Last summer, while most seventh-graders celebrated their freedom from homework, Advitia Maheshwari was writing, filling pages with a magical world, lovable characters and exciting adventures. Young Advitia has accomplished something most adults have not: she has written and published her own book, a fantasy novella entitled The Magic Maze. Now, the Hopkins student plans to use her book to make an impact by donating the proceeds to a cause close to her heart.
“I’ve always loved fantasy,” Advitia said when asked about her process in imagining the magical world of Gorvex, the setting of her story. Inspired by authors like J.K. Rowling, she immerses her readers in this fictional universe, which is full of opportunities for adventure.
The main characters — Kyle, Kaylee, and Brianna — were also brought to life by Advitia’s active imagination.
“I had in my mind what I wanted the characters to be like,” she said. “I wanted them to be brave, you know. I wanted them to be there for each other.” Kyle and Kaylee are a brother and sister who, in the wake of their mother’s death, end up on an unexpected quest to discover family secrets and brave the dangerous Magic Maze.
Advitia is not only a hardworking writer, but also a kind soul. Since she was five years old, she has been growing, cutting and donating her hair to be made into wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment. From there, she discovered St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Touched by the fact that “their research was solely just to help, you know, fight cancer for kids,” she decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from her book to St. Jude’s.
This is just the start of Advitia’s career as an author.
“In the future, I am aiming to write more stories. Right now, I’m thinking of actually writing a murder mystery,” she said.
She hopes young readers interested in fantasy read her book, which is available now for purchase on Amazon as a hardcover, paperback or digital copy. Doing so not only supports Advitia but also children battling cancer through St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital’s work.