For Independent Study Academy 10th grader Karsten, creativity has been a lifelong companion. Since enrolling with Visions four years ago, Karsten has used his flexible schedule to pursue one of his biggest passions – writing. Between his schoolwork, he spends time jotting down notes and building the imaginative worlds that fuel his stories.

This dedication recently led to a major accomplishment: the publication of his first book, Midtown: The Forsaken Virus of the Black Realm. The story follows a young girl named Nikki Sinclair, who must confront The Virus, a dark entity spreading corruption through her city. Alongside her mother and allies, Nikki faces the ultimate question: what kind of hero is she willing to become?

Building Worlds Through Words

When asked about his inspiration, Karsten shared, “I was inspired by all of the video games I’ve played growing up. A lot of my creativity has come from the stories I’ve grown up with. I wanted to have a story that was my own.”

Karsten began creatively writing when he was just seven years old, and the journey from idea to published book has been one of perseverance and growth. His writing process often starts with a spark of inspiration, which he develops into characters that he models in his games, each with their own detailed backstories. Those connections are when the story comes to life.

“The book actually took a lot of rewrites, edits, and starting over,” Karsten explained. “It took over a year to finally have a finished book.”