Laurie Bell Weaves Magic, Mystery, and Heart into Stories That Inspire and Empower

Celebrating Teen Heroes and Female Friendship

Laurie Bell discusses her inspiration, creative routines, balancing fantasy with real-life themes, writing struggles, and exciting updates on her beloved Stones of Power series.

Laurie Bell has established herself as a shining light in the world of speculative fiction, crafting captivating tales that seamlessly blend fantasy, science fiction, and heart. From her enthralling “Stones of Power” series to the riveting standalones White Fire and Blood Fever, Laurie’s stories are brimming with imagination, wit, and the kind of storytelling that lingers in the heart and mind long after you turn the final page. Whether delving into epic quests or exploring the intricacies of relationships, her work resonates with readers young and old alike.

In this issue, we are thrilled to present our conversation with Laurie Bell, whose journey as a writer is as inspiring as her works. Beyond the spellbinding pages of her novels, Laurie is a fervent advocate for strong, relatable characters—particularly young women—and her dedication to championing themes of resilience, friendship, and empowerment is evident in every word she pens. Her book The Butterfly Stone introduced audiences to Tracey Masters, a Mage-kind teen detective with a heart as fierce as her powers, setting the stage for a series that captures the wonder of magic while tackling real-life complexities. This isn’t just storytelling—it’s storytelling with substance.

Join us as Laurie shares insights into her creative process, the inspiration behind her beloved characters, and a glimpse into what lies ahead. If you’re a fan of gripping adventures and characters who feel like old friends, you won’t want to miss this conversation with an author who continues to redefine and expand the boundaries of fantasy and science fiction. Sit back, pour yourself a coffee (or grab some chocolate), and enjoy the words of the incomparable Laurie Bell!

“Laurie Bell crafts unforgettable characters and rich worlds with heart and purpose, redefining fantasy and empowering readers to discover their inner magic.“

What inspired you to create the character of Tracey Masters and her journey as a Mage-kind teen?

At the time – when the idea first occurred to me – I wanted a teen detective like the books I’d read in my younger years but with magic. The Butterfly Stone actually started out as a flash fiction prompt piece. I loved the character and the concept so I ended up fleshing it all out in a full length novel. And then, well, Tracey’s story got a lot bigger.

I also wanted a book that my numerous nieces would read that showed them they could be heroes too. At the time of writing The Butterfly Stone (2015-2018) there were no MCU female heroes except for Black Widow (certainly none with their own solo movie). And I was big into the MCU at the time. (Still am). I wanted my nieces to see teen girls with magic being heroes and saving the world. And I wanted some kick-butt fight sequences too. I wanted to show female friendship and how teens change within those friendship groups over time as distractions and interests come along. I also wanted to show that boys and girls can be friends and work terrifically well together as a team bringing their different strengths and hobbies to the mission. There is also a bit of sister drama, but I wanted to show larger families that love each other. I didn’t want parental death to drive my characters forward. There’s enough of that in hero books and movies today. I love supportive mums and dads. And, in a way, it was to show teen girls that they can overcome imposter syndrome too. There’s a lot going on in there, but I’m really pleased with how it’s all turned out.

How do you balance the elements of fantasy, mystery, and real-life challenges in your stories?

Great question. I think the biggest challenge was writing around the use of cell phones. Haha! Cell phones mean being in constant contact, which was tricky to navigate while writing about teens getting up to mischief! They can search engine answers so easily these days. Or watch tutorials on how to do things.

I like to think there is a little bit of magic everywhere and if you look for it you might find it. The mystery was fun to write. I’m a bit of a pantser when it comes to writing that first draft so even I was surprised at the direction the mystery went in. Always fun. That moment you realise… “Oh, that’s what that is.” I giggled about it for a few hours wishing I could share it with others. Keeping secrets is hard haha!

What was the most challenging part of writing “The Butterfly Stone” and its sequel?

Keeping track of the changes between books! I ended up creating a little bible of characters and locations so I could keep track of what homes looked like, which cars they drive, what people look and sound like. And even then – I missed a glaring one! Oh, I was so embarrassed when it smacked me in the face. It certainly helps having a great team around from beta readers to my publisher’s editing team to help me stay on top of these things.

Oh, and I discovered I am terrible at writing poetry. (Everyone has a couple of flaws, right?)

How has your love for coffee and chocolate influenced your writing process or creative routine?

Aha! Help or hinder? That is the true question. The coffee certainly helps keep me awake. I do write better in the morning, but I’m not sure if that is the coffee or sitting trapped on the train on my way into work. And the chocolate… well… chocolate is always good. When you feel good, the words flow. Or is that just convincing myself that it helps? Either way, it works for me. Haha. It’s like finding the right soundtrack or going for a drive or walk, or even swimming. I think, when you find the tools that work for you, that inspire your writing and actually get you in a chair to write then you grab hold of it. Procrastination is such a slippery slope. And with social media aiding and abetting in distraction it takes more will power than ever to focus on getting the words down on a page.

What message or themes do you hope readers take away from “The Stones of Power” series?

As mentioned earlier. I really hope the messages my readers can take away from the series is that they can do anything they put their minds to. That they are strong and brave and clever. They can be leaders. Champions. Friends. That the magic inside them was there all along. Girls can kick butt. They are heroes. The story can centre on them for who they are, and not for who they are to other people. They are not “just” or “only” anything. They are awesome.

Can you share any insights or teasers about future projects or books you’re working on?

I am very excited to be able to share that Book Four and Book Five are now with my publisher Wyvern’s Peak Publishing. Wrapping up Tracey’s journey was a big effort, and I hope my readers are pleased with the results. There might be something new on the horizon too. Watch this space.