Eighth Grader Surprises Students As Guest Author

Eighth grader Jaiden Shah introduced his sister, Anya, as the guest author, describing the amount of time and hard work that she has dedicated to writing and publishing her book. Following the introduction, Anya shared several excerpts from the story, written from the first person perspective of a character who survives and lives in secret.

Anya then answered questions from a student panel and members of the audience. She talked about character development, explaining that while some of her characters were inspired by real people in her life, they ultimately evolved into entities of their own. She also described how her writing style changed throughout the process as she became more familiar with her characters and their world.

Anya began writing the story two years ago at the age of 11. She wrote parts of her earliest draft by hand in a journal before moving to a digital format. The manuscript then underwent multiple edits and revisions before publication. Anya also navigated the process of self-publishing on Amazon, including challenges with formatting and cover design. She said this was her least favorite part, but she was able to complete it with persistence and support from her family. She published the book in 2025 and is now working on a sequel.

Anya encourages aspiring writers to keep practicing. She said that she learned a lot simply by going through the process. She also said that she enjoys being in a creative zone where the story and characters can unfold organically.

When asked about her own favorite books, Anya said that she likes captivating stories with unknown or surprising endings. She mentioned young adult fiction writer Jennifer Lynn Barnes as one of her favorite authors.

Mr. David Muhammad, dean of students, closed the presentation by encouraging students to pursue their own creative projects and to seek support from their teachers and peers at Barstow.

“Nandi’s Secret: The Chateau Children” is available in the lower school library. Paperback copies are also available for purchase on Amazon.