Ten-year-old author publishes first book

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Bella Soumokil spent three years writing a children's book about a frog named Fred.

She started the story when she was 5 and finished at age 8. Now 10, Bella’s book, “Fred the Great” has been published and is available online through all major booksellers and can also be ordered in bookstores worldwide. It was released on Dec. 6.

The cover of Bella Soumokil's book, "Fred the Great" Courtesy photo

Bella lives in Palm Coast with her parents, Aaron and Maya Soumokil, and her three siblings. She attends Christ the King Lutheran Academy. She has been writing and drawing since she was 5, folding and stapling copy paper together to form her own books, Maya Soumokil said.

Bella has written other stories, but she always came back to her story about Fred the frog, her mom said.

Aaron Soumokil had the idea of publishing the story, but just one copy for his in-laws as a gift. Last year, he spoke to Andy Sanders, a friend from church, who has been involved in the publishing industry for over 20 years.

“He read it and couldn’t believe a 9-year-old wrote it,” Aaron Soumokil said. "He said, ‘You didn’t help her at all?’ I said, ‘No not at all.’ She asked us how to spell a word here and there, but that’s all.”

Sanders decided to help the Soumokils publish, market and distribute the book. His son, Michael Sanders, a professional illustrator, was hired to do the illustrations. Bella was included in all the decision-making.

Andy Sanders, who owned a publishing house in Syracuse, New York, with his wife Cathy before it closed in 2018, had never signed an author under the age of 21 before. But he saw this as a rare opportunity to give a young author a foundation in what it takes to get a book published.

“Bella has a special gift,” Andy Sanders said. “I wanted her to go through the process (of self-publishing). When she gets older, she'll be able to sign a traditional publishing deal.”

The Soumokils are funding the book. Andy and Cathy Sanders, through their company, CS Book Design, edited the book and handled interior design and layout, formatting and cover design. Ingram Content Group is handling distribution.

Bella’s book is about a selfish frog who winds up in the stomach of a huge catfish. Spoiler alert: Fred escapes the catfish’s stomach and learns some lessons, including humility and the importance of family.

Bella has talked about wanting to be an author and illustrator since she was little, her mom said. Bella is an avid reader, who likes war stories. One of her favorite books, she said, is “The Book Thief,” a novel about a young girl living in Nazi Germany.

“Fred the Great” was a story she couldn’t get out of her head.

“We're not looking to sell a million copies. This was a good lesson for her to learn how much work it takes to get a book published. Hopefully it inspires her.”

— AARON SOUMOKIL

“I just thought about a frog, and I kept on writing and it just made a story,” she said.

Aaron Soumokil said Bella loves animals and catches tree frogs in their backyard.

“We’ve had a lot of tree frogs on our lanai that she’s observed,” Maya Soumokil noted.

Bella has started writing a sequel to "Fred the Great," which the Sanders also plan to help publish.

“They took this project under their wings, because they really want it to be successful,” Aaron Soumokil said of Andy and Cathy Sanders. “We're not looking to sell a million copies. This was a good lesson for her to learn how much work it takes to get a book published. She's really excited. I’m just glad she got to experience it. Hopefully it inspires her.”