The Fabliss Life of Bella Mellman

The Fabliss Life
of
Bella Mellman “There’s a little bit of Bella in everyone.”
by
Shirley Sacks

For Immediate Release
LOS ANGELES, California (BELLC) October 27, 2015 – BooksEndependent, LLC is proud to announce the upcoming release of its latest title The Fabliss Life of Bella Mellman written by artist and first-time novelist, Shirley Sacks. The novel, to be released in print and e-book November 17, 2015, spins a bold tale of a savvy woman of the world who gives a rollicking social commentary on life in the flats of Beverly Hills, men, “mature” dating habits, and the odd complexities of love, sociopaths, marriage, divorce, and living a creative life.
According to the author, “The book looks at the role of the older woman, her place in the sexual panoply, which has been so horribly simplified.”
Bella Mellman, a transplanted South African artist and writer, lives a ‘fabliss’ life (as her 8-year-old grand-daughter tells it) in the flats of Beverly Hills. A long-time divorcee nearing the seventh decade of a very full life, Bella is constantly annoyed when friends, and even strangers, ask the impertinent question of “Why, don’t you have a partner?” Followed by the hated phrase: “You look quite good for a woman your age.” The only thing to do, Bella realizes, is to write a book that explains once and for all, her satisfaction with being older and single.
Contact: Valerie Woods
Phone: 323.383.1573
Email: info@BooksEndependent.com
Web: www.BooksEndependent.com

Chapter 6 -
At the Ivy
“Avoiding trends because they are trendy
is a form of snobbery.”
Bella usually took out-of-town guests to The Ivy, on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. She thought
it the prettiest and most charming restaurant in all of Los Angeles.
This wasn’t such an accolade, as she considered LA almost devoid of charm.
The decor of The Ivy was a mix of Mexican, French, and English country. The food was excellent and the portions
large. There was always an array of beautiful people dining both on the terrace and inside. A meal at The Ivy didn’t
come cheap, and she was amazed that so many people were rich enough to keep the restaurant full for lunch and
dinner every day, all year round. But then any trip to Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, or Madeo - Bella’s
favorite expensive Italian restaurant - made her realize how many wealthy people lived in Los Angeles. Digby Bootch,
Farrel’s father, was always there when Bella occasionally went to Madeo. “They keep his table, in case he comes in,”
Ivan told her. “If he isn’t there by six-thirty - he won’t eat later than that - they give it up.”
Seeing as her son worked for Digby’s son, Bella once introduced herself to Digby when she went to The Ivy with
her rich friends, the Blausses. He was polite, but distant. Ivan said, “It’s because people are always trying to get money
out of him.”
Bella replied, “They certainly aren’t getting a smile.”
The Ivy was an experience which commenced when valets - as handsome as models or movie stars, wearing pink
shirts and khaki chinos - parked customer’s cars: Teslas, Mercedeses, BMWs, Porsches, and Bentleys, with the odd
Audi throw in. Bella’s new Subaru didn’t make the cut, but the cute four-wheel drive had a certain élan, which she
liked, even though Greta told her - after the salesman at the dealership informed her how Subaru served a niche market
- “Lesbians drive Subarus.”
“Maybe I’ll attract a woman? God knows, I haven’t attracted a man in years.”
“That’s a lie,” Greta replied. Greta was irritated when Bella said men didn’t like her. They did, but she was too
fussy. Who did she think she was that she could so disdainfully discard every man - some really nice ones in Greta’s
opinion - who showed any interest?
Hoping to snap a shot of anyone vaguely well-known dining at The Ivy, paparazzi waited in front of the white
picket fence that shielded the flower-bedecked patio dining area from the street. On the patio, where those who
wanted to see and be seen preferred to dine, fashionably dressed women picked at salad. Men - whom Bella imagined
were Hollywood producers but were more likely in property - dined with starlets or, on occasion, wives.
Bella usually chose to sit inside, away from the trendy bustle. But for lunch with Becky Blumenthal, her old friend
from high school who was visiting from Florida with her husband, Brian, Bella booked a patio table. Becky, who loved
all things she believed were exclusive - from handbags and face creams to restaurants and holiday spots - would enjoy
the scene.
Bella persuaded Greta to join them. “I need support. I’ve known Becky forever, but she insists on feeling sorry for

Author Bio
Shirley Sacks was born in South Africa in 1943. She left South Africa in 1976 and lived in London for several years.
She has lived in Los Angeles since 1987. She has a degree in Fine Arts and has shown her work in galleries all over the
world. She has also worked in advertising as a copywriter, and wrote a column for The Sun, a South African magazine.
This is her first published novel.
The Fabliss Life of Bella Mellman Press Kit - 18


Book Details
Release Date: November 17, 2015
Retail Price: $14.99
Paperback: 250 pages; 5.5" x 8.5" (13.97 x 21.59 cm)
Publisher: BooksEndependent, LLC
ISBN-13: 978-0988768789
ISBN-10: 098876878X
BISAC: Fiction / Contemporary Women
Distribution: Amazon, Amazon Europe, Ingram, Createspace


Summary:
The Fabliss Life Of Bella Mellman spins a bold tale of a savvy woman of the world who gives a rollicking social commentary
on life in the flats of Beverly Hills, men, “mature” dating habits, and the odd complexities of love, sociopaths,
marriage, divorce, and living a creative life. The book also looks at the role of the older woman, her place in
the sexual panoply, which has been so horribly simplified.
The narrator of the book is Bella Mellman, a transplanted South African artist and writer who lives a ‘fabliss’ life (as
her 8-year-old grand-daughter tells it) in the flats of Beverly Hills. A long-time divorcee nearing the seventh decade
of a very full life, Bella is constantly annoyed when friends, and even strangers, ask the impertinent question of
“Why, don’t you have a partner?” Followed by the hated phrase: “You look quite good for a woman your age.” The
only thing to do, Bella realizes, is to write a book that explains once and for all, her satisfaction with being older and
single.