The 2018 Muskoka Novel Marathon (MNM) has raised $32,509.10 for adult literacy services in our community.
YMCA Literacy Services provides a variety of courses for academic upgrading, literacy and basic skills in reading, writing and math, computer and life skills, GED and ACE preparation, e-learning, English as a Second Language (ESL) and savvy seniors.
The YMCA program and its predecessor, the Muskoka Literacy Council, has been the beneficiary of the event since its inception in 2002. The MNM has raised more than $200,000 to date via the participating writers, who gather pledges with the promise to spend 72 hours trying to pound out a novel.
Writers can choose to submit their manuscripts, which must be written only during the weekend, to a panel of judges. The winner in each of the Adult and Young Adult fiction categories get their manuscripts sent to a Canadian publisher.
This year’s Adult winner was Kathleen May, for Song; the Young Adult winner was Jennifer Turney, for Merim and the Fourth.
There were also several awards presented to participants, some of them peer-voted:
Most Prolific Writer (for the most writing accomplished in 72 hours) – Lenore Butcher with 50,200 words
Rockstar Award (for the second most prolific writer over 250 pages) – Pat Flewwelling
Remy Award (for most funds raised) – Cheryl Cooper ($2,275)
Techie Award (peer-nominated for the writer who is most helpful with computer troubles) – Krystyne Taylor-Smith
BIC (Bum in Chair) Award (for the writer who shows the most dedication to their writing) – Michael Codato
Spirit Award (most enthusiastic writer) – Colum McKnight
Rookie of the Year – Keaira Yaworski
Some of the Muskoka Novel Marathon 2018 award winners (from left) Kathleen May (best adult novel), Jennifer Turney (best YA novel), Pat Flewwelling (Rockstar award), Keaira Yaworski (rookie of the year) and Lenore Butcher (most prolific writer).
“We are so grateful to the Muskoka Novel Marathon for giving us this gift each year that goes towards our literacy programs,” said Brian Shelley of the YMCA. “It was the the money raised from the MNM that allowed us to start the ESL (English as a Second Language) program that has helped so many new Canadians.”
Next year’s Muskoka Novel Marathon is officially booked for July 12-15, 2019—watch muskokanovelmarathon.com for the registration date.
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Kudos, Kathleen! When you told me the Campbell-Soup-condensed version of your novella, I had high hopes for it.
Hi Sharron,
Only manuscripts written at the novel marathon can be submitted for judging. Watch their website, muskokanovelmarathon.com, for details on how to register for next year’s event if you’re interested.
Congrats to all…….
Just wondering though…..if I have a manuscript, can I turn it in at any time or only during the marathon?
What are rules, requirements etc?
Please let me know.
Thanks.
Thanks for the coverage!
.
As far as I recall, I don’t think the two “Best Novel” categories (Adult & YA/Juvenile) have both been won by writers from Huntsville before. Yep — in an event which draws participants from as far away as Alberta, Quebec, the USA (we had one from near Cleveland this year) and even Central America, 2018 champs Kathleen and Jenn live right here. Yet another thing for our town to be proud of.