Ask the Author: Ella Buckley
Answered Questions (20)
Ella Buckley
Hi there!
Congratulations on publishing a book at such a young age! That is quite the accomplishment! I am a self-published author, so I do a lot of my marketing through Amazon/Kindle Direct Publishing. To advertise my books, I have gone to tons of craft shows where people can come and purchase my stories. Word of mouth is also very helpful when it comes to advertising because communication from one person to another can really help your book(s) sell.
I hope this answers your question and that you will read my books in the future! If you have any further questions, please let me know.
Congratulations on publishing a book at such a young age! That is quite the accomplishment! I am a self-published author, so I do a lot of my marketing through Amazon/Kindle Direct Publishing. To advertise my books, I have gone to tons of craft shows where people can come and purchase my stories. Word of mouth is also very helpful when it comes to advertising because communication from one person to another can really help your book(s) sell.
I hope this answers your question and that you will read my books in the future! If you have any further questions, please let me know.
Ella Buckley
Hello, Ari! Thank you for reaching out! I would love to help you find a plot that would work best for you. What I would suggest is to first find a genre that you are passionate about. For example, if you were interested in mystery novels then I would tell you to write about a detective. Before you are able to figure out a plot, characters, and the storyline, you must understand the genre first. Once you've done that, then you can get more specific. Please create a follow up to your question with a little more information on what you are interested in writing about: genre, reading audience, etc. Then I might be able to help out more! I hope that you get the chance to read The Garden Warrior and/or Landing Among the Stars!
Ella Buckley
Hello! Thanks for reaching out! I am always willing to learn more about my readers, who all act as my friends. I hope that you get the chance to read The Garden Warrior and/or Landing Among the Stars!
Ella Buckley
Thanks for reaching out again! The Maze Runner is a science fiction series full of plenty of adventure! The first book is definitely my favorite out of the entire series. Here is the link you can find the first book at on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Happy reading!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Happy reading!
Ella Buckley
The book series I recommend are listed below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Harry Potter series (by: J.K. Rowling)
- Divergent trilogy (by: Veronica Roth)
- Legend series (by: Marie Lu), the 5th Wave trilogy (by: Rick Yancey)
- The Maze Runner series (by: James Dashner)
- The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (by: Michael Scott)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are some of my favorite books of all time, so I highly recommend that you read them. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures waiting inside!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Harry Potter series (by: J.K. Rowling)
- Divergent trilogy (by: Veronica Roth)
- Legend series (by: Marie Lu), the 5th Wave trilogy (by: Rick Yancey)
- The Maze Runner series (by: James Dashner)
- The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (by: Michael Scott)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are some of my favorite books of all time, so I highly recommend that you read them. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures waiting inside!
Ella Buckley
Thanks for reaching out again! Personally, I believe that mystery books are better than comic books. I prefer books with twist and words rather than action and pictures. Mystery is definitely one of my favorite genres. Science fiction is my favorite.
Ella Buckley
Hello! Thanks for reaching out! What types of books you read depends on what you are interested in. There are all kinds of genres you can choose from: romance, science fiction (sci-fi), fantasy/fairy tales, historical fiction, mystery, horror, adventure, realistic fiction, and so much more! My personal favorites are science fiction (sci-fi) and mystery because I get to be a detective throughout a book or be transported away from our world for some time. I have quite a few favorite books because I am an avid reader. My top ten are the Harry Potter series (by: J.K. Rowling), The Outsiders (by: S.E. Hinton), Imaginary Friend (by: Stephen Chbosky), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (by: Stephen Chbosky), the Divergent trilogy (by: Veronica Roth), the Legend series (by: Marie Lu), the 5th Wave trilogy (by: Rick Yancey), Inspired (by: Susan Schaefer Bernardo), The Whisper Man (by: Alex North), and The Giver (by: Lois Lowry). But these are just stories that I enjoyed reading. Depending on your style or what genre you like most, you might want to try books other than the ones I listed above. Here is how to decide!
Romance: If you would like to read about relationships.
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi): If you would like to read about the future.
Fantasy/Fairy Tales: If you would like to read about magic and unique creatures.
Historical Fiction: If you would like to read about real people and events in history.
Mystery: If you would like to read about a mystery (there are many types of mysteries) or enjoy being a detective.
Horror: If you would like to read about scary characters and a spine-chilling adventure.
Adventure: If you would like to read about some sort of quest.
Realistic Fiction: If you would like to read about characters you can relate to or places you have seen.
Much More: If you're feeling adventurous, search the library for something you've never seen before!
No matter what you choose to read, just make sure that it's something you love! I hope this answers your question and that you get the opportunity to read my book soon!
Romance: If you would like to read about relationships.
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi): If you would like to read about the future.
Fantasy/Fairy Tales: If you would like to read about magic and unique creatures.
Historical Fiction: If you would like to read about real people and events in history.
Mystery: If you would like to read about a mystery (there are many types of mysteries) or enjoy being a detective.
Horror: If you would like to read about scary characters and a spine-chilling adventure.
Adventure: If you would like to read about some sort of quest.
Realistic Fiction: If you would like to read about characters you can relate to or places you have seen.
Much More: If you're feeling adventurous, search the library for something you've never seen before!
No matter what you choose to read, just make sure that it's something you love! I hope this answers your question and that you get the opportunity to read my book soon!
Ella Buckley
Hello! Thank you for reaching out!
Coming up with ideas is a difficult task I have to deal with all the time as an author. Usually, when I deal with writer's block, I take a break from my book for a few days just to clear my mind. Often times, during my break from writing, I find inspiration somewhere. Ideas pop into my head at the most random of times. For example, in The Garden Warrior, I mention butterflies a lot. That is because I had a butterfly journal lying in my bedroom and decided to try to write a story - just for fun! Ideas are always out there for you.
I believe that there are two main struggles that many authors get while writing. The first is making sure that the entire story flows together. If there are any plot holes or unnecessary chapters, then the book will seem chopped up or even exaggerated. The storyline must work in favor of the final product, and just coming up with a storyline is a struggle in and of itself. The second struggle is making sure that your readers are interested in the book. While I might think it is the best story ever, readers might not like it at all or believe it is boring. If your readers are not intrigued by your writing style, your storyline, or even your characters, then you will not sell many copies. Making sure that your readers enjoy your book is definitely a struggle for me as a young author because I do not know exactly what older teens or adults are into.
Again, thank you so much for reaching out! I hope that you get the chance to read my book The Garden Warrior!
Coming up with ideas is a difficult task I have to deal with all the time as an author. Usually, when I deal with writer's block, I take a break from my book for a few days just to clear my mind. Often times, during my break from writing, I find inspiration somewhere. Ideas pop into my head at the most random of times. For example, in The Garden Warrior, I mention butterflies a lot. That is because I had a butterfly journal lying in my bedroom and decided to try to write a story - just for fun! Ideas are always out there for you.
I believe that there are two main struggles that many authors get while writing. The first is making sure that the entire story flows together. If there are any plot holes or unnecessary chapters, then the book will seem chopped up or even exaggerated. The storyline must work in favor of the final product, and just coming up with a storyline is a struggle in and of itself. The second struggle is making sure that your readers are interested in the book. While I might think it is the best story ever, readers might not like it at all or believe it is boring. If your readers are not intrigued by your writing style, your storyline, or even your characters, then you will not sell many copies. Making sure that your readers enjoy your book is definitely a struggle for me as a young author because I do not know exactly what older teens or adults are into.
Again, thank you so much for reaching out! I hope that you get the chance to read my book The Garden Warrior!
Ella Buckley
Hello! Thanks for reaching out with questions like these! If you are considering writing your own book, I would go for it! Writing stories is all about taking risks, and I believe that if writing is something you enjoy, then you should at least attempt to create a story you love!
The Garden Warrior is self published, so no specific publishing company supports me. I think that self publishing is a lot easier than find a company to sell for you just because of my age and because of less hassle.
The process publishing a book is tremendously long, but worth it in the end! It does cost quite a lot of money too, but that mainly depends on how long your book is.
STEP ONE: Write a book. This is one of the most fun things about publishing a story! You can be creative and let your imagination run wild! Don't worry if there are any errors in your writing. That is perfectly normal and you will have people alongside you to help.
STEP TWO: Get BETA readers. Grab a few friends, a couple of teachers, or even a parent to read over what you have written. (About five BETA readers would be a good number) These people, who you select, read through your book and make any suggestions or corrections. They are extremely helpful when it comes to publishing a book because once you hand it over to an editor, it isn't as overwhelming. I usually give my BETA readers a copy of my book. You can probably just print it on printer paper if you feel like it, but I send mine to a mailing company and have them print it in a very fine manner. Once you receive your book copies back from your BETA readers, you make edits. Don't feel upset or hurt if someone criticizes your work. That is all a part of the publishing process!
STEP THREE: Find an editor. Do some research and find an editor who you believe will do a great job on your story and have some fun with it! I had an amazing editor and she helped me so much! Here is the link to her webpage: https://emandapen.com/ Again, take each piece of criticism and turn it into something wonderful!
STEP FOUR: Create a cover. I had lots of fun with this and it is probably my favorite part of the publishing process! I contracted a company to do my cover and they did a wonderful job! Here is the link to their webpage: https://www.sketchsoup.com/ I thoroughly enjoyed seeing my wildest dreams come to life! (You can have someone create your cover during the editing process, as long as you are confident in your title and summary!) I would recommend staying away from drawing your own cover unless you are a legit artist. If not, that is perfectly fine! You can just contract someone!
STEP FIVE: Publish your book. After you have made any last changes to your story, have an awesome cover, and love your book, then you are ready to publish! My editor helped me with self publishing, since this is my first real book, and it was so amazing to finally see The Garden Warrior on Amazon!
STEP SIX: CELEBRATE!!! You just published a book! Congratulations! Spread the word far and wide and try to get as many sales a possible. My mom helped me a lot with this by sharing things on social media and telling pretty much everyone about it... Once you complete this step, you are officially an author! Celebrate some more, continue to follow your dreams, and write away!
This is the whole publishing process. Although it may take a while, I promise that it will be worth it in the end! Continue to write books! I hope to see your stories on Amazon soon!
Thanks again for all of the questions, and I hope that you get the chance to read my book!
The Garden Warrior is self published, so no specific publishing company supports me. I think that self publishing is a lot easier than find a company to sell for you just because of my age and because of less hassle.
The process publishing a book is tremendously long, but worth it in the end! It does cost quite a lot of money too, but that mainly depends on how long your book is.
STEP ONE: Write a book. This is one of the most fun things about publishing a story! You can be creative and let your imagination run wild! Don't worry if there are any errors in your writing. That is perfectly normal and you will have people alongside you to help.
STEP TWO: Get BETA readers. Grab a few friends, a couple of teachers, or even a parent to read over what you have written. (About five BETA readers would be a good number) These people, who you select, read through your book and make any suggestions or corrections. They are extremely helpful when it comes to publishing a book because once you hand it over to an editor, it isn't as overwhelming. I usually give my BETA readers a copy of my book. You can probably just print it on printer paper if you feel like it, but I send mine to a mailing company and have them print it in a very fine manner. Once you receive your book copies back from your BETA readers, you make edits. Don't feel upset or hurt if someone criticizes your work. That is all a part of the publishing process!
STEP THREE: Find an editor. Do some research and find an editor who you believe will do a great job on your story and have some fun with it! I had an amazing editor and she helped me so much! Here is the link to her webpage: https://emandapen.com/ Again, take each piece of criticism and turn it into something wonderful!
STEP FOUR: Create a cover. I had lots of fun with this and it is probably my favorite part of the publishing process! I contracted a company to do my cover and they did a wonderful job! Here is the link to their webpage: https://www.sketchsoup.com/ I thoroughly enjoyed seeing my wildest dreams come to life! (You can have someone create your cover during the editing process, as long as you are confident in your title and summary!) I would recommend staying away from drawing your own cover unless you are a legit artist. If not, that is perfectly fine! You can just contract someone!
STEP FIVE: Publish your book. After you have made any last changes to your story, have an awesome cover, and love your book, then you are ready to publish! My editor helped me with self publishing, since this is my first real book, and it was so amazing to finally see The Garden Warrior on Amazon!
STEP SIX: CELEBRATE!!! You just published a book! Congratulations! Spread the word far and wide and try to get as many sales a possible. My mom helped me a lot with this by sharing things on social media and telling pretty much everyone about it... Once you complete this step, you are officially an author! Celebrate some more, continue to follow your dreams, and write away!
This is the whole publishing process. Although it may take a while, I promise that it will be worth it in the end! Continue to write books! I hope to see your stories on Amazon soon!
Thanks again for all of the questions, and I hope that you get the chance to read my book!
Ella Buckley
Hello! It is so amazing that you reached out to me! It is great that you have inspired some of your friends to write along side you. Friendship is always a part of success. Continue to write stories and do what you love!
When it comes to starting a writing trend, I believe that there are young girls and boys out there that have seen my book and have been inspired. I know that people my age have been encouraged to follow their dreams all because of a story I wrote! It is like a dream, knowing that others have been inspired by me.
I have been writing ever since I was really little. I used to take a few colored markers, lots of white printer paper, and plenty of imagination and transform it into a unique story. Although my spelling wasn't the best and my illustrations weren't the most beautiful, I still loved to write and spread some sort of message. At the end of each "book," I would tell whoever the reader was, pretty much always my parents, what the moral of the story was. I thoroughly enjoy spreading messages of joy to others. My current book, The Garden Warrior, has a message as well! Just like my little picture books did. It is a message of love, courage, family, and hope. Never forget that the world is full of these things.
Thanks again for reaching out and I hope that you have time to read my book!
When it comes to starting a writing trend, I believe that there are young girls and boys out there that have seen my book and have been inspired. I know that people my age have been encouraged to follow their dreams all because of a story I wrote! It is like a dream, knowing that others have been inspired by me.
I have been writing ever since I was really little. I used to take a few colored markers, lots of white printer paper, and plenty of imagination and transform it into a unique story. Although my spelling wasn't the best and my illustrations weren't the most beautiful, I still loved to write and spread some sort of message. At the end of each "book," I would tell whoever the reader was, pretty much always my parents, what the moral of the story was. I thoroughly enjoy spreading messages of joy to others. My current book, The Garden Warrior, has a message as well! Just like my little picture books did. It is a message of love, courage, family, and hope. Never forget that the world is full of these things.
Thanks again for reaching out and I hope that you have time to read my book!
Ella Buckley
Hello! Thank you so much for reaching out to me! The Garden Warrior was a long process, even though it is a shorter book than most you have probably read. I begin to write it during the start of the global pandemic in 2020. It only took me about a month to write the base of the story. I did it as a sort of "dream book." The whole process began when my teacher told me to do a passion project based off of something that I loved. Most kids played video games, colored new pictures, or baked cakes. But I have always wanted to be an author and decided to take on the challenge of a lifetime. I never expected my book to be published... It took about a year to fully develop The Garden Warrior into what it is today. It took a lot of work, from BETA readers, to an editor, to a cover designer, to Amazon, but it was totally worth it!
My book is not really based on anything. But during the global pandemic, I missed being able to visit people and connect with them. This story kind of relates to that in a sense, even though it was not planned. Diane has nowhere to run. She is confined to her grandmother's home and needs her family to help her get through dangerous battles. Love, kindness, bravery, and hope are all that we need. You just need to know where to find them.
My book is not really based on anything. But during the global pandemic, I missed being able to visit people and connect with them. This story kind of relates to that in a sense, even though it was not planned. Diane has nowhere to run. She is confined to her grandmother's home and needs her family to help her get through dangerous battles. Love, kindness, bravery, and hope are all that we need. You just need to know where to find them.
Ella Buckley
I have always been told to follow my dreams... And after the first time I finished a chapter book, I realized that I knew what my dream was- to be an author. It never occurred to me that I would love to write. But after writing journal responses in school or just silly stories at home, I soon found out that writing is my passion. And ever since writing that first sentence of The Garden Warrior, I just couldn't stop. I was truly inspired by all of those unknown authors out there who are wanting to be seen; those who do what they love even if no one is watching. If you are one of those people, kudos to you! You should be proud of how far you've come. Very proud.
Ella Buckley
Hello, Sophie! Go after your dreams, girl! Achieve your goals and have fun with it! It is so cool that you are also writing a book around the same age as me!
I bet that the book is better than you think it is! When I first looked at The Garden Warrior, I wasn't that proud of it, but when people started reading it, I was so surprised that they thought it was good! (If you are looking for a way to publish your book, start small. Print copies of your story and send them out to people that you know and think would make interesting suggestions or catch things that you wouldn't have. These people are called BETA readers and they were a huge help to me!)
It took a whole lot of hard work and imagination to write The Garden Warrior. Publishing a book was like a goal for me, but I never knew that I would achieve that goal at age 12! If you set a goal for yourself, work hard, and have fun, then your book will be amazing!
I came up with my book by looking at everyday objects. (For more detail, please refer to my answer from a previous question.) I am often thinking too hard or too much about many simple concepts. But the best ideas always come to mind when I'm going through the steps of my everyday life. Once I decided to take a break from reality during quarantine in 2020, my passion came to life. I started seeing everyday objects and thought to myself, 'Wow! Maybe I could put this in my book!' If I were you, I wouldn't think too much. Just do what you normally do each day and you'll find some fascinating ideas for your story!
I am so happy that I am an inspiration for you to write! I love to inspire people like you and I really hope that your book comes together! (Please let me know when or if you publish it! I would love to read it!) If you have any more questions, please ask!
I bet that the book is better than you think it is! When I first looked at The Garden Warrior, I wasn't that proud of it, but when people started reading it, I was so surprised that they thought it was good! (If you are looking for a way to publish your book, start small. Print copies of your story and send them out to people that you know and think would make interesting suggestions or catch things that you wouldn't have. These people are called BETA readers and they were a huge help to me!)
It took a whole lot of hard work and imagination to write The Garden Warrior. Publishing a book was like a goal for me, but I never knew that I would achieve that goal at age 12! If you set a goal for yourself, work hard, and have fun, then your book will be amazing!
I came up with my book by looking at everyday objects. (For more detail, please refer to my answer from a previous question.) I am often thinking too hard or too much about many simple concepts. But the best ideas always come to mind when I'm going through the steps of my everyday life. Once I decided to take a break from reality during quarantine in 2020, my passion came to life. I started seeing everyday objects and thought to myself, 'Wow! Maybe I could put this in my book!' If I were you, I wouldn't think too much. Just do what you normally do each day and you'll find some fascinating ideas for your story!
I am so happy that I am an inspiration for you to write! I love to inspire people like you and I really hope that your book comes together! (Please let me know when or if you publish it! I would love to read it!) If you have any more questions, please ask!
Ella Buckley
Hello, Jillian! Thank you for reaching out and I love that you are also a young writer! I have had so many inspirations for The Garden Warrior. First and foremost, a butterfly journal. I received a journal in the shape of a butterfly for selling Girl Scout cookies and once I saw it, I knew that its blank pages had to be filled. Second, my grandmother. My grandmother loved to garden and I knew that she had to be included somewhere within this story (no, she was not evil- haha). Last, The Secret Garden (by: Frances Hodgson Burnett). I have never actually read this book or watched the movie, but my mom showed me the movie trailer once and it seemed very interesting. These were kind of like my sparks of inspiration.
The Garden Warrior was quite the project for me because not only was it my first published story, but it also took me a long time to sort out all of the characters... My inspiration for Diane was myself. She reminds me of, well, me because she and I share the same curiosity and looks. My inspiration for Grandmother (Louise) started when I looked up a made-up cast if The Garden Warrior were to somehow become a movie. (This probably won't happen, so don't get your hopes up! I'm just a dreamer...) My inspiration for Christopher was kind of a strange one. He reminds me of one of my family members and of a few famous actors. His personality truly shined throughout the book and I saw him as the "protector," which is what most older brothers are. My inspiration for all of the other characters (Mother, Father, Grandfather, etc.) fell into place as the sense of unity and family were added into the story.
So, mainly, I get inspired by things I see every day. Whether my inspiration is an object or even a person, I am always jotting down story lines and slowly putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
Again, thank you so much for reaching out and if you have any more questions, please do not be afraid to ask! I also really hope that you enjoy my book!
The Garden Warrior was quite the project for me because not only was it my first published story, but it also took me a long time to sort out all of the characters... My inspiration for Diane was myself. She reminds me of, well, me because she and I share the same curiosity and looks. My inspiration for Grandmother (Louise) started when I looked up a made-up cast if The Garden Warrior were to somehow become a movie. (This probably won't happen, so don't get your hopes up! I'm just a dreamer...) My inspiration for Christopher was kind of a strange one. He reminds me of one of my family members and of a few famous actors. His personality truly shined throughout the book and I saw him as the "protector," which is what most older brothers are. My inspiration for all of the other characters (Mother, Father, Grandfather, etc.) fell into place as the sense of unity and family were added into the story.
So, mainly, I get inspired by things I see every day. Whether my inspiration is an object or even a person, I am always jotting down story lines and slowly putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
Again, thank you so much for reaching out and if you have any more questions, please do not be afraid to ask! I also really hope that you enjoy my book!
Ella Buckley
Hello! I am so happy that you reached out to me! Thank you for all of the support! I am sorry to say, but I have not published any stories other than The Garden Warrior; however, I am working on another story that should be sent out in a few years! Please let me know if you have any more questions!
Ella Buckley
The inspiration for my most recent book (The Garden Warrior) was mostly my grandmother. She loved to garden and when I got the idea to write something she would have enjoyed, I knew that my book would excite others as well. Another inspiration for my book was actually given to me by my Girl Scouts troop. After selling Girl Scout cookies for days, I was finally given a journal that was in the shape of a butterfly. It felt as though a light just got turned on in my mind. I immediately knew that I was destined to write a book about a garden. And, after a lot of hard work, The Garden Warrior came to life.
Ella Buckley
If you're an aspiring writer, I encourage you to go after your goals! Shoot for the stars and after lots of hard work and determination, you will inspire others to follow their dreams.
Ella Buckley
The best thing about being a writer is definitely the ability to share your emotions with others through words on a page. Writing has actually helped me express myself in ways that I would have never done before.
Ella Buckley
Writer's block is an author's greatest fear, but I try to look at it in a positive way. When I am stuck in the middle of a black void, I try to not think about it too much. I just go about my day normally and, all of a sudden, an idea just hits me when I'm looking at everyday objects.
Ella Buckley
If I could go to any fictional book world, I would definitely go to Hogwarts from Harry Potter (by: J.K. Rowling). Once I got there, I would want to be sorted, play Quidditch, and maybe get into a little mischief.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more