Adam Prudhomme
Editor
For many writers, the dream of becoming a published author is one that is often talked about but never acted upon.
Then there’s Elizabeth Hall, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student at NDSS who published her first book last June and is already well underway on her next-with two spin-offs also in the works. Quite impressive in its own right, even more so considering the average age for a writer getting published for the first time is in their mid-30s.
Hall’s debut novel, The Law of Zotoss, is the first in a Sci-Fi Fantasy series spun from her imagination.
“I never thought this book would get published,” said Hall. “It was just something I did for fun. I had a cool idea based off of Star Wars. It was really cool getting my book in person because I never thought that it would actually happen. I think the reality of it is still kind of on its way.”
She first developed a love for writing while in Grade 4 but says she really got serious about four years later and then perfected her skill even further while participating in NDSS’ Writer’s Club. Through experimenting with ideas, the plot for The Law of Zotoss was born.
‘Carra and her cousin, Jaivall, set out on a trip with two strangers, with innocent intentions to travel the world and see new places,’ reads the book’s plot summary on GoodReads.com. ‘But when the trip begins to take a turn and suspicions of one of the group members grow, Carra begins to suspect one of the men she is travelling with is not who he says he is. These suspicions lead to one big secret that could kill them both, or all of them. But when she falls for him, she must choose between her love for him and her loyalty to her country and the rest of the world’s beliefs. She is given a chance to run away from it all, to throw him into a prison where she will most likely never see him again. But she doesn’t accept. And when they leave a little desert town, they find themselves trapped. They get captured and a rescue mission gets underway. When saved, they are forced to finish their journey and enter the most dangerous region on their planet: the Bizarre. Where they are to hide and for how long is undetermined.’
Tellwell Talent published the book, which is available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle.
Penning a Sci-Fi Fantasy meant not only crafting a gripping story, but creating a whole new universe as well.
“It’s really not that hard because you’re basically creating your ideal world,” said Hall. “You’re just coming up with what you want it to look like.”
When it comes to naming her creations, she draws inspiration from the everyday.
“I see a word in a room and I kind of morph it and play around with it until it sounds like something that sounds good enough to be a town or a city,” she said.
Hall was heavily involved with the cover design process, even including her own sketch of one of the main characters for the back cover.
Bailey Ferguson, a fellow student and aspiring author, had the privilege of being among the first to read it when it was first published.
“I read it in two days and it was an extremely captivating story, it left me hooked the whole time,” said Ferguson.
She noted that seeing Hall’s story get published gives her the motivation to get her work published as well. Hall has become something of a mentor to Ferguson and they are currently working together on collaboration.
Along with continuing her passion for writing, Hall says she plans to pursue a career either in history or journalism-all while continuing to publish novels.
The Law of Zotoss is available online through Amazon and Indigo.