Isobel de Border

Isobel de Border

Hello fellow travelers, I am a writer, nature lover and traveler.  My first novel, Bella and Rami, will be published in 2026. Set in India and Australia, it follows Bella, an Australian girl, and Rami, an Indian boy, from their first passionate encounters, through the twists and turns of their lives.

At its heart, Bella and Rami is a love story. It is also a mystery. Why did two people that loved each other so much fail to get together? Why did Rami abruptly disappear from Bella’s life? And will these star-crossed lovers overcome the things that keep them apart?

Bella and Rami explores themes of love, sexuality, childhood trauma, and resilience. A work of autofiction, it is also about the shifting sands of memory, the power of the written word, and the search for self and other that takes most of us a life time.

More about me…I spent my early years in Papua New Guinea (PNG) where my father was part of the colonial administration. My earliest memory is of a Papuan man shimmying up a tree and dropping coconuts to the ground. I attribute my love and fascination of other people and places to those early experiences, and to the pile of National Geographics that I kept next to my bed and read avidly from an early age. 

My father was a restless man and the family moved often. In a time when communication by telephone was expensive and the internet hadn’t even been invented, writing letters became the means by which I remained connected to friends in distant places. I have correspondence dating back to age six! 

In my late teens I went to India as a Rotary Exchange student and this proved to be a pivotal year in many ways. I kept a diary throughout the year, as well as a lively correspondence with family and friends in Australia. 

After University, I commenced a career in international aid and development, working in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa. After the birth of my children, I put travel on hold for a while and enjoyed a second career in University Administration. I have a Bachelor of Arts (English and History) and a Bachelor of Behavioral Sciences (Hons). 

Today  I spend my time writing, travelling, and exploring the natural world wherever I find myself. 

My home is on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people in Naarm, Melbourne, Australia. 

Please join me on my writing journey.  Sign up for email updates or follow me on Instagram. 



Latest Updates

October 24, 2025

Yesterday I spent the afternoon talking to a group of incredible women about Bella and Rami. The group has been meeting up and discussing books for...

October 8, 2025

Ever wondered what happens once you have signed up to publish your manuscript? If my experience with Atmosphere Press is anything to go by, things...

September 8, 2025

I am delighted to say that I have just signed up with Atmosphere Press to publish Bella and Rami. I can't wait to start work with the AP team.

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September 1, 2025

Exploring the wide-world of publishing and book promotion has led me to Dan Blank. Dan helps writers develop a human-centered approach to reaching...

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