Dear Agent X,

Twelve-year-old budding graphic artist Brian Malone is in for a summer of trouble.

While his Army mom faces a long recovery in a hospital far away, he’s stuck in his grandparents’ small town with little brother Marcus and Nonna’s miniature piglet, both big time troublemakers. Some local kids snub Brian and the only other kid around is Kyra, a golf-cart-driving maniac.

To keep his mind off his injured Mom, Brian creates a piece of work for a local art contest, but discovers no graphic art is allowed. He switches to paints, but the piglet and Marcus destroy his newly acquired supplies, and he’s back to square one. Dad, who’s never supported Brian’s art “habit,” gives him no sympathy over his troubles. In his hurt and anger, Brian blurts out that he’ll make Dad a deal. If he wins the contest, Dad has to become his biggest fan, forever. Dad agrees.

Brian immediately regrets his big mouth since the only art available to him now is carving with Nonno and a neighbor boy named River, who proves phenomenal. Brian has many setbacks as he attempts whittling, but he knows he needs to pick it up fast if he wants to win the contest and Dad’s approval. He improves, but isn’t sure it’s enough to win the contest. When Mom slips into a coma, Brian uses a memory of her to carve a perfect dove and realizes he should send it to her. This begins Brian’s awakening to what’s important in life—family, friends, and respecting others’ talents, as well as standing up for your own.

My contemporary MG novel, TROUBLE IN HEMLOCK HILLS, a tale where RESTART meets THE SOMEDAY BIRDS, is complete at 46K words. It won second place in the 2018 WV Writers Contest, MG/YA novel category. It would appeal to kids who love doing art, those in military families, and those interested in folklore. I’m an active member of the SCBWI and have publishing credits in Guardian Angel Kids e-zine and Devozine magazine.  

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Juliana M. Jones