Talented teen’s story is a runaway hit

Shauna Griffiths and her book

A teenager hopes her debut novel will be a runaway success — and it’s all down to her school.

Shauna Griffiths (13), of Greenacres, never dreamed her book “Runaway Teen” would be published.

But when staff at St Damian’s RC Science College in Ashton got their hands on the manuscript they knew it was good enough for wider readership.

Shauna, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy last year, was only 12 when she wrote the story about 15-year-old Marilyn, who runs away from her turbulent home life.

Shauna was too young to enter the BBC Young Writers’ competition so the school decided to pay for the print and publication of 10 copies: one for Shauna and the rest for the school library.

But the story didn’t end there: the Diocese of Salford, which runs the school, was so impressed with the book it is considering paying for more copies, for libraries in other schools.

Shauna, who spends hours writing in school lunch breaks and at home, was overwhelmed when headteacher Sheldon Logue presented her with a surprise copy of the book.

Mr Logue said she was a “true inspiration”: “Shauna’s can-do attitude, perseverance and true grit shows that anything is possible if you believe you can do it. She’s a shining example.”

Shauna’s mum Stacy Cregan said her daughter has always excelled at English and enjoyed studying.

“I’m over the moon the school has done this for her; I’m so proud of her.”

Shauna is already working on a sequel and a couple of other books and hopes to be an author or journalist.