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For those looking for a fast-paced book for the summer, a local author has just the fix.

Sarah Newland is a Suffolk native who recently published the second installment of her young adult fantasy trilogy, “The Coelacanth Project.”

“Chymist,” which released on May 2, continues the story of five teens who realize that their life is not what they originally thought. Their journey takes them to discover more about their powers and past. Their adventures take them to familiar Virginia locations, including Williamsburg, the Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

“Growing up, I would go to the Chesapeake Bay to go boating with my dad,” said Newland. “I wanted to write a book that takes you to a place you know and then pulls back the curtain on where you call home — to take a familiar place and make it fresh.”

This trilogy focuses on thinking for yourself. Newland was drawn to writing for the young adult genre due to the turbulent time of life it chronicles. During this time, high schoolers transition into college and are away from home for the first time and must think for themselves. After 18 years of living with parents making rules, it is time for them to decide what they believe is right and wrong.

“Why young adult is so appealing to me is because once you hit adulthood, you realize no one has the right answers, and it never stops,” said Newland. “I was hit with a hard reality in this transition where I had to ask my own questions and see what was going on. You have to learn to get to a place to trust yourself.”

Newland works full time as a licensed veterinary technician and writes her books on the side, as she called it, a “labor of love.” She encourages others who want to publish a book to organize their time and make a conscious effort to achieve their goals.

“A habit is more productive than inspiration,” said Newland. “You have to take the time every day to sit and write it out. At the end of the day, that’s how you get a book.”

Newland hopes that the last installment of the trilogy will come out in late 2022 to early 2023. To learn more about the series, visit sarahnewlandbooks.com.