ST. GEORGE – “Brevick Velques woke to a midnight knock on his door. On the porch was a box, and what would prove to be the beginning of an incredible adventure.”
Those words open “The Alpha Supremacy,” a science fiction novel filled with intricate plot twists and page-turning thrills spawned from the mind of 12-year-old author Jonah Burt.
On Sunday, the mother-son team of Melynda Thorpe Burt and Jonah will deliver a presentation entitled “Filming, Writing and Creating for Change” at the World Peace Gardens at Green Valley Spa. Jonah will read from his novel, while Thorpe Burt is promoting the documentary she wrote and filmed in the Andes Mountains of Peru with the Heart Walk Foundation last year.
Jonah is a quiet, studious boy living in St. George with his brother, Noah, and mother, Melynda Thorpe Burt, owner of the Southern Utah-based Melynda Creative marketing and advertising agency. A voracious reader, he devours science fiction books and movies, though his idol is Ernest Hemingway; he shares Hemingway’s passions for the ocean, sailing and writing. Jonah’s intellect and maturity extend far beyond his years, as evident by his dedication to his work.
Though he had long wanted to write a book, he jumped onto the fast track towards that goal in early 2012. He began working on a manuscript, vowing to finish it by the end of the year.
“He wouldn’t let me or anyone else help,” Thorpe Burt said. “He just handed it to me when it was done.”
Jonah said that he came up with the majority of the plot as he went along. Creating the characters was his biggest challenge, and the experience on the whole was both difficult and rewarding.
“I got to become part of the book,” Jonah said. “The feeling of accomplishment when I finished it was awesome.”
The final product of “The Alpha Supremacy” is currently being published and due to be released May 1. Jonah distributed the first six chapters as a teaser and gained such a following that he has already begun pre-selling copies.
Jonah, who self-published “The Alpha Supremacy,” said that he has no immediate plans to submit his novel to a literary agent or publishing company.
He will continue promoting its sale through social media and local appearances while brainstorming for his next book, which he said will be more fantasy-oriented and feature monsters.
“I’m very proud of him and what he’s accomplished,” Thorpe Burt said. “I hope that people will read it and love it. He wrote it with readers in mind.”
“It’s a good adventure and a fun experience,” Jonah said.
To order a copy of “The Alpha Supremacy,” visit its official Facebook page.
Event details and contact information
What: “Filming, Writing and Creating for Change” presentation by Melynda Thorpe Burt and Jonah Burt
When: March 3 at 11:30 a.m.
Where: World Peace Gardens, Green Valley Spa, St. George
Contact: Melynda Thorpe Burt – 435-773-0781
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