Local teen author to sign copies of first novel at library event

LACONIA — The public library is hosting teen author Sophia Collie, 18, to promote her first published book "Billows of Wrath and Betrayal" with a signing at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The book is a young adult fantasy novel about the royal teens of three islands joining forces to unite against an angry god threatening their realm. Collie said she likes fantasies, as they can transport the reader to a different world with magical elements. She wrote the book with her own interests at heart.

“I just wrote something that I thought I would be really interested in, so that I would have fun writing it,” she said. “And then, hopefully, other people would like it, too.”

Deann Hunter, director of the Laconia Public Library, is excited to host Collie. She said she can’t recall any other time a teenager reached out about their own published book.

“I think it's very exciting, which is why we were so willing and excited to have a book signing, so that we could support her and hope that she gets a good attendance and can spread the word,” Hunter said. “I think it's pretty neat that she's a teenager, and she has published her first book.”

Collie self-published the book in August and has already sold about 100 copies. She first promoted the book at Gibson’s Bookstore, in Concord, during an event where she sold out of the 36 copies she brought. The book is currently on sale at Gibson’s, where she has sold about 65 copies. The book is also available on Amazon, and eventually will be at the Laconia Public Library.

Collie is happy with the reception for the book, receiving compliments from friends, family and strangers alike. She hopes their praises are genuine.

“A lot of my friends and family, mostly, have been, like, the people reading it. And, of course, they say they really like it, and so that's always good,” she said. “But of course, it's friends and family, so you don't always know if that's, like, the truth.”

Collie has also connected with people through social media who have enjoyed her novel.

Tara Baker, Collie’s aunt, is the assistant assessor at Laconia City Hall, and advocated for Collie to promote her book at the library. Collie, who currently attends Bishop Brady High School in Concord, is originally from Belmont. Baker not only wanted to help promote her niece's work across the Granite State, but thought coming to the Lakes Region would be helpful, with friends and family still living in the area. She is proud of Collie and her book.

“Sophia has always been the type of person to excel at the things she does,” Baker said. “She gets bored very easily at mundane things, and this project allowed her to grow as a person.”

Collie first began writing the book in her first year of high school, when she met some friends who were also interested in writings. Collie has had an interest in writing since she was a kid. She said that growing up, she always had an active imagination and enjoyed reading. This love for reading translated to writing. Until finishing her her book, she wrote short stories.

“Writing has always just been something that I've done a little bit in my free time. I just got really into it after meeting people that were also really interested in it,” Collie said. “Talking with them and just connecting over writing, it just kind of like spiraled into this big passion of mine.”

The first draft took two years, working on and off, to complete. She said the last month or two, however, was where she made the most progress. She changed her mindset, realizing the best first draft is what's on the page. After finishing the writing process, she hired an editor online.

During her writing time, Collie said her parents weren’t totally aware of what she was doing. They knew she was writing the book, and supportive of it, but didn’t expect her to finish it and be serious about publishing it.

“I've always tried a bunch of different hobbies, so they probably just thought it was one of those,” Collie said. “And then I finished it and then published. And they’re like, ‘Wow, that's actually pretty cool.’”

Collie is already working on a sequel. As a senior in high school, she has not had much time to dedicate to writing. She applied to colleges, including her top choice, Wheaton College in Massachusetts, where she hopes to major in either English or creative writing.

Collie is proud of the book she finished. While it took a long time, she believes it came together well.

“I feel like a lot of people could write a long story and put a bunch of words on a page,” she said. “But I think the fact that it was coherent and that people seem to like it is what really makes me the proudest.”