Zoe Lynn, junior at Edon High School, just published her first book entitled, Loose Ends. “People inspired me,” Zoe commented over the phone. “People who were close to me and my childhood were big inspirations.” Loose Ends is a collection of poems about people’s feelings as they change and grow in life experiences.
A fifteen-year-old Zoe decided it was time for her to get her writing out there. She complied all of the notebooks that held her writing from the previous years to leaf through and pick her favorite poems. Once she had selected the poems that she wanted to include in her book, Zoe became her own personal editor as well. With her editing job completed, Zoe moved on to inputting her story and creating a cover on Amazon CreateSpace.
Amazon CreateSpace is a website where not only aspiring authors, but also musicians and filmmakers can publish their works. There is a free account that anyone can sign up for and getting started is easy. Amazon CreateSpace takes a user through a simple process to complete their creative work.
When Amazon had reviewed Loose Ends, they sent Zoe a proof of her book that she could either approve or veto. Zoe confirmed that the prototype was how she had imagined her book to look. Her book was officially published on December 5th, 2016. Zoe was elated at how her book turned out and plans on writing for the rest of her life no matter what career her future holds. Zoe gave some advice for anyone contemplating a big decision in their life. “There are so many opportunities that you will miss out on if you don’t at least try to do something that scares you. Sure, things can get done in time, but some of the best experiences will come out of an impulsive decision. These poems started out as things I never wanted anyone to see. It was such a private part of my life, but it was also a huge part of who I was. All it takes is a couple of seconds of bravery to decide that you deserve to be heard, and you deserve to be as happy as you can, as soon as you can. If you ever get to the point when you realize you are the only one holding you back, take that leap of faith, and work hard to give yourself what you deserve.”
Allyson Hutchison may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
