Author April White visits English classes
On Jan. 23, novelist April White came to Peninsula to speak to students about her first book, “The Immortal Descendants: Marking Time” which was published on October 30, 2012.
“She opened up her presentation going over books she liked and explaining how they influenced her and her writing.” junior David Odusanya said.
In addition, students were given the opportunity to ask White questions about the publishing process, as well as for advice on writing itself.
“I always found it difficult to tell a story to tell a story and to keep a reader engaged in not only the plot but the theme as well,” Odusanya said. “She just told me to write something that I would love to read.”
White’s story unfolds when seventeen year old Saira Elia’s mother disappears from home. Saira is a tagger who lives in Venice, California. She encounters an old graffiti tag in a tube station that transports her to 19th Century Victorian England and comes face to face with the legendary Jack the Ripper.
Saira soon meets Archer, a boy who helps her adapt to her new environment. He tells her about the presence of the Immortals of Time: Nature, Fate, War and Death. He also explains to Saira that being a descendant of time means having the ability to move between centuries. Yet as time begins to run out, Saira must come to understand her new identity as she learns secrets that could potentially bring harm to her new friends.
“I loved the main character, Saira. She was a strong and refreshing heroine and definitely helped me relate to the book,” senior Bethan Saunders said. “The historical aspect was also very striking, especially since it was set in London, a place where I spent the majority of my childhood.”
White also claims that many of her childhood experiences have been a heavy influence on her choice to become a professional writer.
“When I was 12 years old, I had the opportunity to travel to the Himalayas. My teacher did not assign me homework and instead gave me a journal to keep and write in it every day.” White said. “I was really conscious as I was writing my journal entries because I knew I was going to have an audience and I really enjoyed that feeling.”
Although it took White more than two years to write her first novel, she is now hard at work on her second installment.
“Every book after [the first] has to be done within a year.” White said.
White intends to write four more books to complete her planned five-book series.
“Write what you want to read because if you are writing what you think someone else wants to read, it’s going to be boring.” White said. “You have to write what you love and what you are passionate about.”
