News and Stories

VIRL Sponsors Teen Writing Contest in Partnership with Rebel Mountain Press

VIRL would like to belatedly congratulate all of the teen authors who participated in the In Our Own Teen Voice anthology and writing contest!

This is the sixth consecutive year that the library has partnered with Rebel Mountain Press of Nanoose Bay to promote the contest and provide prize money to the winners of each category.  Despite the chaos of the Spring, the contest received 167 submissions -the most EVER!  The writing is heartbreaking, hilarious, insightful, and adventuresome, covering topics including first love, autism, coming out, and the beauty of nature.  Books can be borrowed from the library or purchased directly from Rebel Mountain Press.

Submissions are already open for next year’s contest.  Find details on Rebel Mountain’s website: https://www.rebelmountainpress.com/in-our-own-teen-voice.html

Thanks to all of the talented teens who contributed to making this year’s competition such a success!  Rebel Mountain Press will be publishing the anthology this Fall.

“I love judging the In Our Own Teen Voice contest -the submissions are so creative and varied.  Each year the teens are so justifiably proud of bringing their ideas to life.  In previous years we had Author Readings with the teens, so this year we are in the process of recording them for our upcoming podcast.  Some of them read such intensely personal pieces that I am in awe of how brave and talented they are. ” D. Love, CSL Nanaimo North

Congratulations to the winners below!

Stories, Grades 11-12:

1^st Prize -Freya Podlasly for Frontflips (Mill Bay)

2^nd Prize -Brenna Jardine for We Are Perfect (Campbell River)

3^rd Prize -Natalie Knoll for Snow on Christmas (Port Alberni)

Stories, Grades 8-10:

1^st Prize -Grace Greene for Azmia (Nanaimo)

2^nd Prize -Claire MacKinnon Nelson for Graffiti Defeati  (Campbell River)

3^rd Prize – Lane Agnish Nesling for Flightless Bird (Courtenay)

Poetry, Grades 11-12:

1^st Prize -Zaira Walshe for The Lake (Qualicum Beach)

2^nd Prize -Jacinthe Desjardins for Fondness of Naivety (Sooke)

Poetry, Grades 8-10:

1^st Prize -Paul Wu for And Then It’ll Be Alright (Nanaimo)

2^nd Prize -Elena Sales for Spring Time (Qualicum Beach)