MIDDLESEX TWP — It began with an idea, a first word; 161,000 more words and a year later, Hannah Webb, then age 13, finished her first novel.

“Surreal” may be a work of fiction, but for this Middlesex Township teen, it was a very real undertaking.

“I started plotting it two summers ago, when I was 13. I finished writing it at the end of March, on the day before I turned 14. My goal had been to finish it while I was still 13, and I just barely made it,” explained Hannah, who is now 15 and in 10th grade at Mars High School.

The daughter of Chrissy and Geoff Webb had moments of doubts on the “Surreal” journey.

“I doubted my ability every day, and, in my mind, there was only a small possibility that I would finish writing 'Surreal.'”

Hannah, who was homeschooled at the time, had support from family and friends. Though she didn't share her project with many adults, her peers were very encouraging.

“Whenever I considered quitting, they would tell me that I was not allowed to give up, because then they wouldn't find out what happened,” said Hannah.

They often voiced their encouragement and at times would help Hannah brainstorm ideas to make the plot more realistic.

“Without them, I don't think I could have done it,” she said.

The time-consuming task found space in Hannah's day during school breaks. “I worked on the book nearly every day. I would get online, start my school work, and then take breaks to work on 'Surreal.' I spent several hours a day, just typing it up as fast as I could, trying to get what was in my head onto paper,” she explained.

Much of the thought process of the book transpired during long swim practices when Hannah used planning the book to engage her mind while swimming.

Chrissy Webb, who at the time was both mother and teacher to Hannah, wished her daughter well but harbored some doubt.

“Knowing how much easier it is to start something than to finish it, I had my doubts that Hannah's many hours at the computer would result in a completed book,” she said.

Often Chrissy Webb wondered if Hannah was using her time wisely, but as Hannah's sibling and friends began to read the manuscript, mom realized something real was emerging.

“Of course, Hannah never let me read any of it, because she knew I'd end up red-penciling any grammar mistakes,” said Chrissy Webb, who has now read it after a year's worth of edits.

Hannah's father also had to wait until the final version.

“Hannah's friends played a big role in helping to encourage her. While Chrissy and I would offer encouragement, she would not let us read 'Surreal' until she finished writing it,” said Geoff Webb.

“We published it on Amazon.com (for Kindles) this August, and we will be publishing it for NOOKs this coming week. We are really proud of her and hope that 'Surreal' does well,” said Geoff Webb, who encourages parents of big dreamers to be supportive.

“To encourage other kids with the same goals Hannah had, we suggest parents and peers be supportive. If it's something your child cares about, then they should go for it. They should take it just one day at a time and should not get frustrated if it looks like the task will be impossible,” he said.

Her second novel is now under way.

“I'm currently writing a novel I'm calling 'Adhira,' and since I can learn from the mistakes I made when writing 'Surreal,' I think that 'Adhira' will be a much stronger story,” said Hannah.

Hannah encourages would-be writers to plan a plot that is strong enough to sustain the story and to just keep writing.

“Every time you feel like the story isn't going anywhere, or if you have doubts about whether or not it's worth it, just keep writing. The story will lead somewhere, even if it's not where you were originally heading,” she said.

“I'm still waiting to wake up one morning and find out that I dreamed the whole thing,” said Hannah, who needs only to search on Amazon.com to realize her dream is indeed a reality.

All 14-year old Elena Sarris wants to do is stay under the radar. It's the year 2065, and the presidency of the United States has been overthrown. Monarchs are turning the shaky, confused United States into the “United Colonies,” and gradually restricting the freedoms of the country.Elena is thrown out of her relatively peaceful life when her friend develops a unique ability that could destroy them both if the wrong people knew. When this friend disappears and is believed to be kidnapped, Elena sets off on an adventure to find her, uncovering a dangerous world very few live to see, discovering that her friend is not the only one who has one of these “special” abilities.In this coming-of-age book, Elena learns what it means to be a friend, and what it means to be different.