ROTHSELBERG, Germany — The typical teenager spends his or her free time and summers just hanging out, watching television and playing video games. Brianna Shaver writes a book and gets it published.

The Ramstein High School senior has accomplished in her 17 years what most aspiring writers rarely achieve in a lifetime.

Shaver is a published novelist. Her book, “A Diamond in the Rough,” was published this spring by PublishAmerica of Maryland.

“This is her hobby,” said Thomas Shaver, Brianna’s father. “Instead of sitting in front of the TV, she writes books.”

The $19.95 book was scheduled for a June release date and is already available online at Amazon.com.

The 160-page book tells the tale of Diamond, a young dragon who emerges as a leader in the dragon kingdom and forms a resistance to challenge the dark warlord Saber.

Along her journey to self-discovery, Diamond is aided by friends Fira the phoenix and Blaze the fox. Diamond is surrounded by death but manages to accidentally fall in love.

The book is geared toward young adults, Brianna said. She counts among her favorite books Richard Adams classic “Watership Down” and J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series.

Indeed, Brianna’s book has already claimed one “Harry Potter” reader. Brianna’s sister, Heather, put down her copy of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” to begin reading “A Diamond in the Rough.”

So is Brianna’s book better than a “Harry Potter” story?

“I guess so, according to my sister,” Brianna said.

She began writing “A Diamond in the Rough” during her freshman year of high school on her family’s home computer.

“It was just something fun to do in my free time,” she said. “It gets all the ideas out of my head.”

In all, it took Brianna about a year and a half to write the book. Then after editing the manuscript, on her sister Heather’s advice Brianna submitted it to PublishAmerica last summer. Her parents had no idea she was trying to get the book published.

Only when she learned that her book would be published did Brianna tell her parents.

Brianna’s mother, Darilyn, didn’t believe her until she saw the e-mail from PublishAmerica.

“I was skeptical at first,” Darilyn said. “Not that I didn’t think her work was good enough to be published.”

Brianna’s father only stepped in to help negotiate the contract with PublishAmerica. In her deal, Brianna is guaranteed a percentage of her book sales. That percentage increases if a certain number are sold.

In addition to writing the book, Brianna drew the picture on the novel’s cover, wrote the summary for the back cover and penned her biographical information for the book.

Brianna started writing as part of the “Young Authors” program at Pirmasens Elementary School under the tutelage of Welma Horn, her second-grade teacher. Horn, currently a second-grade teacher at Ramstein Elementary School, is not surprised at all that her former student is a published author.

Horn describes Brianna as quiet, reserved and deep. At a young age, Brianna was a very articulate writer, Horn said.

“I’m going to write my friends all over the world and tell them to buy it,” Horn said. “This is a young kid who did it on her own. I’m going to buy the book.”

If millions of others do the same, Brianna could become the next J.K. Rowling and enjoy the fame and riches of the English housewife turned “Harry Potter” author.

Even if the book finds success, Brianna said she cannot imagine being an author for the rest of her life.

“I really enjoy working with animals, and I want to become a veterinarian,” she said.

Brianna begins her path toward becoming a vet this fall when she is scheduled to enter the University of Florida.

Meet the author

Brianna Shaver will conduct a book signing at Ramstein American High School June 2 at 12:42 p.m. Her book, “A Diamond in the Rough,” will be available for purchase and autographing.