28th Annual Writers’ Digest Self Published Book Awards
KITTY GIRL AND MR. SQUIRREL, RESCUED AND HOMED
SCORES (1 low -5 high)
Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 5
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 5
Production Quality and Cover Design: 4
Plot and Story Appeal: 5
Character Appeal and Development: 5
Voice and Writing Style: 5
Judge’s Commentary*:
Author does a nice job of handling the more difficult realities of a cat’s fate once it winds up at the shelter and beyond. Great writing instinct keeps the story authentic and honest, yet glides it over the more upsetting points to moments of connection. Author crafts a smooth, forward-progressing pace for this story, giving Kitty emotions and curiosity to which the reader can connect. Well done. Author’s writing voice remains consistently soft and natural, creating a balance between adjustment and play. Well done. We get a sense of setting in each scene, and author uses darkness to elicit a realistic sense of confusion and anxiety. Adding Mr. Squirrel to the mix gives Kitty not just a cohort through which to share details, but also a *reason* to share personal experiences and feelings. Mr. Squirrel makes the exposition natural, and Kitty’s heart comes through as well. Nice decision. Dialogue maintains its youthful innocence tone throughout, and characters are given differentiated voice patterns. Good work. I noticed many instances of using strong verbs, avoiding the passive voice for more engagement, and selecting age-appropriate vocabulary. Excellent elements for the story, and reader finds complete comfort in the reading or following along. Author does a wonderful job of giving Kitty a life and activities outside of the main plotline, such as playing on the porch, tracking birds, catching the gecko. That’s excellent world-building for Kitty, allowing her character to exist and to play in her timeline without it having a major impact on the storyline. What we’re getting is excellent character depth, plus movement and existence in the setting. Beautiful work.
