This young author has advice for other creatives

RICHMOND, Va. - She's only 12, but Kristina Naydanova is already thinking about college.

"The University of Richmond is a beautiful campus. I would actually love to go here," she said.

She found out the lake on campus is a good place to sit and read a book. We found out Kristina has already written a book herself called "The Black Sisterhood Files."

“It actually is quite thrilling because not many 12-year-olds can say the same," she said. "I'm using my journey as a global encouragement for all the beautifully ambitious novelists out there."

"The Black Sisterhood Files" is a murder mystery that bears a veiled, yet sincere, moral that even the most villainous of creatures have love in their hearts.

It was the love of her family that helped Kristina achieve this dream of becoming a writer. Her mom, Anna Naydanova, has advice for other moms and dads for their kids.

"There will be a time when they come to you and say, 'I want to give up. I want to quit, because something is not working out'. And you have to give them the encouragement to keep going," she said.

Kristina would like to pass that advice on to other aspiring young authors, artists, and academics.

"Truly, never give up,” Kristina said. “Yes, it will be strenuous to establish credibility due to their age, but you can never give up because there's always light at the end of the tunnel. "

It's illuminating advice from the author of such a dark mystery, but it shines a light on why Kristina might write her ticket to any number of colleges one day.