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Fall River author, 13, wins writing contest for full-length novel By Deborah Allard Herald News Staff Reporter Posted Aug 14, 2019 at 4:48 PM FALL RIVER — When a shadow separates from its human, its owner must embark on a quest to another dimension to find it – or there will be darkness.
That is the premise of fantasy novel “Dark Shadows” by first-time author and writing contest winner Anya Costello, age 13.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Costello said. “I’m definitely excited for it.”
Costello submitted her 227-page novel about the errant shadow to MacKenzie Press and its Stone Soup literary magazine Secret Kids writing contest last winter.
She not only won the contest and $1,000, but her novel will be the first book published under MacKenzie Press’ new imprint “For Teens, Written by Teens,” to debut in the fall of 2020.
“I feel like once it’s published, it’ll feel a lot more real,” Costello said.
Her mother, Audra Costello, said it was “surreal” to think that her teen daughter has written a full-length novel that will be published.
Then again, Costello has been writing and “creating a world of imaginary characters” since she was 4 years old, her mother said. “She started reading young and was always interested in books.”
Costello said she has filled lots of notebooks with short stories. “Dark Shadows” will be a trilogy. “I like writing different worlds and different mythologies,” she said. “I’ve written a bunch of other stories.”
Costello’s idea for “Dark Shadows” came from a chat with friends when she was 10. She said it was going to be a short story just for them, but it got much bigger as the pages were filled over the next couple of years.
Her first draft filled five notebooks.
Costello’s mom learned it was a “real book” during a parent/teacher night when her daughter was a student at Montessori School. She hadn’t yet been invited to read her daughter’s work.
“I was taken back a bit,” Audra Costello said. “I’m proud and amazed.”
Besides writing, Costello enjoys art, dancing and playing violin, guitar and piano.
“She’s incredibly focused in lots of different activities,” Audra Costello said, explaining that her daughter as a little girl would “disappear for long periods” to pursue one of her passions.
Costello, also the daughter of Chris Costello, starts Bishop Connolly High School in the fall. She has an older sister Greta, 15.
Costello said she isn’t quite sure what her plans are for college and career. She said she enjoys graphic design, music and math, as well as writing.
“I definitely like writing,” she said. “It’s just fun. You’re just creating something all on your own.”
“Dark Shadows” will launch at the Frankfurter Buchmesse Book Fair in Germany – the world’s largest book trade marketplace – in October 2020.
Email Deborah Allard at [email protected].