An Interview with Marlene M. Bell, Author of A Hush at Midnight

Mystery at a killing pace.

Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch, her fans often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic suspense, thriller, and cozy mystery books as characters or subject matter. 

Marlene’s multi-award-winning Annalisse series boasts numerous Best Mystery honors for all installments including the newest IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, and Global Gold Award for the fourth cozy mystery from down under. 

Her children’s picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! written for the younger crowd, is based on true events from the Bell’s Texas sheep ranch. Suitable reading for ages 3 – 7 years and beyond, a Mom’s Choice Gold Award winner, and Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Short List winner. 

Website & Social Media:

Website https://www.marlenembell.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/ewephoric 

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/marlenembell 

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17642396.Marlene_M_Bell  

I am so excited about your new book, A Hush at Midnight. Why did you choose this particular true story to write about? 

Characters in the Annalisse novel series reside between New York City and upstate NY. As for real life, I’m a warm weather, West Coast girl and have lived in California and Texas, far from the Northeast. The only true story portion in A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT is the geographical area where the story takes place. 

In 2012, my husband and I settled on a sheep ranch in East Texas with plenty of nature and wildlife right outside our windows. The fictional towns of Coldspell and Stenburg, TX are sprinkled with descriptions based on our backyard—a beautiful wooded area on 50 acres with a 3-acre pond and six pastures. HUSH gave me a chance to hone my characterization skills on a new cast of characters versus the previous books with players I knew well.

Don’t worry! Book #5 in the Annalisse series is outlined if you are awaiting the next installment. You could say writing HUSH was more or less a working exercise that I needed. One where I rely less on backstory and more on the now.

Can you tell us a little about the main characters in your book?

Laura Harris is a petite Californian in her 40’s having pulled herself from a solid position as a celebrity chef for an entertainer in Southern California. Her mother’s battle with cancer brings Laura to East Texas where her parents are both retired.

HUSH has a little for everyone. Categorized in the cozy mystery genre, main character Laura finds a dead body, seriously erupts at her boyfriend of six months, and has the hots for a new guy. All in the first few chapters. Her major fault; she has a tendency to jump to conclusions and make snap judgments because she often allows herself to run on gut instinct. If she feels uneasy about a situation, she removes herself from it and doesn’t look back.

93-year-old Hattie Stenburg is the victim. She’s Laura’s longtime mentor and as close to her as her own mother was to Laura. HUSH has older themes in the story. The relationship stayed strong through the mail with letter-writing back and forth spanning three decades. WWII ferry pilot Hattie is a beloved character right away in the story, and the reason why Laura struggles to gain a grip on Hattie’s senseless death.  

They say all books of fiction have at least one pivotal point where the reader just can’t put the book down. What is one of the pivotal points in your book?

The first pivotal point arrives at the end of chapter one when Laura finds Hattie’s body in the guesthouse behind the main home. The local sheriff is nonchalant about an aging woman with recent health issues dying in bed. He’s seen it all before. Laura knows the scene is all wrong because Hattie was not where she normally slept. Laura’s frantic—turning over clues to get detectives invested in the crime. The death was a murder, not natural causes, as the coroner said. Small town sheriffs seemed inept or didn’t want trouble with Stenburg’s most wealthy widow winding up dead…until Laura becomes the logical prime suspect and inherits a large sum. Tables turn. 

Does this novel carry a message?

A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT carries several messages and underlying themes:

1. Your gut instinct is usually correct.

2. Never give up on something you believe in.

3. Honor those who are special to you.

4. Life’s greatest reward is extending love and kindness whenever possible.

What’s your next project?

I’m working on two projects currently. A standalone thriller in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, and the fifth installment to the Annalisse series. That book will take place in upstate NY. Someone close to Alec and Annalisse will be the victim of a horrible crime near the racehorse paddock. Both novels are being outlined on index cards. It’s how I work out the plot and subplots prior to the manuscript. We’ll see which book finishes first!

Is there anything you’d like to tell your readers and fans?

Yes. Let me know if you’d like to read more, or less romance in my mysteries and romantic suspense. I’d like to hear from you! dorsetgalwrites@gmail.com

A Hush at Midnight is available at Amazon.


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