Medfield Resident Enters National Writing Contest to Benefit the Wheelock School

Doctor Anne Sawan, a Medfield resident for 11 years after growing up in nearby Needham, is putting her passion for writing to work in a national writing contest with hopes of getting her book published and winning the the MeeGenuis Library of online children’s books for one year.

“I have always loved to read,” Sawan said. “I read everything and anything and I think with that often comes a love of writing. I did some creative writing in my younger years.”

Dr. Sawan is a licensed psychologist, who spent years working in a mental health clinic performing abuse and trauma evaluations for the Department of Children and Families and the courts. She has also taught psychology at Emmanuel College in Boston.

While she has enjoyed her career as a psychologist, her first love has always been writing.

“I decided to take a break [from teaching] and began focusing more on writing,” Sawan said. “I have had several stories published in various adoption magazines, including Adoption Today and Adoptive Families."

Dr. Sawan said she heard about MeeGenuis.com’s Author Challenge 2011 writing contest through the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and entered.

“I entered this contest because it looked like fun, I like the quality of books the site has out and I have always wanted to have one of my stories published as a book,” said Sawan. “I also liked the school piece and I think the kids at Wheelock would enjoy this addition to their library.”

Dr. Sawan, a married mother of five children, has a third grade son, Teddy, currently enrolled at the Wheelock School.

“If I win, Wheelock would be the recipient of a MeeGenuis Library for a year,” Sawan said. “The books on their website are well done, engaging and colorful and are a great way to share reading activities. “I know Wheelock, and Medfield, pride themselves on different ways to approach and embrace literacy.”

Now, with less than two weeks until voting closes on the contest, Sawan needs your help.

Follow these easy links to vote for Sawan’s books to benefit the Wheelock School if chosen as the winner:

• Vote for Sawan’s book, “Two Years Bigger, Two Years Smaller,” by clicking here.
• Vote for Sawan’s book, “The Baseball Game,” by clicking here.

“These two stories in the MeeGenuis contest are based on my kids but really are about anyone's kids,” Sawan said. “The first one, ‘Two Years Bigger,Two years Smaller,’ is based on my two sons, Harry and Teddy. They are two years apart and although they have very different personalities, they are very close. I love watching them play and use their imaginations together, but they are getting older and I can see that in a short time these games might end, especially as one enters middle school.

“The second story, ‘The Baseball Game,’ is about a kid who appears to be great at everything and a kid who is not ... He tries but he just can't measure up to his fearless peer. He is also a little quirky, not quite fitting in to the fourth grade sports scene. At the end, these two kids connect, despite their differences. I think this story reflect the feelings a lot of boys have. The pressure to be tough and competitive and the pressure to try and fit in, when maybe you don't.”

Dec. 18 is the deadline to vote for Sawan’s books on MeeGenius’ contest website. Finalists, according to the website, will be chosen by either a “popular vote” or as a “staff favorite.” The finalist round will run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 21. If Sawan advances as a finalist, she will have her book(s) professionally edited, illustrated and produced for the final round of voting. The winner will be announced March 7.