Victorian Whimsy & Wonder: Angela Bell on Imagination, Faith, and Quirky Characters (E186)
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Angela Bell. Angela is a twenty-first-century lady with nineteenth-century sensibilities who resides in Texas with her charming pup, Mr. Bingley Crosby. She describes her historical romances as “a cuppa Victorian whimsy,” and today we’re discussing her delightful novel A Lady’s Guide to Marvel and Misadventure, which she describes as Around the World in 180 Days meets The Nutcracker Ballet.
We also chat about her upcoming novel, now available for preorder - A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile, pitched as Little Women meets Inspector Gadget. Angela’s love of whimsy, quirky characters, and heartfelt storytelling shines through every page, and she shares what she’s learned about herself through writing as well as the beautiful ways books meet us at just the right moment.
Episode Highlights:
How Angela embraced her own writing voice and let go of expectations.
Exploring how responsibility can shift into self-reliance.
Writing A Lady’s Guide to Marvel and Misadventure as a lighthearted haven for readers.
Why she loves quirky, eccentric characters and whimsical storytelling.
The inspirations behind both of her book hooks.
A preview of A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile.
The reminder that God often places the right book in our hands at the right time.
Connect with Angela:
Show Notes
Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.
Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr
The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark
The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep
The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright
Book Flight
Positively Penelope by Pepper Basham
Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder (2nd book - Perplexity is coming April 2026)
The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano
Post-Roll Ad Provided By: Author Jacqui Lents, featuring The Daphne Project: A fresh start, a budding romance, and a small-town mystery. This charming novel blends Bridget Jones charm with Nancy Drew intrigue as Daphne Patterson uncovers the truth behind her great-aunt’s suspicious death.
Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!
