Today — at exactly2:15 PM — my entire life changed. That was when Mr. Dougherty, my creative writing teacher, told my class about Young Authors Day.

I'm Mallory Pike. Most people call me Mal. I'm eleven years old, and I want to be a writer. Correction. I am going to be a writer. And I am going to write about everything. And illustrate my books, too.

Anyway, Mr. Dougherty announced the event to my creative writing class, which is a special one that I was invited to join because of my writing talent. (Does that sound too conceited? I hope not.) I was so thrilled when I was picked for his class because not only is Mr. Dougherty the coolest, funniest, smartest teacher I have ever had, but he has actually had a book published. He's a real author like I want to be. The kids in my class call him Mr. D. He seems to like it, too. He's kind of round

and jolly, with a big, bushy mustache that he twirls around his finger whenever he's pleased with something. He always twirls it when we call him Mr. D.

Now, where was I? Oh, right. Young Authors Day. Mr. D told us that it is a special day celebrating future writers. A famous author is going to talk to the whole school about writing and how to get a book published, and then a contest is going to be held, with prizes going to the best writers inStoneybrookMiddle School . There are lots of categories that we can enter: Best Poem, Best Short Story, Best Mystery, Best Illustration of a Story, and (the one I hope to win) Best Overall Fiction for the Sixth Grade. When I told Mr. D that was the category I wanted to enter, his eyes twinkled and he twirled the ends of his mustache. (So I know he was pleased.)

I couldn't wait to tell Jessi about it. She's my best friend. Jessica Ramsey is her full name, but no one ever calls her that, except maybe her parents when they're mad at her. Jessi is beautiful. She's tall and thin, with wonderful long legs that are just right for a ballerina, which is what she is. And not just any ballerirta, either, but one of the best at this really good ballet school she goes to inStamford . Just to show you how great a dancer she is, Jessi's had the lead in several major pro-