Tara Thompson, Phoenix teen, becomes Published Author

PHOENIX - Nov. 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Tara Athlyn Thompson, a Phoenix resident and Arcadia High School Junior Class member, received word this week that poetry she had written as an 11-year old has now received its formal ISBN number!   Even though Tara had been told at the time that the work would be published, everyone involved in the project has been awaiting the final editing and contributions to make it “official.”

The book titled Bringing the Arts into the Library, edited by Carol Smallwood, ALA Editions, ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-1175-4, is offered through the ALA. Tara's work appears in Chapter 2  "Librarian as Teacher: Teaching a Creative Writing Class in the School Library," by Robert Craig Bunch, who was Tara's creative writing teacher in her 6th grade year.  Mr. Bunch submitted selected works to the ALA for inclusion in this work, and feels it was well worth the time to be involved in this project to bring this book to the life and the public.  Tara was informed in 2012 that her work had been chosen to be published, and is excited the wait is over!  When asked how it feels to have published author credit at such a young age, Tara said "it feels absolutely incredible, and motivates me to finish my own book of more recent poetry before I graduate.”

Tara has written continuously since that time, and, in fact has been honored since moving to Arizona. The Arizona Young Writers (http://yaarizona.org/tag/poetry/) in January of 2013 bestowed an Honorable Mention Award to Tara for her works: “Harsh Words, Mask Slipping, The Two That Are One, Hidden Animal, and Cracked Promises."

Referring back to her book, Tara said she has selected works from the past 5 years to be included in her first offering which is currently in editing and design.  She intends to self-publish the book through Amazon, and her goal is to have it on the market before she finishes high school.

ABOUT TARA THOMPSON:  Tara is a 16-year old who moved from Houston to Phoenix when she was 13 years old due to her parents’ job relocation.  Tara has enjoyed making the Valley her home.  Prior to that, Tara was brought up in Houston and attended Houston’s nationally recognized Vanguard Gifted & Talented program, and was one of a handful of students accepted to Carnegie Vanguard High School, the 17^th ranked all-AP high school in America.  Tara is currently enrolled in the Honors curriculum at Arcadia High where Mr. John Biera is the principal.  Tara enjoys writing, drawing, reading, blogging and hanging out with her friends. Her present goals are to be a forensic scientist in Seattle and maintain her writing as a hobby.