White Gardenia

Belinda Alexandra is an internationally bestselling Australian author whose work includes 12 novels, the memoir *Emboldened*, and *The Divine Feline: A Chic Cat Lady’s Guide to Woman’s Best Friend*. Her latest novel is *The Italian Correspondent*.

Belinda’s books have been published around the world, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Hungary and Poland.

Raised in Sydney by a Russian mother and Australian father, Belinda grew up surrounded by ancient trees, abundant wildlife and stories of faraway places. Her mother captivated the family with tales of growing up in Old Harbin’s Russian community in China, while her father entertained them with stories of his youth as a volunteer lifesaver on Bondi Beach. These influences inspired Belinda’s lifelong fascination with different cultures, world history and human nature.

Her path to becoming a published author was far from immediate. After spending much of her student life travelling, Belinda was encouraged by friends who admired her vivid letters and emails. She pursued her dream of writing but faced ten years of rejection before completing *White Gardenia* while living and working in New York. Written during early mornings and on planes, subway trains and in airports, the novel sparked an auction between major publishers and secured her first two-book publishing contract.

Belinda now lives in Sydney with her three black cats—Valentino, Versace and Gucci—and a garden filled with the Australian wildlife she loves. When she is not writing, she enjoys flamenco and belly dancing, playing the piano and learning foreign languages. She is also passionate about animal welfare and actively supports several animal charities.