The story for Bell of the Night came to me years ago after researching New Orleans and discovering the photos of EJ Bellocq (nudity warning if you look him up!). He photographed dozens of District Girls from the Storyville neighborhood. Storyville was the legal Red Light District in New Orleans that was in operation until the end of WWI.
I was so intrigued by a particular girl in a fancy frock with long, flowing black hair. She did not look at the camera, instead, she looked down at a bunch of flowers. I wondered if she was ashamed, refusing to show her full face. She looked so forlorn to me and I wondered what had led her to this life. I knew I had to write her story – and thus, Bluebell was born.
Bell of the Night wasn’t easy to write. How do you keep a story about a “soiled dove” clean of, well, filth? It took some creativity, but I tried to maintain propriety while also revealing the truth of what happened in legal brothels back in the day. In Bell of the Night, Teddy doesn’t realize girls in the brothel didn’t skip there merrily, choosing their life. Bell reveals that she was sold by an uncle who didn’t want her and forced into her profession by the relentless madam who bought her for a few dollars.
It draws an interesting parallel to what’s coming to light today about human trafficking. Trafficking isn’t a new phenomenon, it’s been happening for centuries. Young children sold and abused.
I wanted to write a story of redemption. A story of someone who thought they were too far gone to ever be loved by God. But I also wanted something that would appeal to a Christian-curious audience as well. No Bible beating, just the love of a Lord who will take you as you are and transform you. Bell goes through that transformation.
When she meets Teddy, she is hardened to life, emotionless. Bell thinks she will never be worthy and is destined for a life spent in Storyville. But she has a dream to get as many girls out of the brothels as she can. When Teddy offers to get her out, she refuses, instead pleading with him to take her best friend and other girls away. But life goes awry for Bell and she cannot save herself from the life she was given.
Still, Teddy pushes her to accept the love of God and though it takes tragedy, Bell finally learns to lean on God. She who thought she was beyond redemption finds it, showing the reader that nobody is too far gone and everybody can find redemption.
Bluebell was sold to Victoria Knight, a well-known Storyville madam, as a young girl. Now Bell is numbed to her life—until an optimistic preacher named Teddy Sullivan comes to New Orleans, intent on saving the sinful souls of the South.
Teddy is instantly drawn to the petite brunette and longs to rescue her. Bell, however, decides that saving her friends from selling themselves is more important than saving herself. Bell convinces Teddy to marry her best friend, which Teddy agrees to do while cooking up plans of his own.
If Bell isn’t able to see that God loves her regardless of the path her life has taken, and Teddy can’t help Bell get even more of her friends out of Storyville, both risk not only losing sight of God’s plan…but each other.
A compelling story of redemption, Bell of the Night is an unflinching reminder that no matter how troubled our past, we are never too far from the healing power of God’s love.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Books
Allison Wells is a Southern wife, mother, and writer. She’s a graduate of Clemson University and she still lives close enough to hear football games on Saturdays. She loves to read, hates the snow, prefers the mountains to the beach, loves the color turquoise and she will belt out any 80s song from the top of her lungs. Allison’s motto is “Life is short, eat the Oreos.” She thanks the Lord for her husband and four children daily.