Interview with Ella Quill

Hey everyone! Today I'm back with another interview! I was given the pleasure of interviewing my friend, Ella Quill, who's also an author! You can find her book, The Hidden Haven, on Amazon. I haven't read it yet, but I'm so excited to (literally, it sounds sooo amazing!), and I'm just as eager to share this interview with you all! So, let's get started!

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1. Tell us a little bit about yourself

Hi, friends! I am a young Christian author, homeschool graduate, knitter, and bunny mom. I love to serve others with the gift God has given me, and I pray that all my readers are blessed through my writing! One burst of inspiration and a hot shower (because, let's be honest, that's where the best ideas come from!) is where I got the motivation for my series, The Lavender Dawn Saga. I wrote the first book (The Hidden Haven) in 2019, but it took 5 years before it was finally published for the world to read. Now, I am on the way to publishing the second in the series, and I am so excited!

2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was six years old I wrote (and illustrated!) a book about a bunny having a birthday party. I made many, many more stories about that little bunny, but after a while, the inspiration dwindled. When I was older, I got motivated by playing a game with some friends to write a story about it. That story reignited my love for writing and storytelling, and I wrote many short stories. 

In 2019, my brother introduced me to a special book, that, as I read it, I realized, “I can do this. I can write a book.” And so I embarked on writing my first novel, The Hidden Haven, and I knew that I wanted to be an author.

2. Tell us about your main WIP!

I am working on my series, The Lavender Dawn Saga, which is a clean fantasy read suitable for young teens. The series is about a kingdom of chipmunks as they fight against the evil forces to bring the promised Lavender Dawn.

I recently published the first book in the series, The Hidden Haven. It follows the story of a young chipmunk named Delle as she discovers secrets about the kingdom that she never knew.

3. What genre do you typically write in?

I write a lot of animal fantasy! Similar to The Green Ember, and Redwall. I’ve grown up loving animals (like my little bunny stories I mentioned) and I went through a lot of career phases revolving around them (veterinarian, zoologist, etc.), and then ended up writing about animals instead. There’s something so fascinating about them! Have you ever wondered if squirrels had a secret code by flicking their tails? Or if hummingbirds talk really fast? Animals are so fun to write about!

4. Who are your top three favorite authors, and why?

God, of course. 😉 S. D. Smith, because his book was what inspired me to write. And Jenny L. Cote and Libby Macnamee, because they forever changed my writing life and I’m so grateful to know them both. 

5. What does your writing routine typically look like?

I admit it, I struggle with consistency, so it’s hard for me to find a good daily writing routine. But when I do hit a writing spurt, it’s usually late at night, while I’m jamming away to a good playlist. (The Piano Guys are awesome, I must point that out. So is Sight and Sound Theatres!) I try to write something every day, whether it’s a random idea that I got from a dream, a journal entry about my day, or working on a chapter in my WIP. 

As I mentioned above, listening to music helps me a lot in my writing. Finding an inspirational track that’s style is close to the genre of my WIP is awesome for getting me into the zone. 

I’m also a panster, so I personally am terrible at outlines and find that they restrict me too much. Generally when I sit down to write on my WIP, I have no clue what is going to happen next and I simply write until a good idea comes. This may not work for some people, but everyone is different, and that’s okay!

I’ve also heard the term “discovery writer”, where pansters are described as an archaeologist…brushing away layers of the story as the big picture unfolds…that’s certainly how I work!

6. In what ways have you grown since you first started writing seriously?

There are so many things! 

• My writing style changed a lot. Reading back through my old writing makes me cringe, but it also makes me see how much I’ve grown. 

• I know a lot more about marketing and building community than when I first started writing. I’ve built up a blog, an email list, and a community of friends and fans! It’s amazing!

• Since growing older, I’ve had more access to things like writing articles, podcasts, and videos. All of these have helped me grow a ton! I feel more confident in my identity as a writer because I know so much more. 

7. Is there anywhere readers can reach out to you? (blog, email list, etc.)

Yes! I have a website and an email list! On my website, you can learn more about my books, and read about my journey as a self-published author. If you sign up for my email list, you get writing updates, blog notifications, and more! I would love it if anyone would stop by! <3

8. Morning bird or night owl?

As I mentioned earlier, I often write past my bedtime! It’s usually later at night when all my creative juices start flowing. It’s so peaceful at the end of the day when I have time to transfer the ideas in my head onto a page. 

9.  Alright, last question! What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give to other young writers like yourself?

Read widely. I learned so much just from reading a wide range of genres. You can learn so much about worldbuilding, character voice, dialogue, style, story, pacing, and more from all the authors you love. 

Also, give your writing to God. Always pray for God’s love to shine through yourself and the pages of your writing. The Bible tells us that if we ask, we will receive, so if you ask for God to bless everyone who reads your writing, He certainly will!

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I hope you all enjoyed reading this! It really is a pleasure to interview other young writers out there. Thank you, Ella, for letting me do this interview with you!

Until next time,

~Maya