Ellen used to write stories about death, but the Harry Potter novels seem to cover that, so she moved onto something a bit more personal. Being the new girl is Ellen's life. She was the new girl to junior school. In the beginning, friends began as enemies, and enemies began as friends.

Ellen recreates her life story in the eyes of Alicia, her character in New Girl. Ellen didn't move house, but did move in her second year of junior school, and did have to get used to not living over the road to her best friend, who she now rarely sees.