Sun staff
Milford’s Stevie Chandler has a lot to celebrate this summer; she just completed her freshman year at Shawnee State University and she recently became a published author.
“I’ve always liked writing,” Chandler said. “I’ve never written to be published; I always wrote because I loved it.”
Her book, “The Rules Are Simple: Survive,” was released March 28 by Same Old Story Publishing. It tells the story of teenagers who are transported to a digital world and forced to play a game to discover the identity of a serial murder with the alias ‘The Cellphone Killer.’ If they don’t defeat the game to reveal the killer’s identity before their 21st birthday they will become a victim, too.
Chandler started writing the book in October 2014, during her junior year of high school and she finished the first draft in November of that same year.
Initially, she didn’t have a roadmap for the story.
“I did not plan anything out for the book,” she explained. “I just decided to write the first chapter without really knowing a lot about the characters and the plot.”
She added, “Once I designed my main character and the rest of the cast, I found I could develop the story and the book took a modern science fiction, with suspense and mystery, angle.”
Chandler, who graduated from Milford High School in 2015, submitted an application and portions of her book to the publishing company in August 2015; a few weeks later, they responded with an offer to publish her book, which is the first in a trilogy.
The book took a year to edit and finalize; she worked with the publishing company to respond to notes and edits while she began her freshman year of college studying english education.
“I love college,” she said. “I’m taking on average course load and I write between breaks.”
She added, “I don’t watch television. In fact, I don’t do much else besides writing and studying.”
Chandler, who was diagnosed with dyslexia in the third grade, discovered that writing improved her ability to function and do well in school.
“I’ve done well because I’ve been writing,” she said.
She added, “Writing helped so much; I would not be an english major if I didn’t start writing as much as I did.”
She started writing long form works in junior high and began writing fan fiction in high school. She finished her first full novel titled “Pandora” during her junior year.
Chandler is currently working on the second book in her trilogy. She finds inspiration for her stories in her dreams.
“I know I play with heavier topics,” she said. “I love to show unrealistic worlds and make them relate to everyday life.”
Chandler’s stories require her to do a “ridiculous” amount of research, which she enjoys.
“I wrote a full medical term paper for school based solely on the research I did for a character,” she explained. “And I got an ‘A.’”
“The Rules Are Simple: Survive,” is selling really well, Chandler said.
“Even strangers are buying it,” she added.
Chandler attributes much of her success to her family’s support; they’re understanding of the fact that she spends a lot of time, sometimes hours on end, writing.
“My parents are super proud of me and it really means a lot to me,” she said. “I’m thankful for everyone’s support.”
Chandler is also gaining recognition outside of the writing community; she was recently contacted by Dyslexia Ohio to become a mentor. The organization, based in Cincinnati, works with students to improve their attention and focus.
When asked what advice she would give to young authors, Chandler said, “Focus on the writing.”
“If you’re only writing to be published, you’re not writing,” she sad. “And, you have to write something that you want to read.”
She added, “Initially, don’t worry about grammar, just write.”
To learn more about Chandler and to purchase her book “The Rules Are Simple: Survive,” visit her website at www.steviechandler.com.