Young author’s debut novel
After being dared by her mother to write a book, 16-year-old Abigail Oberholzer is now ready to publish her debut novel, The Stone Of Fenwood Forrest.
The Grade 10 St. Johns learner said that she started writing the novel a year ago and is glad that she has done what she always wanted to do.
“I’ve always wanted to write a real book, but never thought I would go beyond a chapter-length story. I was inspired by a couple of other authors I know personally, who wrote their books around my age and have subsequently published them. I thought that if they can do it, I can, too. I might never have acted on it though, had my mom not dared me to write a book by the end of my last homeschool year, 2019. My first attempt felt too shallow for me to publish, as I had not planned the plotline deeply enough or right to the end. Although my family celebrated the attempt, I began planning The Stone of Fenwood Forest.
“Understanding the importance of detailed planning, I spent several weeks just thinking; getting to know my characters with their everyday likes and dislikes, the physical world including geography, foods and politics and working out possible plots, before daring to put pen to paper. The Stone Of Fenwood Forest in its rough draft was completed before Christmas 2019,” explained Abigail, delighted to have accomplished what her mum had encouraged her to do.
The Stone Of Fenwood Forest is a fantasy fiction book centred around the main character, Ella Roberts, who is on a search to fulfill her destiny but unexpectedly tumbles into a kingdom that she must help save.
“A doorway to another world leads Ella Roberts on an unexpected quest to fulfill her destiny. Along the way she discovers new gifts, makes friends, finds answers to mysteries, reinforces her deep trust in her Creator and ultimately overcomes her enemies.”
The blurb ‘teaser’ reads: Ella wasn’t looking for adventure. It was just a door, a door in a maze that was supposed to lead her home. Instead she stumbles into another world, where she is suddenly expected to play her part in saving kingdoms that she hadn’t even known existed. Choosing to fight for Fenwood, she takes up the challenge against the champion of Hawburn. In the process, Ella’s convictions are reinforced about the master creator and her vital role in Utarzia; to reunite the kingdoms, overcome deep evil and retain the stone,” explains the young author.
One of Abigail’s favourite authors is CS Lewis, who helped inspire some of the themes explored in The Stone Of Fenwood Forest.
“I love how CS Lewis’ fantasy literature presents deeper meaning and life principles. I feel that my novel has been inspired by his writing, to a degree. With The Stone Of Fenwood Forest my hope is that I, too, can now inspire others to push aside supposed limitations and act on their dreams,” said Abigail.
The young author loves the freedom that writing brings and is already planning a sequel.
“I love the freedom that comes with writing; to capture an expression of yourself. I love the feeling of the flow of words and their rhythm. I love creating something. It’s such a powerful feeling to write a dialogue or a description and to read it back to yourself. This in itself allows you as the author to feel impacted by what you have written. You experience the joy of creating and the power that comes with it,” said Abigail.
Apart from writing, Abigail is pursuing her studies in the arts, opting to study drama, journalism or a BA in English after high school. Her hobbies include drama, crafting, hiking and of course, reading. She also loves curling up with her cat, Nala.
“I am very grateful to my whole family for their support and encouragement, but this book probably would never have happened were it not for my mom, and I do mean that quite literally. If my mom hadn’t dared me to do it, who knows whether I would actually have written a book, but her help, of course, didn’t stop there. She has been my editor-in-chief, my English consultant, my publisher, manager and assistant,” said Abigail.
Abigail will be launching The Stone Of Fenwood Forest at Hayfields Mall on December 5 from 10am to 12pm.
Purchase the book for R170, it will make a wonderful Christmas gift or a holiday read, and support Abigail in the process!
The Stone of Fenwood Forest will also be available on Kindle from Saturday 5 December 2020.