GOLDSBORO, NC – A Goldsboro bookstore associate is gaining national recognition after winning a nationwide writing contest celebrating creativity among employees across the country.
Books‑A‑Million, the second-largest bookstore retailer in the United States, recently announced the five winners of its fourth-annual Round Up For Writers contest. Among them was Goldsboro resident Tegan Emery, whose dystopian fantasy story “The Shadows of the Storm” earned top honors in the long-form writing category.
The contest celebrates the creativity and talent of Books-A-Million associates nationwide. This year’s competition included four written winners and one art winner, showcasing storytelling and artistic talent from employees across the country. As part of the recognition, winners were invited to attend a gala in New York City hosted by Poets & Writers, the nation’s largest nonprofit literary organization.
“We are incredibly proud of the talent our associates have shared,” said Olivia McDaniel, Vice President of Marketing at Books-A-Million. “It takes courage to put creative work into the world, and we are honored to celebrate our winners while also supporting the important mission of Poets & Writers. Thanks to our customers, this year’s Round Up For Writers campaign made an even greater impact.”
The Round Up For Writers campaign also raised more than $200,000, which will help Poets & Writers continue supporting writers through publishing resources, professional development, and community opportunities.
A Creative Voice from Goldsboro
Emery, who has worked at the Goldsboro Books-A-Million for more than four years, said her love of reading started at a young age.
“I used to get in trouble with my parents for reading too much instead of doing my chores,” Emery said. “I told them I could be doing much worse things than reading.”
That lifelong love of storytelling eventually inspired Emery to begin writing her own novel in early 2022. What started as an idea during her free time evolved into a full-length dystopian fantasy novel.
“I had an idea and I wrote it,” Emery said. “Since finishing the first draft, I’ve moved on to a second draft and editing.”
Her winning story, The Shadows of the Storm, centers around a character named Kazimir navigating a dangerous dystopian city.
“Kazimir was neither a thief nor a murderer, and he kept to himself except to visit the Market, so he was left alone for the most part. He hated visiting the Market… but there was no other way to get coffee,” reads an excerpt from Emery’s award-winning submission.
Emery said she enjoys writing darker genres, including dystopian fantasy, horror, and poetry.
“I like writing anything that’s dark, really,” she said. “I love reading about villains and different perspectives.”
National Recognition and a Trip to New York
Winning the contest also brought Emery to New York City for the first time, where she attended the gala and explored the city.
“It was wonderful. That was my first time in New York,” she said. “We were right in Times Square, within walking distance of a lot of cool places. Honestly, I was mainly focused on food — every day my goal was to find somewhere new to eat.”
The recognition also reinforced her long-term goal of publishing the novel, which she plans to turn into a series.
“I plan on making it at least two books, possibly three,” Emery said. “I’m working on the second one now, though it’s giving me a little more trouble than the first.”
She even revealed she once wrote more than 100,000 words of the sequel before deciding to scrap it and start over.
“The characters kind of take on a life of their own,” she said. “If what you’re writing doesn’t align with them, it just doesn’t work.”
Promoting Creativity in the Community
Emery said she hopes her recognition encourages others to embrace reading and creativity.
“I think it’s important to celebrate creativity, especially with everything going on in the world,” she said. “Picking up a book is a great way to go on an adventure.”
Originally from a small town, Emery has lived in Goldsboro since 2021 and currently works full-time at Books-A-Million while continuing to write in her spare time.
Looking ahead, she plans to continue her career with the company, possibly transferring to Tennessee after her husband leaves military service.
For now, Emery said she’s grateful for the opportunity and recognition.
“I’m very grateful for Books-A-Million for hosting this contest every year,” she said.
Her win highlights the creativity found within the Goldsboro community — and may mark the beginning of a promising literary career.
