Jessica Bell

Imagine being put to death for the crime of your child's unhappiness. This is the tale of Icasia Bloom: how she is caught up in a story not initially her own, and how it changes her world. In a Globe controlled by a trusted yet elusive leader who has granted immortality to those who live by The Book, misfit Icasia Bloom is doomed to die young for the crime of her child's unhappiness. Like all 'tatters' she gets food by bartering, and...

Inspired by the special bond between mother and child, Bell's poems search for meaning in a world of misconception. They begin with small everyday moments and end with a shift in understanding that not only enlightens but leaves you wondering. From quiet nights reflecting on the sound of her child's smile, to viewing the world from the perspective of a potted tree dreaming of being rooted into true mother earth, “A Tide Should Be Able to Rise Despite...

Dysfunctional families, introspective protagonists, secrets, lies, tragedy and historical baggage crop up in several, but the key issue here is the voice. The settings of Greece and Australia, the varied perspectives of all ages, the rich layers of story, world, and characters you care about so much you want to reach in there and hold/shake/strangle them. Jessica Bell is an exceptional writer who adds more than literary skill to her work. There's...

Muted: It's illegal to wear clothes. In some streets, it's also illegal to sing. Concetta, a famous Italian a Capella singer, from before "the change," breaks these totalitarian 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...

This book is not The Book. The Book is in this book. And The Book in this book is both the goodie and the baddie. Bonnie is five. She wants to bury The Book because it is a demon that should go to hell. Penny, Bonnie's mother, does bury The Book, but every day she digs it up and writes in it. John, Bonnie's father, doesn't live with them anymore. But he still likes to write in it from time to time. Ted, Bonnie's stepfather, would like to write in...

Six women. One man. Seven secrets. One could ruin them all. Kit is a twenty-five-year-old archaeology undergrad, who doesn't like to get her hands dirty. Life seems purposeless. But if she could track down her father, Roger, maybe her perspective would change. The only problem-Roger is as rotten as the decomposing oranges in her back yard according to the women in her life: Ailish, her mother-an English literature professor who communicates...

A rich collection of poems that take the reader on a deep tour of the psyche. Charting and moving across politics of language, Bell explores love, pain, failure and redemption from a variety of angles. Most of the poems sit at the fragile threshold of instinct and meaning, using symbol and sensation to get to the shock of denouement. From 'Spandex' to the Greek Kafeneion, there are unexpected juxtapositions and discoveries to be, found in Jessica...

Have readers told you that they can't seem "get into" your novel? That could be because it lacks the sensory information required to effectively hook your readers' attention. Would you like to remedy this? Then this is the book for you. In The Six Senses in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Bleak to Bold Narrative you will find eleven real scenes which illustrate how utilizing the six senses can bring your writing to life. In each demonstrated...

Have you been told there's a little too much telling in your novel? Want to remedy it? Then this is the book for you. In Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing you will find sixteen real scenes depicting a variety of situations, emotions, and characteristics which clearly demonstrate how to turn telling into showing. A few short writing prompts are also provided. Not only is this pocket guide an excellent learning...

After suddenly being, diagnosed with a rare form of aggressive cancer, I immediately started spiraling downward. Denial Loneliness Fear Depression Anger Self-destructive behaviors My life was a disaster. I was a mess. I was doing just about everything I was instructed not to. All sense of responsibility flew out the window right along with my sense of morals. Further and further I slid into the deepest, darkest part of my life. I had come to terms...