Search
-
May 4, 2023Writing and publishing a novel is a major undertaking — especially when the author is still in high school. But that’s exactly what VASJ senior Maria Karboski set out to do.
Maria’s first book in a trilogy, “A Foundation of Blood: Blood Burns Bright,” was self-published on Amazon in February.
“Seeing my book official on Amazon was such a surreal experience,” Maria said. “I had been picturing publishing since I started writing when I was 10 and now, it was real. Holding it in my hands was even crazier. I had been writing this series for about a year, seeing the words and learning the characters, and now I could flip through the pages and see them.”
Writing and reading have always been interests for Maria, who described reading books as an escape throughout her childhood. Now a young adult, she said she wanted to publish her own stories to allow others to also experience that same escape and get lost in a book.
“My favorite part about writing is watching how my characters grow and develop. While I am the one writing them, they are their own people to me. Watching how my own mind develops these characters is fascinating to me,” she said. “The plots of my books spin themselves into existence in my mind; I just take the time to define them and shape them into words.”
The Blood Trilogy centers around Prince Warren, who finds himself at the forefront of a years-long war effort and a community in turmoil. In an attempt to save his sister, Warren unleashes a terrible curse. Now, Warren has a chance to restore peace, but he must do so before time runs out.
Maria, who will be attending John Carroll University to study English literature and education, hopes to release the sequel early next year, with the final book in the trilogy being published the year after. Her advice to other young adults who are interested in publishing a novel: be yourself.
“Don’t let anyone else dictate your writing journey,” she said. “It’s your book, love and time. Follow the direction you want to go in. Be you and be happy with your decisions.”
To order Maria’s book on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/5wu9rVu.
