By BEN CAMERON
A 17-YEAR-OLD Beaconsfield student’s passion has helped her achieve a goal many writers spend a lifetime trying for.
Beaconhills College’s Esme James is set to become a professional author with her 40,000 word novella Honeyflower and Pansy being accepted by US publisher Astrea Press.
Self-described as an “utter bookworm”, Esme also penned a five-year contract in the process.
It’s been just reward for effort for Esme, who began writing the novella in the middle of 2012, and suffered the usual amount of rejection writers do.
“I had sent the novel around to the few publishers in Australia, receiving a few highly encouraging emails back, and actually did a lot of work with the editing team of one of them, but it ended up just missing out,” she said.
However her luck eventually changed, with a confirmation email from Astrea bringing her to tears.
“Honestly, the fact that I’m going to be a published author has not sunk in yet,” she said.
“Ironically, I was in the study, stressing over my up-coming literature exam, when my family started screaming at me to check the emails.
“It was utterly surreal. I had gone through the scenario so many times in my head, that it just didn’t feel real.
“I read the acceptance email, and just started to cry.”
The novella was a good way to take a break from her VCE studies.
“I did most of the writing on and off over the school holidays,” she said.
“I used writing as a kind of relief from my VCE. It ended up being a highly effective, and productive, stress-relief.
“Writing is by far my greatest passion, because it has become the way that I experience the world.”
Covering social issues, romance and inspiration, the book traces the life of Amanda who has a sister with autism.
“It attempts to capture humanity at its highest, and lowest points, ultimately offering a message of hope,” she said.
“It explores the different types of love that can be found in the world, in the most unexpected places.”
Esme wrote her first book at age 13, a 100,000 word effort, and then in Year 9, she self-published her first full-length novel Awakening, which sold around 200 copies.
“I spent my entire childhood drafting and attempting to write novels, I have wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember,” she said.
She has already started work on her next novel, a philosophical and theological reflection upon what the driving force is behind humanity.
You can also check out her blog at http://childrenoftheawakening.blogspot.com.au
