An excerpt from the back cover of Prisoners in a Promised Land: "Saturday, March 20, 1915 Dear Diary, Every time I think it can't get worse, it does. Ten Canadians have been killed in battle, and three Allied warships have sunk. Canadians are angry as bees and they are taking it out on us. Tato, Stefan and Mr. Pemlych have all been sent to northern Quebec. I heard that it is very cold up there and that there are wild animals that eat people. What did we do to deserve this? Didn't they ask us to come here in the first place? If the Canadian government didn't want us, why did they encourage us to come?" In order to qualify for entry into the Write2Xpress contest, entrants must reside in Oakville or attend an Oakville school in grades 7 to 12. Entrants will have a chance to win one of nine certificates to Oakville Place Mall. All short stories must be the original creation of the person whose name appears on the Write2Xpress official entry form. A maximum of three short stories per entrant are permitted. For full contest rules and regulations, pick up a Write2Xpress official entry form available at any library location or on the Teen Wiki at www.opl.on.ca. -- Submitted by The Oakville Public Library invite you to an IS SOMEONE YOU CAUGHT IN THE LOVE OPEN HOUSE Saturday, October 27, 10am - 3pm 1037 North Service Road, Oakville (go east from Trafalgar Road) GAME? We Can Help! Problem Gambling Services Oakville ADAPT · 5-Day Treatment Program · Professional · Confidential · Free Looking for an interesting hobby? Why not try community theatre? Come watch a current scene in rehearsal and meet TOP members. Enjoy refreshments while we show you around. Discover what's involved with all the backstage jobs you could volunteer for when we do our shows at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. 905-847-6547 The phone book has officially E V O L V E D. Directories have changed. So should your directory advertising. Directory Commercials Talking Directory Characters Free Website & Update Service Rewards Points & Newspaper Offers Gold Book Local Directory For more information on Gold Book call 310-GOLD or email sales@goldbook.ca