At the age of 15, most girls are stressing about zits, the hot guy next door, the copious amounts of assignments and, of course, how they will spend their first pay cheque. Clothes? Shoes? Well, for this 15 year old, she may well have all those things to worry about, but on top of it all, she has just published her own book, the first of a trilogy called The Strangest Adventures. Impressed? I sure am! So here’s the low down on how she does it all, plus some! By Sarah Karakaidos

Full Name:
Alexandra Emily Adornetto

Age:
15 years

Hobbies/interests:
Drama, debating, classical singing, public speaking, dance

Where did your passion for writing begin?
Both my parents are English teachers and their love of language must have rubbed off on me. My passion for writing stories came from having stories read to me as a child. Before attempting to write a novel I wrote poems and short pieces and would always be on the lookout for competitions to enter them into.

Have you always been a bookworm yourself or do you prefer writing to reading?
I don’t think of these two activities separately and I enjoy them equally but for different reasons. Reading can be purely recreational and relaxing. It’s great to be able to get lost in a book, watch the story unfold without having to come up with an ingenious escape plan for the protagonists. Writing is exciting because you are in charge of everything that happens but it can also be frustrating and a struggle at times.

How did you come to the stage of getting signed to a major book label?
When my manuscript was finished I did some research into Australian publishing houses before submitting it. I wanted my work to look as professional as possible so I followed the submission guidelines very closely. Once I sent my manuscript off there was nothing left to do but sit back and wait. The waiting seemed to go on forever. When I finally did hear back from Harper Collins I went into their office for a meeting and everything happened very quickly from there.

You’re still in school, do you feel being an author interferes with your homework and assignments?
Juggling writing with schoolwork is definitely tricky at times. It wasn’t really a problem when I was writing The Shadow Thief because I was still in Year 8 and the workload wasn’t that demanding. I think it will be a different story once I start VCE! At present my commitments do sometimes clash. At times I’ll be so focused on writing that my homework starts to pile up. Because of this, I have had to learn to manage my time carefully. I try to write everyday – even if it’s for a very short period of time. For focused writing you need blocks of free time and this usually only happens on weekends and holidays. Overall, I try to keep my school-life quite separate to my literary one.

Do you have someone who inspires you to write or maybe even an author you look up to?
I try to look for inspiration in the events of my own life. I think interesting things are happening all around us and you only need to tune into them. In terms of gathering inspiration from reading, there are many authors whose work I admire. I am definitely in awe of J.K Rowling for creating an entire world that has become so real to so many children all over the world. I, too, have been guilty of waving around a wooden spoon and pretending I’m in Hogwarts. My goal as a writer is to be able to reach kids and tap into their imaginations as she has done so successfully.

Would you still like to continue writing when you finish your studies or do you have another preference?
Writing is something I would like to pursue as a profession but am not sure exactly what form it will take. After I finish school I plan to combine writing with the performing arts. I love stage acting and musical theatre and hope to be involved in some professional productions. I also love learning about history and philosophy and am still trying to find a way to combine all these things.

What’s your favorite piece of clothing and/or accessory that you can’t get enough of at the moment?
At the moment I love pinnies! I find them really cute and girly and they are so versatile - you can wear them with t-shirts or skivvies over jeans, leggings or tights. They won’t go out of fashion with the seasons because they can be worn in summer or winter. They are really good for dressing casually but are also stylish.

If you had to pack only 5 things to take away with you, (excluding the necessary items like toothbrushes and undies) what would they be?
My mobile phone – I can’t be without some point of contact; an engrossing book like Jane Eyre in case of boredom; my dog Muffy-Boo to keep me company; a dictionary (might as well do something useful and learn new words while being away); and a pair of socks as I hate to get my feet dirty.

What goal do you have at the moment that you would love to achieve?
Right now I am hoping that the people who read it will enjoy The Shadow Thief. It would be great if children and adults alike got something out of it. In terms of writing goals, I am working on completing The Strangest Adventures trilogy. The non-writing goal is to get involved in the school musical and drama productions.

If you could give other aspiring young teens some inspirational advice, what would it be?
No matter how out of reach something seems, don’t give up or lose hope. If you want something badly enough then you should go after it. Always put in 100% as nobody can achieve their dreams if they’re only half-hearted about it. Also, don’t be dissuaded by ‘realistic’ people telling you that you can’t or shouldn’t pursue something. Nothing is impossible and if you try hard enough, you can accomplish whatever you want.