What Made Me A Writer by Ella Matthews
This week author Ella Matthews joins my blog to tell readers what made her into a writer. This month sees the release of two of Ella’s books, The Governess’ Unlikely Suitor independently published on 10 October 2025 and The Disgraced Knight’s Redemption published by Harlequin Historical Mills & Boon on 23 October 2025, which takes Ella to over twenty published books. (Wow!) Over to Ella …
Thank you, Morton, for having me on your blog post and for asking the question what made me a writer. Like most authors, I loved reading as a child, but I never realised someone like me could become a writer. That was for mystical beings with fabulous names such as Roald Dahl, Aesop and Judy Blume and not a girl from Wales who struggled with spelling. I didn’t know then that Roald Dahl was from Llandaff, maybe I would have been a bit more confident, but probably not.
It wasn’t just losing myself within the pages of a novel which I enjoyed, I also love physical books: the smell of a brand new one or the creases of one well-read. I knew I wanted to work with them in some way, so after university I went to London and got work in an academic publishing house. Working with authors to develop their books, seeing an idea from the initial spark to the end was always a joy. I never got tired of new books arriving on my desk after months or sometimes years of working on a concept.
On one occasion an author was late delivering their book and when I got it, it wasn’t ready for publication. There was a huge pressure to get the book out on time, so I took it home and worked on it, shaping it into something with which both the author and I were pleased. When the book became one of our bestsellers, I thought that writing books was something I could do after all. I started writing during my long commutes (it took over an hour and a half to get to work and then the same back). I scribbled ideas in a notebook and typed them up at home. I thought it would be easy because, by this point, I had seen lots of writers do it. I was very, very wrong. After a long slog, I managed about 9000 words, which was great but I still didn’t feel like a writer and it was only about three chapters worth of story.
No matter, I was about to go off on maternity leave and so I believed I would have plenty of time to write, while my baby slept beside me in my beautifully clean, tidy house. Sixteen years later, I still love this fantasy, which at no point came true. A few times, I managed to breastfeed and type with one hand, but for the most part I stared in an exhausted daze or played with my little girl. This was probably the part of my life that made me feel the least like a writer. However, I was still very fixed on becoming one, even if I had very little energy to make it happen.
For the first five years of my writing career, I did not finish writing a book or even make it to the end of a short story. I did buy and read lots of writing magazines though, and through that, I discovered that My Weekly were looking for authors and this news seemed auspicious. The brief was to write a romantic story full of adventure, which is right up my street. I sent my first three chapters to the lovely editor and I was beside myself with joy when she requested the rest of the manuscript. I was so excited, I almost forgot that I hadn’t written the rest of the novel. I wrote it as quickly as I could and sent it off. It was a disaster. The rejection was inevitable, but cutting nevertheless. Two manuscripts later, and, perhaps a lot wiser on the level of plotting I had to do to write a decent story, I was finally accepted by My Weekly. Seeing my book on the shelf was a real thrill and I took hundreds of photographs.
Afterwards, I was left feeling that I still wasn’t a writer. I don’t know why that is, but I have seen many authors say something similar. Even though one book is out there, it still feels like this is a hobby you need permission to spend time on. Nobody has ever said this to me, so it must be in my head, but I still can’t shake it.
In the end, I wrote four novellas for My Weekly, which I loved doing and I was thrilled to be getting paid for something that brought so much happiness into my life. When I saw a call from Mills and Boon for authors to who were interesting in writing medieval romances, I jumped at the change to submit to them. I was very lucky that I got to do this at a Romantic Novelists’ Association conference. That one-on-one connection was invaluable and my manuscript was accepted. I’ve been writing two books a year for them ever since, which has been a real privilege.
This month sees the release of two of my books, The Governess’ Unlikely Suitor (an indie project) and The Disgraced Knight’s Redemption (Mills & Boon), which takes me to over twenty published books. I’ve also got a deadline for my next indie book on 22nd October 2025. Does this finally make me a writer? Oddly, I still feel like an amateur, even after over 100,000 sales. I don’t know what will make me feel like a writer: 30 books published? Winning a prize? Making a living from it? (I have to have another job alongside)
What I do know is that I couldn’t give it up, that writing every day is as intrinsic as taking a shower and that every spark of a new idea and every book release is still as exciting as the first one.
About Ella Matthews
Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else).
To connect with Ella you can use the following links:-
Website : www.ella-matthews.com
TikTok : @ella.matthews004
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ellamatthewsauthor
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ellamatthewsauthor
More about The Governess’ Unlikely Suitor
Katherine Hornel has carved out a life she loves. Being a governess might put her in the way of arrogant aristocratic families, but the children are always a delight. When a controlling employer makes life in his house impossible, she flees. But this is only the beginning of her problems. Bent on revenge, her ex-employer sets out to destroy not only her life, but also that of her brother’s. Penniless, she must find a different way to make ends meet, all while trying to stay true to herself.
Desperate to find out how his older brother died while living in America, Edward Dashworth hires investigator Simon Hornel. In exchange for Simon journeying so far from home, Edward promises to provide for his penniless sister, Katherine. It cannot matter that she is the most beautiful woman Edward has ever met. Not only has he sworn an oath to protect her, their difference in station makes a relationship impossible and, with the truth getting ever closer, he cannot afford to disrupt Simon’s search.
But when fate pushes Edward and Katherine together, temptation might be too hard for them to resist. And, if they give in, can they live with the consequences?
Buying Links For Ella Matthews Titles
The Governess’ Unlikely Suitor sales link here
The Disgraced Knight’s Redemption sales link here
The Earl’s Unlikely Bride sales link here
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