This book event is through Author Marketing Experts.
Annalisse book amplifier tour promotes this fascinating book series with a guest post. Meet a new author, leave a comment of welcome, share with a friend, and follow Sarandipity’s for more book-ish stuff. Have you been keeping up with the goings-ons inside my FB group? It’s pretty spooktacular.
Book Details
From cursed jewelry in Manhattan to dangerous secrets in rural New Zealand, the Annalisse
series by Marlene M. Bell unfolds across international landscapes, blending history, romance,
and crime in stories as unpredictable as they are suspenseful.
In Stolen Obsession, Annalisse Drury confronts the murder of her best friend and a Persian
curse tied to priceless jewelry, drawing her into the world of Alec Zavos and his powerful family.
Spent Identity finds her back in Upstate New York, where her aunt’s disappearance and a grisly
discovery in the barn unearth family secrets with deadly consequences. In Scattered Legacy,
Annalisse and Alec journey to Italy, only to be swept into Mafia conspiracies and a scandal that
could destroy Alec’s late father’s legacy. Finally, Copper Waters follows Annalisse to a sheep
farm in New Zealand, where what begins as a retreat soon descends into political corruption,
betrayal, and murder. With each novel, the series grows in scope and intensity, testing love and
loyalty against forces determined to tear them apart.
Author Details
Marlene M. Bell is an award-winning author whose talents span fiction, photography, and art.
Her Annalisse series has received recognition around the globe, including Best Mystery awards,
the IPPY for Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, the Global Award for Best Mystery, and
Chanticleer’s International Mystery and Mayhem shortlist for Copper Waters. She also delights
younger readers with Mia and Nattie: One Great Team!, a picture book inspired by true events
from her East Texas sheep ranch, celebrating the bond between a little girl and her lamb.
Marlene’s creative pursuits in storytelling and art offer readers and audiences multiple avenues
to connect with her vision. Learn more on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/47r6QaK
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/262904-annalisse-series
Guest Post
The Advantages of Writing in Multiple Genres
When I began to publish my work in 2009, I had no idea how intricate and complicated the writing process would be. The publishing world was brutal when I set out with an idea for a new novel. But first, I had to test the water with a silly little non-fiction book for our 4H lamb club…
The club asked me to write a primer on how to raise sheep—which I eventually accomplished over a two-year period. At that time, I wrote for families and people who knew me in the sheep world of raising club lambs. Friends and family were forgiving and supportive, and had given me a false sense of security about my abilities to explain what I’ve learned over twenty years with sheep. Writing is easy and so much fun, I used to say. Now that I’m about to publish my eighth book, reading is easy, but writing original fiction takes patience and loads of editing.
The 4H sheep book was a joy to write, I’ll admit. A great beginning for a new author writing fiction—it was not. My book adviser through Book Surge (Amazon’s publishing company at the time) expressed surprise at my switch from non-fiction to genre fiction. Actually, he was shocked. His reaction seemed strange to me at the time.
It wasn’t until I waded deep into the fiction process, that I understood my advisor’s gasp on the other end of the phone. The literary pool I’d fallen into had water in it way over my head. The research and years of studying various genres was arduous, and the harsh critiques I received from literary agents from online bootcamps stomped on my heart and broke my self-esteem.
Writing is hard. It’s that simple. Writing fiction takes endless imagination and the ability to take everyday situations and twist them into excitement for a reader.
In 2018, Stolen Obsession, book one in the Annalisse series, went live in paperback and eBook.
What a proud moment to finish my first novel after writing it for ten years. It was written as a standalone with the possibility to blossom into a carefully planned series because of so many plot points in the first drafts.
The Annalisse series adventures include an antique-loving amateur sleuth who can’t keep herself out of mischief, and villains who want to destroy Anna and Alec as a couple. Each novel enters various countries and subtly slides into different genres. The cross-genre books happened accidentally—but I’m thankful for the change in direction from my original idea of a straight romance. My comfortable niche is mystery.
Writing the first four books in the Annalisse series has taken me from romantic suspense, to romantic mystery, and finally into a new standalone thriller. Release date, spring of 2026. I’m excited about this one! Shh, more is coming soon.
Having Anna and Alec begin their dating experience while traveling exotic locales in the series sends readers to places most of us won’t visit in a lifetime. Writing in different genres allows me to reach a wider range of readers. Some of you have asked to hear more about Annalisse and Alec’s detective friend, Bill Drake… In upcoming book five, I’m taking a deep breath and sending the series in a new direction. Where? You’ll have to wait and see!
Author Q&A Interview
Annalisse Drury is an antiquities expert. Do you like antiques? Do you have a favorite time period?
Yes! I do like antiques. There were a couple of years we didn’t have sheep to take care of and could travel during the early 1980s. My husband and I took a cross-country driving vacation in search of antiques from the Northwest throughout the Midwestern states. (Specifically looking for curved glass hutches.) We brought back two different versions.
My favorite time period is the Victorian Era, 1837 – 1901 because the furniture had more character back then.
In Copper Waters (book #4), Annalisse travels to New Zealand. Why choose the South Island for this
mystery?
I chose the Temuka area of New Zealand due to the sheep stations. There are a few stations on the North Island, but the majority of the working stations are located on the larger body of land.
The crime takes place on a sheep station, and if I were to travel to New Zealand personally, I’d visit that portion of the country. We considered going to a sheep station for a honeymoon, but the cost was prohibitive as was the three weeks away that we needed for such a long trip.
What first drew you to crime fiction?
“Write what you know.” I love a good mystery, especially those produced for a British audience.
The only problem with UK mystery stories is the slow, lumbering way they move and how long the story can draw out to an ending. My mysteries twist and turn, but do this quickly in a conversational style. I’m an avid reader of all kinds of mysteries.
Do you write in any other genres?
Yes! My series books cover a wide range and might be considered cross-genre to some. Book one, Stolen Obsession, is heaviest in Romantic Suspense between the main players, Annalisse Drury and Alec Zavos. Book two begins the changeover to stronger suspense and mystery with a little romance. Books three and four concentrate more in the realm of international mystery with Annalisse and Alec trying to find their way as a couple. 2025 INTERNATIONAL IMPACT AWARD WINNER – ADVENTURE/SPY CRIME
In fall of 2024, I released my first standalone mystery in the cozy genre. A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT. Readers who prefer a slower moving mystery with a female protagonist might like this novel. HUSH has won many awards such as 2025 IPA WINNER – MYSTERY, 2025 FAPA WINNER – MYSTERY and the 2025 NYC BIG BOOK AWARD WINNER – WINNER among others.
About the Annalisse series: An antiquities expert lands in the middle of mystery and mayhem that
knows no country boundaries. Trouble awaits a worldly couple as they uncover clues to a myriad
of murders by villains of all types. Appearances are deceiving.
In the first four books, Annalisse and Alec travel to several countries. Greece and Turkey from their home turf of New York, in addition to Southern Italy and New Zealand with New England somewhere in the middle. Imagine the smells and sounds of a particular place, quiet and secluded or bustling with crowds. It’s my job to make readers believe they are at the scene as a witness watching everything play out in front of them. The Annalisse series covers some places I’ve never been to in person. To write realistic scenes and descriptions, I get my information from those who have actually been to these locations. My favorite method is using coffee table books loaded with photos and descriptions.
Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
The character I find the easiest to write is the detective friend of Alec’s, Bill Drake. Throughout SPENT IDENTITY, SCATTERED LEGACY and COPPER WATERS, he’s the mediator between main characters, Annalisse and Alec. He’s also the experienced sleuth who keeps the amateur detective, Annalisse, from getting into terrible predicaments. Readers are drawn to Bill and have asked me to write a spin-off series with him and his partner. It’s possible he’ll have a larger role in upcoming book #5 because of his popularity, and because his character seems to flow on the paper more easily.
Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
What began as a woman’s fiction romance of one standalone book, has changed to the
international series due to adding too many subplots to STOLEN OBSESSION and getting the
all-important reader feedback. In my case, all reviews on that first book have been a blessing,
both good and bad. You could say that my first book turned out to be the learning curve. I had so
many genres going on, I had to decide what kind of book I wanted to write. Readers of romance
weren’t a fan of the mystery elements and hard-core mystery readers preferred less romance
between Anna and Alec. STOLEN released in 2018 and updated in the summer of 2022 to the
best form of “happy medium” for all readers.
What made you decide to publish your work?
How would the author know if their work was good enough for the masses if the work wasn’t published? I wanted to know if this artist and photographer, (it’s also what I do,) could also translate into an accomplished writer, and how difficult that task would be. I found out quickly about writing. There are rules…lots of genre rules. It takes dedication, editing, and rewriting with only top-notch help by your side in order to succeed. The marketing of each book requires funds to promote. So far, I’ve been able to publish a new book every 12-14 months. I’d like to write faster…
If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you
invite?
Agatha Christie, Louise Penny, Shana Abe, and Karen Rose
What are you currently reading?
Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
Since the age of 6, I’ve sketched and painted, and been involved in all things in the art world. I love wildlife photography and taking pictures of our breeding sheep. My photos have been published in several sheep magazines, especially while we were showing our sheep at county fairs and national sales throughout the country. I use these talents in my company catalog (Since 1985) and online at wephoric.com. I began writing in my 50’s. Much later than I would’ve liked. There are a few other interests on a much smaller scale like rug hooking in the wool made from our sheep.
Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
Cat food, pasta dishes, homemade tomato sauce, and a wide array of fresh vegetables. My husband and I rarely eat away from home. My Italian grandmother taught me her culinary skills as a young girl, and I prefer to eat closer to the ground, like growing our vegetables and raising our own meat.
Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
Yes! I’ve started a new book unrelated to the Annalisse series. It’s a standalone suspense thriller that takes place in eastern Tennessee. I’m dipping my toes into a new genre! Yay! Once published, I’ll get back to Book #5 in the current series. Expect the suspense thriller to hit the shelves in spring of 2026.
What’s your favorite thing about being an author?
I like a challenge! Writing is out in left-field for me because I thought artwork would be how the public might eventually come to know me. My sheep art and photography are too narrow a field to find interested parties. There are many more readers than art collectors, too! All of my pastimes involve quiet time and being alone to create. Even though I never dreamed I’d be writing books, ever, I love immersing myself into other worlds in make-believe points of view.
Tour Schedule
October 13th
@mrsljgibbs
https://www.instagram.com/mrsljgibbs
From the TBR Pile
https://fromthetbrpile.blogspot.com
Long and Short Reviews
http://www.longandshortreviews.com
October 16th
@bookwormwhitlock86
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhitlock86
October 17th
@quiettime.reading
https://www.instagram.com/quiettime.reading
October 19th
PhyllisJonesPisanelliReviews
http://pjp-reviews.com
October 20th
Left on the Shelf
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogspot.com
October 21st
@annette_reads_daily
https://www.instagram.com/annette_reads_daily
Country Mamas With Kids
https://countrymamaswithkids.com
October 22nd
@whatnolareads
https://www.tiktok.com/@whatnolareads
Anytime between 10/13-10/22
@sudeshnalovesreading
https://www.instagram.com/sudeshnalovesreading
@aibibyreads
http://instagram.com/aibibyreads
@thepageladies
https://www.instagram.com/thepageladies
@foxingontheedges
https://www.instagram.com/foxingontheedges
@meghenslittlelibrary
http://instagram.com/meghenslittlelibrary
Sarandipity’s
https://sarandipitys.com
