At first glance, you might mistake 16-year-old Evan Armstrong for your average teenage gamer.
But Armstrong is no average gamer. He also happens to be a writer who just finished his very first book — a 300,000-word novel.
It’s been Armstrong’s ultimate passion project for the past three years.
“It’s 700 pages long,” says Armstrong. “It’s a large thing that’s roughly three times the length of the first Harry Potter book if I’m not mistaken.”
The book is entitled Humanity Endures and offers a futuristic look at a mysterious force threatening the human race. It’s a cross between Starship Troopers and Game of Thrones.
“Humanity Endures is, at its core, a book about people in society surviving and dealing with crisis,” says Armstrong. “The plot’s journey revolves around individuals trying to survive and trying to live and also dealing with human nature.”
Armstrong received the first copies of the book late last year. It was a big moment for him and his dad Peter.
“Just as a father, it’s like you’re so proud because it’s like I didn’t develop that type of commitment until I was probably five years older than he is,” says Peter.
‘It’s been extremely nice in some cases,” says Armstrong.
“When you go to people you know and reveal to the class ‘hey here’s the book I wrote,’ having that interest it really makes your day,” adds Armstrong.
For any other aspiring young authors, Armstrong has some advice.
“It’s important to understand that even though you’re still young and inexperienced, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a chance of actually getting yourself out there and accomplishing something significant,” he says.
Cole Sorenson
