Antony J Bell

Warm, Human, Heart-Led Stories

Antony J Bell writes historical fiction rooted in real lives, forgotten places, and the ordinary people who carried the weight of history on their shoulders. His debut novel, A Penny a Shell, grew from a personal journey into the story of the Barnbow munitions factory in Leeds—where his own great-grandmother once worked, and where 35 women were killed in an explosion kept secret for decades.

Originally from Yorkshire and now living in Bangkok, Antony blends family memory with extensive research to bring overlooked stories of courage and sacrifice to the page. He believes the small details of everyday life—milk in enamel jugs, soot on a miner’s collar, a letter home tucked into a pocket—tell the truest stories of all.

When he’s not writing, he works in digital marketing, explores Thailand with his family, and continues his research into WWI social history.