Aug 10thFormer Syracuse resident writes book

WEST POINT NATIVE Chantele Sedwick has written her first book. Courtesy photo

BY AMBER HANSEN
Islander Correspondent

ROY — Chantele Sedgwick, of Roy, just had her first book published, “Not Your Average Fairy Tale.” The title of this article could be, Not Your Average Author.
Chantele knows that as a youth growing up in West Point she loved to read and be read to. Even into her pre-teen years there was some reading going on because she recalls The Babysitters Club and American Girl books being some of her favorites.
“I loved reading as a child,” the Syracuse Junior High and Clearfield High alumnus remembers, “but I didn’t read a whole lot when I was a teenager. All the ‘classics’ made my brain hurt.” Not your average author who might proclaim the “classics” to be their inspiration.
Her unique start into the adventure of writing began after she was married, with a baby, “I really got into reading as an adult after I had my first child. That was when I discovered Young Adult books. Harry Potter was what got me back into reading, and Twilight.” She discovered a love for young adult titles.
Chantele played with stories that would fit that YA reading group in her head but didn’t start writing them down until after the birth of her second child, and even then she kept them to herself.
“I was always nervous about what people would think of me. I wrote in secret for a while and finally told my husband. He was SO supportive,” she shares about his support. “David has been there since day one. He’s the one who told me to start submitting my books.”
An agent was contacted, her story was submitted to some big name publishers, but in her words, “we didn’t get any bites.” That’s the typical story of the new author but remember, this isn’t the typical story. She admits that after not getting the interest she had hoped for that she felt “pretty down.”
Chantele talked with a friend who had worked with a smaller publisher, “I wasn’t sure why I was still trying, but I pushed send on the e-mail anyway. Two days later I was surprised and shocked to get an offer for two of my books. It was awesome!”
Not Your Average Fairy Tale follows the story of Ash Summerland. He’s a popular student at The Academy of Magical Beings, who is ready to take on his apprenticeship. He’s shocked to be assigned to Lady Shenelle, the head fairy godmother, and then given the assignment to help a human girl named Kendall.
Commenting on her main character, Chantele said, “I love Ash. He’s the reason I wrote the book. He’s cocky and frustrating, but has a huge heart.”
Not Your Average Fairy Tale is published by Crescent Moon Press and is available for sale on Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com.
She will also have a book launch party Saturday, Aug. 25 at Schneiter’s Bluff Golf Course in West Point. Follow Chantele on this adventure at her blog http://chantelesedgwick.blogspot.com/
Who knows what future manuscripts will become realities from this former West Point author.

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