This document profiles 8-year-old Adora Svitak, a prolific child author. Some key details: - She has written over 300 short stories and had a book published in 3 countries. - At age 8, she has written over 330,000 words in one year and edits her school paper. - Her 2004 book "Flying Fingers" includes 296 pages of her short stories and writing advice. - She reads an average of 18 books per week and cares about inspiring other children.

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PRODIGIES
life
Meet Adora Svitak of Redman,
Washington, an eight-year-old
who has written more than 300
short stories and has had a book
published in three different
countries. She uses words like “oli-
garchy” and “tourniquet” and has an
average typing speed of 60 words per
minute.
She also edits her school paper and
mother’s business reports. She has
written over 300 short stories. In one
year alone, she wrote over 330,000
words!
The prodigy has been interviewed
by Diane Sawyer. She started to read
when she was only two-and-a-half years old,
began writing stories at age four, and typing
them out at age six.
In 2004, Adora published a book called Flying
Fingers. The 296-page book includes a series of
her short stories, along with writing strategies
and advice from Adora’s mother and tutor.
The themes in Adora’s books vary. She says, “I
am particularly interested in the adventures of
strong women heroines. Because of my love for
history, many of my adventure/fantasy stories
have strong historical backgrounds.”
She elaborates by saying her heroines have a
scholarly passion for reading, a rebellious spirit
and are non-traditional, even avant garde.
She reads an average of 18 books a week rang-
ing from 50-page novellas to 800-page novels. An
example is Vermilion Gate by Aiping Mu, (800
pages) and Cleopatra by Robert Green.
When chatting with Adora, I found in her joy,
excitement, playfulness, curiosity, and many
other characteristics you would find in any eight-
year-old. But when the interview began, she
remarkably transformed into a ‘professional
adult’.
When asked if she was missing out on a normal
childhood, she replied,”If normal means being
rowdy, hyper, thoughtless, playing video games
10 hours a day, and watching tons of stupid TV
cartoons, then, no.
“I am free to participate in any activity that any
normal child would participate in and have the
opportunity to enjoy interacting with a variety of
people. I don't feel that I am missing out on a so-
called ‘normal’ childhood.
In fact, Adora loves to dance, play with her
classmates, sister and parents, and cook.
The greatest impression I have of Adora is
that she is a mature and down-to-earth girl who
hasn’t let fame get to her, but instead uses it to
help others. I will never forget how compassion-
ate and thoughtful she is. We need more people
like her in this world, many more.
asia!: As a teenager myself, I'm interested to
know why an eight-year-old cares more about
others than playing X-box games, stirring people
up or being a nuisance?
Adora Svitak: I’d like to share my ideas with
the world to show that kids can influence and
inspire others because I sort of feel that kids
are regarded by the public in general as unable
to inspire and influence other people. I would like
to prove to everybody that kids can accomplish
great things, regardless of their age.
Who was the first person you told about your idea
of writing your book Flying Fingers and what was
their reaction?
My mum was the first person I told about my idea
to publish a book. Her reaction was entirely posi-
tive.
Teenager SKY CHIA asks
child-author Adora Svitak about
normalcy, absurdity and selling books in Asia.
A B O U T A
Flying fingers: Adora types 330,000
words a year at the speed of 60 words
per minute.

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life
PRODIGIES
Why did you choose the title Flying Fingers?
It was when a writer came and saw me type and
made reference to my fingers as flying that we
came up with the name.
Were there any tough challenges you faced while
writing the book?
One of the tough challenges I faced was finishing
the endings of my stories. I overcame this
difficulty by focusing on my dream and what it took
to get there. I made myself work on the little
things that would take me closer to my goal.
Sometimes I wrote a paragraph at a time.
However, everything went well, and so I got my
book out!!!
Were there ever days that you just didn't feel like
writing?
Yes, sometimes there were days when I didn’t feel
like writing or I didn’t want to concentrate or
focus on my stories, but that’s not so common
anymore because I am more disciplined now.
How long did it take you to finish writing the book?
It took me six months. It was fun, exciting as well
as hard work.
How is Flying Fingers selling so far?
It’s
doing well in the US. The bilingual version will be
published in China in April. I have also signed a
contract with a Korean publisher.
Were you shocked or surprised by the response to
your book?
I’m not really surprised or shocked because almost
everyone gets praise sometime or another.
Did you have any doubts about it getting published,
or were you confident all the way?
Sometimes I had my doubts because I was afraid
that I wouldn’t get my stories done, we wouldn’t
be able to find a publisher, that my stories
wouldn’t make up enough pages, and that kind of
thing, but on the whole I was pretty confident.
I hear you're writing another book. What's it
about? And how's it going?
I hope to write a book about history for kids.
However, I haven’t actually been doing it—my
current project is a book of poetry, and I’m also
writing a new story.
How did you learn to read and write so well at such
a young age?
I always found reading fun because I could learn new things, I
could read about adventures of fictional/historical charac-
ters, and I did it every day. I also practise writing every
day, which helps me improve constantly.
What about those words you use like 'absurdity' and ‘protago-
nist’. How did you come about learning them? I don't even
know what they mean.
Most of these I come up with because I see them in books,
look them up, and use them in my stories. Sometimes I also
hear them or learn them in my vocabulary class.
For more information go to: www.adorasvitak.com
Supporting cast: The Svitak family at Christmas
Adora makes appearances at
schools to encourage students to
read and write.
At work: Adora promotes
her book at Barnes &
Noble
Just normal: Ice skating is
another pursuit.
At play: Adora and
Adrianna making
faces at Halloween