Inspired by her own journey with anxiety and change, Lila Shea '27 hopes her debut book will help young readers feel seen, supported, and a little more hopeful. In this Q&A, she opens up about her writing process, the heart behind her story, and what’s next on her creative horizon. 

1. Can you share a bit about your book and what message you hope readers take away from it? 

Little Lola’s Beautiful Mess is about a young girl who comes face-to-face with stress for the first time. The book shares themes of anxiety, parental divorce, and the importance of finding the good in our lives. Children who experience divorce often struggle to feel a sense of stability and community. With this book, I wanted to let them know they’re not alone. 

I also wanted to build hope—hope that even if the bed they fall asleep in changes, their mindset doesn’t have to. That’s something I’ve spent years navigating. I had counselors and parents guiding me, but I never had someone young—someone who truly understood what I was feeling. I hope Little Lola can be that for someone. 

2. What inspired you to write Little Lola’s Beautiful Mess? 

My mind has always struggled with the tension between anxiety and perfectionism. I carried the weight of the world on my shoulders, always wanting to impress the people around me. That created a lot of stress in such a young mind. Going through all of this at an early age taught me how to look for beauty in the world and find peace amidst the stress. My experiences—especially dealing with anxiety and my parents’ divorce—molded me into who I am today and greatly inspired this book. 

3. How long did it take to complete, from the first idea to publication? 

I wrote the book when I was 12 years old. A spark went off in my heart, and it was one of those movie-like moments when everything just clicks. I wrote it in about an hour and a half. My parents helped me with the grammar, and we started talking about publishing it. 

It wasn’t until my freshman year that we seriously pursued publishing. We reached out to several companies, and, eventually, I got a response. I scheduled my first-ever phone call—just 15-year-old me and the publisher. After a year of emails, phone calls, editing, and creative design, the book was published in April 2025. The process was long, but it was so worth it. 

4. Did you receive support or guidance from anyone at Marian or within your community? 

The friends I have made at Marian have shown so much grace and support throughout this journey. They are truly a testament to friendship and inspire me to keep pursuing this passion. 

5. What advice would you give to other young writers who dream of publishing their own books? 

Embrace what makes your mind different. The beautiful corners of your mind that write poems while others solve math problems— that's the kind of difference that is so important to embrace. If you ever question whether your work is “good enough”, don’t. Anything born from your imagination, your creativity, and your experiences is a celebration of your take on the world. Share, share, share! Writing starts conversations—and without newspapers, scripts, and books, who are we? The more we write, the more we grow. 

6.  What other creative projects are you currently working on or dreaming up? 

I am always writing. I write poetry almost every day, and I’ve already finished another children’s book that will be in the works soon! I’d also love to build a community of young writers and inspire them to embrace the beauty in their daily “mess.”