Maria's the write stuff (From Herald Series)

Maria's the write stuff

6:14am Sunday 31st August 2008

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Teenager Maria Buckingham has been inspired by Oxford fantasy writers Tolkien and CS Lewis to write her own far-fetched story to raise funds for sick children.

Maria, 18, from South Moreton, near Didcot, has written Searching For Tenga, a fantasy novel for children aged nine- to 12-years-old.

One pound from every copy sold will go to the Oxford Children's Hospital's £15m Chox campaign.

The Henley College pupil said: "Writing my own fantasy adventure novel is something I have wanted to do for a long time.

"My dad used to read me Tolkien and CS Lewis stories when I was younger, and some Dickens, and that really inspired me.

"I didn't approach publishers to see if they would take on the book because I didn't want to miss the experience of organising the publishing myself.

"The whole project has cost about £1,500 and the book will retail at £10.

"I decided to give part of the proceeds to the children's hospital after my own experience with the health service.

"When I was 15, I fell off a horse and I suffered a really bad arm fracture. I had an operation at the Radcliffe Infirmary and the nursing staff were absolutely brilliant."

Maria is hoping that Blackwell's in Oxford will stock the book, which is now being published.The teenager said copies were available to order from major UK book stores or via the website searchingfortenga.co.uk

Maria, who is studying A-Levels in Law, Politics and English Literature at Henley College, added: "I enjoy reading the classics including Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Tolstoy's War and Peace.

"I also really enjoyed Howard's End by EM Forster."

The fantasy fan is planning to study Law at university, with a view to becoming a criminal law barrister.

Searching for Tenga, which is 30,000 words and 194 pages long, features an eagle, a gentle dragon and a lovable leopard cub called Tenga.

Penny Hambridge, a spokesman for the Oxford Children's Hospital, at the John Radcliffe in Headington, said: "This is a great effort from Maria and she has done very well to write her first novel at such a young age.

"The more copies of the book she sells, the more money will be raised for the children's hospital."

More than 60,000 young patients a year are treated at the children's hospital.

It opened in January last year, as part of the £130m West Wing development.

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