Bella Books is a small press publisher of lesbian literature
based in Tallahassee, Florida. 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
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. The press publishes lesbian romance, lesbian
mystery and lesbian speculative fiction novels and lesbian erotica short-story
anthologies. In 2003 it bought the backstock of Naiad Press, including the
majority of the backlist for Jane Rule. 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. 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), Germany (Verlag Krug),
Spain (Egales) and the Czech Republic (LePress). Some titles are also acquired
for hardcover editions by InsightOut Book Club, a division of the Quality
Paperback Book Club.
