poetry Archives - Melanie Bell

January 31, 2026

Year’s End, Looking Back and Forward

A book, a musical, and the loss of a parent

From Substack, December 1, 2025

My year’s end posts are often celebratory. This one is bittersweet.

I made significant professional strides in 2025, both in my writing career and in my day job. Personally, a lot of things have gone well.

I also lost my dad this year, after traveling back and forth to the U.S. a few times to see him in the hospital. And my cousin died very recently; he wasn’t much older than I am.

A New Book

My poetry collection The Heart Decided to Move came out this year with Read Furiously’s One ‘n Done series. I had a lot of fun writing and illustrating this book that tells the story of my move to the UK, travels, and moments of daily life as an immigrant.

Mikey Belcher did a lovely interview with me on his Substack that goes into detail on the book’s themes, and I gave some workshops and readings in both the UK and Canada to celebrate the book’s launch.

A Musical

This May, Joan: The Musical, which Hannah Doyle and I co-wrote, was performed in the Brighton Fringe. It told a story of an older woman, left behind by both an ex-husband and the passing of time, who travels to another world Alice in Wonderland-style and undergoes challenges to get her confidence and power back. Our first two shows had a sold-out run, so we ended up doing an encore performance.

It was amazing to see such a big production onstage. I dreamed of writing a musical and having it performed as a kid, and now I’ve done it. The show had good reviews and was an exciting, intense experience that I learned a lot from. I’m grateful to our team – director Summer and actors Geraldine, Justin, Lauren, and Dean, along with the fantastic team at The Actors – for making this show shine!

Volunteering Endeavors

I took on two big volunteer tasks this year. I was on the committee to plan Mensa’s annual European gathering in Cardiff this year, which happened in August. I helped organize activities and also gave a writing workshop.

I also acted as a juror for the British Fantasy Awards’ Best Independent Press award. I ended up reading 20 books for this, which was both exhausting and rewarding. There are so many great independent SFF presses in the UK; this work left me optimistic that the genre is in good hands.

Other Things

The Whispers in the Earth anthology came out this year, featuring my Canadian ghost ship tale along with 19 other folklore-inspired stories from around the world and beautiful linocut illustrations.

I had a short story published in the NonBinary Review’s Solarpunk issue.

I also recently got promoted to Senior Editor at Mindtools and am excited to see where that role takes me.

I have more books planned, starting with a romance novella that will be launching next year!

I’ve done my best in 2025, and I intend to do the same in 2026. I think my dad would be proud.

April 9, 2025

Happy Book Birthday!

My poetry collection The Heart Decided to Move is out in the world now!

“A poignant exploration of self-discovery, The Heart Decided to Move captures the author’s transformative journey as she takes the life-changing step of relocating to a new country. Through letters, poetry, and reflective prose, the work weaves together a tapestry of language, emotion, and identity. Each piece invites readers to explore the complexity of what it means to leave behind one’s homeland in search of a true sense of belonging. Follow Melanie Bell as she experiences moments of culture shock, surviving a pandemic in her new home, and joyful moments of worldly travel, all told in snapshots filled with humor and heart.”

You can order your copy here or wherever books are sold!

Or, if you’re in Brighton, come along to the book launch on April 19!

Poetry Book Launch: The Heart Decided to Move

April 19, 6-8 pm, The Queery

In 2017, Canadian author Melanie Bell moved to the UK on an ancestry visa. Her new poetry collection, The Heart Decided to Move, shares the story of that journey, from moments of culture shock and cross-cultural delight to surviving a pandemic in an unfamiliar place. The book incorporates illustrations, prose, and travel poems from far and wide.

Join us to celebrate the launch of this collection and pick up a signed copy!

Tickets here

In further news, the Whispers in the Earth: World Folklore Reimagined anthology is out, featuring my Prince Edward Island ghost ship story, among a collection of 20 tales inspired by myths and legends from around the world, and illustrated with beautiful linocut prints!

The editor, Gabriela Houston, is also a prolific fantasy author. Her latest novel, The Bone Roots, is a haunting, beautiful read featuring Slavic folklore, motherhood, fox thieves, and gods. I read an ARC and thought, “I wish I could have written that!” So, if you’re looking for something new to read, check it out!

Rehearsals for Joan: The Musical continue in preparation for performance in the Brighton Fringe on 3 and 4 May. My co-writer Hannah Doyle and lead actress Geraldine Afifi just did an interview about the show on The Brighton Babbler podcast which also includes a song from the show, “Little Bird.” You can listen to it here!

If you’re local, come join us and see it live next month!

72-year-old Joan has it all. A glittering past as a West End dancer, a chocolate-box maisonette in Seven Dials, and fantastic hair. There’s one thing she doesn’t have, though: the power of self-belief.

Bruised and scorned by her ex-husband’s wayward ways, Joan tumbles down a rabbit hole that brings her face to face with her tattered confidence. Can Joan find her way back to the surface? Or is she destined to languish in the depths of self-care hell?

Joan: The Musical will take the stage at The Actors in Brighton on 3 and 4 May, at 1.30pm. You can get your tickets here!

March 10, 2025

Book Preorder: The Heart Decided to Move

Coming April 8: my new poetry collection, The Heart Decided to Move!

And you can preorder it now! More information from my publisher below:

PREORDER – The Heart Decided to Move – One ‘n Done 12 is currently available for preorder. Orders will ship 2025-04-08

A powerful portrait of self-discovery told in snapshots as the author makes the challenging decision to relocate. Letters, poetry, and language come together to create a journey of what it means to find your heart’s true home.

Melanie Bell, author of Chasing Harmony, dazzles readers again with her follow-up project that once again asks us to find our authenticity through the choices we make.

Preorder your copy here!

I’m excited about this book. As the title suggests, a lot of heart went into it. I wrote the poetry over several years and, while it focuses on my experiences moving to the UK, I wrote across several places. The collection also incorporates some of my essays and illustrations.

I’m having a book launch in Brighton – details below, and more events to follow!

Poetry Book Launch: The Heart Decided to Move

April 19, 6-8 pm, The Queery

In 2017, Canadian author Melanie Bell moved to the UK on an ancestry visa. Her new poetry collection, The Heart Decided to Move, shares the story of that journey, from moments of culture shock and cross-cultural delight to surviving a pandemic in an unfamiliar place. The book incorporates illustrations, prose, and travel poems from far and wide.

Join us to celebrate the launch of this collection and pick up a signed copy!

Tickets here

March 3, 2025

A Workshop, Book Launch, and Musical Rehearsal

I have a lot on the horizon, starting with a follow-up to my last workshop at The Queery. Participants expressed interest in doing some facilitated writing exercises, which will be happening this month.

Upcoming Events

Writing Exercises

Come join me for Writing Exercises on Saturday, March 15, 6-8pm at The Queery (46 George St, Brighton)!

Join local author Melanie Bell for a series of writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing!

Following her last creative writing workshop and interest in more exercise-based work, Melanie will bring a range of writing prompts and activities for attendees to work with. Whether you’re a curious beginner or an experienced wordsmith, come join us and get ready to explore!

Tickets here

The Queery is also hosting the launch of my poetry book in April!

Poetry Book Launch: The Heart Decided to Move

April 19, 6-8 pm, The Queery

In 2017, Canadian author Melanie Bell moved to the UK on an ancestry visa. Her new poetry collection, The Heart Decided to Move, shares the story of that journey, from moments of culture shock and cross-cultural delight to surviving a pandemic in an unfamiliar place. The book incorporates illustrations, prose, and travel poems from far and wide.

Join us to celebrate the launch of this collection and pick up a signed copy!

Tickets here

Joan: The Musical Rehearsals

Joan: The Musical has a full cast and director, and yesterday, we all met for our first rehearsal! We’ll be working together intensely for the next couple months in preparation for our May 3-4 performances in the Brighton Fringe.

Everyone got along well, and it was great to see their talent and enthusiasm coming together!

Here are some of the action shots:

Joan: The Musical will take the stage at The Actors in Brighton on 3 and 4 May, at 1.30pm. You can get your tickets here!

May 4, 2020

Creative Coping

My local park in the spring during lockdown

I write this from home, where I now do my full-time job, giving new meaning to the term “in-house”! A spider plant from work sits on my kitchen table. I grabbed it in a panic when the UK government announced that all non-essential workers would henceforth be working from home. I didn’t want it to die. A month ago, my aunt was in the hospital, unconscious and on a ventilator. I’m grateful that she is now coronavirus-free; not everyone has been so fortunate.

A lot is going on. Many of us are confined to our quarters, dodging our neighbors whenever we leave the house lest someone be carrying an infection. Some countries are starting to reopen spheres of public life, with mixed results. Socioeconomic divisions are more visible than ever. Some people have been laid off, some are balancing childcare and professions in the same living space, and some continue to work in hazardous conditions. People’s access to resources and private space varies widely. Even for the most privileged, though, living through COVID-19 isn’t easy. We are all dealing with increased stress, anxiety, and uncertainty.

While it’s harder for our brains to focus when they are under this kind of pressure, creativity has come through for many of us as a way of coping with a changed and stressful environment. People are telling funny stories about their pets as coworkers, taking up baking and crafts, and creating virtual events and communities that didn’t exist before.

Why is creativity useful now? For one thing, it’s a way of expressing ourselves, channeling our anxieties and experiences of this strange new world by creating something new. For another, it can be calming, with the process of making art or crafts grounding us when we have limited opportunities to engage with the physical world. Creativity is also born of resourcefulness – limited ingredients in the pantry, for instance, can spark new meal ideas, and museums’ challenge to recreate famous works of art with objects at home have yielded impressive results.

I’ve found that my attention span has dwindled, and I’m not as focused on longer projects as I have been at other points. Briefer ideas and bursts of expression are more my speed in these isolation days. I’ve been taking photos during daily government-permitted exercise outings and writing a lot of poetry about the virus. I’ve made kimchi for the first time, with this recipe yielding good results. I’ve enjoyed an online poetry writing retreat and read free e-books that authors have shared. Making stuff and enjoying things that others make reminds me that hope persists. We are experiencing collective challenges, but we can still bring new and beautiful things into the world in the midst of them.

What creative activities are helping you get through the pandemic?