Background

Krista Bell was born on January 27, 1950, in Sydney, Australia; the daughter of John Spencer, an engineer, and Lurline Joyce (Rawlinson) Blakeney.

Education

Krista Bell attended St. Vincent’s College, Catholic Ladies College and Monash University.

Career

Krista Bell began her career in the early 1970’s when she worked as her father’s secretary. In 1984 she was appointed as a book reviewer of Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) Radio and worked there for twelve years. Almost at the same time, Krista became a freelance book reviewer for newspapers and literary magazines. From 1990 to 1995 she served as a writer, producer, and presenter of The Children’s Hour and from 1997 to 1999 was a coordinator of Virtuoso Literary Weekends.

Since 2000 Bell has been a full-time writer. Her first book, Jezza, a book about a dog that plays football, was first published in 1991. Since that time she has written 27 books for young readers, such as Sniffy The Sniffer Dog, That’s The Trick, If The Shoe Fits, The Slammers and others.

Bell is also a contributor of stories Off to Duncan’s Paddock and Double or Nothing; her book reviews were published in Classroom Magazine, Author, Magpies, Literature Base, Australian Book Review, Herald Sun, Pets and Vets Australia, and Writing Australia.

Achievements

• Krista Bell wrote 27 books published over the last 25 years, including 3 that will be published as original texts in Italy.
  
  Krista has been a regular presenter at national literary festivals for many years including Adelaide, All Saints College Festival of Childrens’ Literature, Books North, Curtis Coast Literary Carnivale, Sommerset College Celebration of Literature and Voices on the Coast.
  
  

Works

More photos

• book

  • If the Shoe Fits

    (Together Jake and Cassie make a leap toward fulfilling th...)

    2006
  • Sniffy the Sniffer Dog

    (Sniffy the Sniffer Dog failed Sniffer Dog School because ...)

    2003
  • No Regrets

    (Julia is a very smart student, so smart that she is put u...)

    2002
  • Who Dares? 2005
  • That's the Trick 2006
  • No Tears 2006
  • Read My Mind! 2000
  • Who Cares? 2003

Membership

Krista Bell is a member of Children’s Book Council, Dromkeen Society, Actor’s Equity and Australian Society of Authors.

Interests

• Watercolor painting, recycled book and clothing shops, animals and birds, “growing things.”

• Sport & Clubs

  Collingwood Football Club

Connections

Krista Bell married Douglas Bell, a transport planner, on July 16, 1983. They have three children - Ben, Damien and Henry.

Father:

John Spencer

Mother:

Lurline Joyce (Rawlinson) Blakeney

husband:

Douglas Bell

Son:

Ben Bell

Son:

Damien Bell

Son:

Henry Bell

Brother:

Michael