It's pretty much the coolest thing that can happen to an 11-year-old.

Emily Hinely's dad bothered her to enter a contest pegged to a new book series, "Main Street Kids" by Ann M. Martin, author of "The Baby-sitters Club" books. Scholastic, the series publisher, promised books, money and a visit from the author to a child that created an essay or project about their town.

Bob Shapiro Photography (ENLARGE)

Emily Hinely, 11, entered a contest pegged to the new book series 'Main Street Kids,' by Ann M. Martin, mostly so her dad would stop bugging her about it.

AUTHOR SIGNING Ann M. Martin Speaks and signs books, 3-5 p.m. Monday, at Scott's Bookstore, 28 S. Court Square, Newnan. 770-253-2960. LIVING Latest Headlines: Georgia Aquarium to welcome 10 millionth visitor  Aquarium adds 4 sandbar sharks to exhibit  Cellphones serve as '$300 baby rattle'  Athens ranked among best places to live  Jobless Atlantans stay busy volunteering  • More Living Stories • Living photo galleries • Georgia Aquarium news and photos • Zoo Atlanta news and photos

Emily is a regular on Newnan's main streets, where her parents and grandparents own businesses. She agreed, finally, to get her dad to quit bugging her.

She snapped photos of her downtown favorites: her parents at Hit the Trail, grandparents at Bob Shapiro Photography and The Wynn House on Spring, regulars at Espresso Lane.

And Scott's Bookstore, where she usually spends spare cash.

"I like mysteries. I like books that have girls and boys that are around my age group. I like scary books, but they can't be too scary because they'll freak me out," Emily says, hardly taking a breath. "I've read all the 'Harry Potter' books, seen all the movies and all that. 'The Baby-sitters Club,' I loved all of them. I don't really have a favorite. They're all books that I can relate to."

Her photo collage was shaped like a house, because downtown is her home.

Surprise: It won.

Her prize $500 gift card, well, "that's sort of all gone now," says Emily, a fifth-grader at Arnco-Sargent Elementary. She bought a trampoline, an American Girl doll — Molly, if you're curious — Legos for her little brother and doodads from Claire's Accessories. Books, too.

But there's another part to the prize: Martin, the author, in the flesh.

Martin's writing schedule usually keeps her from book tours, but she'll be in Newnan on Monday to greet fans and sign books.

Emily is so excited, so nervous, she doesn't even know what to say to the writer.

She expects to start with "hi."

Pretty cool, huh?