Schaumburg resident's writing recognized

Congratulations to Schaumburg resident Susan Miura, who was recently named runner-up in the Young Adult category of the American Christian Fiction Writers' annual Genesis contest for unpublished authors.

Miura, who is both public relations coordinator for the Schaumburg Township District Library and a longtime member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, was recognized for "Show Me a Sign," a Christian novel for teens.

More than 450 people entered the contest, and five finalists in each of the nine genres were announced in June. Each finalist had two days to polish his or her manuscript and resubmit it for a second round of judging by a panel of literary agents and editors.

Miura attributed recent advancements in her writing career to workshops and author presentations she's attended, adding that the Schaumburg Township District Library hosts many such events that are useful to aspiring writers.

"It's a great way to sharpen your writing skills and find out what editors want," she said.

Earlier this year, Miura had a short story published in "Missing," an anthology released by Echelon Press. All proceeds from "Missing" benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.