Spotlight on Student Writers: Audrey Davis

Six Fox Lane High School students were recognized for their fiction and nonfiction writing talent in Bedford Free Library’s 18^th Annual School Writing Contest. We’ll be shining a light on some of their work over the next few weeks.

Freshman Audrey Davis came in first place in the fiction category. We spoke to her about her story, inspiration and writing in general.

Can you give us a summary of your piece, The Ghost Herd?

The short story is set in a post-apocalyptic world, focusing on the escape of a teenage girl, Epona Ambrose. After hunters and their ruthless leader Morto attacked her village, Epona was forced to flee to Yellow Hedge, a neighboring village. She was tasked with the safety of her village's most prized possession: their horses. She would protect them no matter the cost. She knew she may not survive the ordeal, but she’d rather go down fighting than let the herd fall into the wrong hands. Armed with only a hunting knife and a map, Epona and the herd began their treacherous journey with the hunters hot on their heels.

What was your inspiration for the story?

I began writing this story as a part of a small English class exercise. You get a picture and you have to write a short story inspired by what you see. I chose a picture of a herd of horses passing under an abandoned bridge, light shining through the holes in the beams. When I saw that picture, I immediately knew that I had to write a post-apocalyptic horse-girl themed short story.

What do you like most about writing?

What I like most about writing is the feeling of getting lost in the world, imagining the characters interacting with the world around them. Whenever I write I always feel like I am truly in the story, observing like a narrator.

Read Audrey’s piece here.