National Bestselling Author: Shelia E. Bell

“Perfect Stories About Imperfect People Like You and Me”

Shelia E. Bell (formerly Shelia E. Lipsey) is an award-winning, national bestselling author with 20+ books published in Christian fiction, women’s fiction, nonfiction, and young adult genres. Her books have garnered numerous awards and accolades, including 2017 Christian Literary Readers’ Choice Award, 2015 Rosa Parks Award, 2014 Christian Literary Award, AAMBC Nate Holmes Honorary Award, Kindle Award, OOSA Book of the Year, numerous SORMAG awards and more.

Shelia began her publishing career in 1999. Since then, she has set the literary industry ablaze with her dynamic, true to life stories that she calls “perfect stories about imperfect people like you…and me.” Shelia is also a well-respected freelance book editor.

Shelia is passionate about helping others and encourages and promotes people to live their dreams now. Founder of Black Writers And Book Clubs (BWABC) Literacy Association, Sheila’s mission was to promote literacy one community at a time. To add to her accolades, as a much sought after inspirational speaker, Shelia travels near and far sharing her inspirational messages of how to overcome the adversities of life. Having had polio since the age of two, she accepts no excuses and is determined not to let her physical imperfections keep her from her life’s purposes.

Let’s begin….

FEMI – How’d you become interested in publishing and editing after penning so many books?

S. Bell – I became interested in publishing as soon as I penned my very first book. I submitted to countless publishing companies. Like many other authors, I received the proverbial ‘rejection’ letter telling me how great my story was but it just ‘wasn’t a fit’ for their line of books at the time. In my eyes, rejection was rejection so I set out to learn all I could about independent publishing. I am not one to give up just because I’m told no. I researched, studied and remained committed to getting my first novel published even if it meant independently publishing, which I did. That book later led to me writing more books. The next novel I wrote was picked up by Urban Books/Kensington and my career as a published author began!

As for editing, I have always edited other people’s work in some form or fashion, going all the way back to when I was in middle school. I wrote term papers for the kids at my school, all types of essays etc. I didn’t know at that time I was ‘editing’ and ‘ghostwriting’ too. (smile)

FEMI – What would you say is your favorite genre to write and why?

S. Bell – I enjoy writing clean fiction/church drama/ family saga. In other words, real life situations. That’s what a majority of my stories encompass. I like this mixture of writing because it gives me all the elements I like when reading a book. It’s entertaining, not nasty but classy, with dashes of drama and family dynamics pushed to a point where you can’t wait to see what happens next. I encompass it all with my brand slogan: “Perfect Stories About Imperfect People Like You and Me”

FEMI – Let’s discuss your non-profit “Black Writers And Book Clubs (BWABC) Literacy Association” where the mission is to promote literacy one community at a time. Tell our readers how your organization promotes literacy.

S. Bell – BWABC (Black Writers And Book Clubs Association) promotes literacy starting with our elementary age students. It was started in my hometown of Memphis, which has an extremely high illiteracy rate and is 67% Black. I wanted to do something to bring light to this dilemma in an effort to save our children. Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right and a responsibility, (Our quote from former president Bill Clinton). I connected readers, book clubs, authors and many others in the literary arena through the annual BWABC Literacy Festival in Memphis from 2012 through 2016. I relocated to the Midwest and unfortunately the festival was discontinued. I now maintain a Facebook page that connects mostly Black authors with book clubs, avid readers, editors, and more to help get the word out about our literary works.

FEMI – It’s been mentioned that you were diagnosed with polio at a very young age. Has your diagnosis had any positive or negative affect on your writing career?

S. Bell – At the age of 18 months I underwent open heart surgery (My heart is fine today). Six months after the open heart surgery, at the age of two I contracted a highly toxic, nerve attacking, paralytic disease called polio. I have had over 20 surgeries, must forever wear a long leg brace, and use crutches to ambulate. Now as I grow older, I am mostly bound to a power wheelchair. Polio has taught me so many valuable life lessons. I had to learn how to overcome tremendous bullying and teasing growing up as a child. I was tormented, mocked, pointed at, laughed at, and endured so much torture. Yet, I persevered. It was hard at times and to this day I still suffer sometimes from the lasting effects of bullying. The negative aspect of this disease in my life is that teasing and bullying produced low self-esteem, feelings of low self-consciousness, depression, and anxiety in my life. I didn’t know or recognize my full value. The positive side of having to live with polio all of my life, I have grown stronger and more capable mentally and spiritually. There are many things I am unable to do physically, but mentally I am capable of so much! By golly, I’m a national bestselling author! Wow! I can’t believe that myself sometimes. Because of my good and bad experiences, I can and do willingly share with young people (whom I love to talk to), I let them know they can make it through even the toughest of times. I’d like them to know that the way may not be easy and it may take some time to get to the finish line, but as long as you don’t give up or give in, you can make it. I’m doing it every day. I have learned to love myself just the way I am – imperfections and all. I don’t and won’t let anything or anyone stand in my way. I attribute my Type A personality to my having polio. It’s funny how life orchestrates situations and circumstances to make us who we are. I’m not Shelia without the polio part of me. It doesn’t define who I am, it helps make up who I am. I think we make a pretty good team!