Student’s YA Novel Wins National Gold Medal
Congratulations to Asher B. ’22 for winning a National Gold Medal, the highest possible honor, from the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation's longest-running educational initiative supporting student achievement in the visual and literary arts. Asher was also selected as one of only two 11th grade writers for the Best in Grade category nationally.
What inspired you to write a book as your first creative writing endeavor?
When school transitioned to remote learning, I found myself with a substantial amount of free time. With our Spring Break travel plans canceled due to the pandemic, I was inspired to write this book as means of visiting these cities/states but only through my imagination.
What is your YA novel, Along the Beaten Path, about?
My novel details the adventures of Rutherford Jones, an 18-year old farm boy from rural Manitoba, Canada who embarks on a month-long journey throughout the Midwest to rob a series of banks so he can fund the treatment for his war-torn, Kosovo-veteran father's PTSD. The novel is broken up into 48 parts which document his expedition in bucolic towns and along the way introduces many characters that Rutherford either calls his friends or his foes.
Tell us what the Scholastic Art & Writing Award award means to you.
I was genuinely shocked to receive this honor. Being given this award validates my voice as a writer and I am humbled that I can associate myself with the many other teen authors across the nation.
What are your future writing plans?
Before being recognized by the Scholastic committee, I wasn't sure what the next step would entail but now I plan to submit this novel to agents in hopes of securing a publishing deal. That said, I would be just as happy to self-publish because I really want to share the book with others. In my mind, I plan to write another book over the summer, but time will have to tell.
Back
When school transitioned to remote learning, I found myself with a substantial amount of free time. With our Spring Break travel plans canceled due to the pandemic, I was inspired to write this book as means of visiting these cities/states but only through my imagination.
What is your YA novel, Along the Beaten Path, about?
My novel details the adventures of Rutherford Jones, an 18-year old farm boy from rural Manitoba, Canada who embarks on a month-long journey throughout the Midwest to rob a series of banks so he can fund the treatment for his war-torn, Kosovo-veteran father's PTSD. The novel is broken up into 48 parts which document his expedition in bucolic towns and along the way introduces many characters that Rutherford either calls his friends or his foes.
Tell us what the Scholastic Art & Writing Award award means to you.
I was genuinely shocked to receive this honor. Being given this award validates my voice as a writer and I am humbled that I can associate myself with the many other teen authors across the nation.
What are your future writing plans?
Before being recognized by the Scholastic committee, I wasn't sure what the next step would entail but now I plan to submit this novel to agents in hopes of securing a publishing deal. That said, I would be just as happy to self-publish because I really want to share the book with others. In my mind, I plan to write another book over the summer, but time will have to tell.
4533 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City, CA 91607
Phone 818.980.7280
Phone 818.980.7280
Campbell Hall is an independent, Episcopal, K-12 all gender day school. We are a community of inquiry committed to academic excellence and to the nurturing of decent, loving, and responsible human beings.
Social Mashup
Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students
Campbell Hall admits students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs.
Campbell Hall admits students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs.
© Copyright 2024 Campbell Hall