College Student to Have Her First Novel Published

A budding novelist from Plymouth is about to have her first book published.

City College Plymouth student Emma-Louise Stephens is currently studying A levels in classical civilisation, English literature and history. Whilst studying she has been ‘penning’ her first novel - Dawn Island.

Dawn Island is about Darla Stone an ordinary 17 year old who finds that her life is not so nuclear after all when she discovers that she has the power to control the elements. Not only that, but she must become a powerful force in a long-raging war between the Night Worshippers and the Soldiers of the Light. In order to protect her family, she emigrates to Dawn Island where battle, danger and romance awaits. But her ruthless training to save the human race could end her life!

Emma-Louise, who will be picking up her AS level results on Thursday, will continue her studies at the College and write simultaneously. Emma-Louise said: “My studies are very important to me and unless I am put in a position where I have to choose, I will always try to do both. Immediate plans would be to complete my studies and finish the first draft of my second book; secondary plans would be applying to university to study English literature and creative writing.

 
“My long term ambitions are quite simple. I want to make people laugh with my writing, make them smile or cry. I'd love to see someone reading my book, or to walk into Waterstones and see it on the shelf. I don't want to be complacent or set myself to high a standard, so I'm keeping my goals relatively small and realistic.”

Emma-Louise accredits some of her success to the College. She added: “I knew I wanted to be a writer before I came to the College, but it wasn't until I started my course that I believed I could be!

“The College gave me something vital, an identity as a person and a writer. My classical civilisation lessons fascinated me, my history ones made me ask questions I'd never thought to ask, and my English literature lessons gave me a sense of purpose and made me rediscover my love of literature.

“I have cerebral palsy and the support I received at the College from my disability co-ordinator and my lecturers helped me an enormous amount. At College, I can almost forget that I'm disabled because every person is treated with the exact same fairness, and as a person - as opposed to a grade or another student.”
 

Dawn Island is being published by Calarence Publishing and will be out before Christmas.