Troy Shantz
A short story written by a St. Patrick’s High School student has won a provincial award.
Sophia Makrigiannis earned the Young Authors Award in the Grade 9-10 short story category with “Guitar Strings and Coffee Beans.” The awards are sponsored by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association.
"This is an amazing accomplishment and a great honour for Sophia, and we are so pleased that she has received this provincial recognition," said principal Rob Cicchelli.
Makrigiannis’ story is featured a book of award winners that’s available at school and public libraries across the province.
“I’ve always dreamed of becoming a book author,” said the Grade 9 student in teacher Chris Stoesser’s English class.
“I love writing narratives, and sometimes I dabble in poetry a bit.”
“Guitar Strings and Coffee Beans” is about a musician who takes notice of an attractive female patron at a cafe he performs at regularly. Makrigiannis said the musician goes to great lengths to earn her attention, which leads to an interesting plot twist.
The story and its romantic focus was a departure from what she normally writes, she said.
“Mostly fantasy, because I feel like writing is sort of my escape from this world and I like to venture into other worlds.”
Makrigiannis penned her first story in Grade 1 and has continued to write for school assignments and for fun.
She said she plans to develop some writing projects this summer with the goal of being published again one day.
Opportunities for young writers are rare so the contest victory was exciting, she added.
“I feel like there’s lots of math and science… but there’s not a lot of writing.”