Arjan Kaur, an eighth grader at Woodbridge Middle School, published her first book, Silk & Silence, on April 10, 2026. The book is part of The Velvet Knife Series and is a high-stake spy thriller about Blair Moreau, who carries dangerous secrets wherever she goes, and Aiden Cross, a ghost trained to follow the orders given to him. Through months of hard work and dedication, she can officially call herself a published author.

Kaur first realized she wanted to write a book while watching a spy movie. She described her thoughts as, “Wow, this movie is great, maybe I can write a book inspired by it.” Kaur said nobody specifically in her family inspired her to write as no one “ever wrote a book or never had any interest in writing a book.” No other books inspired her novel.

While reading a book, most people don’t think about the hard work and dedication it took to publish. It took months for Kaur to publish Silk & Silence. She spent “four months to do the first half and then another month for the end.”

Mr. Malmstrom, the journalism teacher from Woodbridge Middle School, said he is “beyond proud of Arjan.” He’s inspired by Arjan’s passion for writing and her bravery. Malmstrom said, “To put yourself out there, especially as a middle schooler, for everyone to read is brave and shows her passion for writing. Arjan is my hero.”

Malmstrom enjoyed reading about Blair and the way, “she navigated the difficulties of being a spy.” He described Kaur’s dialogue as “captivating, fast-paced, and revealing so much about the personality of her characters.”

My experience reading the book was thrilling, and I found myself not being able to stop turning the pages. I was fully immersed in the story from the first chapter, and I was able to finish it quickly. Arjan being able to write that book while dealing with school and other commitments amazes me. It shows that she’s committed and able to bring her ideas to life. I find her writing journey inspiring.

When asked about her future writing career, Kaur said, “The series is going to have a couple more books come out.” Based on the ending of her last book, there is lots more to be revealed. After she closes the series, she feels as if “that’s going to be it.”

Arjan is a committed person and an inspiration to many. Her words of advice to young aspiring authors are, “Don’t listen to the negativity, do what you want.” Kaur will continue to inspire people for years to come.