Bella Osborne

Bella Osborne is a British author best known for her romantic comedies and uplifting book club reads. Her debut novel, It Started at Sunset Cottage (2015), was shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon New Writers' Award and the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year in 2016. In 2022, she won the RNA Jane Wenham-Jones Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year for The Promise of Summer, which she described as "particularly special because readers voted for it".

Born and raised in the Midlands, Bella Osborne's love of storytelling began in childhood. She remembers writing her first story at nine in Mrs Hurran's class — a tale about a thief who steals the Crown Jewels, which her teacher typed up and proudly displayed. Writing, however, took a back seat as life progressed, and she pursued a sensible career. Despite this, Bella's passion for writing never waned, and in 2013, she decided to complete her first full-length novel.

That same year, Bella joined the Romantic Novelists' Association's New Writers' Scheme, giving her motivation and a deadline. She completed her first novel ahead of schedule, and in 2014, she signed a two-book deal with Harper Impulse, part of HarperCollins. It Started at Sunset Cottage and was published in digital format in February 2015 and in paperback two months later.

The success of her debut was followed by further recognition as her subsequent novels, including A Family Holiday and A Walk in Wildflower Park, were also shortlisted for the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year.

In 2016, Bella moved to Avon, another HarperCollins imprint, where she continued to publish her novels. Her unique approach was to publish books in digital instalments before releasing the full work, a method that her readers embraced. In 2021, she expanded her repertoire by teaming up with Aria, head of Zeus, to publish two book club novels, The Library and The Girls. These works combined her trademark humour with heartfelt storytelling, though they moved away from romance.

Bella's writing explores friendship, love and resilience, often infused with humour, even in darker moments. She says, "Even in the darkest moments, I've managed to find some humour, and I think that's what gets you through". A long-standing member of the RNA, she describes the organisation as her "tribe", valuing its supportive network and inspiring community.

Bella Osborne lives in the Midlands with her husband and daughter.

Photo credit: www.bellaosborne.com