This year our Illinois authors submitted their works of Adult or Young Adult fiction to be considered for the 2021 Soon To Be Famous Illinois Author Project contest. After carefully reviewing these submissions, we are excited to announce our Semi-Finalists for the 2021 contest.
Also, we're happy to announce the Semi-Finalists for the 2021 De la Página a la Fama. Congratulations!
Adult Fiction Semi-finalists
In alphabetical order by author last name.
- Long Live Rock, Leslie Baldacci (Chicago Public Library)
- Flash Drive, Donald J. Bingle (St. Charles Public Library)
- Northern Lights, Michael Chatlien (Zion-Benton Public Library)
- Baby Moses, John Cowlin (Grayslake Area Public Library)
- A Child Lost, Michelle Cox (Grayslake Area Public Library)
- Lies in High Places, Dana Killion (Chicago Public Library)
- Glory Bishop, Deborah L. King (Fountaindale Public Library)
- A Discerning Eye, Carol Orange (Chicago Public Library)
- Demon's Bane, India Powers (Gail Borden Public Library)
- BlowOut, Terri Reid (Lena Community District Library)
- Loose Ends, Terri Reid (Lena Community District Library)
- Songbird Baby, Kate Robards (Indian Prairie Public Library) * Kate was our 2020 Manuscript Winner and earned semi-finalist status for her book as part of her prize award. She has since secured an agent and therefore asked that her entry be withdrawn from further judging. We wish Kate success with her novel.
Young Adult Fiction Semi-finalists
In alphabetical order by author last name.
- Throw Away Sisters, Debbie Deutsch (Freeport Public Library)
- Reverie, Zee Lacson (Grayslake Area Public Library)
- The Keepers of the Light, Otto Schafer (Mackinaw District Public Library)
- All Last Summer, Stephanie J. Scott (Aurora Public Library)
- Crossing Lines, Melanie Weiss (Oak Park Public Library)
De la Página a la Fama Semi-finalists
In alphabetical order by author last name.
- El Quetzal Azul - El Mundo Desde El Cielo, Dennis Avelar (Addison Public Library)
- De Zorros y Erizos, Raul Dorantes, (Lincolnwood Public Library)
- No Siempre Es Un Valle De Lagrimas, Pacuala Herrera (Franklin Park Library)
- Grandes Aventuras de un pequeño viajero, R. C. Ontiveros (Gail Borden Public Library)
- Por Que Lo Hiciste Cain? Hijos Fuera de Control, Ferney Ramirez (Fountaindale Public Library)
- No Quiero Ser Adolescente. Reflexiones de una adolescente desesperada, Ferney Ramirez (Fountaindale Public Library)
- Proudly Bilingual/Orgullosamente Bilingüe, Araseli Rodriguez (Crystal Lake Public Library)
Now our judges get busy reading these entries and narrow down the lists to our three finalists for each category. Watch this blog for the next big announcement.
Congratulations to the authors listed above. We thank everyone who took the time to submit their work. And if you didn’t make it to this round this year, we encourage you to keep writing and editing. And perhaps, try again next year.
