While most 16-year-old girls are busy worrying about boys, their hair and what to wear on weekends, Rohini Jagannah of South Richmond Hill was writing her first novel.
As she balanced schoolwork and a social life, Jagannah managed to write and publish Everlasting Love, a novel that follows two high-school lovers, Chris and Sarah, through their turbulent romance. It was released on August 21, 2009.
Currently a junior at Thomas A. Edison Career & Technical Education High School studying robotic electronics, Jagannah takes pride in her achievement of writing her first novel at such a young age.
“I’m proud of myself to have accomplished writing a book at the age of 16,” said Jagannah.
She was inspired to start her novel in March of 2009 at age 15 after her ninth-grade writing teacher assigned her a writing project for a children’s book. “I wanted to write a book a couple of years back, but I didn’t know how to organize it or what to do,” said Jagannah. “After my writing assignment, I had an idea of how to do it.”
In just five short months, Jagannah had written and published her very first novel. Not taking her focus off schoolwork, she said writing was something she did on the side. When the summer months came, she had more time to write.
While composing the novel, Jagannah said she had a strong support system the whole time.
“I told my friends that I started it and sent them what I had written so far,” said Jagannah. “They encouraged me to keep going.” Her family, who was in awe that Jagannah was writing a novel, also encouraged her to complete it.
Most would think that Jagannah would face obstacles trying to write at such a young age, but she said it’s her age that gives her such an advantage over other authors.
“Because I’m a teenager, I’m writing it from my point of view from what I see going on in relationships,” said Jagannah. “I know how guys are. I see my best friends and all of their friends so I can see what goes on more than most adult authors.”
The book, however, was all fiction.
The plot of Love Everlasting wasn’t based on any event in particular. “I hadn’t been thinking it about it, but it just came to me,” said Jagannah, when discussing why she chose a love story. “It was something I wanted to get out of my mind.”
Although she is open to writing all different genres, her favorite author is Stephenie Meyer, the writer of Twilight. “You can kind of say that I look up to her as a writer,” said Jagannah.
Surprisingly, Jagannah’s biggest challenge was actually writing the novel. When it came to getting it published, it was smooth sailing for the 16-year-old author.
“I didn’t have any problems once I found the publishing company,” said Jagannah. “I found the company online and began the process quickly.”
After setting up a plan, she sent them her manuscript. Soon they had created a cover and a novel was born. “It was a great feeling to hold my own book for the first time.”
With the college years quickly approaching, Jagannah may surprise some when she doesn’t choose a major that has anything to do with writing. “English is not my best subject,” said Jagannah. “I enjoy math and want to go into accounting.”
Writing, however, is something she would like to continue doing on the side.
Jagannah is currently in the middle of a continuation of her first novel, Love Everlasting. She said it’s something she hopes will be finished by next year. In the meantime, her biggest focus is on school and maintaining good grades.
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