Stella became a serious writer at the age of 9 when her father gave her a second-hand Imperial Portable typewriter. She was in bed with measles at the time, covered in spots, but taught herself to type immediately.

Writing and selling her magazines at school - instead of paying attention in class - she progressed to her first job as a cub reporter with a South London newspaper group. Four years later, she had become Chief Reporter, their youngest ever, as well as being the first female – and only pregnant – one they had had.

Two children later, she began working for the Parliamentary Press Gallery in the House of Commons, mixing with the crème de la crème of political journalists. This work was the joy of her life…Meanwhile, on the daily commute, she was writing, like Trollope, with a pad on her knee. In the long parliamentary recesses, she produced cat books and romantic novels, and won several national women’s magazine prizes with her short stories.

A fulltime writer since 2002, Stella has ‘turned to crime’ and lecturing on P & Co cruise-ships. She also lectures annually at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School.

WORK IN PROGRESS

• Deadlock
  A Harriet Dale Mystery set in seedy South London and the prosperous Shires.

• Waterloo Sunrise
  Sophie Gresham, failed actress but wonderful prompt, rediscovers the man she has always loved in this ‘West End’ romance.