Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mary Belle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mary, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

For most of my young adult and adult life I’ve been the person who’s “good” at a lot of things but never quite knew *the* thing I was meant for.

Since graduating from the University of Delaware in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management, my career has spanned from event planning, to marketing, to reception, to office management, to digital marketing, to the here and now…a self published indie author of contemporary romance.

As I’ve closed in on forty, with a preschooler at home, I realized how unfulfilled I have been putting my all into other people’s businesses, none of which would necessarily guarantee me future success or stability.

So, I had to move on from clients, and I had to leave a somewhat stable income behind, and take a huge leap of faith to take my interest in and passion for writing to the next level.

I’ve always had “Write a Book” on my bucket list and never quite knew exactly what I wanted to write about…until I started typing.

My fingers took me back to a vacation in Italy back in 2015 and now I’m getting ready to launch my second contemporary romance novel, “Bella Vita,” which is the sequel to my debut, “Vivi il Momento.”

I am still operating at a financial loss but my exposure as a brand new author is gaining traction and I’m trending in the direction I need to be.

It’s a scary place to be but a thrilling one at that.

Mary, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a self published, indie author of contemporary romance with a debut novel that has sold over 1200 copies in less than a year (a huge feat for any author, let alone a self published one) and its sequel on the way this April.

My stories are steamy romance with LOL banter and dialogue, relatable characters, and unforgettable storylines. I write for the lovers of love, the ones who love gentlemen who are seasoned with a bit of spice, and those who appreciate relationships that benefit both the female and male. No “happy wife, happy life” here! I think it’s so important that both the man and woman’s needs are being met in an authentic relationship.

I share a lot about myself, my work from home mom life, and some of my general relationship struggles. I believe that relative transparency and a genuine connection with people will attract the right readers for my books. And, beyond that, I really celebrate the importance of leaning in to your interests and passions in order to write something that oozes passion on it’s pages.

For instance, I’m a lover of food, drink, and scenery! Reading my first two books the “Italia Series,” will take you on a mental escape to Italy, one of my favorite places, as though you’re reading a modern day “Under the Tuscan Sun.” I want to take you on a trip with me, one that you’ll remember forever. And, if you were to meet me in person, you’d feel the same, too.

I am who I say I am, who I show myself to be, and I find that to be a rarity these days.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As I mentioned, I’m a mom of a preschooler. Anyone out there who is a parent will know that getting anything done with small children at home is a wildly difficult thing to do.

And still, I refused to let it dictate my ability to accomplish my dream.

I certainly have a support system, one I know many are not as fortunate to have, but I’d urge those who have small children or any children at all, who sometimes question their ability to chase a dream or achieve a goal *because* of them, to just do whatever you need to get it done.

Schedule time for yourself, find a babysitter, stay up late, wake up early, commit to a small push forward every single day and before you know it, your goal will be within reach.

It’s never too late to chase a dream and it’s crucial to show your child the importance of never giving up on yourself.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Consistency is key and less (platforms) is more.

I’m a huge advocate of finding one or two platforms that you actually enjoy logging on to and running with them.

Threads? Not for me.

Instagram? My favorite, even when the reach is low.

TikTok? It’s like a tornado of weirdness most of the time but I have made lots of great connections there.

Over the course of a year, since I began posting as an author, I finally understand where my efforts yield the best return. Personal content mixed with business content is the key for me on Instagram. People don’t want to be sold to every day, they just want to get to know you little by little and sales comes after that.

I’ve experimented with types of content, time of day it’s posted, and how many times per day to post to find my healthiest balance of it all. Meaning, what can I commit to consistently, without burning myself out, all while showing up authentically, positively, and effectively.

It’s a trial and error game! Don’t give up. Just analyze, revamp, and keep moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marybellebooks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary.belle.books/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.belle.books
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-bellettieri/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mary.belle.books

Image Credits
Louisa Vilardi Photography