Bad Girls Go to Hell
Author-illustrator Nikkita Bell on villainous women, demonic Hollywood, and building the illustrated world of the Hellion Harlot Collection
Nikkita Bell has never been particularly interested in seeing the villain lose. The Los Angeles author and illustrator has built her Hellion Harlot Collection around morally complicated women who lie, corrupt, raise hell, and refuse to make themselves smaller for anyone. Blending dark paranormal fantasy with her own illustrations and the gritty glamour of early-2000s Hollywood, Bell approaches each book as something closer to an experience than a story alone. We spoke with her about rooting for the bad girls, bringing Hell to Hollywood, hearing her characters come alive in audio, and the beautifully chaotic reality of doing nearly everything herself.
Your books are known for featuring villainous women. What is it about writing from the villain's perspective that keeps inspiring you?
I’ve been a huge fan of villains since my early days watching Disney movies and reading/watching Batman! To me, the villains have always felt more complex, compelling, and nuanced, and I’ve always found myself asking—why can’t the villains win for once? What would the consequences be? So, I wanted to answer that question in my own stories!
The Hellion Harlot series blends prose with your own illustrations. How do you decide which scenes deserve to be illustrated?
Sometimes, the scene just comes to me in my head. It’s a bit of an interesting balance with wanting to convey a specific atmosphere or mood without giving too much away, as my comic panels are featured at the opening of each chapter. I’ll occasionally read the chapter back or ask my editing team for their opinion on what they’d like to see depicted more, or sometimes the editing team will add a comment in my manuscript saying “I’d love to see this part illustrated!” and that gives me a great starting point.
The series is steeped in early-2000s Hollywood culture. What made that setting the perfect home for the Hellion Harlot story?
I grew up during that era and in that city, and always had a love for all things gritty and grimy, which may stem from my Batman-loving childhood. I’m a very visual person, and if a story has an iconic, atmospheric setting, I feel like it adds to the story's immersion. I always strive for my books to feel like an experience, rather than just a story. I want it to feel real, and like you’re on the pages with the narrator. Also, early-2000s media (such as TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Supernatural) were huge inspirations for me. I wanted more of that, so I wrote it! There’s also something cool about not having the same limitations of today’s world (social media, cell phones in your pocket) that make it more challenging and fun for the demonic underground/occult to stay hidden and get away with things.
As a one-woman operation, you're balancing writing, illustrating, fulfillment, and running a business. How do you keep the creative work from getting lost in the day-to-day?
It may sound silly, but I’m still working on all that. I have an incredible team of friends and my husband who help me with admin, brainstorming ideas, packing orders, and keeping my brain from experiencing too much imposter syndrome on the days that feel too hard. Having the right village is so crucial in this industry. I do make sure that I sleep and eat enough, but having a supportive husband and friends makes all the difference!
You've been very open with readers about production delays and publishing updates. Why has transparency become such an important part of your relationship with your audience?
At the end of the day, while this is a business, I want my readers to know that I am a real person with real bombshells and monkey wrenches in my life. It’s important to show that everyone’s process isn’t linear, and hopefully can show aspiring authors that not everyone is perfect and that transparency goes a long way. My readers took a chance on me and my stories—they deserve honesty, integrity, and transparency.
With To Hell with Bad Decisions arriving as an audiobook, were there any moments that surprised you once you heard your characters brought to life by a narrator?
I couldn’t believe just how cinematically I had written my books until I heard them narrated via audiobook. Meaning, I set the scenes and delivered dialogue and dialogue tags in such a way that made ME feel immersed in the story, and like I was right there with my characters. It also felt like I was in a movie! Any time my female narrator for books 1 and 2, Madison Mitts, narrated a particularly emotional or gut wrenching moment, I found myself moved to tears and thinking, “DID I WRITE THAT?” Hearing your characters brought to life through audio is absolutely wild and out of this world!
Your upcoming deluxe editions add new artwork and premium finishes. What do those special editions allow you to do that standard editions don't?
The biggest difference is that they include brand-new printed edge designs, and the quality of the artwork prints is significantly better! They’re great for anyone who enjoys a full set of intentionally designed printed edges, and even a premium finish like a spot gloss treatment on the text of the hardcover dust jacket.
You've also illustrated for other authors, including Billie Nicks' Fear No Hell. How does bringing someone else's characters to life differ from illustrating your own?
When illustrating my own work, I am the boss and my own worst critic. Sometimes, I find it harder to come up with a vision for my own work because I don’t have a client laying down ground rules and must-haves. My background is in entertainment graphic design for the past 15+ years and I’ve always worked for someone else and taken direction very well. I even have clients say “it feels like you went in my head and brought my characters to life exactly like I imagined them,” which is one of the BIGGEST compliments ever. Strictly speaking, working with others comes easier to me because of my industry experience. Working with just myself can feel a little chaotic :)
Your stories invite readers to spend time with characters who aren't always easy to root for. What do you hope readers take away from those journeys?
I truly hope that my readers feel seen. That they shouldn’t have to make themselves smaller to conform to societal standards or a box that someone is trying to fit them in. I want my readers to feel empowered, to accept every aspect of themselves, even the less-than-stellar parts. Villainy is relative, so I love to explore those darker parts in a way that’s safe for readers to consume!
Finally, what's next for you, and what are you most excited to share with readers?
I have a handful of in-person events and conventions for the rest of the year, and then I will be taking some time off to write and illustrate book 3 in my Hellion Harlot universe! I also have an audiobook for my mid-series novella in production, an ULTRA special edition of book 2 underway (including fully colored artwork, extra premium finishes, bonus chapter, and brand new artwork) hoping to launch early next year, and as always, filling my time with commissions for other authors.
Keep up with Nikkita on Instagram: @nikkitabell
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