Page 11 - Mosaic Digest Magazine

Stolen Obsession by Marlene M. Bell is a thrilling blend of mys- tery and romance. The captivating plot, rich with historical intrigue and vivid settings, keeps readers on edge. Annalisse’s character is compelling, and the unexpected twists make it a page-turner. A must-read for mystery enthusiasts seeking adventure
setting influence the develop- ment of the story?
Because of my sheep husbandry background, New Zealand was chosen for its beautiful scenic landscape and a place to show- case their sheep stations. Readers who might not know how other countries raise their sheep would find the information interesting and an excellent learning experi- ence. This New Zealand getaway was necessary for my main char- acters to have time apart to work out their differences.
In A Hush at Midnight, the protagonist Laura Harris is a former celebrity chef entan- gled in a murder investigation. How do you go about creating such complex characters, and what role does the culinary world play in heightening the
Marlene M. Bell masterfully blends mystery and heart, cap- tivating readers with her vivid storytelling and unique pasto- ral charm.
tension and intrigue in the story?
Another personal pastime of mine is cooking from scratch using fresh ingre- dients for the best dining experience. I thought it would be a challenge to create a character who loves to cook (bake) and bring another book out with an international flair due to Laura’s training in France at
Your work spans both adult mystery novels and children’s books. How do you approach the different challenges these genres present, and what do you enjoy most about writing for such diverse audiences?
Raising Natalie, our bottle
lamb we called “Nattie,” taught me several life lessons. Mia and Nattie covers several of these les- sons important for young people to learn as they mature and enter society. When Nattie passed on at the age of 13, it hit me harder than expected. I felt compelled
to get her story out to children and their parents. Writing novels gave me the courage to jump out of my genre comfort zone and try something new to work through the grief.
As an accomplished artist and photographer, how does your visual creativity intersect with your writing process? Do you find that your artistic back- ground influences how you describe settings or develop the visual elements of your stories?
Without question my ability
to draw and paint what I see in nature has made me better at de-
own sheep-related products which led me to include other artisan’s sheep gifts in a printed catalog and online. My husband and I raise various sheep breeds and have for well over
40 years. Having sheep
as part of our family has
made it essential to create stories with sheep and lambs making cameo appearances in novels and children’s books. You could say, I write what I know! Mia and Nattie is based on raising a bottle lamb in our home and how she became important to our sheep operation.
scriptions for my books. Through purchasing coffee table books and the visuals they provide, I can see the international loca- tions for how they actually look, giving the reader an accurate view for their mind’s eye as they read my novels. I rarely use the internet for research and depend on people who have actually been to the locations I write about.
With multiple awards under your belt, what advice would you give to aspiring writers who are trying to find their voice and establish themselves in the competitive world of publishing?
I went the longer route and learned as I published each book. Ten long years for Stolen Obsession. The first book in the Annalisse series required a lot of research on how to write fiction and what readers expect in every genre. I did what Traditional Publishers do for their authors when offering them a publishing contract.
The best advice I can give
new authors is to research the genre they plan to write and read, read, read the work of other authors both inside the genre and outside. Reading opens the flow of words and helps with writer’s block. When I’m blocked at the blank page, the best medicine is to pick up
one of the best culinary schools in the world.
Sheep often make appearanc- es in your books, including your children’s picture book Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! How does your life on a sheep ranch influence your writing, and what draws you to incorporate these animals into your stories?
My company, Ewephoric, was created in 1985 due to the lack of merchandise available depicting sheep in the retail world. I’m an artist and decided to bring out my
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