1. Please introduce yourself (who are you, what genre/s do you write in, what books do you have out)
I'm Bella, from Ireland and my main genre is fantasy, though I dip into other genres from time to time. I have two books published - The Dreams Thief (Otherworld series book 1), a romantic urban fantasy (some may call it a romantasy) and The Tree and the Windmill, a romantic suspense with a hint of the paranormal.
2. What are your favourite books?
The tough question! A short list would be "Circe", by Madeline Miller, "The Mists of Avalon", Marion Zimmer Bradley, "Firebrand", also Bradley, "1984", George Orwell, "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Oscar Wilde, "Wuthering Heights", Emily Bronte and to "Kill a Mockingbird", Harper Lee.
3. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
When I was about 6-7. I read "The Snow Queen", by Hans Christian Andersen and that is when I wrote my first story and I never stopped.
4. What are your favourite and least favourite parts of the writing process?
I love creating characters I think and their adventures and seeing how they grow. Contrary to many writers, I actually like editing, when I can tweak the fine details. Least favourite is proof-reading, because I need to focus on word by word rather than the flow of the scene.
5. What is your writing routine?
The worst! I have zero routine! I write on every free time I have which is not much considering I have a full time job and I am a solo parent. I do normally have good chunks of writing on weekend mornings after breakfast!
6. How do you balance writing (and everything else to do with it) with the rest of your life?
Badly! I am a pantser, but I am now striving to get organised! I even bought a year's calendar for my wall!
7. What inspires you? How do you beat writers block?
Other books, but I find a lot of inspiration on observing people. Sometimes something I see at work or on my commute can trigger a whole story!
When writer's block strikes I find that the most useful thing is to take a break, go for a walk, watch TV or a movie, read some or generally just take my mind completely off it.
8. How do you keep consistent/write a lot?
I love writing. I am constantly scribbling so it's more a natural habit than anything else. I need to write something every day as much as I have my tea in the morning :)
9. Does anyone read or edit your work before publication? If so, how did you find them?
I do all my editing because I have no budget for a professional editor. More recently I have joined the Secret Scribes and we tend to read each other's works for mutual advice.
10. Can we have a sneaky look at your future plans?
Yes! I have two new books coming in April 2025, Blood and Dreams, Otherworld book 2 and The Sorrow of the Wise Man, Book 1 of the Eileerean Saga, an epic fantasy series. My plan is to have book 2 of the Eileerean Saga out in 2025 as well, but I cannot confirm it yet.
I am also working on a short story to be part of an anthology to be published with my fellow Secret Scribes sometime in 2025.
11. Finally, what advice would you give to other writers (inspiring, those publishing and those published)?
Just keep writing. Publish those stories where you can. You have nothing to lose in publishing!
And read, constantly, all genres, good stories and bad stories. All will teach you something!
