A 12-year old student from this south Kashmir town has authored debut novel, becoming one of the youngest writers from Kashmir. The author, TouyibaBintJaved, says her work titled ‘Luna spark and the future telling clock: A visit to kingdom my heart’ is full of suspense and mystery.

IT is a fantasy novel for children,” she says, adding the characters in her work are on search for a “magical clock which tells the future”.

A resident of Dardsara village in Tral, Touyiba is a 7th grade student. Her father is a dentist and her mother is a senior assistant professor of History. “My motive is to write more books to gain recognition as a well known author. I am interested in fiction but I am planning to write on Kashmir conflict too,” Touyiba told Greater Kashmir.

According to Touyiba her book is a fictional account in which humans are replaced by cats. “I too am a character in the book, a cat. We have a mission of finding the stolen magical clock which tells the future,” she said, with a smile on her face.

The young writer said her grandfather, and Geronimo Stilton, an Italian children’s book series, have been her inspiration. “During my childhood my Nanu (grandfather) wrote some books and then I too started writing poems and reading Geronimo Stilton…I finally wrote my debut novel,” she said.

Asked if anyone assisted her while writing the book, Touyiba responded: “No, not at all. My family and teachers offered me help but I denied. Because I was unwilling to let anyone help me anyway. Whatever I wrote I did it of my own, but the support of my parents can’t be ruled out.”

Her parents are ecstatic over the achievement of their daughter. “We will do everything we can for our beloved daughter so that her dreams will be fulfilled,” they said.