Garner native R. B. Holbrook began writing poems and short stories in the third grade. Even though she went on to North Carolina A&T for a major in graphic communications, it was no surprise she came back to her love of writing after college.

Her first self-published novel, “Oracle’s Legacy: Children of the Sun,” is now available to buy.

The science fiction novel is the first of a trilogy about a secret civilization of people with special powers that live among regular humans. While most super heroes are surprised to find they have powers, Holbrook’s characters know they are special.

“It’s kind of like a whole lot of what ifs,” Holbrook said. “It kind of blossomed from there.”

She said she introduces the reader to several different personalities like what a small town girl might find in college.

The 1998 Garner High School graduate said there isn’t any one character that is supposed to be like her.

“There’s a little bit of me in each one,” she said.

However, she definitely has a favorite – Ollie. Holbrook said the headstrong character will do whatever it takes to keep her loved ones safe.

“She’s not the type to roll over for anybody,” Holbrook said.

Holbrook signed copies of her fist novel Aug. 15 at the Aversboro Coffee House.

She has had to put down her writing for a while to help market the first book of the trilogy. However, Holbrook said that won’t last long. The third novel, “God of Illumination,” is half written and she cannot wait to finish it.

The second of Holbrook’s novels, “Shadows of Fate” is currently in the editing stage. The book is set to be for sale this fall. Holbrook hopes to have the final novel of the trilogy published before the end of the year.

Holbrook started writing novels in college, but didn’t realize that she wanted to be a novelist until her last year of graduate school. She said she would like to break out into other genres of literature writing, but her favorite is fantasy and science fiction.

She said when she was younger, it was sometimes difficult to get interested in a book because it wasn’t what she liked to read.

However, Holbrook thinks that sometimes it’s more important to understand the story than to take in all the details.

“Books aren’t supposed to be boring,” she said.

At times, she has skipped two thirds of a book to soak up just the story. In her first novel, Holbrook said she did put in detail, but she thinks readers won’t have to dig deep to understand the story.

For aspiring writers, Holbrook said to keep writing and find where you can make your writing better.

“If you think there are areas you need to work on, get help,” she said. “No matter what genre it is, there is someone who is going to read it.”

To purchase your own copy of Holbrook’s first novel, visit her website at www.rbholbrook.com and click on order.