Upper St. Clair native publishes first novel

Ellen Goodlett knew she wanted to be a novelist since she was a young girl.
The 2005 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School and a Bryn Mawr alumna accomplished that goal recently with “Rule,” a fantasy novel for young adults.
The book features three girls who learn they are half-sisters and daughters of the king, but each of them has a secret that could get them executed. When the king invites them to court to vie for the throne, they discover that someone else knows their secrets.
“It’s full of court intrigue and back stabbings,” Goodlett said.
Ellen Goodlett will be having a book-signing and conversation with Post-Gazette books editor, Tony Norman, at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Penguin Bookshop at 417 Beaver St., Sewickley, PA 15143.
Goodlett’s mother, Susan Mannella, a writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, would occasionally take her to work. When co-workers asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Goodlett would respond that she wanted to be a writer. Inevitably, someone would say, “like your mother.”
“I would say I want to be a novel writer and write real things like fantasy books,” Goodlett said.
Goodlett started writing her first novels as a young adult in high school and college, so the young adult genre felt like the most natural voice for her. It’s a nice audience to write for, she said. At that age, there’s a lot of excitement; everything is all new and fresh. It’s nice to explore characters at that time in their lives.
One of Goodlett’s high school English teachers, Elizabeth Cecelia, was not surprised about her former student’s success.
“Ellen has an undeniable gift and I’m so happy that the world gets to read her writing,” Cecelia said.
“I’m so proud of her.”
Goodlett said she had a lot of great writing teachers in high school and college, and Cecelia was one of the people who had an influence on her writing, as well as some of her favorite authors, like Neil Gaiman, Tamora Pierce and Madeleine L’Engle.
“And probably my mom,” she added.
After college, Goodlett worked in New York for Wiley academic publishing. The last two years, she has been writing full time, working on her novel and ghost writing for others, as well as traveling the world.
Earlier this year, she was in southeast Asia and Australia as part of Remote Year, said Goodlett. It’s a group of people who work remotely and travel to a different place every month.
Goodlett is currently in Pittsburgh promoting “Rule.” She said the finale to the story, “Rise,” is due out in June. Goodlett is also planning her third book, possibly a thriller or mystery.
Rule is available in bookstores and online at Amazon.com.