Interview with Alex Bell

February 8, 2010 in Author Interviews, Blog, Featured Articles

Interview with Alex Bell

Today I’m pleased to welcome best-selling writer, Alex Bell to Bart’s Bookshelf. Author of The Ninth Circle and Jasmyn. Lex Trent versus The Gods is her first foray in to YA comic fantasy.

I also have news of a fantastic giveaway from Alex and her publisher, Headline, after the interview, so be sure to keep reading!

Welcome Alex, can you introduce yourself and your latest book to my readers?

Alex Bell: Hi Darren. I am an escaped law student, an avid reader, a compulsive writer, and a proud Great Dane owner.

Lex Trent versus The Gods is my third novel, and the first to be YA and comic fantasy. It’s a fantasy adventure story about a good-for-nothing scoundrel who lies, cheats, swindles, and gets away with it.

I’ve almost finished reading the book at the moment, and I can tell Lex is quite the character. Could you tell us something only you know about him, and that doesn’t appear in the book?

Alex Bell: As a child, Lex suffered for a brief while from terrible nightmares about octopuses.

*Blinks* Actually that doesn’t totally surprise me… Now as you say Lex is “a good-for-nothing scoundrel who lies, cheats, swindles, and gets away with it.” But what about his less redeeming features. Surely there is a ‘good boy’ in there just waiting to escape?! Interview with Alex Bell

Alex Bell: Er . . . well, you never know, but I seriously doubt it!

I understand you first wrote Lex’s story, around three years ago. Did much change when you came to edit Lex, especially having had the experience of publishing two other books in the meantime?

Alex Bell: Lex didn’t change a huge amount during the editing process but, aided by the notes I got from my editor, I think the story became more exciting than it had been in the first draft. I added some new scenes and polished certain sections that were already there – and past experience obviously helps with all of that.

Another Lex Trent novel is on the cards I understand, can you tell us anything about where Lex’s adventures may take him in the future?

Alex Bell: Lex’s next adventure will be even bigger and better than the last one! He will face stiffer competition, come up against greater perils, and perpetrate more outrageous frauds. And he will find himself evenly matched with his next companion, who is almost as much of a rascal as Lex is himself. There will be more Gods, more strange beasts, more weird & wonderful locations, more cheating, and more scams!

Would you share something about your writing process? Where do you write? What inspires you there? Do you have any prompts?

Alex Bell: I mostly write at my desk at home, preferably early in the morning or late at night when the house is quieter. I can’t listen to music whilst I write, although I do enjoy writing in coffee shops sometimes (when I can afford it!)

As for inspiration and prompts, I have a noticeboard on the wall above my desk which I cover with pictures, photos, maps, postcards, and anything else I think might inspire me. I also have an extremely untidy desk that is covered with weird and wonderful things that I’ve been known to mess about with when I’m trying to work out how to move the story forwards. And I have a big skeleton named Erin in my room who I will talk to if I’m getting really stuck.

It’s also important for me to have lots of cats around me when I’m writing. They release happy enzymes in my brain, and help me think! Especially my little Siamese who spends most of each day on my lap. I don’t think I could write very well without cats, which is why my three are all duly acknowledged in the acknowledgement section of every one of my books!

Where will you go after Lex Trent, is there on anything else you’re working on?

Alex Bell: I’m working on another serious adult book at the moment, but I would certainly jump at the chance to write more Lex Trents, or more books that are like Lex Trent, as I have so much fun with the comic fantasies. I have lots of ideas for funny books I could do in the future.

That just leaves me to thank you for stopping by to chat, but before you go, is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your work?

Alex Bell: I think all that’s left is to thank you for the great questions, Darren!

Lex Trent versus The Gods by Alex Bell is out Now!

Alex Bell, can also be found: Blog | Twitter | Publisher

GIVEAWAY!

Anti-Hero: In fiction, an antihero (feminine: antiheroine) is a protagonist whose character or goals are antithetical to traditional heroism…

Alex’s publisher has agreed to giveaway a SIGNED copy of Lex’s first adventure to THREE lucky readers of Bart’s Bookshelf!

Entry is very simple and there are two ways to win:

First: Simply comment on this post and let me know who your favourite literary anti-hero is, at the end of the entry period, I’ll pick TWO random winners.

Second: Tweet the following to help spread the word of the giveaway, and once the entry period is over, I’ll pick ONE winner.

Win a copy of Lex Trent versus the Gods a brand new YA comic fantasy by Alex Bell. Enter at @bartsbooks http://bit.ly/cmk33b

Headline have kindly agreed to send worldwide. Contest is open until midnight GMT on Monday February 15th 2010.

Winners will be notified by email or twitter.

See: Contest Policy

Interview with Alex Bell

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