New Site and Folklore Anthology

I’ve been busy this month updating my website and social media. It’s a work in progress, to be sure, but it seemed like time to move on from the old “Inspire Envisioning” business name.

My new social media handles are:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieBellWrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniebellwrites/

Twitter/X: @InspireEnvision

I’ve started a Substack newsletter, with a free story for subscribers: https://melaniebellwrites.substack.com/ I’m currently on a writing retreat in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, which is amazing, and I’m writing about it on Substack.

I’m thrilled to have a story in an illustrated world folklore anthology coming out later this year! Whispers in the Earth: World Folklore Reimagined had a Kickstarter go up just a couple days ago, and amazingly, IT’S ALREADY FUNDED! It’s happening! Now we’re onto the stretch goals, which will make it possible for us writers to get paid.

The Kickstarter page is here, and below is more information about this beautiful book that I’m proud to be part of.

Whispers in the Earth: World Folklore Reimagined is a collection of 20 short stories inspired by myths and legends from around the world. 

Hand-printed linocut illustrations by Gabriela Houston breathe life into every fantastical world with a unique work of art, carved into lino, inked and printed by hand.

Kickstarter perks range from a stunning super-deluxe edition to affordable paperbacks and ebooks, so there’s a tier for every budget. Plus, exclusive limited-edition original prints are available for the true folklore fanatics.

This project began with a single linocut and a spark of inspiration. Now, it’s a collaboration of passionate storytellers and artists, brought to life by Broken Binding, a cool indie bookshop.

The anthology is illustrated throughout with linocut prints, with the print editions additionally benefitting from rich margin decorations. 

Contributors include #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author Eliza Chan, bestselling author of The Witch’s Heart Genevieve Gornichec, Tweets from Tahrir co-editor Nadia Idle, and more.

My Prince Edward Island ghost ship tale is in the collection, along with stories of Anansi, dragons, ancient Egyptian gods. 

Folklore changes and adapts. As people travel, so do their stories, taking on new meanings and blending with other traditions. With a diverse group of authors, we explore how folktales grow and mix in our globalized world.

The anthology’s editor and illustrator, Gabriela Houston, shares how and why the project came to be in an interview on The Silent Reviewer blog.

Here’s the replay of our virtual launch event where you can listen to contributors’ thoughts on the value of ancient stories in a modern world.

Please pledge and share if you can! I’ve ordered a deluxe hardback with sprayed edges, and if you like gorgeous special edition books, you can too. 😊