About Me

My name is Samantha Bell, and I’m a writing and art teacher, children’s book writer and illustrator, retired homeschooling parent, and mom of four great kids. I didn’t plan on becoming an author and illustrator, but I’ve published more than 200 books for children! (You can find my publishing partners HERE). In addition to creating books, I provide professional editing, copyediting, and copywriting services, helping authors, organizations, and businesses bring their ideas to life with clear, engaging, and polished content.

How I Got Started

About a year after I finished college, I decided to take a course in children’s literature. The course would count towards renewing my teaching certificate. We read so many children’s books — from picture books to middle grade novels to young adult books. It was then I first thought, I can do this! It can’t be that hard to write and illustrate a children’s book.  

It’s actually a lot harder than it looks! But I gave it a try. I checked out books from the library on writing and illustrating for children (these were the pre-Internet days). And I started submitting my work. And I received lots (and lots) of rejections.

From all of my submissions, I had one positive response, but then the editor left the publishing house. So I took a break for a few years when my children were very small, jumping back into writing for children when a friend invited me to join her online critique group.

SCBWI

I began attending conferences and meeting other writers and illustrators. The instruction, support, and encouragement was just what I needed. Before long, I received my first acceptance letter for a magazine article!

 

Still Going!

That was over 15 years ago. Since that time, my poems, short stories, and articles have been published in a number of magazines both online and in print. I began illustrating picture books, including some of my own stories. I also began writing nonfiction for the educational market. The topics have been so varied, for a while my youngest son thought I knew everything. Then he became a teenager…

Once in a while, I’ll pull out one of those early manuscripts, and I can’t believe I sent them to editors. They are just so rough. Writing, like any skill, takes time and practice to sharpen and improve. These days, I’m working on a variety of projects. But in the process, I’m still practicing. And I’m still learning. And my critique partners say I’m still improving.

Along with writing and illustrating books, I work part-time at our local library, and I teach creative writing and art classes as well as lessons and workshops at schools, libraries, conferences, writer’s groups, and online. I also sponsor the free art lesson site ArtStartsForKids.com. If you are interested in booking a virtual or in-person visit, please contact me. 

 

More About Me

I was born and raised near Orlando, Florida in a family of eight kids with all kinds of pets, including goats, chickens, cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, parakeets, hamsters, guinea pigs, a monkey, a raccoon, and a coati mundi. I now live with her family in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where I enjoy hiking, painting, and snuggling with our cats Pocket, Pebble, and Mr. Tree-Tree Triggers.

 

Interviews

You can also find me online in the following interviews:

With Suzanne Lieurance – BookBites for Kids Podcast

With Joan Edwards – “An Interview with Samantha Bell”

With Arbordale Publishing – “A Conversation with Samantha Bell”

With Sally Matheny and Write2Ignite! – “Writers are Flexible” 

With Nancy Stewart – “Artist for All Seasons”

With Sandy Carlson – Part of the Random Acts of Publicity 2011