16-year-old publishes debut novel

BELLEVUE — A 16-year-old Bellevue resident has transformed her lifelong passion for storytelling into a published reality. Lilian Kay Missler, who writes under the pen name Lilian Kay, recently released her debut novel, "Risk It All," on Amazon. This accomplishment is the culmination of years of hard work, family support and a deep love for literature. The young author balances a busy schedule. As a homeschooled student, she completes her daily academic coursework in about two hours each morning. She then spends three hours in the afternoon working as an office assistant at her father's machine shop. This structured but flexible lifestyle allows her to pursue her creative dreams. "I have a schedule so I can actually stick to that," Lilian said. "I fit in my writing when I can." Lilian said she has been writing since she was very young. She often started multiple long-form stories but struggled to see them through to the end. That changed when she participated in an online challenge called Crazy Writing Week, which motivated her to finally finish a manuscript. Characters reflect the author Lilian's debut novel follows Samantha, a teenager who develops a severe fear of germs after losing her grandparents. Samantha soon discovers she has the terrifying ability to see the germs. Her life becomes even more complicated when she meets Peter, a boy diagnosed with the fictional Bazi Plague. Peter has one month to live, and any virus will accelerate his decline. The story asks if the two teenagers will risk everything to save each other. Lilian said the initial spark for the story came from her own life. "I am kind of a germaphobe myself," she said. She pondered what would happen if someone could physically see germs and sickness. She sat with the idea for a few months before developing her characters and putting pen to paper. Friends who have read the book have noted the similarities between the author and her protagonist. "I do try to tie in some of myself into my characters, that is how I have always written," Lilian said. "They are kind of reminiscent of me." Family encouragement played a vital role in her success. Her mother, Amber Missler, is a teacher who always encouraged reading in their home. "She has always loved reading and writing," Amber said. "Her father and I are so proud of her and how dedicated she is to reaching her goals." The young author also cites her grandmother, Melissa McElwain, as her biggest cheerleader. McElwain has read much of the work Lilian has produced and motivated her to keep pushing forward. Lilian included a special dedication to her grandmother in the front of the newly published book. "Lilian has always wanted to write since she was a young girl," McElwain said. "I always encouraged her because I knew she could do it." When it came to writing the novel, Lilian adopted a disciplined approach. She mapped out the plot with a detailed outline before drafting, which prevented her from getting stuck. "There is definitely always a part of the story that I am very excited to write," Lilian said. "Once I got to a certain point, I wrote the rest of it in a very short time." Encouragement to young authors The path to publication presented its own hurdles. Lilian and her family researched traditional publishing houses but found the options questionable. She ultimately chose Amazon's free self-publishing platform. "I have learned about publishing through Amazon," she said. "It was quite easy, and the best route for me was just starting out." While the process was mostly smooth, she faced a two-month period of making technical adjustments to the book cover and layout before the final version was approved. Lilian said she considers herself an entrepreneur. She previously ran a crocheting business and plans to pursue a business degree in the future. While she hopes to eventually become a full-time author, she is currently treating her writing as a side career. She is already conceptualizing a series that will follow the smaller characters introduced in "Risk It All." "I already have two somewhat planned out," Lilian said. "I am really excited about those." Her journey from drafting stories in her free time to holding a physical book is a story of dedication and hard work. It serves as a profound inspiration to many young writers who have similar dreams they would like to pursue. Local readers will have the opportunity to meet the young author in person. Lilian recently held a book signing event and has more planned for the future. Upcoming locations include the Sandusky Book Bar and Gilbert's Place in Bellevue. For other young writers who feel nervous about the publication process, Lilian offered words of encouragement. "Just do it," she said. "Just go for it. Yes, it was scary but definitely worth it in the end. And it will get easier as you go."