Owensboro resident S.A. Conley started writing novels when she was just 15 years old. While writing stories for her younger sister, Conley created the fictional world of Carletta, and she’s now two novels in to the four-part series she has planned.
“It all began with trying to get my sister to learn how to read and write,” Conley said. “My mom would be like, ‘oh that’s nice, why don’t you try to get that published.’ So my first novel got published a few years later.”
The first novel is titled “Carletta” and was published in 2020. The story follows a witch named Bridget, who is foretold to be the destroyer of evil. The tale follows the young heroine in an attempt to avenge her father.
Conley then continued the series with “The Battle for Amphitrite.” The second book picks up a few years after the first, when Bridget’s mermaid friend requests her help in saving the underwater kingdom of Amphitrite. Bridget “reverse Little Mermaid’s it” and grows a tail to help, according to Conley.
Conley worked on the book while attending Western Kentucky University, double majoring in creative writing and business writing.
Conley wants her story to motivate those who have a passion for writing. She said those around her in high school told her that the book would never get published, but she never gave up and accomplished her dream.
“I want to inspire everybody to go ahead and chase that dream,” Conley said. “I want to inspire everybody to not listen to the people who say you can’t do it, because you can.”
She wants people, no matter the age, to read her books and think “if she can do it, then so can I.”
Conley also hopes that the characters in her stories can inspire readers to get through anything they may be struggling with. Many characters were able to overcome their struggles, and Conley hopes her readers can, too.
Conley donated copies of both books to the Daviess County Public Library. She hopes to host a book signing this summer. She enjoys meeting with readers and getting to talk with them about her stories.
Both books are available for sale online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Contact Conley on her facebook page to purchase a signed copy.
