News

A motivating achievement

KIM DAME
Published: December 6, 2012

BROOKSVILLE - Like many 18-year-old high school seniors, Ariel Lenart is busy making senior memories while planning her future.

Many in that age group aren't as far along as Lenart in terms of mapping out their future.

"I want to be a conference speaker," Lenart said, which will involve motivating and inspiring young girls.

Lenart is very active in her church, Grace World Outreach in Brooksville, and has been a youth intern for the past year. In fact, her undaunted Christian-centered faith helped inspire a book Lenart authored, titled, "Someday My Prince Will Come."

It was a school project in Ariel's junior year, said Robin, Ariel's mother, that prompted her to look into her recent journal entries for ideas for the book.

Home-schooled since seventh grade, Ariel wasn't immune to the pressures of teenage girls to grow up too soon. And the idea to let the book act as big-sister support to young girls who struggle with identity, self esteem and peer pressure became the book's premise.

The outline for the book's content focuses on the issues teenage girls face, offering a comfortable read from the perspective of a 'big sister," from the non-threatening encouragement of a big sister.

Ariel's younger sister, Cami, was a huge inspiration for Ariel. In fact, she wrote the book largely for her, "with a heart of a big sister, offering godly advice about what concerns preteens: boys, popularity and waiting for their true love."

It was a family project in a sense. Robin designed the book cover depicting a bulletin board with a pinup of the title "Someday My Prince Will Come," a princess ribbon and a dog tag.

"Ariel's purity platform is not the 'because mom says so' message," said Robin.

Ariel will appear for a book signing today 5:30-8 p.m. at Rising Sun Café, 10 S. Main St., during Christmas on Main Street.

The book will be available for purchase at that time. Each purchase will also receive an embossed dog tag necklace and chain, replicating the dog tag Ariel was given when she was 14.

"I wanted to give them to other girls to inspire them," Ariel said.

Free gift wrapping is available for the books and other gifts at Rising Sun Café as well as door prizes.

"Someday My Prince Will Come" also is available at Amazon.com and through Ariel's website; somedaymyprincewillcome.yolarsite.com.