Mark M. Bello

I grew up in Detroit, Michigan. The short answer is that my Jewish upbringing has had a profound effect on my life and my writing.

I've wrote my first novel in 2016. To clarify, I completed a novel that I started several times over the years. An actual case I handled in my law practice inspired the my first novel, Betrayal of Faith. Two teenaged boys were molested by a priest and the church was covering up its knowledge of the priest's propensities and the prior crimes he committed. After the case was over and we emerged victorious, I promised myself I would, one day, write a book about the experience. Betrayal of Faith was the fulfillment of that promise, a bucket list item, so to speak.

My parents are both deceased (I am about to celebrate my 69th birthday) but they would be VERY proud of my writing career, especially the fact that my work celebrates social justice issues and causes.

Trial practice (especially on the plaintiffs' side) is very difficult. You engage in "David v Goliath" type battles almost every day of your career. A career in the law is challenging, time-consuming, aggravating, but, when you taste or smell sweet success, It's very rewarding.

"L'dor" is my first novella and readers' first look at Zachary Blake's childhood and upbringing. My strong Jewish identify is evident here, but my own maternal grandfather died before I was born. My paternal grandfather was very sick, every day of my life until the day he passed away (when I was 12). L'dor features an ideal relationship any grandfather would like to nurture with his own grandson. Max Lewin is, absolutely, the grandfather I hope to be, someone my grandsons can be proud of.

My books take topical social justice issues and create compelling realistic fiction. Each of my characters face real life challenges, those faced by real Americans all across the country. I'd like my readers to consider these human/legal/political challenges and, perhaps, place themselves in my characters' shoes. By walking a mile in someone else's shoes, perhaps we can begin to understand the consequences of being a polarized and divided country. We should be celebrating our racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious differences and, instead, we fight, even kill, over them. I seek to change that, one reader at a time.

Covid-19 has hampered my efforts to "relax," but pre-covid, aside from writing, I enjoy sports, swimming, golf, baseball, tennis, pickle ball, and, especially, spending time with my children and grandchildren.

I create a mock-up concept, then turn it over to a wonderful and talented artist (I would be happy to provide interested parties with his contact info). One of my novels, Betrayal in Black, features the creation of a talented Michigan artist from Park West Gallery by the name of Dominick Pangborn.

Sesame Street used to feature a song that Barbra Streisand once sang beautifully: "Sing a Song." My favorite lyrics were "Don't worry if it's not good enough for anyone else to hear . . . just sing." I feel the same way about writing. "Don't worry if you're not good enough . . . just write!"

No. I wrote the novella, which is not like any 'crime fiction' book I have written in the past. I am working on another project that is far removed from my novels, but continues the exploration of Zachary Blake's (and my) Jewish history and identity. Stay tuned!

As you know, my sixth Zachary Blake novel, Supreme Betrayal, is currently on pre-order and will be released on April 6, 2021. I have written a seventh Zachary Blake novel that is currently being edited. I am also working on the project I touched on in the previous answer, so . . .stay tuned!