Back in the days as kids, we have all loved stories with moral lessons. And, authors have been keeping up with such brilliant stories for kids that help them learn great things for life. Author Luella Stanley is also aiming for the same with her debut book ‘Finlay The First Bear’ – an engaging story that teaches simple life-saving skills to kids!
Right after the launch of her book, we got an opportunity to have an exclusive conversation with author Luella Stanley. She shared candidly about her personal life, her writing journey, her upcoming books, and much more. But, before we dive into her interesting answers, let us first know a little more about the author.
About the Author: Luella Stanley
Luella Stanley is a passionate author from Australia and the managing director of First Aid Action. Her debut book ‘Finlay The First Aid Bear’ was released in November 2023.
With a background as a registered nurse in various hospital settings, Luella has extensive experience in emergency care and first aid. She has a Diploma and Bachelor of Nursing, Diploma of Natural Skincare Formulation, and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Luella is a qualified First Aid Trainer and has her own business called First Aid Action RTO31668 in Australia. She also loves to formulate her own natural skincare products but that is more of a hobby.
Born in the Netherlands, her family moved to Australia when she was 3 years old making her pretty much an Aussie now. She is an Australian Citizen. She has lived in Brisbane, Australia her whole life and loves it there.
Her love for teaching led her to develop Finlay, a lovable bear who teaches young children basic first-aid skills in a fun and engaging way. Through her work, Luella aims to instill valuable life-saving knowledge in children, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle emergencies with confidence.
She has a beautiful family who supports her with all of her endeavors. Her mum, husband, and son are always behind her with whatever she chooses to do.
Further, author Luella Stanley shared more about her childhood, her writing journey, inspirations, and more interesting things about herself. Let’s get straight to her interesting answers.
What were you like at school? Any childhood memory you would like to share?
I loved going to school and was educated in a Private School. I must say that I wasn’t the most attentive pupil as my mind was always wandering to faraway places and other activities I could be doing. Hence maybe was the beginning of my creative mind. I have many childhood memories of school but mostly my friends who are still close to this day.
What is your biggest achievement till today?
My biggest achievement is beginning my life as an author of children’s books with life skills messages. My debut book is Finlay the First Aid Bear: The Dare to Golden Mountain to teach children first aid skills but in a fun way where they can resonate with a friendly and helpful bear who knows first aid skills. More Finlay books are coming in 2024 and a Junior Fiction with similar messages coming out soon but that one is a special one under wraps for now!
Which writers inspire you?
I have always been more of a mystery murder and fantasy story reader. I don’t really have any favorite authors but the ones who write children’s books with hidden life messages are the ones who truly inspire me to write. It is so important to teach kids life lessons early.
Writing is stressful at times. How do you relax your mind?
Meditation, exercise, and the occasional wine 😀 (Ooops, was I allowed to say that?)
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Study harder at school and put more sunscreen on when you go outside!
What books do you like to read personally? What are you reading currently?
Lately, I haven’t had the time to read any books as I am working on my own novels. If anything, I tend to read a lot more journals to keep me updated with information.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
I am tossing up between the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Both are amazing fantasies that show amazing friendships, courage, teamwork and faith.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing?
Something in my head kept bugging me to start writing now and I couldn’t let it go! So I thought that I had better start now!
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I write when my timetable allows me to as I have a busy lifestyle during the day with my first aid training. The mornings are always the best time for me as my brain is fried by the nighttime!
What is the reason you write for; is it for the readers or your own self or some other thing?
I have been told that I have been put on this earth to be a healer. I am passionate about teaching others life skills and more so instilling this knowledge into children early. It gives me great pleasure to see children knowing how to do first aid so they can help others.
About Your Book: Finlay the First Aid Bear
Finlay the First Aid Bear by Luella Stanley is a heartwarming tale that effortlessly teaches young children the importance of learning first aid skills at a young age. Through engaging characters and an epic adventure to Golden Mountain, the book aims to make first aid easily understandable and accessible to kids.
With beautiful illustrations and a captivating storyline, this book is not just a story; it’s a valuable lesson wrapped in a delightful package. Join Finlay the bear and his little sister Evee on this exciting journey filled with learning and fun.
What genre is your book? What draws you to this genre?
My genre is children’s books and junior fiction. I love teaching children life skills and lessons so that they can grow within themselves and to help others.
What makes ‘Finlay the First Aid Bear’ stand out in this genre?
This book is an adventure story to The Golden Mountain, to make it interesting and fun for children to learn first aid rather than just reading a boring manual on first aid.
It is beautifully illustrated with illustrations and footnotes on how to perform some basic skills such as calling for an ambulance, nose bleeds, treating cuts, burns and blisters, hydration, items in a first aid kit, and more. I have personally not come across another book like Finlay.
How did you come up with the character for Finlay?
Children resonate well with animals as heroes and can learn from them even though they are fictional. Children will also read books over if they like the story. I also love bears!
What should a reader expect from ‘Finlay the First Aid Bear’?
The story is an adventure to the Golden Mountain in search of juicy salmon for winter hibernation but like any adventure, even for children, little mishaps or accidents can happen along the way where first aid is needed. The skills learned can also be applied at home or school to help others.
Finlay is one to help others in times of need. As much as he loves adventures, he is always there to lend a paw in any first-aid situation. I hope that children reading the book will fall in love with his character as being kind, gentle and helpful.
There are also other lessons to be learned in the book such as speaking to someone they feel comfortable with if children feel upset. Another important lesson is never pack in a hurry and things get forgotten!
The story is full of adventure for kids and also helps them learn basic first aid interactively. What was the hardest & the easiest thing while writing this book?
The hardest thing was coming up with an interesting story that children would want to read but once I started writing, it just continued to flow on paper. The easiest thing was knowing the first aid skills that I wanted to teach in the book and the illustrations which I didn’t have to do!!! Thank you to my wonderful illustrator Dani Mathewson for an amazing job!
Any special experience about ‘Finlay the First Aid Bear’ that you would like to share?
Learning first aid skills or any life skill doesn’t have to be boring for children. Make it fun for them with story books like Finlay the First Aid Bear, drawings, activities, play first aid games, and let them pretend and imagine their friends are hurt and they are helping them with a bandage or calling the ambulance on a phone.
The more fun you make it the more they will learn and remember. Please remember to keep reinforcing the skills that are learned!
Future Plans
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
To write lots and lots of books aimed at children and junior fiction to teach them lots of life skills and lessons.
Are you working on your new project? What will be your next book about?
I have two books coming out in mid-late 2024.
1. Finlay the First Aid Bear: Eight Eyes in the Darkness. This is Book Two in the Finlay the First Aid Bear series. This book will continue the adventure to the Golden Mountain with more unplanned journeys, characters, mishaps and more first aid skills to learn.
2. Junior Fiction Novel (untitled at this point) – targeting 7- 13-year-olds to learn first aid. The Hero this time is a 12-year-old boy called Arly. The theme is like Finlay with an adventure where things don’t go as planned, accidents happen, and Arly has to put his first aid skills to good use on other characters in the book. The book will be beautifully illustrated with colour and sketches to show first aid skills.
What does success mean to you as an Author?
Success as an author, to me, means that every child on the planet can learn some basic first-aid skills. How amazing would that be in the world we live in that children can help children and adults too?
What are your views on self-publishing and traditional publishing?
I have only tried self-publishing at this point so I am undecided on traditional publishing but may look at that avenue with the next books. Self-publishing has been a lot of hard work.
One learning that you’d like to pass on to young debut authors.
Don’t ever give up your dream. And, pick up that pen and start writing now! Or you will never do it!
Your opinion about Vowelor.
So far so good. 😀
