She started with nonfiction books for children, including Air Devils and Orcas: High Seas Supermen. Hopkins began her writing career in 1990. Later in life, Hopkins found biological mother, Toni Chandler, who was also a writer and poet. She also considers her fifth grade teacher the first person to encourage her to become a professional writer. Hopkins believes most of her writing talent originates from her own talent and also from her adoptive mother. She started out freelancing newspaper and magazine articles, then moved from there into children’s nonfiction. While in Nevada, she decided to write for a living. In 1990, Hopkins and her family moved to northern Nevada.

They also adopted their daughter Cristal's son, Orion. Around 1991, she married John Hopkins, her current husband. He was abusive and kidnapped Kelly, keeping her in secrecy for three years. Following her divorce, she had a daughter, Kelly, with a man she considered to be a 'rebound'. When her marriage failed, she sold her business and began freelance work.

Hopkins dropped out of university before graduation to start a family and business. Hopkins graduated from a high school in the Santa Ynez Valley, then studied journalism at Crafton Hills College and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Her first poem was published in the Palm Springs Desert Sun when she was nine. Hopkins was adopted by Albert and Valeria Wagner when they were 72 and 42 respectively. Ellen Louise Hopkins (born March 26, 1955) is a novelist who has published several New York Times bestselling novels that are popular among the teenage and young adult audience.

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