Rockville Writers: Jasmine Smith

This is the first of three profiles of Rockville authors whose work is part of the third annual Gaithersburg Book Festival. The festival will be held at . The first two profiles feature finalists in the festival's second annual high school student short story contest.

Jasmine Smith was lying in bed one night, unable to sleep, when the thought popped into her head: What if someone is watching me?

That first question led to another: Why would someone want to watch me?

And from those two thoughts on that sleepless night, Smith, a 17-year-old senior at , was inspired to write a short story that is among the 13 finalists in the Gaithersburg Book Festival’s second annual high school student short story contest.

Using the same opening line as her classmates in a Richard Montgomery English class, “Lots of people heard of love at first sight, but this was something else entirely," Smith wrote a fantasy from the perspective of someone who never lived.

Smith, of Rockville, described “Our Aged Face” in an email as a story about the human need for life and how far and long some people will go for it.

She wrote the story from the perspective of someone who never took that first breath, Smith said. Her hero is desperately trying to feel the warmth of life and make a connection, she said.

Smith credits her mother, her grandmother and English teacher Davina Smith for encouraging her creativity.

This is the first time Smith’s work has been published.

“It feels great,” she said. “I’m happy that my work is being recognized and read by a large number of people.”

She encourages other aspiring writers to write.

“Even when you’re tired or don’t feel like it,” she said. “It’s the best way to stir up ideas and practice. Also, go out and explore, try new things so that you can gain a new perspective and expand your creativity.”

Smith will attend Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, VA, next year. She plans to major in English.

Judges picked 13 finalists from among the 141 entries to the high school student short story contest. The winning stories will be selected by award-winning mystery author Brad Parks and novelist Jennifer Miller, two of the more than 100 featured authors who will appear at the festival.

First-, second- and third-place winners will be announced at the festival, after which they will read their winning stories. Winners will receive gift certificates for $100, $50, and $25, respectively.

Click here to read the finalists’ stories.