The 2016 North Country Historical Writing Contest is now accepting entries from local writers.

The contest, sponsored by Assemblywoman Addie Russell and NorthCountryNow.com, offers aspiring authors of all ages a chance to tell their stories.

Writers are encouraged to unleash their creativity, whether they are interested in their family’s history in the region, the role a hometown played in the nation’s past, or the imagery that has been set loose by a North Country landmark.

Pieces submitted could depict overlooking the Eisenhower Locks in Massena, standing on the War of 1812 battlefield in Sackets Harbor, boating near Boldt Castle or Singer Castle on the St. Lawrence River, or visiting SUNY Potsdam, one of America’s oldest colleges. The North Country is full of history, and everywhere you go there are stories, some well known and others totally unfamiliar, just waiting to be told.

The writing contest is open to people of all ages with three age brackets: children up to age 12, young adults from age 13 to 18, and adults 19 or older. Contestants must live in either Jefferson or St. Lawrence County to enter. While true stories about North Country places and heroes are welcome, the contest is also open to writers who want to explore the region through historical fiction. Stories must be 2,000 words or fewer to be eligible for consideration.

Authors should submit their stories to Sean Ewart at ewarts@assembly.state.ny.us with “Historical Writing Contest” in the subject line, with entrant’s name, age, and address at the top of the submission.

The deadline is Feb. 29.

“I travel all over the North Country on a regular basis,” Assemblywoman Russell said, “and I’m always impressed by the long and rich history our region enjoys. We’ve played a critical role in the expansion of global trade, in the War of 1812, and before that the region was a major part of the Iroquois Confederacy.

“There were smugglers in Ogdensburg during the War of 1812, pioneers in global trade in Massena during the building of the Eisenhower Locks, and industrialists who harnessed the power of the Black River during the founding of Watertown. These are the men and women who made the North Country great and their stories should be told,” said Russell, a Democrat from Theresa whose 116th “River District,” includes all St. Lawrence County towns along the St. Lawrence River (Massena, Ogdensburg, Louisville, Waddington, Lisbon, Oswegatchie, Morristown, and Hammond) plus the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, plus part of Jefferson County.

Stories will be judged based on their historical and dramatic content, style, and connection to the region. The ideal story is one that demonstrates knowledge about the North Country’s history and people while creating a narrative that’s hard to forget.

The contest judges are SUNY Potsdam History Department Chair Thomas Baker, Jefferson County Historical Society Director Diana Page Jordan, Director of the Flower Memorial Library in Watertown Yvonne Reff, Theresa Free Library Director Kristy Perry, Reading Room Association of Gouverneur Director Linda Adams, and Canton Free Library Director Emily Owen.

An awards brunch will be held on March 26 to celebrate the winners.

Winners will be notified at least a week prior to the brunch.

Winners’ and runners-up’s biographies and stories will be featured on NorthCountryNow.com. Full stories will be published online at http://northcountrynow.com/contest.

For more information, email Sean Ewart at ewarts@assembly.state.ny.us.

“This contest is a chance for us to celebrate and show off our region’s history,” Russell said. “I’m looking forward to reading the submissions and learning even more about the North Country!”