While growing up, I’ve always been intrigued by sending a catalog order form through the mail and ordering sheep related gifts for our home. It wasn’t until I longed to find sheep stationery that looked like a real sheep, not a cartoon version, that I took my quest for sheep a step farther.
In 1985, I set out to promote my own sheep drawings on note paper and cards while working full-time in another vocation. This allowed me to start my mail order venture on a small scale while learning how to market my artwork. 2025 marks the 40th year of Ewephoric, my gifts website, sheep website, and book publishing company! Ewephoric.com and marlenembell.com, respectively
A set of historical romance novels transported me to a time hundreds of years ago. I read a long series by husband and wife team, Serge and Anne Golon. They wrote their Angelique Series in 1959 through the 1960s as a duo, referring to themselves as a single writer, Sergeanne Golon. Their work fascinated me. King Louis XIV, his queens and dastardly villains were woven in and out of their books in the time of the 17th century in France and England. I have no idea if any of their stories were based upon actual events or completely fictional, but the eight-year-old Baron’s daughter, Angelique, left quite an impression on my young mind. Her dangerous romps through womanhood over numerous novels were hard to leave behind. I’ve never forgotten her.
I dabbled with writing my first work of non-fiction in 2007 and published Among the Sheep (no longer in print) in 2009, based on my story—raising sheep. I loved that writing experience, even in a book riddled with editorial errors and a crazy mixture of genres. My memoir and how-to-raise-sheep book read more like a journal unbeknownst to me. I had so much to learn about writing in general, not to mention writing fiction. A crazy, insane adventure awaited me, to be sure!
When I thought about writing my first novel, the main character had to have a memorable first name. I settled on Annalisse easily. Eerily similar to my favorite heroine in those books from my teens. Naming her was the easy part. Writing fiction is far more difficult than anything in my imagination. Who the protagonist Annalisse was, her job, and life circumstances changed over many manuscripts.
The first book in the Annalisse Series, Stolen Obsession, went through eight drafts and took ten long years to complete. In 2022, yet another draft (rewrite) took place to address reader’s comments in their reviews. Along the way, I’ve learned the craft of writing fiction with the help of online classes, agent tutorials, and reading tons of books. Not to mention, great and not-so-great editors. Craft books helped, but I made it a rule to read at least one new book by another author each week. Reading improves a writer’s style for the better.
Spent Identity, and Scattered Legacy Annalisse book two and three—each took six months to write and another six to edit and publish. Writing modern-day Annalisse Drury in a series flows more easily these days, thanks to an awesome fictional character born in 1640, named Angelique.
Copper Waters, book four, allowed me to incorporate some of my sheep husbandry skills while taking the reader on a journey to South Island New Zealand. It garnered the Independent Publisher award for regional fiction and the Global Book award for overall best Cozy Mystery. I’ve never been to New Zealand and had to research this country extensively, making sure readers had a beautiful picture in their minds of this wondrous place.
2024 marked yet another milestone for my writing with the first standalone mystery novel unrelated to the series. A Hush at Midnight released on October, 1, 2024 to a flurry of excellent early reviews on both Amazon and Goodreads. The stunning sunset cover design is eye-catching and readers are taking notice. I snapped the Texas sunset photo outside our ranch last August. We used it as the basis for the cover by London artist, Rhett Podersoo. He’s done five book covers for me. Such a talent I’m so happy to have found!
About the Author
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 follow the author at:
Website: https://www.marlenembell.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlenembell
X/Twitter: @ewephoric
WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR
of
A Hush at Midnight
By Marlene M. Bell
Book Summary
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 herself doesn’t go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and
bombarded by warnings 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 (October 1, 2024)
Print length: 350 pages
Purchase a copy of A Hush at Midnight on
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hush-Midnight-Secrets-Scandals-Recipe/dp/B0DG8K4CQD
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-hush-at-midnight-secrets-scandals-and-a-recipe-for-murder-by-marlene-m-bell
You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217568383-a-hush-at-midnight
Tour-wide Giveaway: Enter the Contest Here
The Grand Prize is:
*An autographed proof copy of A Hush at Midnight
* Vintage collectible hardcover book with dust jacket: Wildflowers Across America by former First Lady, Ladybird Johnson
* A one-pound bag of wildflower seeds
* $50 Amazon gift card
Second and Third prizes will be autographed copies of A Hush at Midnight.
Blog Tour Calendar
November 4th @ 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
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
November 5th @ Boys' Mom Reads
Author Marlene Bell shares the beautiful blooms of Texas, several which appear in her latest mystery A Hush at Midnight.
https://karensiddall.wordpress.com
November 6th @ Journalling Joy
Author Marlene Bell is sharing a guest post with her thoughts on being an independent author.
https://www.saharsblog.com/
November 7th @ Book Reviews from an Avid Reader
A Hush at Midnight: come for the review, stay for the giveaway!
www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com
November 8th @ Michelle Cornish
Don't miss today's review of the Texas mystery A Hush at Midnight.
https://michellecornishauthor.com/blog/book-reviews
November 9th @ 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.
https://silversolara.blogspot.com
November 11th @ Reading Is My Remedy
Have fun with a taste of Texas compliments of author Marlene Bell
https://readingismyremedy.wordpress.com/
November 12th @ Author Anthony Avina
Need a helping hand? Marlene Bell shares her advice for new writers.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
November 13th @ 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.
www.FinishedPages.com
November 14th @ Knotty Needle
Searching for a new mystery? Read Judy's review of A Hush at Midnight by Marlene Bell.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
November 16th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Learn more about Marlene Bell in today's interview.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com
November 18th @ Life According to Jamie
Learn what Jamie thinks of the mystery A Hush at Midnight.
https://lifeaccordingtojamie.com/
November 18th @ 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.
https://litworldinterviews.com/
November 20th @ Create Write Now
Writing journeys are often surprising. Marlene Bell traces her journey with From Mail Order Entrepreneur to Published Author.
https://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog
November 21st @ Words by Webb
Jodi shares her thoughts on Marlene Bell's latest book: A Hush at Midnight.
www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
November 22nd @ A Storybook World
Forget about staying in your lane. Author Marlene Bell tells the advantages of writing in multiple genres.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
November 25th @ Chapter Break
Learn more about mystery author Marlene Bell and her latest book A Hush at Midnight.
https://chapterbreak.net
November 26th @ What Is That Book About
Enter to win Marlene Bell's newest mystery: A Hush at Midnight.
https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com/
November 29th @ Word Magic
Need some Thanksgiving fun? Relax with a good book: A Hush at Midnight by Marlene Bell.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com
November 30th @ A Wonderful World of Words
The spotlight's on A Hush at Midnight with author Marlene Bell posting Tales from her Sheep Ranch
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
December 3rd @ Writer Advice
Look behind the curtain at an author's life with mystery writer Marlene Bell.
December 5th @ Some Thoughts - Everything Creativity
Kaecey will be interviewing Marlene Bell, author of the cozy mystery A Hush at Midnight.
https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/blog
December 8th @ Some Thoughts - Everything Creativity
Kaecey will be reviewing A Hush at Midnight.
https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/blo