Vaughan author began writing book at age 10

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 11, 2019
Simone Joseph

Author J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books lit a spark in Alessia Dickson.

“I read (them) and thought: ‘Hey, I can do that.’”

Dickson was only 10 when she began to write her first book -- The Crystal Chronicles, a 336-page fantasy book for young adults. She self-published this when she was 16.

On Nov. 1, she self-published The Lost Temple -- the second in her planned five book series.

The 20-year-old Vaughan native hosts two book launches on Sunday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 16.

Dickson’s first book is about 16-year-old Alyssa Brooks, who discovers she possesses magical powers and belongs to a supernatural race called Elementals. Alyssa and three friends set off on a journey, with the future of humanity hanging in the balance.

Since publishing her first book, Dickson has made presentations about writing to students across Ontario. She received the Order of Vaughan for her work in the arts and has sold more than 4,000 copies of her first book.

In the second book, Alyssa and friends journey into the Amazon rainforest in a race against time. They must defeat evil Elementals working toward world domination.

Perhaps Dickson’s voracious reading led to her writing prowess? Dickson’s father John remembers that during summer drives up to the family’s Peterborough cottage, he would wedge a bucket of books in between the van’s seats. Alessia would summarily “devour” the books.

Dickson was only in Grade 2 or 3 when she surpassed her father’s reading speed, John Dickson said.

But he continued to be a source of support. Her father has been one of her biggest confidence boosters.

“He always told me to keep writing,” she said.

Dickson, a third-year English major at Ryerson University, was only in Grade 5 when she planned her Chrystal Chronicles book series, including the ending.

For now, that ending will remain a mystery.

Her book launch at Bathurst Clark Resource Library is on Sunday Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the Civic Centre Resource Library on Saturday Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on her books or the author, go to www.alessiadickson.ca, email dicksonpublishing@outlook.com or go to https://www.instagram.com/alessiadickson/.