The owner of a photography studio near Seattle is the winner of the third Cheerios New Author Contest for children’s books.

Laurie Isop, 39, of Renton, Wash., won the contest with her story, “How Do You Hug a Porcupine?” Isop’s story netted her the grand prize of $5,000 from Cheerios and a book deal from Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing. Her book will be featured free inside boxes of Cheerios cereal in spring 2011 and will be released in hardcover later that summer. Cheerios also named two runners-up in the contest: Billie Fowler, 55, of Williamsburg, Va., for her story, “Samuel T. Slingshot,” and Jessica Young, 39, of Nashville, Tenn., for her story, “Juliet the Jellyfish.” Both Fowler and Young will receive cash prizes of $1,000 from Cheerios.

Cheerios received nearly 3,000 entries in the contest, which ran from March 16 to July 15, 2009. Isop had drafted her story, “How Do You Hug a Porcupine?” prior to learning about the contest.

“My sister owns a bookstore in Stoneham, Mass., and she sent me a link to the contest and encouraged me to enter,” said Isop. “I probably revised my story 18 or 20 times before submitting it.”

Isop said she’s immensely honored to have her story selected and thrilled to know it will be published and distributed across the country, thanks to Cheerios and Simon and Schuster.

“I’ve wanted to be an author since I was twelve,” she said.

“There were so many great entries this year, but Laurie’s manuscript really blew us away,” said Publisher of Books for Young Readers, Justin Chanda. “It’s a delightful story that hits all the right notes: warmth, humor, with a great twist ending. It’s a proud addition to our list.”