Most sources put an author's chances of getting a manuscript professionally published at around 1% to 2%.

Not great chances. But Harper Weber, 13, of Paradise, can say that she beat the odds.

Weber, a seventh-grade student at Pequea Valley Secondary School, held a signing for her new book, "The Adventure That Awaits," on Friday, March 27, at the school's media center.

The student had her work published through ReadyAimWrite Kids, an organization founded by Harrisburg resident Stephen Kozan that helps students across the country become published authors.

Weber's book is an eight-chapter, 55-page children's piece that follows a pair of siblings who embark on a vacation to Australia without their parents. Their plane crashed en route to their destination, forcing the siblings to swim to and survive on an abandoned island.

"In fourth grade, we were writing an adventure story," Weber said. "Then I kind of just took it from there."

The signing was attended by Weber's classmates, teachers and family, many of whom were a part of her acknowledgments section: her parents, Crystal and Dana; her sisters, Lorelei and Maura; and various teachers.

"If I gave her a task, she would go above and beyond with anything I gave her," said Weber's fourth-grade teacher, Kristen Rogers. "She was always willing to take any advice and feedback I gave her."

Weber took questions from the assembled crowd in a question-and-answer format before signing books.

"It was really cool; I liked that my friends were here for the support," she said. "My friends and family have always been there for me to support me."

Kozan attended the district for an assembly where he had every student write a one-page "flash fiction" piece, an original creative work. Kozan promised that the most interesting story would be fleshed out and turned into a whole book.

The original piece of notebook paper that Weber wrote her original story on was on display at the signing on Friday.

"I didn't think that I was going to be the one to get picked," said Weber, the 137th youth author published by ReadyAimWrite Kids.

As part of the agreement, Weber signed a real, legally binding contract with ReadyAimWrite Kids that gives her rights to royalties should the book sell a certain number of copies. Kozan described the contract as being very similar to what an author would sign with a normal publishing house.

"They learn the business part of it," Kozan said. "Then also the writing part and learning how to put things together."

Weber is one of several Pequea Valley students who have been published through the program, most recently Evan Johnston's "The Secret Mission of Billy Joe" in 2022.

The whole process, from notebook paper to publication, takes about a year. Weber wrote the entire story, which was then edited by ReadyAimWrite Kids' team. Weber also provided guidance to illustrators on what she wanted the cover to look like.

Kozan said that 60 of Weber's books have already been printed, but more are on the way due to the book's early success.

Weber said that she isn't sure about her future goals, but she can always say that she's a published author.

Weber's book is available to purchase on Amazon or at http://www.kidswritestories.net/book/the-adventure-that-awaits/.