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Sydney Kramer

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"I think writing my book changed my life," said Sydney Kramer. Like any accomplished author, she identifies with her characters, spends time considering the next big plot for the latest novel, and she makes speaking engagements at schools and book readings.

But Kramer isn't your typical author. Kramer is your typical 15-year freshman at Downtown East High School, and yeah, her friends think it's pretty cool she's published wildly popular children's books, "Cookie Dalmatian."

Storiedsuccess.com caught up with the young author one afternoon after school to discuss her books and her plans after graduating in the class of 2012, when she'll be an alumnus.

Although she's never taken a writing 101 course, made it through a grueling upper level English class or even sweated through the SAT exam, Kramer is a successful author.

She has published four books in the "Cookie Dalmatian" series about a dog who solves mysteries. "I came up with the idea when I was 10, so the first book is about a case of missing prom dresses," Kramer said. She and her father, Marc Kramer, also a writer, worked on the book together and got it successfully published in 2004. It became a hit among young readers that holiday season.

"The first book I published did a lot better than I ever thought it would," she said. As she got older, Kramer said she has made the mysteries more complicated. Book two features Cookie the Dalmatian finding a missing diary, the third book he's on an adventure to find lost treasure, and the fourth will take place in the Middle East.

Kramer said she would like to publish more books to make a complete popular series such as "Harry Potter," "The Hardy Boys," or "Nancy Drew."

She doesn't currently have plans to write books on any other topic, although she said she might. Kramer seems to think of publishing a book as any other goal, completely attainable when you put your mind to it. It's as though it hasn't crossed this 15-year-old's mind that most people never achieve what she has in their entire adult lives. She's got her own website, a few books under her belt, a career ahead of her and years to get there. She told Storiedsuccess.com she's just enjoying the first few days of high school and enjoying finally being 15, since she had a birthday a few days ago.

She looks at her books as a cool way to save money for school. She would also like to start babysitting soon to raise extra cash for shopping. Kramer's parents have invested much of the profits from her books into savings for college, but she is allowed to piddle some of it on CDs, make-up, the usual "teen stuff" as she puts it. She loves her new Juicy Couture sweatsuit, but she's not sure if it's Barbie pink or blossom pink. Generally she prefers seafoam green or shy blue, she said. It's those details and her eye for exactness that make Kramer a readable author. Her vivid verbiage, and need for self-expression is refreshing.

Despite her accomplished career, Kramer told Storiedsuccess.com that she doesn't want to major in writing when she gets to college, nor does she plan to be an author when she gets out of school. She wants to use her creativity in other ways.

"I've always dreamed of being an actress," she says. She doesn't have a role model actor, but she loves musical theater, especially movies "The Sound of Music" and Oklahoma. Kramer has done a little acting in community theater and she played a role in the musical "Cinderella," last year's school play. This year she plans to audition for the musical again. Like her books, she plans to land the leading lady spot, even if it takes years and plenty of practice. "So far, I've just gotten extra stuff, but I'll make it," she said.

In the opinion of myalmuniwebsite.com, she will, or she'll do anything she sets her mind to using her mantra, "the harder you work, the sooner you'll be there."

For more information on Kramer's books, go to www.cookiedalmation.com.

Cookie Dalmatian Mysteries


15-Year-Old Mystery Writer Honored by

 Pennsylvania Senate

(State Senator Andrew Diniman presents Pennsylvania Senate Citation) 
Sydney Kramer, a ninth grader in the Downingtown Area School District, was recently honored by the Pennsylvania State Senate for her Cookie Dalmatian Mystery Book Series.  The books are targeted for 5 to 10 year olds and are in black and white so children can color in the characters.  They are ideal holiday gifts and Sydney gives away 10% of the sale price to a children's charity.  To order please go to: www.cookiedalmatian.com 

 
 

 

 

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Evelyn Dogbey

Gloria Rabinowitz

Deb DiLorenzo

Maxine Ballen

Sydney Kramer
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