If you’re looking for the next great writer, you might want to begin your search at Clanton Intermediate School.

The school held its annual Young Authors’ Conference on Friday with two special guests, children’s author Kim Norman and illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba. Both spoke to the students and did demonstrations of their work.

But perhaps most exciting of all, 17 students received awards for books they had written and illustrated themselves.

Third grader Allie Lightsey was the only double winner in the group, receiving first place for both best story and best illustrations for her entry, “The Softball Game.” The book is about a girl named Katie who loves to play softball but isn’t very good and gets made fun of. After much practice, however, she is rewarded for her efforts.

“I love to play softball,” Lightsey said. “At first, I wasn’t that good, but now I’m really good.”

She said her brother taught her how to draw.

“I just come up with weird things and draw them,” said Lightsey, the daughter of Eddie and Sharon Lightsey of Clanton.

Fifth grader Madison Sanders won first place for illustrations in her book, “The Life of Megan Maddox,” which tells the story of a family that has to start over after the father dies tragically.

“It just popped in my head,” Sanders said when asked how she got the idea.

Sanders is the daughter of Brian and Amy Sanders of Clanton.