Contact: Maridith Geuder
At 11 years old, Darcie Hambleton of Starkville has something most kids her age don't: a 45,000-word manuscript.
She and her mom Laurie just completed a three-week Mississippi State University course titled "A Novel Experience." Both also have book-length works in progress.
Taught for the Division of Continuing Education by local novelist Jack Kean, the class focused on aspects of publishing ranging from query letters to how to find an agent.
"This wasn't a course about writing," Kean said. "I've emphasized the entire process, including thinking about 'who's going to buy my book?"
He is author of two books, "Deadly Sacrifice" and "What if the Winner Dies?" both published by Columbus-based Genesis Press. A 1971 Mississippi State graduate, he is a retired federal law enforcement official who donates his papers Tuesday [Oct. 26] to the university's Mitchell Memorial Library.
With works in progress, the Hambletons decided to take the evening course to learn approaches to publishing. "It was very motivating," Laurie said. "It's put my writing on the front burner."
Hambleton, most recently a reporter for a New Hampshire weekly newspaper, originally began a humorous book titled "Sermons on the Mound . . . of Laundry." Now, drawing on her experiences counseling women in crisis pregnancies, she's writing a dramatic novel about relationships in a crisis situation.
Meanwhile, daughter Darcie is busy creating parallel worlds for her favorite Star Trek characters. "It's set in the 24th century and uses many of the familiar characters, but it's a different universe," she explained.
She's written both the beginning and end of the novel, with work continuing on the middle section. "That's pretty much in my head," she said.
Her mom, who at first worried about taking an 11-year-old into an adult class, expressed satisfaction with the results. "This has been a wonderful way to endorse Darcie's writing," she said. "I've been very pleased that she was treated like a real writer."
Kean said the Hambletons are among 18 students from backgrounds that include law, accounting and academics who took the course.
"We know that the odds against being one of Oprah's book club selections are staggering," he said. "But, given capable writing, we also know that those most likely to be published are often the most persistent. Sometimes the best encouragement a writer can get is from another writer, and I think that's what this course has done."
According to a continuing education spokesman, Kean's course will be offered again in the future if sufficient requests are made.
The Division of Continuing Education's telephone number is (662) 325-3473.