13-year-old author moves to Radford, plans book signing
Author Saumya Sharman, 13, relocated to Radford this summer. Photo courtsey of Jyotsna Sharman
This summer, author Saumya Sharman decided to make Radford her new home.
Well, rather her parents decided.
Sharman, the 13-year-old author of the adolescent fiction novel “The Ultimate Decision,” moved to the New River Valley from White Hall, Ark., in August after her mother, Dr. Jyotsna Sharman, took a faculty position in Radford University’s Exercise, Sport, and Health Education Department.
The Dalton Intermediate School eighth-grader plans to hold her first book signing Saturday in her new community.
Though she waited until she was 12 to publish her first work, Sharman said writing has always been a part of her life.
“When I was little I liked to write a lot, so I did it for fun, and I just kept on writing,” Sharman said.
Eventually Sharman said her writing became a full-length book, which she showed to her parents, and after seeing how impressed they were, she decided to try to get it published.
“I wanted other people to see my artwork and my creativeness,” she said.
Jyotsna Sharman admitted she was shocked at first of the detail and imagery of her daughter’s work, much of which she wrote prior to turning 12, but she encouraged her daughter to not let it go to waste.
They talked with a variety of different publishers and eventually found the fit they liked with AuthorHouse, the self-publishing book company based in Bloomington, Ind. The 125-page novel was released in February and is now available nationwide through distributors such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com, where readers can preview the first six pages.
Sharman described “The Ultimate Decision” as an action/adventure story in which a group of 12-year-old girls discover they have magic powers, which lead them on a difficult journey to save the planet.
She said she believes the ideal audience to be readers her age or younger.
The book is part of a series titled “Saving Karnithica,” and Sharman has already begun work on the series’ second book.
Though she has a passion for writing, Sharman said she is also very interested in pursuing a career as a doctor, as well as an artist.
For now, however, she is looking forward to visiting with her readers and discussing her work.
Sharman’s signing is scheduled to be held at the Christiansburg Barnes and Noble in the Spradlin Farms shopping center from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Roanoke Times | 381-1643
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