SANDPOINT - From a young age, Gabrielle Bennett has been drawn to worlds of fantasy.

Encouraged by her parents' strong advocacy for both personal and family reading, she immersed herself in the fiction of writers like John Flanagan and Brandon Mull. Before long, Gabrielle, now 13, wasn't content with simply exploring other people's creations. She was ready to do a little creating of her own.

"As I read these books, I felt like I wanted to write (my own stories) and reach out to others," she said.

Within a couple years, the young teen put the finishing touches on an achievement that eludes most adults: a completed debut novel. Published under Gabrielle's pen name, Sophie Evans, through the Xlibris printing and distribution service, "Heroes of Terra" is a fantasy adventure that the local student can call her very own. And she's not even close to finished.

"I always thought this would make a great career," she said.

Gabrielle's father, Evan Bennett, said he knew early on that his daughter possessed an exceptional drive and imagination. He also knew a love for reading was a healthy habit to encourage in teens and preteens. But there was no way he could predict the explosion of creativity it would inspire.

Before long, Gabrielle was writing notes on spare bits of paper. The notes turned into paragraphs. And the paragraphs became a sprawling manuscript that refused to stop growing.

"Soon, we found she was on the computer all the time," Bennett said.

"Now, we can't get her off the computer," he added. "She's constantly typing away."

Gabrielle was at work at what would become "Heroes of Terra," an adventure centering on a main character who discovers another realm that needs her help. The young author took efforts to have the characters demonstrate virtues and values that would have a positive impact on her peers.

"She discovers who she really is and finds friends along the way," Gabrielle said.

By the time the original manuscript for the novel was complete, the Bennett family was initially unsure how to proceed. After a discussion with his wife, however, Bennett said they decided it was their job to support their daughter's passion. They helped Gabrielle undertake the process of editing her work and began exploring publishing options, eventually opting for the Xlibris service.

"As parents, we realized we actually had a book here, so we did some research," he said. "It's been an incredible learning experience."

That experience should come in handy, because Gabrielle shows no signs of stopping. She already has work well underway for the next books in the series and is certain her love of writing will only continue to grow.

"I know this is going to take her very far," Bennett said.

"Heroes of Terra" is available at local book stores in North Idaho and online at Amazon, Xlibris and Barnes & Noble.