Thanks for joining us for our concluding interview with top selling LDS author, Michele Ashman Bell. If you missed parts one, two, or three, click on these links to get caught up.
Michele, in addition to the women’s fiction and Christmas booklets you’ve written, you’ve also come out with some children’s books. Can you tell us about those?
“Latter-day Spies: Spyhunt” – This book is about a pair of twins whose father is the American Ambassador to Germany. Because of his high profile status the kids are kept under close watch. The children are joined by their friend, Fami, a young boy from India whose father died after being struck by lightening, which also left Fami blind. Fami comes to live with the twins, Seth and Sadie, because his mother doesn’t feel he is safe. Ironically enough, all three kids are kidnapped by men who are seeking revenge against the children’s fathers because they helped put the men behind bars for smuggling drugs and for terrorist activities. The kids are on their own because no one can find them. But these kids are smart and they work together and they rely on prayer to help guide them and figure out how to get away. Seth uses a lot of special tricks he learned in science and in magic books. This is a very exciting and fun story.
“Latter-day Spies: Dragon’s Jaw” – This is book two in the Latter-day Spies series. Dragon’s Jaw takes the three children to Southern Utah where they go to live with Fami’s grandfather who is Native American. They are still in danger and they are sent here to keep them out of harm’s way. Of course, it doesn’t work and they are pursued in the desert, but Fami’s grandfather has taught them ways to survive in the desert and they are able to outsmart the bad guys once again.
“Latter-day Spies: Rescue – A Jungle Adventure” – this time the children go to a secret spy school to receive training and learn skills to help them if they are ever pursued again by bad guys. They travel to Brazil where they end up in the rain forest. Once again they are being pursued by the bad guys but with their skills and training they outwit the men who are after them and end up helping to save the rainforest.
Is it hard to write for adults and then for children? How much did you have to shift your focus?
I didn’t feel like I needed to adjust my writing skills when I wrote these books for children. Children are very sophisticated and can follow plot lines without any trouble, thanks to J.K. Rowling. Instead of writing a kids book I wrote a book about kids. In some ways it was easier than writing for adults because I was able to have more fun with my imagination and push the envelope a little as far as that goes.
In addition to your successful career as an author, you work as a reviewer for Meridian Magazine. What types of books do you review?
I am the LDS children’s and YA book reviewer at Meridian Magazine. I think I do a good job of reviewing a story, but I struggle with saying negative things about books. That’s the part of the job I don’t enjoy. But I have to be fair, for the sake of the audience, but I also want to look for the positive and not dwell on the negative. If I don’t like a story, then I just don’t review it, rather than give it a bad review.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I am working on a new series about women who grew up together and help each other through the challenges of life now that they are adults. I am also working on a treasure hunt story that is very exciting. I have several sequels I want to write; one for “Without A Flaw” and “Finding Paradise.” There just isn’t enough time in the day for all I want to do.
Thank you for finding the time to talk with us. It’s been a delight, as always. Best of luck in all you do.
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