Whitecourt teen A.J. Iverson publishes debut novel at fifteen

By Haylee Winger

At just 15 years old, Whitecourt author A.J. Iverson has already achieved what many writers only dream of—publishing her first novel. Titled Hellbent, the book is a gritty, emotionally driven fantasy that explores the afterlife, revenge, and redemption through the eyes of a troubled main character.

Iverson was born in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, and spent most of her childhood in a small town near Cold Lake, Alberta. Her family moved to Whitecourt in the summer of 2024. Growing up in the countryside and surrounded by a family active in sports, hunting, and recreation, Iverson found her own outlet in storytelling. By the age of seven or eight, she was already writing short stories just for fun—planting the early seeds of what would become a true passion.

“Originally, I hated reading,” she admits. “But after I started the Wings of Fire series in Grade 4, I haven’t put a book down since.”

That early change in perspective sparked something lasting. Over the years, Iverson developed a passion for storytelling. A key influence, she says, was her grandmother—a librarian who filled her shelves with books and listened patiently to her early poems and short stories. “She always supported me, and I dedicated my novel to her,” Iverson says. “My teachers at Ardmore School were also amazing. Whether it was poetry or stories, they always provided me with opportunities to enter contests and use my skills on real world applications.”

Hellbent follows Allistor, a troubled criminal who dies and finds himself in Hell. In this brutal new world, he sees a chance to finally take control—by becoming its ruler and taking revenge on those who wronged him in life. Along the way, he encounters a band of pirates who help him on his quest. But Allistor’s plan is thrown into chaos when he meets Rose, a girl whose presence forces him to question everything he thought he wanted.

“I take a lot of inspiration from music,” Iverson explains. “When I hear a good song, I imagine scenes playing out like a movie in my head. One song really got me thinking about the afterlife, and that became the spark for Hellbent.”

She describes the version of Hell in the novel as a mix of cultural and religious stereotypes, blended with her own interpretations to create a unique world. The title, Hellbent, reflects the main character’s relentless pursuit of his goals—regardless of the consequences. “He’s completely set on getting what he sees as justice,” she says. “But that determination is tested when he’s forced to care about someone else.”

Iverson began writing the novel when she was 14 and published it on August 7, just one year later. But the process wasn’t easy. “Editing and formatting were the hardest parts. I had no idea what I was doing, and I’m not the most patient person,” she laughs. “I had to redo things so many times, but my dad helped with editing and my mom handled a lot of the formatting and publishing. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Her sisters also played a major role. “They hyped me up the whole time and constantly told me how incredible they thought I was,” she says. “They kept me going.”

The support didn’t stop there. After the book was released, family members from all over reached out with praise and encouragement. “Some of them I hadn’t seen in years called me to talk about my novel. That really boosted my confidence.”

Iverson stores her ideas in a mix of Google Docs and notebooks gifted to her by her Oma. Whether it’s short stories, poetry, or fragments of future books, she’s always writing. “Even now, I can scroll through my old documents and find things I wrote when I was seven or eight.”

So, what’s next? Iverson is already considering a sequel to Hellbent, with a new plot focused on Allistor’s regret and a fresh goal he becomes obsessed with. She’s also toying with the idea of creating a poetry or short story collection.

While she’s still figuring out what career path she wants to follow, one thing is certain—writing will always be part of her life. “Although I’ve been struggling to pinpoint the career path I want to follow, I don’t think I’ll ever completely stop writing,” she says. “What I love most would probably be the freedom to create any world or situation imaginable. When writing, I could be anyone or anything. I could write about something I relate to or something I know nothing about at all. It’s very freeing.”

To other young writers, Iverson offers this advice: “Just write. It doesn’t have to be good right away. You don’t need a perfect plan. Sometimes, the most incredible work is unexpected.”

Iverson is planning a book signing event at Lather Lagoon in Whitecourt this September, with the exact date to be announced. Readers can stay up to date by following her on Facebook and Instagram at @a.j.iverson.