Richards sophomore self-publishes spiritual novel about Christmas and faith

Richards High School sophomore Ashlynn Goldizen has independently published her first novel, called “Unwrapped: A Novel in Verse.”

The spiritual story explores a teenager’s disconnect with Christmas and God as she struggles to maintain positive relationships with her family and friends. The main character then uses her faith to open up her heart and rediscover hope.

“I called it ‘Unwrapped’ because some gifts aren't wrapped in paper. Some only reveal themselves when you finally unwrap your heart,” Goldizen said. “You have to be yourself and see that someone is here for you, God is here for you, no matter what. It’s a very powerful thing to believe.”

Goldizen, 15, began writing the book in February 2025 as she reflected on her own feelings of outgrowing the Christmas holiday. She set daily word counts ranging from 600 a day to 2,000 a day and incorporated Bible verses into her writing. She sought guidance from youth ministry leaders at her place of worship, Moraine Valley Church in Palos Heights, who helped her recognize that writing is her gift.

The aspiring author has been dreaming of this accomplishment for years. When she was 3 years old, Goldizen would scribble and draw pictures into folded pieces of paper and give it to her younger siblings. Around middle school, she started writing fantasy sci-fi stories before she realized that the genre did not align with her religion. That was when she decided to focus on writing about Christianity.

Goldizen plans to promote her novel through her church. It has already resonated with her grandfather, who called her mother crying to share that the fictional story unearthed feelings he didn’t notice were there.

“It made him realize pain that he couldn't even see himself,” Goldizen said. “He told me, ‘I want to heal the way you did,’ by reading my book. I thought that was really amazing. He relates to a lot of this. And that's why I want it to be relatable to kids.”

The book is recommended for ages 13 and older. So far, Goldizen has sold 15 copies, with a goal to sell 100 books within a year. The book is being sold on Amazon, which handles printing, binding, and delivery. Goldizen collects royalties from each sale.

Born in California to a family that moved frequently because her father is an active military member, Goldizen has been living in Oak Lawn for about five years. She’d love to be a famous author but is also interested in pediatric nursing.

Goldizen said she hopes her book encourages young readers to see that they are never alone in their struggles.

“God is still present, even when you don't feel it, even when you’re trying to understand why you’re being put through these things,” she said. “There’s always a reason for everything that’s happened. Things are gonna be okay.”