Teen publishes Ancient Greece-inspired fantasy novel
TATAMAGOUCHE, N.S. Publishing a book at the age of 18 was an unexpected experience for Siena Hammermeister of Tatamagouche, who says she used to hate writing.
But after reading Oedipus the King, an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles – her first time with a total translation of a Greek myth – she was inspired.
"That really sparked a light in my brain,” said Hammermeister, now 19, who published under the pen name Phoenix De'clan. “I was writing notes, pages and pages of notes by hand for the plot of Idris right after. It was kind of weird, because before that I struggled to write even 150 words for class.”
It took her two years to write Idris: The Eye of the Beholder, which takes place around 800 BCE. It centers on Idris, an 18-year-old woman whose parents are the rulers of Corinth, who embarks on a quest to find her birth parents after finding out her family history is not all it seemed to be.
Sophocles’ work hones in on the topic of fate versus free will and Hammermeister took concepts like that and others found in Greek myths into her work.
“It's an interesting reflection on the human condition, I think, and that's a tricky concept to get across to younger viewers, but I think Idris does it pretty well,” said Hammermeister.
She was also inspired by the Percy Jackson books, which she loved growing up. In preparation, she researched ancient Greece and mythical beasts from during 800 BCE, such as the Crocotta, a mythical dog-wolf that can imitate humans which plays a part in Idris’ adventure.
Hammermeister based Idris’ character on herself. During her journey, she meets two Greek gods, Noxela and Delien, who were turned into humans and an assassin who is reluctant to kill her. Hammermeister particularly enjoyed writing about the gods.
“They're quite the characters – don't really get along too well, but they love each other,” said Hammermeister. "They were they were fun to write with their nippy kind of dialogue.”
Hammermeister created the story for an older audience, but finds it is appealing to more younger people. It walks the line between young adult and pre-teen historical fantasy. She said those who enjoy the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan or the Ranger's Apprentice books by John Flanagan would be interested in her book.
Hammermeister said the last six months of writing were “really intense.”
"I was getting up at 6 a.m. every morning and writing 600 words before even going for breakfast, and that continued for a solid while until it was just finished.”
Her parents, Andy Hammermeister and Desirée Jans, helped with editing. She was given the flexibility to write the book while being homeschooled.
The cover art was designed by her stepmother, Pam Black, a local artist. It depicts a solid bronze leaf blade sword owned by Hammermeister, a historicallyaccurate replica of the swords used in the book. The background is an oil pastel sunset created by Hammermeister.
Hammermeister is in her first year of social anthropology at Dalhousie University, studying online during COVID. Her dream job is to become a tour guide.
She has plans for at least three more books in the next two years, one being a sequel to Idris.
Her book, released in December, can be bought from lulu.com and the C.G. Fulton (Guardian) Pharmacy. A copy has been placed into circulation in the Colchester-east Hants Public Library.