Hello again, Creatives!
I'm so excited to bring author Marlene Bell to the blog today to discuss writing, creativity, and her new book, A Hush at Midnight! You can enter to win a free copy of the book by clicking here.
Marlene is known for her captivating mysteries and engaging storytelling, and today we’ll dive into the inspiration behind A Hush at Midnight, her writing process, and how her experiences as an artist and photographer influence her writing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before we get to the interview, here's a little about author Marlene Bell:
→ (You can jump to the interview by clicking here!)
Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch for her readers, they often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic mysteries and children’s books as characters or subject matter.
Marlene is an accomplished artist and photographer who takes pride in entertaining fans on multiple levels with her creativity.
Marlene’s award-winning Annalisse series boasts Best Mystery honors for all installments including these: IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, Global Award Best Mystery, and Chanticleer’s International Mystery and Mayhem shortlist for Copper Waters, the fourth mystery in the series.
Her children's picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team!, written primarily for younger kids, is based on true events from the Bell’s East Texas sheep ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of belonging and unconditional love between a little girl and her lamb.
You can find the author online at:
Marlene's website: https://www.marlenembell.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlenembell
On X/Twitter: @ewephoric
ABOUT THE BOOK
To help set the stage for the interview, here's a bit more information about A Hush at Midnight!
→ (You can jump to the interview by clicking here!
Celebrity chef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in the groundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her open eyes—purple bruising around her mouth... a grisly snapshot in time revealing the Texas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from the small town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered.
She is catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one bold enough to come and go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumb trails designed to mock the deceased. But Laura doesn't go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warning to leave the state...
When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit the entire Stenburg fortune, the
last act of kindness has made Laura the main person of interest in the investigation. Message by message, Laura is methodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever it takes to dislodge Laura from Texas–permanently.
Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing
ISBN-13: 979-8986340968
ASIN: B0DG8K4CQD
Print Length: 350 pages
If you love books, enter this giveaway to win a copy of A Hush at Midnight PLUS EXTRA GOODIES (!!) by filling out the Rafflecopter form below:
The grand prize is an autographed copy of A Hush at Midnight, a vintage collectible hardcover book with dust jacket (Wildflowers Across America by former First Lady Ladybird Johnson), a one-pound bag of wildflower seeds, and a $50 Amazon gift card!
Enter the giveaway above for a chance to win a copy, or you can purchase a copy at Amazon or BookBub. And be sure to add A Hush at Midnight to your GoodReads reading list!
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Now, on to the heart of today's post, my interview with Marlene:
Kaecey: Marlene, welcome! I’m so excited to have you here today to talk about writing, creativity, and your new book, A Hush at Midnight (which I’ll be reviewing in a few days!). The book takes readers on a wild ride through mystery and suspense. What inspired you to create such a gripping story, and was there a particular moment or event that sparked the idea?
Marlene: A Hush at Midnight was designed as a writing exercise and a break from my long-running Annalisse series. I had fallen into a few writing pitfalls that only a standalone mystery could cure. I began writing fiction in 2010, and thirteen years later I had four installments to a single series. My main characters were so familiar to me, that my characterization skills had diminished—and readers were noticing.
A Hush at Midnight gave me the chance to brush up on novel basics without relying on the backstory of previous books. Writing this book based in Texas also allowed me to write about the beautiful Piney Woods where we live and inject some of the East Texas flavor of its residents into a story. Many things about Laura Harris are somewhat about me. I grew up in California and moved to Texas—and have some history in the flying world as my first job. Pilots and the people I’ve met around flying are interesting so I had to find a place for them in this book!
"A Hush at Midnight gave me the chance to brush up on novel basics without relying on the backstory of previous books."
Kaecey: I love how this book gave you the chance to explore new characters and settings—especially with those personal touches from your own life experiences. It definitely adds a unique authenticity to the story. I'm thinking of Laura Harris, the protagonist, a celebrity chef who gets caught up in a murder investigation. Why did you choose a chef as the central figure in this suspenseful story, and how did you go about developing her character?
Marlene: Again, it’s a little about me when it comes to Laura Harris. I also love to cook having lived with my Italian grandmother for seven years as a young woman. She was quite the chef, and taught me what I know about the culinary world. As you can tell, Laura gave me the opportunity to sprinkle the novel with some life lessons from my twenties.
"Laura gave me the opportunity to sprinkle the novel with some life lessons from my twenties."
Kaecey: I love that Laura’s culinary background has a personal connection to your own life experiences—those details really stand out! The setting of the story is also so vivid, and I think it plays a significant role in the atmosphere of A Hush at Midnight. How did you decide on the towns of Stenburg as the backdrop and Coldspell as Laura's homebase, and what influence do the Texas settings have on the unfolding of the mystery?
Marlene: I live in a small town so making up a few small-town names in Texas came easily. I haven’t mentioned this in a previous interview before, but the book’s first title was COLDSPELL. A completely different mystery in a very cold place near the panhandle of Texas.
Once I’d decided on the victim as an elderly woman with a colorful past, the location soon changed to East Texas where I could use local scenery in the descriptions since they were more familiar to me, and include my background from the flying service where I’d worked after graduating high school.
"I haven’t mentioned this in a previous interview before, but the book’s first title was COLDSPELL. A completely different mystery in a very cold place near the panhandle of Texas."
Kaecey: That’s fascinating! It's always interesting to hear how stories evolve, and I love that you originally envisioned A Hush at Midnight in such a different setting. I think your personal experience with East Texas added so much depth to the story.
Speaking of depth, the relationships between the characters in the novel are full of tension. The book touches on themes of inheritance and the suspicion attached to it, which is especially evident when Laura becomes a person of interest in the investigation. How did you approach writing these complex dynamics between the characters?
Marlene: The quest for love and wealth drives humans to strive for more. Greed, having a better life at the expense of others, and vengeance are but a few of the elements touched in A Hush at Midnight. Someone in search of love or a lost love who’d made promises unkept and outright jealousy drives the HUSH villain. Did I tell you how much I LOVE to write villains? I enjoy them more than developing main characters. They are allowed to be outlandish and over-the-top without making readers feel they are too contrived. For some reason, readers and reviewers are more accepting of a well-written villain who manages to pull off crazy things. Personally, I’d rather read an eccentric “bad guy” any day of the week over a protagonist with many quirks and situations tossed at them during the story.
Dynamics between minor characters can make or break a story. For example, premise. A book I’ve just read had minor characters twist the story—each person having another true identity revealed in the last chapters. It’s as if the writer made a list of the players and gave the major individuals false backgrounds just to fool the reader at the end. I like a twisty mystery that’s difficult to figure out but not when key characters are fake to begin with. One new identity, that’s okay. An entire family, not so much. Writing complex characters shouldn’t involve trickery. In my novels, the reader experiences real possibilities with believable motivations.
Having said that, there ARE a few red herrings throughout A Hush at Midnight—just enough to keep the reader guessing.
"Did I tell you how much I LOVE to write villains? ... They are allowed to be outlandish and over-the-top without making readers feel they are too contrived... readers and reviewers are more accepting of a well-written villain who manages to pull off crazy things. "
Kaecey: I love how much creative fun you have with your villains! Speaking of creativity, I know that writing is just one part of your creative life. As an artist and photographer, how do your other creative outlets influence your writing process? Do you find that they complement or inspire your storytelling?
Marlene: Without question, my other creative arts enhance my writing overall. I show a vivid use of color in my oil paintings and imagine that in a scene for a more descriptive passage, including the sights and sounds of the moment. I’m known for how I describe smells and odors, especially. Book 2, Spent Identity, in the Annalisse series is a good example of that—beginning with the corpse found in the barn! The more an author uses the senses the better the experience for the reader. I look at my writing as a way to paint a picture…putting the reader directly into the scene or the mind of the point-of-view character. A Hush at Midnight is written in third-person solely in Laura Harris’s perspective.
"I look at my writing as a way to paint a picture…putting the reader directly into the scene or the mind of the point-of-view character."
Kaecey: I can really see how your background in art and photography shapes your writing! It’s amazing how you incorporate those vivid sensory details, especially the way you describe smells—it really brings scenes to life. And for those new to your books, what do you hope they take away from reading A Hush at Midnight?
Marlene: The reason why I write is to offer the entertainment value. So many of us are dealing with uncomfortable situations and going through tough times while caring for others. Taking the reader away from day-to-day issues by sweeping them to exotic countries like Greece, Italy, Turkey, and New Zealand while evoking the senses, is a fine way to spend an afternoon or long weekend.
A Hush at Midnight covers a lot of difficulties—from characters who are elderly to those who are quirky, and we can’t forget, devastatingly handsome. By the time the reader reaches the end of the book, it ends in a satisfying, AH… As terrible as murder is, the best scenario is made from a hurtful situation. Hattie Stenburg would be proud of her friend, Laura Harris.
"The reason why I write is to offer the entertainment value. So many of us are dealing with uncomfortable situations and going through tough times while caring for others. Taking the reader away from day-to-day issues... is a fine way to spend an afternoon or long weekend."
Kaecey: I love that, Marlene! It’s so true—books have the power to transport us and offer a much-needed escape, especially when we’re facing challenges. I can imagine readers really enjoying the journey with Laura and finding that satisfying ‘ah’ moment at the end.
Thank you so much for sharing your process, insights, and a peek behind A Hush at Midnight. It’s been a real pleasure having you on the blog!
Marlene: Thanks so much for the interview and a chance to speak to your readers, Kaecey! I hope a few will pick up a copy of A Hush at Midnight and enjoy the trip through East Texas!
READ MORE ABOUT MARLENE BELL AND A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT
How fun to hear from Marlene on the blog today!
I'm the last stop on the blog tour, so come back on Sunday (12/8) when I'll share my review of A Hush at Midnight.
Even though the tour ends with me, you can still read more about Marlene and her book by visiting the other stops on the WOW blog tour:
The Muffin
Join WOW as we celebrate the launch of Marlene Bell's blog tour of A Hush at Midnight. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book
Boys' Mom Reads
Author Marlene Bell shares the beautiful blooms of Texas, several which appear in her latest mystery A Hush at Midnight.
Journaling Joy
Author Marlene Bell is sharing a guest post with her thoughts on being an independent author.
Book Reviews from an Avid Reader
A Hush at Midnight: come for the review, stay for the giveaway!
Michelle Cornish
Don't miss today's review of the Texas mystery A Hush at Midnight.
Silver's Reviews
Read an interview with Marlene Bell's latest sleuth. Plus, a chance to win books and prizes in A Hush at Midnight giveaway.
Reading Is My Remedy
Have fun with a taste of Texas compliments of author Marlene Bell
Author Anthony Avina
Need a helping hand? Marlene Bell shares her advice for new writers.
Finished Pages
Have you ever wondered about the challenges of writing a mystery series? Author Marlene Bell writes about her experience writing the Annalisse series.
Knotty Needle
Searching for a new mystery? Read Judy's review of A Hush at Midnight by Marlene Bell.
Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Learn more about Marlene Bell in today's interview.
Life According to Jamie
Learn what Jamie thinks of the mystery A Hush at Midnight.
Lit World Reviews
Learn author Marlene Bell's tips on Building an Advanced Reader Team and read a review of her latest mystery: A Hush at Midnight.
Create Write Now
Writing journeys are often surprising. Marlene Bell traces her journey with From Mail Order Entrepreneur to Published Author.
Words by Webb
Jodi shares her thoughts on Marlene Bell's latest book: A Hush at Midnight.
A Storybook World
Forget about staying in your lane. Author Marlene Bell tells the advantages of writing in multiple genres.
Chapter Break
Learn more about mystery author Marlene Bell and her latest book A Hush at Midnight.
What Is That Book About
Enter to win Marlene Bell's newest mystery: A Hush at Midnight.
Word Magic
Need some Thanksgiving fun? Relax with a good book: A Hush at Midnight by Marlene Bell.
A Wonderful World of Words
The spotlight's on A Hush at Midnight with author Marlene Bell posting Tales from her Sheep Ranch
Writer Advice
Look behind the curtain at an author's life with mystery writer Marlene Bell.
Have you read A Hush at Midnight? Or do you have thoughts on the interview? Let me know by sending me a message!
Happy reading and happy writing!
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