Stella Riley
Historical Fiction & Romance Author
Since she first learned how, Stella has always loved reading and still consumes books at a phenomenal speed.
After leaving college, she spent several years teaching classes of eleven-year-olds whilst also acting as the school’s music specialist. At some point, during a dismal autumn half-term, she read a particularly bad historical romance and thought (as readers often do) that she could do better. However, unlike most other readers, she decided to try … and the rest is, quite literally, history.
Music, usually in the form of amateur theatre, has always played a large part in Stella’s spare time. Over the years, she has appeared on stage in numerous guises – from Ruth Condomine in Blithe Spirit to Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls. Nowadays, she enjoys going to concerts or musicals and, when not writing, relaxes at home by playing the harpsichord.
In 2016, readers persuaded her to enter the hitherto unknown world of audiobooks and thus began her collaboration with actor, Alex Wyndham. He has narrated all of Stella’s books to date and the pair have forged a strong partnership.
Stella says she is ‘privileged’ to live in the ancient Cinque Port of Sandwich in Kent. She and her husband enjoy travel, often by tossing everything into the car and taking the ferry to France. Other much-loved destinations are Vienna, Lisbon, Venice and Florence, while Turkey’s turquoise coast is a regular holiday-haunt.
From the 17th century turmoil of her Roundheads & Cavaliers series to the clothes and manners of Georgian London in the Rockliffe and the Brandons books, Stella Riley writes what she likes to read.
She hopes that others will go on liking it, too.
Stella's Blog
This is where you’ll find the News of the Day and/or bits and pieces that have taken my fancy and which I think might also take yours.
Of course, my Newsletters do the same thing – but I will soon be reducing those from monthly to quarterly; January, April, July and October.
Latest Release
Masque of Deceptions
Had it not been for the scent bottles, it is unlikely that Daniel Shelbourne, Viscount Reculver, and Anna Hawthorne of Hawthorne’s Porcelain would ever have met.
Daniel’s late father left him an impoverished estate – which he had expected – and unexplained debts, which he hadn’t.
Anna inherited a thriving business, along with the knowledge and passion required to run it.
Daniel needs money quickly if his family is to avoid ruin. Anna wants to create a tribute to her father’s vision and skill. He is desperate; she, astute and determined.
So when Anna hears whispers that Lord Reculver is discreetly selling some of his possessions, she remembers the large collection of scent bottles purchased from Hawthorne’s over the years … all of them designed by her father.
They are exactly what she needs. Moreover, selling them to her will give his lordship some of what he needs. All she has to do, therefore, is make him a reasonable offer.
Simple. Or is it?
