Teenage writers no longer keep their ideas bottled up. Be it writing or any other form of art, students are increasingly going public with their talent.
Such is the story of seventeen year old Shriya Sekhsaria who after debuting with a suspense-filled book is now planning a sequel.
"The story came before the idea of my first book did. I was eight when I started to imagine the characters and for seven years I grew up with them. I felt these characters were so strong that I wanted to put them into words, wanted others to read about them," says Shriya.
Her book titled "One" and brought out by Leadstart Publishing was launched at the Landmark store here recently.
It all began in the year 2012 when Shriya, to keep her friends entertained during the board exams began writing a page every day. Soon, her friends were so enthralled by the story that they wouldn't go to bed without reading a page or two. This is when her first book happened.
Shriya says she always knew "One" would be a fusion of Spanish and Greek cultures thus; the book is set on a small island called 'Ibinia', something which came about from Ibiza and Sardinia.
"Thanks to my grand mom who first introduced me to Greek mythology. The two cultures are so fascinating that I knew it had to be the backdrop of my book," she says.
The plot of the book is centred around Adratesia (Tessie) a world-known celebrity who's not afraid to get her hands dirty, and Alejandro (Aley), an uneducated but compassionate bar-owner. The two are trying to find their best friend Kiara who has vanished without a trace.
Things unfold when the two rope in almost the entire world; from Singaporean film festivals to Ibinian super-brains to find their friend. Aboard this journey, Tessie and Aley unveil secrets which make them doubt the world.
The book - a mix of suspense, romance and drama often touches upon elements of mythology.
