A University of Winchester Creative Writing student has published a novel set in a dystopian future.
Gabriel Webster’s ‘Devotion’ is a coming-of-age story whose central character Hector goes from innocent seven-year-old to vengeful vigilante.
The story takes place far in the future in the superstate of Stonia, whose people are indoctrinated by a strict state religion called Chiaroscurism.
Hector’s happy childhood is shattered when he witnesses a protest against the state end in bloodshed. At first, he tries to bury the memory but later he swears violent revenge against the regime.
Gabriel, from Bushey in Hertfordshire, began writing the novel pre-Covid as a 14-year-old and he returned at regular intervals to rewrite the story in the intervening years.
“I’ve made many revisions and this is about the seventh version,” say Gabriel. “Most of it has changed completely apart from the first page which is exactly what I wrote as a 14-year-old.”
The 20-year-old published Devotion using Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Programme and is written under his full name Gabriel Kerr Webster.
Gabriel, who says hopes to earn a living from writing when he graduates, is working on a second novel, another science fiction story, but this time with a female main character.
Science Fiction is Gabriel’s favourite genre, and his favourite author is Patrick Ness, best-known for his Chaos-Walking trilogy. However, he says he doesn’t feel any other writers have directly influenced his style.
He said that he was enjoying the University’s Creative Writing course which had helped him ‘foster his creativity’.
Glenn Fosbraey, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Winchester, said: “We're all very proud of the dedication (and, of course devotion!) Gabriel has shown in getting this novel published. Writing a book involves a great deal of blood, sweat, and tears, but, ultimately, a great deal of joy when it's out there for the world to see.”
Devotion is available through Amazon visit Devotion: Amazon.co.uk: Webster, Gabriel Kerr: 9798282004007: Books for more details.
To find out more about Creative Writing at the University of Winchester follow this link.
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