Author Interview with Alina Bellchambers

1. Growing up in your family’s bookstore must have been magical. How did that early exposure to books and stories shape your love for writing and your journey as an author?

‘Magical’ is the perfect word! The distinctive smell of books always reminds me of my childhood, where I would sit around the fountain in my family’s bookstore and read for hours on end. Some of my earliest memories are of making up stories and telling them to customers (much to my parent’s amusement). That passion has sustained me ever since, evolving from fan fiction to full-length original manuscripts that I wrote for my own entertainment.
The turning point for me was in January of 2020, when I had a dream. A nightmare, really, and remembering the ending still makes me shiver. Terrifying though it was, the concept was fascinating – and once I wrote it, I showed it to a freelance editor who encouraged me to pursue publication. At the time I was busy writing The Order of Masks, and when I was signed by my agent, it was decided we would pitch TOOM first – which culminated in a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan Australia and Hodderscape UK. I now have an exciting backlog of thriller and fantasy manuscripts that I hope to share with readers, once my sequel to The Order of Masks releases in 2025.

2. Your stories blend romance, magic, and court politics with fierce female protagonists. What draws you to this genre, and how do you create such rich and compelling worlds?

I have always loved the escapism of the fantasy genre, its scope for immersive worldbuilding and incredibly high stakes. I set The Order of Masks in a brutal Roman-inspired empire where every choice comes with consequences and alliances shift in a heartbeat. I wanted to convey that sense of danger and keep readers on edge by not knowing if the characters are going to survive – or what the cost of their survival might be.

In terms of worldbuilding, I discovered the world much like readers will – one part at a time, through Mira and Scarlett’s sensory experiences. The travels of the two female protagonists allowed me to explore the geographical and culture diversity of the Ravalian Empire, spanning the deadly royal court in lush Ravalia, the icy North with its Norse undertones, the exotic Western deserts and the remote Elusive Isles. One of my favourite parts of the process was creating a map of the Ravalian capital city, with its Crimson Palace, circular obsidian arena, and the Higher and Lower Districts. It was so much fun adding additional details – like shops that sell poison and the Roman-style gymnasia, communal baths and theatres.

3. Your books feature strong female leads. What inspires you to write these characters, and why do you think they resonate so well with readers?

I have a background in psychology and am fascinated by the complicated dynamics and hard choices made by women in power. I really wanted to explore moral complexities and embrace the shades of grey within my characters. At its heart, The Order of Masks is about two fierce female protagonists fighting to rise up and reshape their destinies – and the contrasting ways they choose between power and love interests.

While Mira and Scarlett are fundamentally different characters with varying backstories, readers can relate to their struggles. They want them to succeed against the odds, to obtain their revenge and come into their own. There’s something so powerful about strong female characters fighting against their prescribed roles, which is shown by how popular the female rage trope is right now.
I think this sort of struggle resonates with readers because of its real-world connotations. It’s an important message and all my books deliberately feature strong female leads, which I would have loved to see more of when I was younger.

4. Do you have a favourite fantasy novel or author that inspired you as a writer? What’s a must-read for fans of the genre?

This is hard, because there are so many! Garth Nix’s Sabriel really stands out for me, because it was one of the first books I read at the time with a strong female main character. I adore Sarah J. Maas because her stories strike a fantastic balance between romance, high-stakes action and fantasy worldbuilding. I also appreciate that she embraces anti-heroes and shades of grey, which I love to explore in my own stories.

Most recently I read (and loved) The Serpent of the Wings of Night and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I’m a fan of Sarah J Maas’s Throne of Glass series, and have been pitching The Order of Masks as Throne of Glass meets Fourth Wing (another recent favourite of mine).
On the YA side, I recently discovered The Cruel Prince by Holly Black which is incredible (Jude is exactly the kind of ruthless female character I love to write) and I adore Stephanie Garber’s Caraval series and Natalie Mae’s Kinder Poison trilogy.

I had one reviewer recently comment that The Order of Masks is perfect for anyone who enjoyed The Trials of the Sun Queen, so that’s definitely on my TBR list – and a few people have recommended Powerless and Lightlark, so I’m keen to start those as well.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring authors, particularly those looking to break into romance or fantasy?

Write. It sounds simple, but the more regular hours you put in, the better you become. And read in your genre! Think of it like research, but the fun kind – it gives you a sense of what’s popular in that genre, what works or even what doesn’t.
When you have an idea for an original book, write it down as a pitch – very similar to a back of book blurb. Is this something you would read if you saw it in a bookstore? Does it feel like an idea that fits in the genre and is marketable?
If the answer is yes, go ahead and right the manuscript – then get feedback from an editor or critique partner. Hone your manuscript some more. Once you’re confident in your product, and you have all the relevant pitch materials and synopsis, it’s time to either query agents or approach publishers directly (depending on the country you live in and the publisher’s policies).

Please note: I’m only referring to the traditional publishing route here, as I don’t have any experience with self-publishing.

So much of writing success is persistence. If I had stopped writing after my first manuscript, or my second, I wouldn’t have reached this milestone. For those writers currently querying or planning to, I have a section on my website with useful links for researching agents and polishing submission materials.
Publishing a book can be a testing process, but at the end of the day, there is no such thing as failure in writing. So long as you keep writing, so long as you keep honing your craft, you’re succeeding.