Meet Rose Bentley | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rose Bentley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rose, how do you think about risk?
I believe risk-taking is absolutely necessary when pursuing a dream. It’s a crucial part of growth because every step forward involves some level of uncertainty. I would describe myself as a cautious risk-taker—being a single mother, I can’t act on a whim. I have to ensure my child’s needs are never at risk. Because of that, I carefully consider both the potential reward and the worst-case scenario. If the consequences aren’t entirely life-altering, then why not take the leap? The reward could be life-changing—in the best way possible.

In my writing, taking risks has shaped my path. Sharing creative projects is an incredibly vulnerable experience. It opens the door to judgment, criticism, and rejection. Not everyone is going to like your work, and it takes time to fully accept that. After all, we all want to be loved!

However, putting myself outside of my comfort zone has made me more productive. With each book I write, I improve. I challenge myself to step beyond my usual boundaries, and in doing so, I gain more readers, build more connections, and meet people who share my mindset. It has truly been a beautiful adventure—one I intend to keep pursuing.

If I hadn’t taken risks—whether financial, time-consuming (because we all know how valuable time is), or simply putting myself out there—I wouldn’t have found the opportunities I’m now grateful for.

Ultimately, risk-taking isn’t about being reckless. It’s about trusting yourself enough to step into the unknown, to be willing to learn, and to understand that failure is just another step forward. I’ve always believed that with the right perspective, there’s no such thing as true failure—only failing forward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started writing when I was very young—I’m talking about seven years old. I loved writing poetry, short stories, and songs. I even tried illustrating, but I quickly realized I was much stronger with words than with drawing. I continued writing poetry throughout my life, and I still do, but in 2020, I took a leap and self-published my first novella, Leo, which was inspired by a trip to Morro Bay, CA.

Now, I have two novels, a third on the way, and I actually unpublished Leo so I can rewrite it. I picked up my copy the other day, read part of it, and thought, Oh, this is not good, haha! Only because I’ve learned so much about writing and publishing in the last five years, and I know I can make it better. As a self-published author, I have the freedom to do that.

My books are character-driven; they are the foundation of my plotting process. Once I create a character in my mind, I make an entire Pinterest mood board for them, and the ideas start running wild.

The process isn’t easy. It’s incredibly time-consuming on all fronts, and I doubt myself daily about whether I should keep going because of how much work it takes. But that doubt is fleeting because I truly love writing stories and sharing them. Plus, I get to meet other writers, editors, and readers along the way—some of whom have become true friends!

More than anything, I want to have fun with what I do. I can’t stop and compare myself to more successful people—that would only hinder my progress. Writing is my outlet, my vice, and, above all, my biggest priority is connecting with my readers. That is everything to me because, ultimately, they are the ones who make this dream possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Okay, so a lot of my friends are book junkies—just like me. Naturally, the first thing we’d do is grab a Magic or Matcha Latte at Jurassic Magic, a cozy coffee shop on S. Mansfield Ave. Then, we’d head straight to The Last Bookstore—the ultimate bookish and artsy haven. It’s a dream to explore, and honestly, we’d probably spend the entire day (and our entire budget) there. But let’s just pretend we don’t and still have money left to enjoy the rest of the week.

So, the rest of the week would consist of:

Beach days: either Malibu or Zuma – we’d pack up the towels, sunscreen and speakers and spend a day getting tan and binging on street tacos.

Pizza night: Bossa Nova – a Brazilian restaurant- they have THE BEST goat cheese pizza. Sometimes I crave it at 2AM, it’s that good.

Hiking: Runyon Canyon or a trip of the Hollywood sign (photo ops!)

Sushi: Yamashiro – has beautiful gardens and a 360 view of the city

Bike riding: Venice beach or from Marina Del Rey to the Malibu area

Photographer: Taking pics with friends in the city is so much fun, I would reach out to Lauren Checket with @laurenlophoto to have the best time. She’s super sweet and has a great creative eye.

This sounds fun, who wants to come visit and live this itinerary out?!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The first person that comes to mind is my daughter. She is absolutely amazing and has played a crucial role in my growth. She’s always the first to remind me that I’m strong, smart, and loved. She has a remarkable ability to see things from a “don’t take it personally” perspective, and even though she’s barely thirteen, her mind and soul run much deeper.

So, Rae Rae, this shoutout is for you—thank you for teaching me unconditional love.

Website: https://rosedbentley.com

Instagram: @rosedbentley.author

Facebook: Rose D. Bentley

Other: Linktr.ee:

https://linktr.ee/rosedbentley?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabyF90ToC1_obJBoxm4jZmKwpqGm8Ao2Tv-iXgdXbpH3Zs3kPNlQEP0EH4_aem_Kz6B6TmNLo69A-42QuSdRg

Image Credits
@laurenlophoto