Interviewing Jessica Bell: Australian author living in Greece

Hi Jessica and welcome to my blog.

Hi Glynis! Thank you so much for having me today.

Q: What was the book you read that made you decide you wanted to write?

Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson which I read in high school. I’ll never forget the teacher I had either. Her name was Connie Watson. I’ve actually tried to contact her to let her know how much she inspired me, but none of the emails I’ve written to various places trying to find her have received any responses L.

Q: What inspired you to write your novel String Bridge?

I’m just going to quote from my website because I say it best there: “My ultimate goal is to break into the women's fiction market and steer it away from the stereotypically glorified woman that is most commonly portrayed today and replace with pure honesty instead. Not every woman in this world lives without regret, knows exactly what they want, and has the courage to put every essence of their being into achieving their dreams. Not every woman is inspirational to others. Not every woman can leave their comfort zone to better their future. But, so what? Does that mean a less strong-minded woman doesn't have an interesting story to tell? Definitely not.” 

Q: When did you write your first song?

I started writing songs when I was about eleven or twelve. My mother had decided to sell her twelve-string acoustic guitar to get a bit of extra cash. I saw it sitting by the front door. I think someone was coming over to take a look at it. I remember opening the case and thinking that it just looked so beautiful, and why would Mum want to get rid of it? I think she was in the music room at the time and I interrupted one of her recording sessions to ask about the guitar. When she told me she was selling it, I asked her whether I could have it. She said that I could if I learnt to play. From that day I had that guitar in my hands every single day until I moved to Greece in 2002. I taught myself how to play. The first song I ever wrote was played on one string and sung in a very high-pitched awful voice. J I hope that cassette never gets dug up!

I have a copy of your songs related to your novel - never give up singing!

Q: Living in Greece is difficult for you as a writer, you have often expressed the need to be in an English speaking country. Aside from Australia where would you head:

Oh what an interesting question!

A)     To promote your book? Canada because one of my favourite authors, Margaret Atwood, is Canadian.

B)      To write songs? London, definitely.

C)      To write novels? Can I just travel the world over and over to do that, please?

D)     To do nothing at all? In a secluded beach house, I don’t care where, as long as I can jump straight off my balcony/verandah and into the ocean.

Interesting. Having lived in London I can see why you would be able to write songs there. Lots of inspiration.Oh and the secluded beach house-I would love that too!

Q: If you had only one thing to choose on a menu what would it be?

Fresh Beetroot. Seriously. I love the stuff. Especially the way the Greeks make it.

Yup, a favourite of mine too!

Q: Who would you invite for dinner, why and what would you ask them?

A)     Female

Amy Winehouse. Because she seemed like such a misunderstood vulnerable woman and I would want to let her know that she was not the only one to feel such a deep empty hole in her heart. I would also want her to know that there IS always a way out of ANY rut no matter how big or small. I wouldn’t ask her anything. I’d just listen. Sometimes that’s all a depressed person needs.

B)      Male

Nick Cave. Because I’ve loved him and his music since the beginning of time. I’d ask, “What was it like to sing with PJ Harvey? Can you get me in touch?” J

Q: What one sentence do you love in your book?

“… I’m not sure I’m ready to wipe my skin dry; to drown myself in a new ocean, where my desire for fleeing this emotional cage hides like a mermaid ambivalent about growing legs.”

Q: What is your favourite poem from your poetry book Twisted Velvet Chains?

“It’s Days Like This … I Wish …” I love this poem because it is here that readers get a strong sense of the unconditional love the mother and daughter share.

Q: Describe your wardrobe. Are you a follower of fashion?

Black, black, black, green, black, black, blue, dress, dress, dress, dress, baggy pants, loose T-shirts, black, black, black, green, black, blue … Er, no. I used to be. But since working from home I don’t seem to care so much.

Please tell The Important Ones about any new projects and where/when they can purchase String Bridge.

1. BITTER LIKE ORANGE PEEL. Here’s my blurb:

“Kit is a twenty-five year old Australian archaeology undergraduate who doesn't like to get her hands dirty. She feels misplaced and comes to the conclusion that meeting her father, Roger, will make some sense of her life, despite him being worth the rotting orange rind in her backyard. Well, at least that's what she's been conditioned to think of him by the three women in her life: Ailish, her mother—an English literature professor who communicates in quotes and clichés, and who still hasn't learnt how to express emotion on her face; Ivy, her half-sister—a depressed professional archaeologist, with a slight case of nymphomania, who fled to America after a divorce to become a waitress; and Eleanor, Ivy's mother—a pediatric surgeon who embellishes her feelings with medical jargon, and who named her daughter after Intravenous. Against all three women's wishes, Kit decides to find Roger, but in doing so, discovers that he is not the only rotten fruit.

With a blend of dry comedy and raw heartbreak, BITTER LIKE ORANGE PEEL is a story about the fear of not being loved; of breaking through a self-built wall of protection and accepting judgment, not only for what others perceive, but for the secrets that maintain one's sanity while living in a skin tainted by regret.”

2. MUTED, a work in progress, which was inspired by a short story I wrote for an anthology called TINY DANCER. Here’s my current blurb:

“It's illegal to wear clothes. In some streets, it's also illegal to sing without accompanying instruments. Concetta, a famous Italian a cappella singer from before “the change,” now living in Arles, France, breaks these laws. As punishment, her vocal chords are brutally slashed and her eardrums surgically perforated. Unable to cope living a life without song, she resolves to drown herself in the river clothed in a dress stained with performance memories. But Concetta's suicide attempt is cut short as someone grabs her by the throat and pulls her to the surface. Is it the busking harpist, who encouraged her to feel music through vibration, acting as savior? Or a street warden on the prowl for another offender to detain?”

Just go to www.stringbridge.com and all the links you need are there! :o)

Thanks for sharing with us Jessica. It has been fun.

Thank you so much for having me! XOXO