Alex Bell author interview

TL;DR

Alex Bell discusses her love for writing and moving between genres, particularly focusing on her Polar Bear Explorers Club series.

Transcript

Good morning. Today i am joined by, well who am I joined by? You may know her as the author of Frozen Charlotte or the Lex Trent novels, or as the creator of Stella Starflake, intrepid heroine of the Polar Bear Explorers Club. I know her as Alex Bell, welcome to the Oxford Reading Hive offices, thank you for coming in to see us today on a bit of a ... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Alex Bell's dream adventure would be to explore Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series.
• 🍦 She has a soft spot for the Polar Bear Explorers Club, drawn to the magical landscapes and characters.
• 👨‍🔬 Bell enjoys the research process for her books, delving into real-life explorers and expeditions for inspiration.
• 🖐️ Dolls play a recurring theme in her stories, with a focus on their creepy and intriguing nature.
• 🥶 Writing horror for older teens requires more intense research and can be emotionally draining compared to children's fantasy books.
• 🥌 Bell finds the shift between genres refreshing, enjoying the contrast in storytelling and tone.
• ❤️‍🩹 Endings in her novels aim to provide closure for characters while leaving room for future sequels in a series.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you navigate writing horror for older teens versus light-hearted children's books?

Alex Bell enjoys alternating between genres to keep things fresh, finding horror research exhausting compared to the lighter children's genre. She appreciates the shift in tone and storytelling styles.

Q: Why do dolls frequently appear in your books, and what fascinates you about them?

Bell finds dolls intriguing due to their potential for spookiness and innocence turned sinister. She explores the idea of evil dolls and the contrast with typically friendly childhood toys.

Q: What is the secret to a great ending in a book, standalone, or series?

Bell believes in raising compelling questions to be resolved in sequels for series. Standalones should provide closure for characters while ensuring a satisfying resolution for both heroes and villains.

Q: How do you approach writing the endings for your novels, such as the Polar Bear Explorers Club series?

Bell admits to having a loose idea of the ending but allows the story to unfold organically as she writes. Each book's conclusion is a mix of planning and discovery as the narrative progresses.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Alex Bell shares her excitement for Hogwarts and her love for Polar Bear Explorers Club.

• She discusses her writing process, preferring to "pants" rather than plan.

• Moving between genres, she finds it refreshing and enjoys the research process.