Tonya Duncan Ellis

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Tonya Duncan Ellis

Goodreads Author


Born
in Louisville, The United States
Website

Twitter

Genre

Member Since
November 2016


Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM (HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray, 2024) and the SOPHIE WASHINGTON children’s chapter series. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation-sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. Tonya has spoken and taught at writing conferences at the Highlights Foundation and for SCBWI in New York City and for SCBWI Houston and Austin, TX chapters. A former journalist and freelance magazine writer, she lives in Houston, Texas.

www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks
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Tonya Duncan Ellis Hi Lauren,

I wrote the script and had a daughter of a friend record the voiceover then I sent it to my illustrator and he did the animations and put e…more
Hi Lauren,

I wrote the script and had a daughter of a friend record the voiceover then I sent it to my illustrator and he did the animations and put everything together. (less)
Tonya Duncan Ellis Interesting question...I don't know if I have a mystery in my own life. I am writing a book where my characters go on a scavenger hunt, so that a type…moreInteresting question...I don't know if I have a mystery in my own life. I am writing a book where my characters go on a scavenger hunt, so that a type of mystery. (less)
Average rating: 4.41 · 2,437 ratings · 495 reviews · 21 distinct worksSimilar authors
Sophie Washington: Queen of...

4.36 avg rating — 1,017 ratings10 editions
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They Built Me for Freedom: ...

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4.50 avg rating — 214 ratings3 editions
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Sophie Washington: The Snitch

4.39 avg rating — 173 ratings9 editions
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Sophie Washington: My BFF

4.57 avg rating — 144 ratings5 editions
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Sophie Washington: Things Y...

4.12 avg rating — 137 ratings — published 2013 — 8 editions
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Sophie Washington: Secret S...

4.29 avg rating — 113 ratings5 editions
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Sophie Washington: Code One

4.57 avg rating — 93 ratings5 editions
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Sophie Washington: Mismatch

4.63 avg rating — 86 ratings4 editions
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Sophie Washington: Mission:...

4.52 avg rating — 88 ratings7 editions
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Sophie Washington: Class Re...

4.28 avg rating — 82 ratings6 editions
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Things I Changed to Land a Book Deal





Landing a traditional publishing book deal is not for the faint of heart. Less than one to two percent of writers achieve this goal. Realizing my dream to move from self-publishing to traditional publishing felt impossible until I started taking the steps listed below:





I stopped –Worrying about judgment from others. I realized that the longer I kept my work to myself, the longer it would take for i

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Published on December 18, 2025 09:26
Sophie Washington: Queen of... Sophie Washington: The Snitch Sophie Washington: Things Y... Sophie Washington: The Gamer Sophie Washington: Hurricane Sophie Washington: Mission:... Sophie Washington: Secret S...
(14 books)
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4.40 avg rating — 2,216 ratings

Tonya’s Recent Updates

Tonya Ellis has read
Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block
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One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome
One Big Open Sky
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With Love from Harlem by ReShonda Tate
"With Love From Harlem by Reshonda Tate is an amazing work of historical fiction about Hazel Scott. I’ve really enjoyed the historical fiction Tate has been writing, and this book is no exception. It tells the remarkable story of Hazel Scott—the wife," Read more of this review »
With Love from Harlem by ReShonda Tate
"So teaaaaa!!! If you liked Harlem Rhapsody or the Accidental Diva (even just a lil bit), you’ll absolutely love this book!

I’m honestly a little ashamed to say I didn’t really know who Hazel Scott was before reading this, but I’m so grateful I do now." Read more of this review »
With Love from Harlem by ReShonda Tate
"Baby a man ain’t been on my nerves this bad since W.E.B. Dubois in Harlem Rhapsody!

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in With Love from Harlem has gotten on my last nerve and I’m finally finished with this book and I can’t wait for y’all to get your hands on i" Read more of this review »
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With Love from Harlem by ReShonda Tate
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Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
Overdue
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The March for Hope by Valerie Bolling
The March for Hope
by Valerie Bolling (Goodreads Author)
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An engaging story about a young girl reluctantly joining her mother on a march for women's rights and deciding that she wants to stand up for rights for herself and her friends. I loved the message about "girl power" and the adorable illustrations. T ...more
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Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
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The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
The Wilderness
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Quotes by Tonya Duncan Ellis  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“get good grades”
Tonya Duncan Ellis, Sophie Washington: Queen of the Bee

“That’s easy for her to say. She’s old, so nobody cares about how she looks.”
Tonya Duncan Ellis, Sophie Washington: The Snitch

“Moooom! I was here first, and now she wants to change the channel,” he whines.”
Tonya Duncan Ellis, Sophie Washington: Queen of the Bee

“That’s easy for her to say. She’s old, so nobody cares about how she looks.”
Tonya Duncan Ellis, Sophie Washington: The Snitch

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