Tahlia unlocks writing talent in aid of COVID

A young Wickham school student has had her creative writing story published in a book.

At just 10 years of age, Tahlia Nunn, pictured, is already a published author with her story The Secret Tree House Visit That Changed My Life Forever.

Tahlia completed a six-week creative writing course, hosted by British children’s author R.A. Powell, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown last year.

The course included a writing competition, with all entries collated into a book, Rainbows During Lockdown.

It features 58 stories written by children aged four to 15, with Tahlia the only Australian contributor.

The book was released last month, and 100 per cent of authors’ royalties are to be donated to two UK charities, ICUsteps, and School Home Support, to help vulnerable people affected by COVID-19.

Tahlia said her story took about two weeks to write.

“It’s about a girl who loves rainbows and she has an accident and she has to go to hospital, and the rainbow of the story is that she finds a new friend,” she said.

Tahlia said she enjoyed reading as well as writing and hoped to continue that into the future.

“I want to keep writing so people can read my stories,” she said.

“I like reading mystery stories and stuff about World War I and II, like the diary of Anne Frank.

“That’s pretty interesting.

“I want to be either a famous story writer or maybe someone that helps with animals like a vet.”