Page 70 - Reader's HouseMagazine - Issue 62

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Karen S. Bell is a bold and insightful storyteller whose novels illuminate women’s resilience, social challenges, and spiritual curiosity with fearless honesty.
Magical realism appears throughout your work—what draws you to this genre and how do you incorporate it into contemporary stories?
speak of but I love what women bring to humanity. We are the love, softness, intelligence that humanity needs. We need to access our power. Live our power. I’m ready to suit up. Let’s
Gemini said
A relatable, witty, and heartwarm-
ing dive into the chaos of modern womanhood. Bell masterfully balanc- es workplace rivalry, family drama, and second-chance romance with laugh-out-loud charm.
Walking with Elephants
by Karen S. Bell is a witty and relatable novel that captures the chaotic balance between career, family, and personal identity. Through the engaging
character of Suze Hall, Bell explores workplace politics, motherhood, and modern relationships with humour and honesty. The story blends light-hearted moments with thought- ful social observations, offering readers an entertaining yet insightful look at the everyday struggles and resilience of contemporary women.
My stories flow from my concerns. Publishing is a mess right now. Great writers like me are lost in the abyss of erotica, celebrity writers, and bookclub cults. I try to get people to think not just be titillated. The public must wake up to the dangers we face by ignoring climate issues and having pedophiles get elect- ed. Maybe activated women, the
You narrate the audiobook versions of your novels yourself. What was that experience like, and how does it differ from writing the story?
Well I learned something. No one bought my first two audible books because I narrated them. It was an amazing experience and time consuming. I found free software for editing, lowered my pitch to sound like a man, tried British and Russian accents. All in all, a bust. Then I tried AI narration for free and that was also challenging to get the right pronunciation. Bottom line no sales either.
So now what? Meryl Streep narrating a book is getting sales. How do you compete with that?
What can readers expect from your upcoming novel currently in progress?
My latest work explores the many worlds concept. It’s a natural progression from researching the afterlife because the afterlife is all about non-local consciousness and return- ing to the realm of universal consciousness. But what if we could travel to many worlds/ realities/timelines while we are alive? How fun would that be?
What writing tips would you share with aspiring authors who are just beginning their writing journey?
Keep your day job. Learn the software to self-publish, write erotica, memoirs, tell alls. Try to get an agent. Take Lexipro.
What overall advice would you give to aspiring authors who hope to publish their own novels one day?
Keep your day job. Learn the software to self-publish, write erotica, memoirs, tell alls. Try to get an agent. Take Lexipro.
My first husband crashed his
plane and died at 35. That sent
me on a path to learn what I could about
the afterlife. I read all the Raymond Moody materials and went to trance channelers on this quest. Now I’ve moved on to what is consciousness? What is reality and quantum physics.
In Walking with Elephants, you explore the challenges faced by working mothers. What message did you hope readers would take from Suze’s journey?
The message is her essay, same title as the book because elephants live in a matriarchal society, the herd is all women and their young. Grown males only come around to mate. We women have had enough of the patriarchy. It’s time for a cultural and societal shift to a ma- triarchy. Women in charge of gov, the military, religions, earn more than men, run the corpo- rations. That would change things up a bit.
Your books also touch on larger societal issues such as greed, politics and climate change. How do you balance storytelling with these deeper themes?
go girls.
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polar opposite of Mar a Lago women, can take charge of the world
As someone who has worked as a theatre critic, celebrity interviewer and technical editor, how have these roles shaped your voice as a novelist?
I love words. Writing is easy and a need, getting readers is hard and a want. I hate marketing, the cost of marketing, and my failure at it.
Many of your stories highlight feminine perspectives and values. Why is it important for you to centre these viewpoints in your writing?
I am a loner. Not any female friends to
“We need to access our power. Live our
power.”
“Writing is easy and a need, getting
readers is hard and a want.”
T