Anita Belli has always had the ambition to become a novelist.
At her home in Dovercourt whilst drinking tea, she openly discusses what led her to her career choice, writes India-Rose Lindsay-Wheeler.
Anita’s newly published book, The Art Forger’s Daughter, follows Beatrix Prins on her mission to discover who killed her father in the last few days off the Nazi occupation of Holland. She searches for the truth of the past, whilst determining her own future. It tells a story of a vulnerable girl with a deceitful childhood, who enters a world alone and full of danger.
Anita says: “It’s about love and the thread it holds, regardless of what has happened.”
Creative writing is clearly something that was cemented in Anita as a young girl and she reveals she was even given the opportunity to have a story published in a newspaper when she was at school but added: “I was distracted by dancing, film making and then having children.”
Despite her many other achievements in life, Anita believes her writing defines her.
She declares that her love of art inspired her to write her latest book.
“Art can be used to raise awareness on many things, including political issues,” she said. “And in the case of Beatrix, can even be used to save lives.”
She admits she is fascinated by people and their reactions to various situations, particularly the later impact that trauma can have on a person.
Offering some advice for aspiring authors, Anita said: “Being an author is something you are, not just something you do.
“Writers,who want to write should follow the principles of a good dancer - always warm up and strive to write the very best book that you can.”
As we talk, Anita is surrounded by four brightly coloured notebooks and, after taking another sip of tea she explains that writing should almost become a habit.
She adds: “If you leave home without your notebook, and are in need of paper, write it on a napkin.”
In fact Anita started chapter three of her book on a napkin in Morrison’s café.
Fiona Lindsay, a retired nurse and Dovercourt dog walker, has described Anita’s book as: “A delightful romance and an interesting insight in to art forgery.”
Anita is now immersing herself in writing her next book, The Ties that Bind, which is set during the Spanish Civil War.
• The Art Forgers Daughter is available from Red Lion Books in Colchester and Caxton Books in Frinton, or from Amazon.
• Anita is also holding creative writing workshops at the Continental Hotel in Dovercourt, called An introduction to Self Publishing starting from December 3. Details can be found on her website www.anitabelli.com
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