Three local youths attend Rand’s writing camp

Madeline Cade, Audrey K. Myers and Hope Budny-Clymer are best friends and schoolmates at Fayette Christian Academy in Vandalia.

They all love to read, and were thrilled when they were all chosen to attend a writing camp of their favorite author of young people’s books, “American Chillers,”  Johnathan Rand. Displaying one of their favorite Rand books, they explained how their thrilling adventure came about.
These three young girls used their ingenuity and skill on the computer to do some research on their favorite author.
Madeline said, “Since we read his books, we decided to go on his website one day, and it tells all about his previous camps, which they have been doing for nine years.
“We went to an authors’ camp in Michigan.”
Hope said, “We had a lot of fun doing it, but to get in you have to write a 100-word essay.
“That was really hard, and only 44 kids ever get in, so my mom was happy I got in,” she said.
“I learned a lot about writing. They teach you how to re-word your work and sentences and stories better. I learned a lot, and I’m hoping to go next year,” she said.
Audrey said, “I found out about this camp because my sister told me about this book, and I read them all.
“The camp interested me because he (Rand) would actually be there with some other famous writers. We would go to a workshop, which were called writeshops, because at author’s camp, they said we shouldn’t work. They would teach us how to improve our writing,” she said.
“Then, they would let us go, and we could go find someplace on campus and free-write.
“We could write whatever and go wherever (on campus) that we wanted to. If we got stuck, we could like daydream and look at the beautiful scenery,” Audrey said.
Future Chapters in Their Lives
Hope said that she would like to be a science teacher and also write science books.
“I am writing two stories. The camp helped me a lot, and I made a lot of new friends.
“It was a great experience, and it helped me improve my writing five times better,” she said, noting that Madeline and Audrey had introduced her to the camp.
Hope regarded both the camp and the older campers’ writing as “amazing.”
Madeline has always been interested in the study of insects and other little creatures, and plans to become an entomologist. She would still like to write, and plans to write serious books about her studies in entomology.
“I like writing and I like entomology, so I’m going to find a way to combine them. I like fiction, but I want to write factual books about bugs, to help people get into entomology … and also into writing.”  
Audrey said, “I really like to write, and I think that what I want to do is be an author when I grow up.
“I really want to be a paleontologist, so I want to write a book, like a thriller book, with some dinosaur facts in it. I would add the facts, but write so people would get into writing and dinosaurs … and reading books. "
An Interesting Fact
Audrey received word that she was accepted for the camp at Christmas, Hope received word on Valentine’s Day, and Madeline learned her good news on her birthday-all special days.
The camp included a lot of different activities, including skits and acting. They were in different groups for the skits, interacting with the other campers, and they described the skits as a lot of fun.
The girls agreed they were never pressured to write at the camp, they were all helped, and they would all like to return to the camp next year. They will again be required to write an essay.
They enjoy their hobbies so much that they hope to encourage others to read, write and become interested in their serious interests. They also encourage one and compliment one another.
All in all, Audrey, Hope, and Madeline are great representatives of their age group, their school, their home and their town.
Whatever paths or walks of life they decide to pursue, it’s very likely they will be assets and make a difference,  and though they may go on separate paths, they will always have the bond of good memories of the writer’s camp.  
Footnote: Madeline hadn’t applied for the camp because it was expensive, her dad is to have a liver transplant and her mother was just starting a second job. Madeline wanted to go, but she didn’t want to have her parents spending money on the camp, so she didn’t apply.
Her mother received an e-mail from Johnathan Rand asking why Madeline hadn’t applied. Given the reasons, Rand e-mailed back, telling them of an individual who gives a scholarship to one child to attend camp, but Madeline would have to write an essay and, if accepted, her camp would be paid for.
Rand notified her parents when she was accepted, but Madeline wasn’t told until she got a call from “American Chillers” during her birthday party, when he Skyped to give her the great and amazing news.       
 

Audrey K. Myers, Madeline Cade and Hope Budny-Clymer display one of their favorite books written by Johnathan Rand, author of the popular “Chillers” series for young people.