Writer publishes 1st book right out of college
Ellaura Shoop started posting short stories on her website in mid-2019 while she was attending Butler County Community College at its LindenPointe campus.
The stories were all fantastical narratives about anthropomorphic meerkats and dealt with themes such as teamwork, family and coming of age.
After more than 50 web posts, Shoop, who lives in Grove City, self-published her first novel, “The Meer: Perilous Ground,” June 7. The book is an anthology of the stories Shoop wrote for her website, which she always wanted to put in book form.
“I have always wanted to publish books in the series,” Shoop said. “I drew some readers in and got feedback regularly. I was looking into self-publishing.”
Shoop graduated from BC3 in December with associate degrees in English and psychology. On Thursday, she read from her book at the Slippery Rock Community Library, where she also did a book signing.
Shoop said she wants to partner with libraries to promote her book series. She said she honed her writing ability with a writers group at Grove City Community Library, where she also got encouragement to pursue self-publishing.
“Because of that really good experience, when I did publish, I reached out to all local libraries,” Shoop said.
The book also fits the “Tails and Tales” theme of Slippery Rock Community Library's summer reading program. Shoop said she was glad to read at the library Thursday.
“It goes right with everything we have been talking about this summer,” Tiffany Frampton, the library's director of youth services, said in a news release from BC3.
The library will have a wrap-up party for its summer reading program at noon Saturday.
Shoop said one of the first people she showed her writing to was Terri Finamore, a psychology professor at BC3 who also encouraged her writing.
Finamore said she was particularly impressed with how Shoop “wove into her work the principles of psychology with her characters” in the book. She said these principles are what could make the book interesting to readers of all ages.
“We are interested in vices, virtues, strengths, motivations, family and relationships, and social responsibility,” Finamore said. “It's so relevant and such an imaginative way that she presents this information to young readers especially.”
According to Shoop, this first novel is intended to be the first in “The Meer Series,” of which the second novel has also just been published. She said they will be available on Amazon and through her website, www.themeerseries.com.
Shoop said despite being aimed at middle school-aged children, the Meer Series can be enjoyed by anyone on an emotional level. Additionally, she wants people to experience the world she dreamed up.
“It's a collection of heartwarming adventures that will make readers laugh and cry, and, hopefully, remind them of their own lives,” Shoop said. “I am really excited to introduce them to the world.”
