Corning Iowa Teen Publishes Debut Novel at Age 17

Heather Mendenhall, a 17-year-old student at Southwest Valley High School, has accomplished something most adults never do. She wrote and self-published her debut novel, War of Faith, through Amazon's independent publishing platform, proving that determination and self-reliance still open doors in America.

What is War of Faith About?

Set in medieval times, War of Faith follows protagonist Althea Springer, a young woman sentenced to war for her crimes. Mendenhall described the story as one of survival, friendship, and love under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

Mendenhall started writing the book at the end of 2024 when she was just 16 years old. After 18 months of work, the novel was officially published on April 1.