This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us

Register for our newsletter

Free Newsletter Sign Up

Join now
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Website Terms & Conditions
  • Subscription Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Subscribe to trusted local news

If you are accessing this story via Facebook but you are a subscriber then you will be unable to access the story. Facebook wants you to stay and read in the app and your login details are not shared with Facebook. If you experience problems with accessing the news but have subscribed, please contact subscriptions@thestrayferret.co.uk. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

  • Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

06

Jan 2024

Last Updated: 05/01/2024
Community
Community

Harrogate schoolgirl, 12, publishes first novel

by Phoebe Hobbs

| 06 Jan, 2024
Comment

0

debut-book-feature-iamge
Sula Stanhope, 12, holds her debut novel.

A Harrogate Grammar School student has published her first novel — at the age of 12.

Sula Stanhope wrote the 371-page book before bed each night. It took her four months to finish.

Sula said:

"Mum and dad said I could have some extra screen time if I was working on creative projects.
"They were slightly surprised when I presented them with the first draft of my novel."


The Alchemist's Prophecy is a dystopian fantasy about a girl sent on a magical quest in a dangerous world.

The book is almost 150 pages longer than the first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Storytelling runs in the family.

Sula's dad Alex said:

"Sula’s grandmother is a writer.
"When I was growing up I was hopeless at English but I always liked telling stories. I used to tell stories to Sula; the storytelling part stuck.
"She now tells stories way better than me!"


After Sula wrote her manuscript, Alex started the process of self-publishing it.

He said:

"I just wanted to give her a chance to hold her book in her own hands."


Sula also developed creativity playing games with her twin sister Delphi.

Together they would invent characters, arguing about what they looked and sounded like.

Alex said:

"It didn’t always feel very creative when I heard their arguments, but I love what came out of it!"


Teachers at Oatlands Junior School, where Sula used to study, noticed her talent early.

Year 5 teacher Ms Coyne said:

“When I heard about Sula writing her own book, I was not surprised.
"During her time at Oatlands Junior School, Sula showed such creativity, talent and always had her head in a book — sometimes hidden under the table.
"She was an avid reader who clearly loves books and responds with great maturity to the texts we explore. I cannot wait to read it."


Sula's Year 6 English teacher Rosie Doyle said:

 “I would say I am surprised, but I’m actually not.”


Staff are so proud of their former student they have purchased a copy for their school library.



Read more:



  • Book Club Save the World at Park Playground in Leeds

  • Harrogate headteacher releases book on school leadership





In the future, Sula would like to continue writing books.

She sees The Alchemist's Prophecy as a trilogy and is hoping to complete it one day.

Alongside creative writing, Sula also plays the piano and attends acting classes. You can buy The Alchemist's Prophecy on Amazon.