author bios - amanda cadabraauthor bios 1. cozy paranormal mystery author of the humorous and...

AuthorBios

1.

CozyparanormalmysteryauthorofthehumorousandquintessentiallyEnglishAmandaCadabraserieswithsuspenseandmagic.

2.

BritishauthorHolly’sloveofstoriesfloweredfromlongexperienceofnon-fictionwriting,photographyandvideography,intotheAmandaCadabraseries.

Havingreadandre-readAgathaChristieandJRRTolkien’sLordoftheRingsfromchildhood,thecreationofcosyparanormalmysterieswasthenaturalchoice.

3.

Catadorerandchocolatelover,BritishauthorHollyBellisaphotographerandvideomakerwhennotcreatingnovels.Shehadlongexperienceofnon-fictionwritingbeforebeingtoldshecouldwritecosymysteries.

HollydevouredalloftheAgathaChristiebookslongbeforesheknewthatMissMarplewasthegodmotheroftheCosyMystery.HerdevotiontoJRRTolkien’sLordoftheRingsmeantthatherfirstliterarycreationinthisareawouldhavetobeacosyparanormal.

HavingderivedimmensedelightfromtheadventureofwritingAmandaCadabraandTheHidey-Holeanditssequels,Hollyhasmoreinthepipeline.

InterviewQuestions

Howdidyougetfromwritingnon-fictiontofiction?That’squitealeap.

I’vewrittenalotofreviewsoffilmsandsongs,eachofthoseisbasicallyastory.Mydegreeisinhistory,whichisagain,alotofstoriesbothfactandfiction,ifyouincludeliterature.Ihavealsobeenaphotographerandvideographerformanyyearsandifapicturepaintsathousandwordsthenavideohasanevenbroadercanvas,butagaineachtellsatale.Inhindsight,itwasonlyamatteroftimebeforemyfirstloves,allworksoffictionwouldfindaliteraryoutlet.

YourbooksarequintessentiallyEnglishandyetyourstoriesarefullofcharactersfromdiverseculturalbackgrounds.Howdothosetwothingsgotogether?

Iknewfromthestartthatmystorieswouldbesetinavillage,andasacitygirlitwouldhavetobeoneontheedgeofametropolissothatIcouldunderstandit.AsaBrit,itwouldbeanEnglishvillageandoneontheedgeofLondonwouldinevitablyreflectthediversityofthatcapital.

AfeatureofvillagescanbeatendencytoexclusivityandSunkenMadleyhasthatinthatitdistinguishes,inahumorousfashion,betweenthosewhoarelong-standingresidents,regardlessoftheirculturalheritage,andthosewhohavejustmovedinoronlyvisiting.Hencewehavethebestofbothworlds,andEnglish,orratheraBritish,villagewithessentiallythecharacteristicsofthoseinPGWodehousebooksorColdComfortFarmortheEalingComedies.

Cozyparanormalmysterieshaveacertainformula.HowistheAmandaCadabraseriesdistinctive?Amandaisadifferentsortofwitch.She’sacraftspersonlikesomeothercozyheroines,afurniturerestorerbutshe’sasthmatic.Sheis,infact,disabled.Shecan’trun,jump,chasevillainsorsurviveforlongindustyatticsandcellars.Ontheotherhandshehasamagicalfamiliarwhoisinasenseaservicecat.

Sleuthsarenormallysuper-observant.HoweverAmandaisalsoonthespectrumandthatgivesherbothintellectualadvantagesandblindspots.UnlikeMissMarpletherearealotofthings,especiallyaboutpeoplethatshejustdoesn’tsee,andanyoneoftheautistim/Aspergersspectrumwilllrecogniseandrelatetothat.

Herlifedependsonhersecrecyregardinghermagicalpowers,soshehastobeunobtrusive.Shecan’taffordtobeoutthere,tobesexy,sassyorsnarky.Althoughactuallyit’sinhernaturetoberetiringandcircumspect.

Thegenreyouwritewithinislightentertainment.Isthatallthatyouaretryingtoprovideorarethereanydeepermessagesinyourbooks?

ThediversecommunityinwhichpeopleareacceptingofoneofanotherissomethingthatIhopewillinspireacceptance.LessonsI’velearnedinlifeIdopassonthroughthevoiceofGrannyandGrandpaandChiefInspectorHogarth.Also,thebookscarryamessageofrespectfortheuseofpowerandthatresponsibilitiescomewithextraordinaryabilities.Aboveallthough,Iwanttoshowthebestofpeople,oftheworld,toencourageoptimismandthebeliefthatgoodwilltriumph.Iwantpeopletoputdownthebookattheendandfeelhappier,lighter,morehopeful,empoweredandcompletethantheydidbefore.Iftheydo,thenmyworkisdone…untilthenextbook!

Cozywitchesareusuallyattheheartofafamilyorcommunity.Whyhaveyouchosennottofollowthattrend?

It’strue,she’snotatthehubofthecommunitybutshe’sloved.Shehasaverysmallfamily,justhergrandparents,andhersurrogateaunt.IntheUKandtheUSagrowingnumberofpeoplelivesoloandalotthemlikeit.Amandarepresentsthose.Sheiscontentandatthesametimehasthedesiretoshareherlifewiththerightpersonattherighttime.Ithinkthat’sahealthyexample,andonethatmaycomfortandencouragereaderswhoarebythemselvesinonewayoranother.Alsoalthoughthevillagerssometimesirritatehershe’sunfailinglykindandthoughtfultowardsthem.Ihopethatshowsthatyoudon’thavetobesociabletobeagoodperson.

Areyourbookschicklit?ThemaincharacterisfemalebutIthinkshe’dbeinthesameboatifsheweremale.Romancehasabackseatinthebooks.Amandadoesmeetmenwhoareattractiveorfindherattractiveinsomewaybutit’sexpressedincommunicationorherthoughtsaboutthem.Thereisagrowingconnectionwithanothercharacterbuttheirprofessionalrelationshipkeepstheminaformalholdingpattern.

Soyes,there’saromanticthreadbutit’ssubtleandasub-plot.IfchicklitisaimedatyoungsinglewomenI’dsaymostofmyreadersarenotinthatdemographicandforthatreasonalonetheserieswouldn’tfitintothechicklitcategory.

Iseetheattractionofstorywritingbutwhycozyparanormalmystery?Whyisitimportanttoyoupersonally?

I’magreatbelieverinfeel-betterentertainmentwhetherit’sabook,film,performanceorvisualart.Cozyparanormalmysteryisescapistinapositiveway,itcombinesmagic,humourandapuzzle.TheauthorsthathavejourneyedwithmethroughlifeandgivemethosethingsareinparticularCSLewis,Tolkein,AgathaChristieandGeorgetteHeyer.I’vecomebacktothemagainandagain.Theyhavebeenthesupportingtreesinmethathavebournefruitandthatfruitis,naturally,cozyparanormalmysteries.Inthisway,Icangivemyreaderswhatthoseauthorshavegivenme.

Arethereanyuniversalthemesinyourbooks?

Thetriumphofgoodoverevil,isthemostobvious.

ButIthinkmanypeopledolivecovertlivesofonekindoranotherbecauseofbeingorfeelingdifferentandthatthosedifferenceswillbeunacceptabletothosearoundthem.Evensomejobsrequiregreatdiscretion.Themaincharacter’s

needtokeepherwitchcraftsecretissomethingthatmanyreaderswillrelatetoeitherforthemselvesorsomeonetheyknow.

Whatarethechallengesoftouchingonseriousthemesinwritingcozymysteries?

It’simportanttokeepthingslight.Thisisentertainmentafterall.Evenmomentsoftensionneedtobequicklyfollowedwithrelieforhumour.Thesignpoststodeeperlevelsneedtobeapparentforthoselookingforthemandeasilyignoredbyreaderswhojustwanttoenjoytheplot.Aboveall,ifyouhadtosomeupinonewordwhatyouwantyourbookstoinspire,whatwoulditbe?

Laughter.

SampleFeatureArticle

ThepaperbackversionoftheAmandaCadabraandtheRiseofSunkenMadleyisabouttobereleased.ThisisthefourthintheBritishhumorouscozyparanormalmysteryseriesbyUKauthorHollyBell.

Whileeachbookhasaself-containedmystery,thereisaconnectingstoryarcthatreaderswillwanttofollowthroughBook4.Readerswhopreferthetouchy-feelyexperienceofarealpaperbookwillbeeagerlyawaitingthelaunch.TheKindleversionisalreadyonAmazon,andthepaperbackwillbeavailablefrom29thOctoberintimeforHallowe’en.

AfterthesuccessofthetwofreedaysontheKindlestoreofBook1withtheebookreleaseofBook4,from29th–31stOctober,Book2,AmandaCadabraandtheCellarofSecretswillalsobefreetodownloadfromAmazon.

InBook4WefinallycomefacetofacewiththenotoriousFlamgoynes,arch-rivalsofAmanda’sgrandmother’sfamily.InspectorTrelawney,emotionallychallengedbytheemergingtruthofhismagicalpast,onceagainhashisunderstandingofhimselfandhishistorychangedbyrecoveredmemories.Thereareunexpectedencounters,connections,courage,abody,naturally,thesignificanceofSunkenMadley’slegacy,touchingmomentsandaboveall,revelations.

AmandaCadabraandTheRiseofSunkenMadleyhasnewdetailsonthevillagemap.Wegettoknowstatelyhome,TheGrangebetterandaplanoftheprincipalroomsisincluded.FoodiesespeciallywillenjoyanupdatedglossaryofBritishEnglish.

Thefirstbookintheseries,AmandaCadabraandTheHidey-HoleTruthwaspublishedattheendofAugustlastyearwithasequelreleaseeverythreetofourmonths.

Hollyhaswrittenmanyreviews,eachofwhichfollowsastory.Herdegreeisinhistory,whichisagain,storiesbothfactandfiction,ifyouincludeliterature.Shehasalsobeenaphotographerandvideographerformanyyears,andifapicturepaintsathousandwords,thenavideohasanevenbroadercanvas.Itwasonlyamatteroftimebeforeherfirstloves,allworksoffiction,wouldfindaliteraryoutlet.

‘I’magreatbelieverinfeel-betterentertainment,’saysHolly,‘whetherit’sabook,film,performanceorvisualart.Thecozyparanormalmysteryisescapistinapositiveway;itcombinesmagic,humourandapuzzle.‘

HollyBelllivesintheUKanddrawsonarichframeofreference.LifelongfavouriteauthorsareCSLewis,JRRTolkien,AgathaChristieandGeorgetteHeyer.Asshesays:

‘I’vecomebacktothemagainandagain.Theyhavebeenthesupportingtreesinmethathavebornefruit,andthatfruitis,naturally,cozyparanormalmysteries.Inthisway,Icangivemyreaderswhatthoseauthorshavegivenme.’

HollyisaregularcontributortotheBooksGoSocialMagazine,andherlatestarticlehasjustappearedintheireditionforHallow’een.

Reviews

‘ACozyMysteryThatHadMeHooked.Ilovedthisbookandcouldn'tputitdown.It'sgoteverythingthatIlookforina5-starread;greatscenesthatgettheadrenalinepumping,anintelligentmysteryortwotogetthelittlegreycellswhirling,nailbitingtensionandwellwrittenhumour(theremayevenbeabitofromanceonthehorizonforourheroine).’Goodreads,FloraGatehousereviewer–AmandaCadabraandTheHidey-HoleTruth

Dec16,2018Krystynaratedititwasamazing

‘ThepasthasbearingsonthepresentAwesome.Quitedifferenttothefirstbookbutawonderfulread.Spies,ghostsandmagicinanenthrallingtalethatspanstheyears.’

AmandaCadabraandTheCellarofSecrets

May23,2019PaulaPtomeyratedititwasamazing

‘IreceivedafreecopyofAmandaCadabraandtheFlawlessPlanforanhonestreview.ILOVEDTHISSTORY!!HollyBellhasdoneitagain!’

AmandaCadabraandTheFlawlessPlan

Oct07,2019Lornaratedit:itwasamazing

‘Fabulousseries!Thereissomethingveryaddictiveaboutthisseries.IsowanttoknowwhoisaFlamgoyneandistheregoingtoberomancebetweenAmandaandtheInspector?ThesemysteriesarewellwrittenandIamdrawnintoSunkenMadlystraightaway.IcanpictureeverythingclearlyandamlivinglifealongsideAmandaasshetriestoworkoutwhokilledherfamilyandwhy.Definitelyrecommendthesebookstheyareendearingandmakeyousmile.’

AmandaCadabraandTheRiseofSunkenMadley

‘Anenchantingpage-turner.’TimBrown,Author-AmandaCadabraandTheHidey-HoleTruth

‘Thiswasafun,lightread…Buyit,readit,andenjoyit,justforthefunofit.I'mnowanxiouslyawaitingthenextbookintheseries.’

Jude,Reader-AmandaCadabraandTheHidey-HoleTruth

Netgalley

AmandaS,Reviewer

‘Humor.Witches.Mystery.Youhavemehooked.AmandaishilariousandfunandIlovethisstory.Iswear,thiskindofgenreismykryptonite.’

AnnaMariaG,Reviewer‘It'sthesecondbookIreadinthisseriesandIenjoyedboth.It'sentertaining,enjoyableandwellwritten.Itwasgreattomeetagainthelovelycastofcharacters.Themysterywasgoodandentertaining.Ilookforwardtoreadinganotherinstallmentinthisseries.Highlyrecommended!ManythankstothepublisherandNetgalleyforthisARC,allopinionsaremine.’

AmandaCadabraandTheCellarofSecrets

AileenG,Reviewer

‘Alovelylight-heartedmysteryconcerningayoungwitch,herfamiliar,ghostlyhelpersandfurniturerestoration.Mademechuckle.I'mreallylookingforwardtothenextoneintheseriestoseewherethecliffhangersfromthisonego.Amostunusualsortofmystery.Ienjoyedit.Thebritishnessofthewritingdidn'tputmeoffatall.It'sagentlesortofmysteryandI'mlookingforwardtoseeingwhathappensnextinAmanda'slife.’#AmandaCadabraAndTheHideyHoleTruth#NetGalley‘Anenjoyableandhumoroustalewithengagingleadcharacters.’BouncingTiggerReviews‘Thoroughlyenjoyablewithcharmandsuspense.’

PrincessFuzzypants-Reviewer

Siddhesh

5.0outof5starsCompelling.

21September2018

Format:KindleEdition

Iwasmesmerized.IneverhadalikingtowardsthisgenrebutIcouldn'tsimplystopreading.Keepsyouengagedandforcedtokeepreading.AmazonIndia

AmazonUS4.1/5with27ReviewsAmazonUK5/510Ratings

Goodreads

4.2/5125ratings,23Reviews

Facebook

KatherineWilliamsDeMoure-AldrichrecommendsHollyBellAuthor.

11May

Delightful,enjoyable,well-written,veryBritishcozymysterieswithlocationssowelldescribedthatyoufeelthatyou'rethere.Eachcharacteriswell-roundedandstaystruetotheircharacterinthebook.It'sanopenwindowintovillagelife.’

PhilippaShallcrassrecommendsHollyBellAuthor.

14August2018·

‘Thestoryisarealpageturner.Beautifullywritten,greatstory.Igottoknowthevillageanditspeople.Ihopetherearemoretocome.’

StephenLambertreviewedHollyBellAuthor–5star

2November2018

‘IreallyenjoyedAmandaCadabraandtheHideyHoleTruth.OnceIgotstartedIprettymuchkeptgoinguntilIfinished.Iwaskindasorryitended.Reallylookingforwardtothenextone.’

AlexMorrisonrecommendsHollyBellAuthor.

18November2018·

‘Alovelyread,thankyouHollyBellx’

AuthorImage

LatestBookCover

One-Sheet:

Amanda Cadabra and The Rise of Sunken Madley

The British humorous cozy paranormal mysteries

by Holly Bell Canyouweatherthestorm?Amanda,covertwitchandasthmaticfurniturerestorer,findsabodyatTheGrange.Accidentormurder?Itmatters;shehadnoalibi.Butafarmorepressingproblemisafoot.TheFlamogynesareabouttoattackhervillage.WasittheywhosentherunpleasantfamilyovertheCornishcliffallofthoseyearsago?CanAmandabuytheintrepidInspectorTrelawneythehourheneedstocompletehisowndangerousmission?Willherfamiliar,grumpycatTempest,stayawakelongenoughtohelp?Inthemomentoftruth,willshestandaloneasherrecurringdreamshowsher?OrwillsheseeTheRiseofSunkenMadley?Action,adventure,humour,spies,ghosts,murderandrevelationsaboundinthisclimactictale.Book4intheAmandaCadabraSeries

Title:AmandaCadabraandTheRiseofSunkenMadleyAuthor:HollyBellCategory:Mystery:CozyParanormalFormat:eBook,paperbackASIN:B07GZQH8P8Pages:289pagesEbookPrice:$5.99internationalpricesvaryPublicationdate:30August2018Paperbacksize:5.25x8inches

Price:$5.99Internationalpricesvary.Availablefrom:Amazon

Reviews‘ThetensioninthisquintessentiallyEnglishcozyparanormalmysteryfranchisejuststeppedupanotch;Icouldn'tstopreading.’Flora,BookReviewer5starsonAmazon.comPublicityPaperbacklaunch:29Oct.SeriesBook2onfreeKDPpromotion29-31Oct.BooksGoSocialtwittercampaign.BookTrailerLaunchvideopostsonFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,PinterestandYouTubechannel.

AboutHollyBritishnon-fictionwriter,photographerandvideographerturnednovelist,inspiredbyalifetimeofreadingofAgathaChristie,Tolkien,CSLewis,GeorgetteHeyerandPGWodehousetowritetheAmandaCadabraseriesofhumorouscozyparanormalmysteries.