Bella's Books
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Bella’s passion for books began at a very young age. Before she even learned to read herself, she cherished the moments when her parents, grandmother, older sister, or anyone willing would read to her. Among her childhood favorites were Curious George by H.R. Rey and Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel. The joy she felt mastering and reciting the full name of Tiki Tiki Tembo stayed with her through the years.
Her love for books and writing deepened during her elementary school days. She engaged in letter-writing to a pen pal in Mexico, maintained a diary, excelled in the library’s summer reading program, and clinched victory in the spelling bee during her small hometown’s 250th Anniversary Celebration in 1984. The turning point occurred in sixth grade when her poem earned a spot in a published collection after winning a poetry contest.
Throughout her junior high and high school years and beyond, her passion for books and writing persisted. In tenth grade, her English teacher, Mrs. Mellon, noted the grace in her writing style, “you have a beautiful style to your writing. It flows beautifully. Although you wrote about a very difficult and painful subject matter, you wrote it with grace…” Rediscovering her childhood dream in 2015, she joyfully responded to a Facebook ad to become a contributing author to 365 Moments of Grace, kickstarting her career as a published author. She continued to contribute to subsequent volumes, in the 365 Book Series such as 365 Life Shifts: Pivotal Moments that Changed Everything, Goodness Abounds: 365 True Stories of Loving Kindness, and 365 Soulful Messages the Right Guidance at the Right Time.
Her wisdom and quotes found a place in the bestselling book Soul-Hearted Living: A Year of Sacred Reflections and Affirmations for Women by Dr. Debra Reble. Referrals from her healing work and “Warrior Goddess Training” workshops led her to co-author Dr. Geri Magee’s book, Calling All Earth Angels and Healers.
Bella went on to contribute to Life is a Gift: Loving You and Mother, Self-Queen: Butterfly Stories before publishing her first book.
In 2021, her first solo book, Behind the Masked Smile: A Survivor’s Quest for Love,” marks a significant milestone. It also made it to the Amazon bestseller list and Hot New Release lists. She is currently working on her second solo book and collaborating on her tenth co-authored book, Bella embodies the belief that dreams do come true.
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Behind the Masked Smile:
A Survivor's Quest for Love
Froma Trauma to Triumph
In her poetic memoir, Behind the Masked Smile, author Isabella Rose takes off her mask of smiles to reveal the innermost world of a survivor of trauma and abuse. Breaking silence, she invites the reader into the real world behind the mask of happiness into the raw, painful moments of her past that led her to a transformational healing journey of love, hope, faith, and freedom. In this collection of autobiographical essays, original artwork, and 184 short poems (written over a 30-year span, beginning when she was only 14 years old), she shares a life story that is moving, oftentimes harrowing, and ultimately inspiring.
Growing up in the “perfect” dysfunctional alcoholic family made Isabella’s world a scary and unsafe place from the start. She was told at a young age to silence her voice about what went on in the family home while trying so hard to gain the love, acceptance, and approval she needed. Raped at fourteen, she began a battle with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Always appearing happy and bubbly, she hid well the pain and torment she suffered. As Isabella grew older, she followed in the footsteps of her mother along the path of trauma and abuse laid out by generations of ancestors before her. In this book, she shares the confusion, betrayal, abandonment, being in love with a substance user, and becoming one herself in her search for love and acceptance.
For years, her journey seemed to be leading to a dark place, until one day, she knew something had to change. Praying for the courage and strength she needed to take back her power, she learned to love herself and rise above the trauma she had experienced. Yet it was the trauma, abuse, and addiction she battled alone in silence that ultimately led her to a triumph of faith, love, healing, and a life of freedom—a life she loves, a life where she is making her dreams come true.
“This book of personal essays and poetry following the incredible transitional life of the author is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and offers hope where there seems to be none.”
~ Jessica Lucci
5% of profits from this book’s sales will be donated to Janie’s Fund.