Bella Horton

DSST Stapleton eighth-grader and Stapleton resident Bella Horton recently published her first book, The Warm Waters of Winter, a children’s book about a young humpback’s journey in its first year of life. The book is recommended for first- to fifth-grade reading levels.

Horton began the book in sixth grade as an assignment to write an educational piece about humpback whales after a class science trip to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, Calif.

Horton, or “Whale Turkey” as she goes by on her blog, loves to write. She’s written quotes, poems and short stories, and is in the process of writing a few novels. “I kind of like to go all over and explore all my options at the moment.” She admires J.K. Rowling and Robert Frost. She previously studied creative writing in the Duke University Talent Identify Program (Duke TIP).

Duke TIP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented youth. The program believes gifted children often do not reach their full potential for a variety of reasons. Duke TIP identifies and supports those children.

Horton has been determined to return to Duke TIP ever since finishing her program. She decided to publish her book to help pay for the program a second time.

“My mom told me the book was really good and so did my father so we revised a few things because I’ve grown in my writing a little bit more in the two years.”

In addition to the writing, she drew all the illustrations.

“We had a blast creating the book, revising it, publishing it. It’s just a feat in itself to do it as well as to make it back to Duke again.”

Beginning in October, The Warm Waters of Winter will also be sold in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science during a temporary exhibit on whales. The book is available now on Amazon at https://www.createspace.com/4689107 or directly through Horton by emailing BooksByBella@yahoo.com. To read Horton’s other writing, visit WhaleTurkey8282.wordpress.com.