Signal Mountain teen becomes published author
There is lots of writing involved in high school: English papers, research assignments, and end of the year projects. But for sophomore Emily Perez, that wasn't enough to keep her appetite for writing at bay. And now, that perseverance has paid off.
"I've always loved writing it's been the one passion that has really stayed with me," Perez says. "I've loved writing since I was four and could write my name." While some of her classmates finished homework or played video games, Emily committed to National Novel Writing month. "You try to write 50 thousand words which is like a short book, over the course of a month."
And among all those words, Emily's first book was born. "I launched a Kickstarter campaign because publishing and hiring an editor is very expensive."
With an editor on board, revisions began until "Yesterday She was Tiffany" became a reality. "It was like a dream, it didn't feel real, because I had wanted to do it for so long."
While it may feel like a long time to Emily, her teachers know, it's a big accomplishment for anyone.
And this teenager is already sharing what she's learned. She started a book club for younger students in her school. "She really and truly does the lesson plan, they created a website," says adviser Jamie Brock.
Encouraging the students to come up with a goal, stick to it, and most importantly, have a deadline.
"At such a young age, she set a goal that some people set as a lifetime goal," Brock says. "She has reached that goal at the ripe age of 16."
The big plot question now... how do you follow being a published author before you even fill out your first college application?
To buy Emily's book, "Yesterday She was Tiffany," click here.
