Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
Exclusive Interview with
Alison Bellringer
When did you start writing?
My earliest memory of writing is from when I was primary-school age, probably around 7 or 8 years old.
What makes writing your passion?
Writing has always come very naturally to me and I really enjoy the process of exploring my vivid creativity as a children's author. I started out by simply sharing these stories with close friends and family before finally pursuing my long-term aspirations of getting them published.
How long have you been writing?
Pretty much for as long as I can remember, which is 20+ years now apparently.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
This happened back in 2022, but I still feel the same range of emotions whenever I get the physical copies of my next book arriving in the mail - things like overwhelming wonder, a deep-rooted sense of awe, and a small amount of disbelief that it's actually real, all continue to jump out at me each time. One of the best parts is being able to see the finished project after dedicating so much time and effort into the work, especially seeing how everything came together since its inception - from my initial idea or original concept, right to the polished manuscript and printed book at the end.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
I like writing emotional or character-driven narratives that are more reflective in tone, rather than relying on a lot of high-paced action or a fast-moving plot. For me, this helps the cast of characters, settings, and dialogue to build more authentically over time, depicted with genuine simplicity, warmth, and restraint, without losing any of its overall charm and natural relevance to readers. In this way, readers are invited to linger for longer, to consider the book's content more thoughtfully, and to get to know as much about the characters' lives as they can, finishing up their read with a more memorable experience afterward.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
Thankfully, this is not an area I tend to struggle with at all, so I have never needed to give it much thought.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
Absolutely! While the 'bad' ones can obviously be highly discouraging, I find it best to take these comments either as constructively as possible or deliberately choose to ignore it. I believe no book was written with the intention of pleasing every possible reader, and therefore it is quite okay if it's not to all reviewers' cup of tea.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
A truly good review is not only encouraging to the author, but also pinpoints the book's major strengths and recommends it to the most relevant audience in the process. I find it deeply satisfying and am filled with such gratitude when I get this tangible feedback, indicating that the reader has resonated with my writing on a more impactful level as they share various insights or highlight areas that stood out from their own personal reading experience.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
While my slice-of-life storytelling and underlying preference for narratives based on realism rather than fantasy are both crucial factors in my overall writing style, I have never included any major personal experiences in them. Although, it is only natural that my general observations and knowledge or understanding of the world would play a huge part in how I would usually choose to portray certain characters or situations within my stories. A driving component in my writing is often centered around crafting the everyday moments into something innately more meaningful, making them immediately relatable to readers and adding even greater depth.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
The cover is immensely important, as it immediately sets the tone to readers. However, the story itself is vastly more valuable - the cover should add that final brilliant touch without detracting anything from what's inside.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I really do enjoy connecting directly with readers. While it is always interesting to hear what they loved most about my book(s), this more conversational aspect aligns perfectly with my strong focus on organic outreach and providing readers with more in-depth author involvement, rather than remaining as an impassive figure in the background who doesn't seem to care about their experience. I have often found that most readers appreciate this additional touch and respond well to this approach, including wanting to engage with said book or author profile even more as a result.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
Who is your favorite author? Why?
There are probably too many to name, but here are my current top three: Jen Turano, Janette Oke, and Beverly Lewis. My bookshelves are full of their novels!!
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
Nope! I love all of them just as they are.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
What would you say to your readers?
Hello, Reader! Thank you for choosing one of my books. For every story, it is my hope that readers will leave feeling inspired, learn invaluable life lessons, and have a renewed hope for the future. Can you tell me what first drew you into my writing? Your feedback helps me continue my journey as an author.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I live in New Zealand and grew up around dogs, so I always like including my favorite animals in as many stories as possible. I was also homeschooled and developed an avid love of reading from a very young age, fueling my desire to put pen to paper later on.
What is your day job if you have one?
I also enjoy a bit of freelance photography, and my time is split between doing various photo shoots and keeping up with all my writing endeavors. My portfolio is made up of a wide range of nature shots, including scenic landscapes, flowers, birds and other wildlife, with my favorite subject being sunsets - especially those taken at one of the local beaches. I have previously worked in many other temporary roles, the most significant being in administration for around 18 months (although I prefer managing my own time with my two main hobbies of writing and photography).
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Lots of reading, playing with my adorable four-legged canine companion, and binge-watching Disney Originals.
Did you have a happy childhood?
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
Oh, yes! Loads! Since I have been writing short stories for much longer than being published, I already have many drafts just waiting for their own chance to shine. They are about the different bonds between humans and their pets (or other wildlife), as well as themes such as found family, responsibility, coming-of-age adventures, and other well-known topics relating to the ins and outs of childhood/teenage years.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
We need more wholesome, clean adventure stories for younger generations, instilling a love for literature and encouraging a higher standard of moral values and all-round depth of character.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
What is your favorite music?
Celtic Folk Music, especially if it's Scottish! I also enjoy Classical/Orchestral, and currently play trombone with a local brass band. I started learning trombone a long while ago and have now been playing with various groups for over fifteen or sixteen years - I have a growing collection of other musical instruments too, but the trombone and euphonium are certainly the best and most enjoyable!
Share a secret with us 🙂
I have often been known to stay up far too late when reading a good book - ''don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today...'' !! Seems like good advice to me...