Willoughby Hills resident and writer Kim Van Sickler has a manuscript in the Backspace Writers Conference “This Manuscript HAS to Become a Book!” Scholarship Contest, and she wants your vote.

Her novel "Muleskinner" — written for middle grade readers — takes place on the Ohio and Erie Canal. You can read an excerpt from "Muleskinner" on the contest page (it's No. 63).

Van Sickler — who says she's the only Cleveland-area entrant — writes to me:

Late in 1844, on the Ohio Canal, a 12-year-old mule driver's world is turned upside down when a mysterious dog uncovers a box of secrets that lead the orphan to discover his past, escape indentured servitude, and find a sister he never knew he had.
Bottom line is I want people to vote! A Hollywood movie memoir is in first place! What's so different or special about that? Meanwhile we've got no fictional canal era books about the Ohio-Erie canal. 

She has written more about the writing process on her post on the Swagger Writers blog: Writing is a Team Sport. 

Head over to www.backspacewritersconference.com/backspace-scholarship-contest-time-to-vote to cast your vote for Van Sickler's "Muleskinner," which is No. 63 on the list.

Van Sickler is a Girl Scout leader and the Service Unit Director of SU 762 of Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, serving Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, Kirtland, Eastlake and Willowick. Anyone with questions can contact her at kimvansickler@gmail.com.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl