Transcona Collegiate Student Lowish Bhatia Publishes a Novel—Incomplete Chapters

Famous author Ernest Hemingway said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

Nowadays, writers may not use typewriters, but even for accomplished writers, it remains hard work that requires emotional vulnerability, perseverance, discipline, and passion. That’s what makes Transcona Collegiate student Lowish Bhatia’s accomplishment so impressive—he may only be in high school, but he published his first novel this year.

Lowish’s book, Incomplete Chapters, is a wonderful story about Arsh and Aayushi, childhood best friends whose paths go in different directions when they graduate from high school. Arsh moves to England from India and becomes a psychologist, helping others to overcome trauma and to build fulfilling lives, but a part of him is stuck in the past.

The book uses a unique combination of prose followed by a retelling in poetry at the end of each chapter.

“Since the main character, Aayush [Arsh], writes poetry—and I also enjoy poetry—I decided to add a poem after each chapter,” said Lowish who is currently in Grade 12. “I had already written a poem based on the story, so including poetry felt natural.”

The book explores the themes of self-fulfillment, love, destiny, and mental well-being. Lowish demonstrates an understanding of the human experience beyond his own years. This may be, in part, due to his own life experience. He grew up in India but left behind his family in May 2024 to join his brother in Canada.

“I started writing poetry and short stories when I was 12 years old. I wrote the original version of this story about three years ago, but back then I would only write short pieces that were 3–4 pages long. Last year in ELA, our teacher, Mr. Stastook, gave us an assignment to write a short story and taught us the proper format for writing. That lesson gave me the idea to turn my story into a full book, which later became Incomplete Chapters.”

Many writers say that writing is a part of who they are—it’s something they are compelled to do. Isaac Asimov even said that he wrote for the same reason he breathed; if he didn’t write, he would die. While Lowish did not express it in the same way, it’s clear that for him, writing is not just a hobby but a passion.

“Writing is an important part of my life, and I am grateful for every person who supported me in this journey. I never thought my small stories would one day turn into a book, and this experience has taught me to believe in myself. I hope my work can inspire other young writers to express their feelings and share their stories too. No matter where you start, hard work and dedication can take you far. I am excited to keep learning and growing as a writer.”

Part 2 of the story of Arsh and Aayushi, called Completed Chapters, is publishing in January 2026. Look for it—and Incomplete Chapters —on Amazon.