For some, being a published writer is the work of a lifetime but Mila Lilly of Paradise was able to do it while she’s still in elementary school.

Lilly is the author of “Mr. Monkey Detective Agency – The Case of the Missing Banana.” The girl is 10-years-old now, but she was nine when the book was published.

Lilly says the book is based on a toy monkey she got while on vacation in Halifax with her family. She initially wrote the book for school, but after reading it to a grade 3 class, one of the kids told her she should publish it – so she did.

Lilly hints that she is working on writing another Mr. Monkey book. She says her next one is titled “Mr. Monkey – The Case of the Missing Cook Book.” One of her friends has suggested that they should include some banana recipes at the end of that book.

Lilly will be at the St. John’s Farmer’s Market today signing and selling copies of her book.