Bella Books is a

small press A small press is a publisher with annual sales below a certain level or below a certain number of titles published. The terms "indie publisher" and "independent press" and others are sometimes used interchangeably. Independent press is general ...

publisher of

lesbian literature Lesbian literature is a subgenre of literature addressing lesbian themes. It includes poetry, plays, fiction addressing lesbian characters, and non-fiction about lesbian-interest topics. Fiction that falls into this category may be of any genr ...

based in

Tallahassee, Florida Tallahassee ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, Florida, Leon County. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In ...

History

Kelly Smith, along with other investors, created the corporation in Michigan in 1999 as an outgrowth of Smith's long relationship with ''A Woman's Prerogative Bookstore'' in Ferndale Michigan. Bella Books was named after a Jack Russell terrier who sat court at the bookstore. In 2004 Smith left the company and was replaced by the current chief executive officer Linda Hill, who is also the chief executive officer of

Spinsters Ink Founded in Upstate New York in 1978 by Maureen Brady and Judith McDaniel, Spinsters Ink is one of the oldest lesbian feminist publishers in the world. It is currently owned by publisher Linda Hill, who purchased the Spinsters Ink in 2005.Press R ...

and BeanPole Books. Hill moved the press to Tallahassee in 2005. Since the publication of its first title in 2001, its primary focus has been on

lesbian fiction Lesbian literature is a subgenre of literature addressing lesbian themes. It includes poetry, plays, fiction addressing lesbian characters, and non-fiction about lesbian-interest topics. Fiction that falls into this category may be of any gen ...

. The press publishes lesbian romance, lesbian mystery and lesbian speculative fiction novels and

lesbian erotica Lesbian erotica deals with depictions in the visual arts of lesbianism, which is the expression of female-on-female sexuality. Lesbianism has been a theme in erotic art since at least the time of Culture of ancient Rome, ancient Rome, and many ...

short-story anthologies. In 2003 it bought the backstock of

Naiad Press Naiad Press (1973–2003) was an American publishing company, one of the first dedicated to lesbian literature. At its closing it was the oldest and largest lesbian/feminist publisher in the world. History Naiad Press was founded by partners Barb ...

, including the majority of the backlist for

Jane Rule Jane Vance Rule (28 March 1931 – 27 November 2007) was a Canadian writer of lesbian-themed works. Her first novel, ''Desert of the Heart'', appeared in 1964, when gay activity was still a criminal offence. It turned Rule into a reluctant m ...

. In 2004, it bought the backstock of defunct Rising Tide Press. In 2005 it acquired distribution rights for New Victoria Press, including the works of Sarah Dreher. In 2008 it acquired reprint rights to the work of

Ellen Hart Ellen Hart (born August 10, 1949) is the award-winning mystery author of the Jane Lawless and Sophie Greenway series. Born in Maine, she was a professional chef for 14 years. Hart's mysteries include culinary elements similar to those of Diane M ...

. A typical production year includes 24-30 trade paperback releases as well as reprints of classic titles. Total titles in print exceed 300. Titles first appearing in English-speaking markets are translated for distribution in France (

KTM Editions KTM AG (Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, formerly KTM Sportmotorcycle AG) is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and sports car manufacturer owned by Pierer Mobility AG and the Indian manufacturer Bajaj Auto. It was formed in 1992 but traces ...

, Editions Dans L'Engrenage), Germany ( Verlag Krug), Spain ( Egales) and the Czech Republic ( LePress). Some titles are also acquired for hardcover editions by

InsightOut Book Club Book of the Month (founded 1926) is a United States subscription-based e-commerce service that offers a selection of five to seven new hardcover books each month to its members. Books are selected and endorsed by a panel of judges, and members ch ...

, a division of the

Quality Paperback Book Club Book of the Month (founded 1926) is a United States subscription-based e-commerce service that offers a selection of five to seven new hardcover books each month to its members. Books are selected and endorsed by a panel of judges, and members c ...

. By 2012 the biggest part of the business was in distribution for small feminist and LGBT publishers.

Awards

More than one hundred of its catalog titles have been shortlisted or have won

Lambda Literary Award Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the "Lammys", are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary to recognize the crucial role LGBTQ writers play in shaping the world. The Lammys celebrate the very best in LGBTQ literature.The awards were instituted i ...

s or

Golden Crown Literary Society The Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) is an American non-profit organization established in February 2004 as a literary and educational organization for the study, discussion, enjoyment, and enhancement of Lesbian literature. In 2020, in order ...

Awards, and in 2004 it won the

Lambda Literary Foundation The Lambda Literary Foundation (also known as Lambda Literary) is an American LGBTQ literary organization whose mission is to nurture and advocate for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve their legaci ...

's ''Independent LGBT Press Award''.

Notable authors

Notable authors include: *

Rhiannon Argo Rhiannon is a major figure in the Mabinogi, the medieval Welsh story collection. She appears mainly in the First Branch of the Mabinogi, and again in the Third Branch. She is a strong-minded Otherworld woman, who chooses Pwyll, prince of Dyfe ...

Nikki Baker Jennifer Dowdell, writing under the pseudonym Nikki Baker (born 1962), is an American mystery novelist. Her character Virginia Kelly is the first African-American detective to appear in lesbian fiction. Biography Dowdell, who is herself African-A ...

Jessie Chandler Jessie Chandler (born August 16, 1968) is an American author of mystery and humorous caper fiction, most of which is about lesbian protagonists. Her work includes the Shay O'Hanlon Caper Series, many short stories, and other novels. Chandler has ...

Jeanne Córdova Jeanne Córdova (July 18, 1948 – January 10, 2016) was an American trailblazer of the lesbian and gay rights movement, founder of ''The Lesbian Tide'', and a founder of the West Coast LGBT movement. Córdova was a second-wave femini ...

* Lea Daley"The 27th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists"

, March 4, 2015. *

Katherine V. Forrest Katherine V. Forrest (born 1939) is a Canadian-born American writer, best known for her novels about lesbian police detective Kate Delafield. Her books have won and been finalists for Lambda Literary Award twelve times, as well as other awards. ...

Nancy Garden Nancy Garden (May 15, 1938 – June 23, 2014) was an American writer of fiction for children and young adults, best known for the lesbian novel '' Annie on My Mind''. She received the 2003 Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Associa ...

* Rachel Gold *

* Gerri Hill *

Heather Rose Jones Heather Rose Jones is an American author of fantasy novels. She received the 2017 Gaylactic Spectrum Award for her novel ''Mother of Souls'', the third novel in her Alpennia series. Previous novels in her Alpennia series, ''Daughter of Mystery'' a ...

Karin Kallmaker Karin Kallmaker (born 1960) is an American author of lesbian fiction whose works also include those originally written under the name Laura Adams. Her writings span lesbian romance, lesbian erotica, and lesbian science-fiction/fantasy. Dubbed the ...

* Robbi McCoy *

Claire McNab Claire McNab (born 1940 in Melbourne, Australia) is the pseudonym of Claire Carmichael, an Australian writer. While pursuing a career as a high school teacher in Sydney, she began her writing career with comedy plays and textbooks. She left teac ...

* Catherine Maiorisi * Joanne Passet *

Emma Pérez Emma Pérez is an American author and professor, known for her work in queer Chicana feminist studies. Biography Pérez was born in El Campo, Texas in October 25, 1954. In 1979, she received an undergraduate degree in political science and wom ...

Diana Simmonds Diana Simmonds (born 1953) is an Australian journalist and arts critic, currently the editor and proprietor of Stagenoise.com. Simmonds was born in London, England in 1953 and moved with her family to Kenya. She returned to London in 1977 and w ...

Notes

References

External links