HarperCollins to publish fantasy novel written by 11-year-old girl.

From the Guardian:

The young author, Nancy Yi Fan, won the extraordinary opportunity by simply emailing her manuscript to the chief executive of HarperCollins, Jane Friedman, at the publisher's New York office.

Fan has since been hailed as a prodigy by her editors who will use her book in a new attempt to establish the firm in China . Her story, Swordbird, is an epic allegory about the struggle for peace and will be printed in this country in the new year. Those who have seen it talk about it as the product of a mind as imaginative as some of the greatest names in children's writing.

I'm trying very hard to not feel pessimistic and cynical about this.

I give up.  My generally gloomy outlook is too strong.