LA HABRA : Novel of a Boy Wins Writer, 12, an Award

A 12-year-old student at a La Habra private school has won a nationwide writing award for his first novel, a story about a boy who realizes his dream of running with the bulls in Spain.

Lutz Braun, a seventh-grader at Our Lady of Guadalupe School, wrote the children’s book last year, and “Faster Than the Bull” arrived at the school’s library last Wednesday.

Teachers and students stopped Lutz in the hallways to shake his hand and ask for his autograph.

“Everybody is really excited for me,” Lutz said, blushing. “The teachers keep complimenting me.”

Teachers aren’t the only ones.

Last year, judges picked Lutz from more than 7,000 children as the winner of the Raintree/Steck-Vaughn Publish a Book Contest.

His sixth-grade teacher, Gail Sullivan, never had any doubts. “When he finished writing the book, I said, ‘This is going to win,’ ” she said.

Lutz, who believes “writing a story is putting a dream on paper,” said his book has a message for children: “Never give up.”

The message becomes clear in the descriptive passages about the trials of the main character, Gonzalo Sanchez, on his journey “to win” the dangerous running of the bulls event in Pamplona.

“My story is about a kid who goes on an adventure trying to fulfill his dream and does,” said Lutz, who is the first Orange County child to win the writing contest in its 10-year existence.

“My dream is to do the best I can in life and continue writing children’s books that encourage you to never give up,” Lutz said. “That’s a strong message and that’s what makes a good story.”

Lutz likes to read adventure and mystery books.

He is a rock climber, horseback rider and basketball and football player. “I have a feeling I’m going to write about my sports one day,” said Lutz, who started writing stories when he was 5.

“When I was little, I used to write about how my toys would come to life and go on adventures,” he recalled.

Lutz has already begun writing his next novel.

He said he gets his inspiration from the encyclopedia. “I was flipping through the pages when I saw Spain, so I did some research about the running of the bulls tradition and thought it would make a great story,” Lutz said.

Shades of Ernest Hemingway?

Lutz’s teachers and friends believe he’ll make a mark in the literary world.

“Lutz has natural ability and creativity to write books,” Sullivan said. “He is gifted.”