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SYRACUSE - "I started writing because I had to at first," said Jami McDaniel, in answer to how a 16-year-old sophomore becomes a published author.
"It was language arts, but our main focus was writing.Ê Once I realized I could get personal pleasure from it, that's whenÊI started writing on my own.ÊI started filling journals and I just write all the time."
McDaniel has had her first book published, titled "When You Don't Clean Your Room."Ê She attends Wawasee High School, and is the daughter of John and Sheri McDaniel.Ê She has two siblings - her brother Josh, who is 7 years old, and her 13-year-old sister Kalyn, who McDaniel regards as her best friend.
Her book is a poem about a boy who won't clean his room, and what happens when he doesn't.Ê"My teacher gave us an assignment where we had to write a poem," Jami said.Ê "We had previously read Shel Silverstein's 'Sara Cynthia Sylvia Stout.' It's about a girl who wouldn't take the garbage out. I thought I could model (my poem) after that poem.ÊI took the next chore that popped into my head ... cleaning your room.ÊI basically made up a silly name to go with it and I went from there."
This was when McDaniel was a seventh-grader and her teacher was Mrs. Ayers.ÊThe "silly name" McDaniel came up with is Colton Colin CoilÊCalloon.ÊA family friend liked the poem and thought it would make a good children's story.Ê It was McDaniel's mother who decided to do something with the poem.
"When Jami was away at basketball camp this summer, that's when we decided we were going to go forward with it," Sheri said.
"I don't know that we really knew where the writing was going," said John. "We knew she spent a lot of time writing ... an unusual amount of time writing. She has volumes of journals and stacks of things she has written."
The McDaniels decided to pursue publishing of the poem in book form, including a sketch of the title character done by Jami, for her 16th birthday.ÊJohn approached the Baker Trittin Press of Winona Lake about doing 20 copies as a birthday present.Ê Initially, they turned him down.
McDaniel was persistent, though, and got the publisher to take a closer look at Jami's work.Ê"This is a man who really believes in what his daughter is doing," said Paul Trittin. "That was reason enough to consider it."
"When I saw it and read it," added Dr. Marvin Baker, "I said, 'this is marketable.'"
Baker and Trittin decided not only to publish Jami's poem, but to meet with her as well.ÊTrittin also did the art work for the book.ÊBecause of out-of-town business commitments, the meeting had to take place before Jami's birthday, though.ÊThis meant Jami would receive an early birthday gift she never expected.
"This was completely a surprise," she said.Ê"A week before my birthday, they told me I was going to open my present early.ÊI said no ... I'd have nothing to open on my birthday.ÊThey said you have to open it now.
"I opened up the box and saw 20 copies and thought, 'This is cute.ÊMy parents put this little thing together.'Ê Then I opened up the first page and it was copyrighted.Ê I just started crying and shaking. I was so surprised and caught off guard."
Baker and Trittin liked McDaniel's book enough to not only publish it, but asked her if she could do more.
"I decided I could do an entire series, helping kids on a moral basis," Jami said.Ê "We've come up with a bunch of ideas ... what happens when you don't tell the truth; when you don't brush your teeth; what happens when you cheat.ÊI've already sent in the story about what happens when you lie. I'm waiting for feedback on that."
McDaniel's activities at school include the previously mentioned basketball, as well as writing for the school newspaper, and involvement in the Christian fellowship organization IMPACT.ÊAs for the future, she wants to attend a four-year college, but is unsure which one at this time.Ê She has considered teaching, but her passion is definitely her writing.
"My ultimate goal is to become a best-selling novelist," she said. "I'm taking baby steps to get there.ÊI've been working on a novel for three years and just work on it when I have time.
"Your goals are never too high, and your dreams are never too far out of reach," she said. "All you need to do is have someone believe in you and believe in yourself."
