In her 90s, Tonja Koeppel publishes The Bell File

December 4, 2012, by

Through my work at Inprint, I have been very fortunate, as have many Houstonians, to meet some of the greatest writers of our times—John Updike, Carlos Fuentes, Jhumpa Lahiri, Salman Rushdie, Gary Shteyngart, Junot Diaz, the list goes on. My friends often joke about the seemingly glamorous nature of my job. In all honesty, as exciting as it is to meet a writer you have admired for many years, what inspires me the most about my work at Inprint is the opportunity to engage with all the talented local writers I get the chance to meet, writers from all walks of life who share their imaginative fiction and poetry with us while residing in our beloved city.

Earlier this fall, I had the privilege of meeting a fascinating local writer, Tonja Koeppel, who in her 90s, just published her third novel, The Bell File. Genuine, graceful, and very sharp, Tonja came to creative writing later in her life. She began her career by working as a science writer for newspapers and magazines in Switzerland where she was born and grew up. When she came to the United States, she taught chemistry at a university in New Jersey. After she retired, she signed up for a writing course at Rice University which then launched her writing life.  Her other novels include Astral Twin and Secret of Adamant House. The Bell File is her first self-published novel through Amazon. 

Her background in science and history are evident in The Bell File. The novel begins with biochemist Melissa Bell distraught over a recurring dream. She approaches the respected psychiatrist Professor Burton Armstrong for help in ending the nightmares. What follows is a page-turning story, revealing mysteries, going back in time, and exploring the many themes of science, dreams, the afterlife, love, research, and much more.

Tonja kindly took some time out of her schedule to answer some questions for us.

Inprint: You came to fiction writing later in life–what brought you to writing?

After I graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology with a degree in organic chemistry, I worked as a free-lance science writer for leading newspapers and trade journals. When I moved to the US, I went into teaching, at the college level, and when I retired I returned to my first avocation and a new goal: writing a novel.  In Houston, I had a chance to enroll in the novel writing program at Rice University, where I was able to learn the art and craft of fiction writing.

Inprint: You have published three novels, two of which were published through a publishing house. This one was published through Amazon. Can you tell us what made you decide to publish it this way?

I could have published the Bell File with the publisher of my previous novel but I had some reservations. The high price they put on the book made it very difficult to sell, and I also had to pay for all their promotions. I realized that at this time in my life, Amazon was the perfect fit. I was able to keep total control of the book, including cover, font, size, and set my own price. 

Inprint: Can you describe the publishing process for this novel? Was it more difficult than going through a publishing house?

I will not pretend that it was easy to format the manuscript and get it ready to be printed.  However, Amazon has set up a number of helpful tools and guidelines. It also has a well-functioning phone support line.  In addition, I got a lot of technical help from my computer-savvy grandchildren.

Inprint: The cover art for the book has special meaning for you. Can you tell us about the significance of the cover?

My daughter, Barbara Tennant, did the cover art for the book at my request during our vacation in Switzerland. I watched her fill her canvas with blotches of color and suddenly they turned into the figures of monks looking at the novice which plays such an important role in the nightmares of the protagonist, Melissa Bell.  I knew we had the painting for the cover, which added a special touch to the book. You can see it at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1470057247

Inprint: Do you have any advice for budding writers?                     

If they are young I would say, find an agent and/or find a traditional publisher, no matter how long it takes. Go to writers’ conferences to establish contacts. If they are older or have trouble finding an agent or publisher, I would advise them to consider the many opportunities our modern technology offers–self-publish and let the market place decide if their book deserves to be read.

For young and old writers my advice is to learn the art and craft of writing and editing, attend workshops or enroll in a good writing program. Learning from experienced writers will them help hone their writing skills and pass the scrutiny of an editor’s critical eye or the judgment of a discerning reader.

For young and old writers my advice is to learn the art and craft of writing and editing, attend workshops or enroll in a good writing program. Learning from experienced writers will them help hone their writing skills and pass the scrutiny of an editor’s critical eye or the judgment of a discerning reader.

Inorint: Thank you Tonja for sharing your wisdom and passion with us!

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