Community
16 April, 2025
Young talent time: local teen chosen for international book
Spinifex student Jasmine Ryan will next week see her words on the printed page.
Not many teenagers can lay claim to being a published dystopian fiction author.
But Spinifex State College student Jasmine Harvey will next week see her words on the printed page after one of her stories was chosen to be published in a new fantasy and science fiction collection featuring writers from around the globe.
Her foreboding 2500-word story, which tells the story of a young girl in possession of a book that will determine the fate of the entire world, was chosen by RidhzWorld publishing as a worthy inclusion in the third instalment of the popular “once upon in our minds” international collection.
Jasmine said she had aspirations to pursue writing in the future but was still surprised to be included among the winning collection.
“I was really happy when I found out – it definitely encourages me to keep going,” she said.
Jasmine was part of the young writing workshop at the Mount Isa Library, which formed part of the 2025 Youth Week wrap up celebrations on Friday.
Also at the workshop was fellow Year 9 Spinifex student Lilith Cowperthwaite, who is a member of her high school’s book club as well as the regular Saturday Young Writers Group, hosted by the city library.
Lilith said she preferred to read dystopian fantasy and historical fiction but her mother was increasingly trying to get her to absorb more classics, like The Great Gatsby.
“I think I would like to do something with writing when I finish school – but I haven’t decided what to do yet,” she explained.
Mount Isa library assistant Kaitlin Ryan said the writer’s group enabled young people with an interest in creative writing and reading to meet others with similar hobbies from different schools in the city.
She said classes, aimed at those aged 14 to 21, included studying a range of storytelling methods, such as short stories, poetry, theatre and podcasting.
“It’s a good outlet for creativity and to improve literacy,” she said.
“But we are also finding a lot of the kids are making new friends from other schools who have similar interests to themselves.”
The Mount Isa Young Writers Group is held fortnightly at the library on Saturday from 10am.