Wayzata Central Middle School Students Become Authors

Two Wayzata Central Middle School students are celebrating the success of their book.

Ellie Abood and Aashna Kshirshgar wrote about two princesses who do not get along, yet unite to fend off a ghost in the book “Throne Spirits.”

“It had a decent plot,” explains Abood. “It wasn’t going to be a short story. It was going to be an actual book.”

Writing “Throne Spirits”

The students elaborated on a short story they wrote in class and published the book with the help of a free book publishing company called Sigma’s Bookshelf. The company was also started by a Wayzata High School student named Justin Anderson who wanted to help other teen writers get published like he did. Anderson wrote the story “Saving Stripes: A Kitty’s Story” that has sold close to 400 copies with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to S.O.S. Rescue Relief, Inc., which runs the Adopt-a-Pet Shop in Plymouth.

“Throne Spirits” is selling well too. So far, the students have sold a total of 163 books since their title was released in October 2018. They’ve sold the book online and also at the Twin Cities Book Festival.  The two students earned a royalty check and spoke to classmates at Wayzata Central Middle School about writing.

“What I love about writing is that you get to create your own characters and create your own world,” explains Aashna Kshirshgar. “I love to read, so this is like reading but you get to do whatever you want.”

Both students say they would like to pursue writing as a hobby.

Sigma’s Bookshelf is leading a low cost novel writing workshop on February 23 and 24 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts for teens between the ages of 13-19. Cost is $50. To register, go to the bottom of the front page of www.sigmasbookshelf.com

Plymouth