A TEENAGER who has dyslexia is celebrating the publishing of her first book.

Coco Kirkland, 16, who says she was born to write, is now busy promoting Project Immortality, which is a graphic novel.

Dedicated

It tells the story of a ghost and a zombie, who were victims of two separate murders, who try to find their own attackers and bring them to justice.

Coco, who lives in Brighton, has ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) as well as dyslexia but said writing was her destiny.

She said: “My brain was designed for writing.

“ADHD and dyslexia aren’t really an advantage or a disadvantage, just a different type of mental state.

“The ability to really dedicate yourself to writing and art can strongly link with

your neuro-diversity.”

Coco had the idea for Project Immortality one day in 2017 when she was in a pub with her father.

She spent last year expanding it into the 250-page novel that is now available to buy.

She said the story sends a message to people who suffer from similar issues to her but that it was not particularly intentional.

She said: “I didn’t go out of my way to make the novel about the stigma some people will have with their brains.

“Project Immortality often

deals with the idea of the body and brain arguing, for comic relief or not.

“I’m sure this will speak volumes to those of us whose brains don’t always agree with their bodies.”

Coco has been writing and

drawing comics since she was a child.

She says her short works take between one and three months, while longer pieces can take up to three years.

Project Immortality is published by independent publisher Markosia.

The company’s editor in chief, Ian Sharman, said he was proud to have Coco on board.

He said: “Coco is the youngest creator whose work we have published.

“We hope this is the start of a long and illustrious career.”

Coco is studying at SML College in Fishersgate, a college which allows students to plan their own learning.

Expressive

When she attended mainstream school Coco said she was constantly in trouble with teachers for doodling.

However she said she was doing it because she is a visual learner and rather than being naughty she was “note-taking”.

Now, at SML, she says she is able to learn in a much more expressive way.

She said: “I’m able to teach myself so I use pictures a lot.

“I took two GCSEs early.

“With law I made a comic about solicitors and barristers to help teach myself and to remember things.”