Talented young writer has short story published in an anthology

Young writer holding up a book, smiling at the camera

An aspiring thirteen-year-old young writer and carer Elizabeth Foy, and her mum Linda, who is disabled, spoke with us about a creative piece of writing that has been published in an anthology of ‘twisted tales’. Elizabeth and her family have lived on our Norwich scheme for over seven years and count it a blessing having their Habinteg home and wonderful neighbours.

How did your article come about and what is it about? Daughter and mother smiling at the camera

Elizabeth: I had a set of flashcards laid out in front of me at school and I had to pick one. The card I picked had the words ‘victorious and villain’ and I had to write a 100-word short story about that. I thought about how sometimes, someone does the same thing as you, but they get more from it. That’s what I was thinking about when I wrote the story.

My school then submitted the story to editors along with a few other stories from my class and other schools.

What’s the name of the book that your story was published in?

Elizabeth: It’s Twisted tales by Xena- Jo Drapper. My story is on page 77 and it’s called ‘Finally victorious’. Elizabeth's story

Did you know that you were going to write a major piece that would get chosen for publication in a book?

Elizabeth: No, I was just writing. I normally write short novels when our teacher asks us to. But after writing, I also felt that my piece wasn’t good enough and that my friends’ stories would be the ones chosen.

Linda: Elizabeth kept it quiet and surprised us. We just saw these emails pop up one day that her story had been chosen. We didn’t even know she had written a story that was entered into a competition. It was a real shock, but a very good one.

What are you planning on writing about next?

Elizabeth: I like the olden day’s stuff, like Shakespeare’s stories, particularly Romeo and Juliet.

We enjoyed talking to talented Elizabeth and perhaps we’ll persuade her to join our editorial panel at a much older age or commission her to write something for Habinteg.

If you’ve got a story you’d like to share with other Habinteg tenants, please email your story to comms@habinteg.org.uk .