Stella Bell will read from and discuss her recently published novel “Red Velvet Letters” at the Orcas Island Library on Tuesday, July 20 at 3 p.m. Stella wrote three autobiographical novels 25 years ago, and this is the first one to be published.

“The story is based on the main character’s discovery of letters her mother had received from her Japanese pen pal in the 1920’s. This fictionalized account of the author’s life carries more fact than fiction, and provides a unique insight into the lives of Japanese women,” said Bell.

A professional dancer-choreographer-director, Bell is a native of Beaumont, Texas. She danced in the Corps de Ballet at Radio City Music Hall at age 16, and was awarded a Juilliard Scholarship in Dance at the age of 18. She has taught master classes as a guest artist at universities, and has choreographed and directed musicals from Texas to the Jersey shore, Las Vegas, California, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico.

Bell now lives between Orcas Island and Mazatlan, Mexico, devoting her time to writing novels based on her life.

Stella invites all her friends, old and new, to join her in celebrating the publishing of her book. For more information, please call librarian Kathy Lunde at 376-4985.