Laura Ball Shares the Joys and Journeys Behind Her Beloved Mysteries and Children’s Books
PHOTO: Laura Ball, creator of beloved mysteries and children’s stories, brings warmth, imagination, and heartfelt lessons to readers of all ages.
Celebrating Heartfelt Stories, Cozy Mysteries, And Inspiring Adventures
Laura Ball discusses her passion for writing cozy mysteries and children’s books, her inspirations, creative process, publishing challenges, and her mission to spread joy, kindness, and imagination through her stories.
Laura Ball’s storytelling is a true gift to the literary world. With her charming cozy mysteries Whiskers in Trouble and The Whiskered Witness, she invites readers into delightful worlds brimming with mystery, humor, and heart. Equally impressive are her award-winning children’s picture books featuring Albert the Donkey—tender, timeless stories that weave friendship, kindness, and imagination into every page. Ball’s writing shines with authenticity, warmth, and a genuine passion for encouraging young readers and captivating mystery lovers alike.
In this issue, we are thrilled to sit down with Laura Ball to explore the inspirations behind her beloved characters, her creative process, and her journey as a self-published author who has built a beautifully diverse writing portfolio. Her words are filled with encouragement, wisdom, and a sincere love for storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.
Laura Ball captivates readers with heartfelt storytelling, vibrant characters, and uplifting messages that inspire kindness, creativity, and a lifelong love for reading.
What first inspired you to write cozy mysteries like Whiskers in Trouble?
I have always been a mystery lover. My mom is a big cozy mystery fan. As long as I can remember I wanted to be a writer. My mom and I would always talk about writing our own mystery and she encouraged me to write one. I spent three years on the story and finally Whiskers in Trouble was born.
What drew you to create heartwarming children’s books alongside your mysteries?
Once I had self-published my two cozy mysteries, the writing bug really took hold of me. I felt like a real writer which was a dream come true for me. Once I had the idea for the first Albert the Donkey book, I became very passionate about writing for children. I wanted to write a book that encouraged children and entertained them and allowed them to explore a new world with their imagination while also teaching valuable lessons in the process. I wanted to write a book that encouraged reading with children and build that love of reading from a young age, like I developed. Reading is such an important life skill and can impact many aspects of life and development of a person.
“Reading is such an important life skill and can impact many aspects of life and development of a person.” — Laura Ball
Can you tell us about the real-life inspiration behind Albert the donkey and Eddie the dog?
Albert is inspired by a real donkey who lives on a farm in a neighboring town near my hometown. I see this donkey when I drive through the area sometimes. My family saw this adorable donkey and we began making up stories about him for fun. We randomly named him Albert. My mom encouraged me to write a story about him for kids, and I decided it might be fun. So I wrote the first book, and that is how Albert the Donkey was born.
Eddie is very loosely inspired by my dog, also named Eddie, who is a Cavapoo/Beagle mix. My Eddie is curious, playful, spoiled rotten, and very stubborn. I imagine that Eddie in the books is similar in some ways, although I highly doubt that he is as spoiled! Eddie is very attached to my dad, and they go everywhere and do everything with each other.
What is your typical writing process like when developing a new story?
A story idea will come to me in the most unexpected ways and places. For my picture books, I try to imagine the kind of fun and even mischief that a donkey and a dog on a farm can find themselves in. Once I start toying with an idea, I mull it over until the plot starts to take shape. Once I get the basic idea, I can run with it from there.
For my mystery novels, I have learned that I must use the outline method. I break down my mysteries into 10 chapters with five scenes per chapter. I break down each chapter into scenes or plot points that I want to focus on for that chapter. This keeps me focused and organized as I write. I have a habit of writing out the scene inside the actual outline and then copying it to my novel template. I tend to go back and forth from using the outline to plot and write in to my actual manuscript template in Word or Google Docs.
How do you balance mystery, humor, and heartfelt moments in your novels?
I try to use my own experiences to create well-rounded characters. Having characters that are relatable to the reader is important to keep the readers interested in the characters and what happens to them throughout the story. I put a little of myself in each character, so each one is a part of me. My sense of humor, my hopeless romantic side, my curiosity and love of mysteries – those all feature in the characters in my cozy novels. A reader can see a part of themselves in each of the main characters whether it be the heroine, the love interest, or even the villain. This balance allows the reader to stay interested and invested in the plot and what happens.
“I put a little of myself in each character, so each one is a part of me.” — Laura Ball
What advantages will the world gain from your books?
I think kids will develop a sense of friendship and doing things for others, being kind and helpful from my book. Four aspects of my books are friendship, kindness, helping those in need, and doing what is right. I believe those are all attributes that can and should be instilled in our children and encouraged and nurtured in our kids today.
How do you keep your animal characters so vivid and relatable for readers of all ages?
I have partnered with a local rescue in Ohio called Focus Rescue and Rehabilitation. This organization rescues equines and other animals who are in need. They have a donkey named Juan, who I observed and spent some time with when I created the first book. This interaction helped develop the Albert character. Since my own dog is the inspiration for Eddie, it’s easy to get ideas and develop that character based on the real dog.
“The world needs more joy, and I hope I can add that to someone with my stories.” — Laura Ball
What challenges have you faced in publishing your books and how did you overcome them?
Being self-published has come with a lot of challenges from editing and proofreading to marketing and advertising. I have had to learn a great deal of things in order to create my books, get them ready for publication, advertising and marketing the books myself, finding local indie bookstores to carry my books, etc. Since I am self-published, I am responsible for every aspect of the publication phases and all the marketing and advertising for my books. I have had to learn a lot about self-publishing, social media, email marketing, blogging, and sales pitches for stores to carry my books. I am naturally a shy introvert so being a salesperson has really taken me outside my comfort zone. But I have actually had a blast meeting new people and other authors at events. I love seeing the joy the books bring to the children when I read to them at events and sign copies of my books for them. It has been quite an adventure, and while it has had its challenges, I wouldn’t change any of it for anything in the world!
What advice would you give to aspiring authors looking to build a diverse writing portfolio like yours?
Read – read anything and everything you can to broaden your language skills, spark your imagination, and build your emotional understanding. Also, never give up. Believe in yourself even when you feel like your writing isn’t good enough. You are your own worst critic. Just because you may think you’re not good enough doesn’t mean it’s true. Write because you love it, because it’s what you want to do, because it’s what’s inside you. Don’t be afraid to write even when it’s scary! Practice always makes perfect so keep going and have faith.
What motivates you in life?
I want to be the best and more authentic version of myself that I can be, and I want to encourage that in others. I also want to create something that brings joy to others and makes them smile. The world needs more joy, and I hope I can add that to someone with my stories.
