Stories Behind the Stories – Anita Belli Books

So Many Sequels, So Little Time!

The themes and ideas for my books come from a number of experiences in my life, be it place, theme or character.

‘Stop Thinking and Just Do It!’

Isn’t it interesting how words echo back at us down the decades? They seem to come from a random source, triggered by some thought process we are unaware of.

A LETTER FROM THE PAST

The letter from my aunt Rose was addressed from Convict 103, Concentration Camp, in which she says, ‘I turn sweet 17 on Friday.’

Seeding a Story on a Blank Page

I am about to start a new book and the blank page is daunting. There is a long way to go from a thought or an idea, maybe a theme or a character, to finished novel. I use a three-step process to build a novel from story seeds

Writing Scenes

How being a filmmaker influences my novel writing. Whether we read or watch or even listen to our stories, they all start with words on a page.

Morning Pages and My Creative Process

Morning Pages is part of a process and not a product: I write without fear because no one will ever read it, except myself, sometime in the future when I might rummage around my hard drive for the nuggets of gold. It is a place where stories emerge, plot twists are resolved and ideas explored.

The Truth in Fiction

Memory, truth and lies has become an important theme again in my work, since I developed my workshop programme – Write Your Life. I write pieces of my life in every novel I create. I write FROM my life – from under the skin of my experiences.

The Magic of a Blue Moon

There will be a full moon at Halloween this year, and every full moon at Halloween has to be a Blue Moon. Why? Because moon cycles are 29.5 days long and Halloween is always on October 31st. So, it has to be the second full moon of the month. Blue Moons happen every 30 monthsContinue reading “The Magic of a Blue Moon”

Writing The Magic

Ruby Sixpence is a very ordinary woman. At least, to look at. But she has power and wisdom which the rest of us can only dream of. I think the underlying message is; don’t judge by appearances – people are surprising; and never underestimate the hidden power of older women! I have great fun writingContinue reading “Writing The Magic”

Words are a powerful form of magic

I have been thinking a lot about Magic recently, probably because I am working with children and they believe in the magic of stories. By accessing their imagination, and what I call their story brains, they come up with stories which are bold, inspiring and joyful. It has refreshed my belief in storytelling; in the magicContinue reading “Words are a powerful form of magic”