Author Spotlight: Dorothy Bell

Dorothy Bell is an Author of Oregon Historical Romance fiction. She has had 10 Oregon Historical Romances published since 2013. “The Reprobate”, published by Freya’s Bower, was nominated for a Rone Award in 2013. “The Reprobate” was the second book in Bell’s Laura Creek series of 3 books in total. Next was her “Dance Hall Road” series and a stand alone novel titled, “The Widow’s Ferry” published by Hartwood Publishers. Her last two books published by Wild Rose Press are “Pretty Pride” released in 2023 and “Waltz On The Big Meadow” released in February of 2024.

This is Author Dorothy Bell’s writing and publication journey in her own words…

 

 

I’ve worn many hats over the years. I have been a store clerk. I’ve pumped gas. I’ve made sausage and hamburger, and wrapped meat in more than one custom meat packing plant. I’ve, of course, worked as a receptionist and file clerk. I spent eighteen years as an aquatic exercise instructor, and I loved my job. Loved it. I digress, years ago–I won’t admit to how many–my spouse worked the graveyard shift. I think that’s how it started. At the time I was reading a lot of regency romance novels. And he said, “You’ve read so many of those I bet you could write them.” So that’s what I did.

 

I conjured up story after story, all of them very good I might add. But I was, and still am, a terrible speller and horrible at punctuation. I knew nothing about novel writing, such as: show don’t tell, points of view, the difference between plot driven and character driven. In other words, I had a lot to learn. What I had–have, is a very active imagination and a drive to seek historical information: locations, descriptions, terminology, modes of dress and transportation. I took writing classes. Joined a writer’s group. I persevered. I sent off manuscripts and got rejections with comments like: your plots and characters are very good but you lack the technical qualities we ascribe to, or something along those lines.

 

Why Bell writes Oregon Historical Romance specifically…

Over the years we have moved around the state of Oregon, and the western part of the US, a lot. Every time we’ve moved we studied the geography and the history of our locations. As we explored the names of the back roads, the names of the creeks and mountains and the old Oregon trail, the old railroad stations and abandoned tracks, the stories would unravel in my head like a movie. I sent off my first Oregon Historical Fiction Romance to a small independent publisher. The story involved the railroad that had to pass through the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. In the Victorian era there was a lot of growth and the railroad was moving from the Pacific up the Columbia River moving toward the east while the railroad was stretching out from the east headed for Boise, Idaho. The tracks being laid had to meet up somewhere. A little mountain town wanted that railroad to come through their town. They wanted that commerce.

I was very fortunate in that my work landed on the desk of a very tolerant editor who mentored me with a stern, but kind, hand and the Reprobate was accepted for publication in 2013. The Reprobate also was nominated for a Rone award in 2013. Sadly, since then that publisher has closed their doors and “The Reprobate”, which is the second book in the Laura Creek series, is no longer available. I do share upon request because I have the rights to all of my previous works.

 

Challenges as an Author…

Computer technology continues to challenge. Publishers now require authors to do most, if not all, of their own promotion, and I simply cannot afford it on a limited income. I am not, and never will be, a very good salesperson. Writing the stories is no problem. I have lots of stories and plots running around in my head. I continue to struggle with the editing, which I have found is subjective to each and every individual editor. If you are a writer you must submit your work to an editor. Must. I really love editors. I do not envy them their task. They are intrepid. I respect what they do and how they do it.

 

Bell’s favourite quotes from her two Oregon Historical Romance publications…

From: Waltz On The Big Meadow. Irene Obenchain, an abandoned wife and mother of a teenage daughter, takes in laundry from the local bordello and logging camp to eke out a way to survive.

“I guess I don’t know how to be affectionate, at least how you and Odessa want. No one ever consoled me. Held me, comforted me. I did what I had to do with no sass, and no whining or I wouldn’t eat.”

From Pretty Pride. Zola Pretty, a young woman and her brother find themselves in the untenable position of being made tenants on their own land under devious and subversive circumstances.

“You’re absolutely right, I have no choice in the matter. But know this. I resent it. I resent having to hand over my future, my life to you–my home to the bank. I know I should be grateful and thank God and my lucky stars I don’t have to put up with Mr. Emroy. At least you bathe.”

 

Bell’s works…

Currently I have two Oregon Historical Romances available in trade paperback and e-book format with the publisher The Wild Rose Press: Pretty Pride and Waltz On The Big Meadow.

 

Future works…

I am currently in the editing phase of a Historical Georgian/Regency Romance novel titled “The Incorrigible Miss Pomery.” The story is about a young man and his sister who return from the colonies to England after the brutal demise of their parents and the total destruction of their home. They take refuge seeking reclusivity at an inherited estate but the neighbors have other plans. And soon they are, reluctantly, albeit charmingly, immersed in the local society. I don’t have a release date as yet. I assume sometime after the first of the year.

 

Words of advice and encouragement from Author Dorothy A. Bell for aspiring authors…

Write what you want to read. Don’t go by current trends. Being an author is not a money making occupation. Be a writer. There is a difference. Be a writer because you cannot be anything else. You can’t give it up. You have to tell stories. And along the way educate yourself, grow and expand your knowledge of the technical side. But most of all, tell your stories even if no one listens. Tell them, let them be known that they exist and that they give you immense pride and pleasure in the making.