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Meet M.J. Bell of MTB Publishing, Inc. LLC in Centennial

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Today we’d like to introduce you to M.J. Bell.

Thanks for sharing your story with us M.J. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My first foray in writing was an alternative ending to Silas Marner that I wrote back in high school. I was not a good student at the time and desperately needed the extra credit. To my surprise (and horror), my English teacher thought it was exceptional and read it out loud in front of the entire class as an example of a good story. That simple praise was a turning point in my life and also planted a seed inside me.

Decades later, when my three boys reached the 5th/6th grade and had nothing to read–this was before Harry Potter came along and there really wasn’t much for boys to read back then–I remembered my teacher saying I was a good storyteller. So, I decided to try my hand at writing stories for my boys to keep them interested in reading. Of course, with four wild kids running about, I had very little time to sit down and actually write, and though I started several stories, I never actually finished any of them.

And then, J.K. Rowling came along and published the first Harry Potter. I immediately fell in love with her books and was thrilled to see so many kids, boys and girls alike, getting excited about reading again. But around the fifth book, I started realizing the series was going to be coming to an end eventually and that started me thinking, what are the kids going to read then? That’s when that seed my teacher planted in me sprouted its little head and I finally got serious and sat down and finished my first book. It’s a boy action/adventure, a cross between Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and King Arthur, called Before the Full Moon Rises. And now, I’m hooked on writing and kind of mad at myself for wasting so much time!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I don’t think there is such a thing for any writer!

I knew nothing when I got into this business. So, when my first book was picked up by a small traditional publisher, I was so thrilled someone actually like it, I signed the all-time worst contract in the history of contracts! Everything went downhill from there and the whole experience was a nightmare. In fact, I almost gave up on writing because I didn’t want to ever have to go through that again. But fortunately, after I got my rights back, I attended a book conference where a NY Times best-selling author was the keynote speaker who had recently left traditional publishing to go into indie publishing. As I sat there and listened, I felt as if he was talking directly to me and everything he said about traditional publishing hit home. And after talking with him, I decided what the heck, might as well give it a try. I did a few months later and have never regretted it for a second.

Of course, being an indie author has its own challenges. It’s not easy to get noticed in an ocean of writers, and marketing takes a huge amount of time, which I’d rather use for writing. Plus, the market is constantly changing! But still, I’m so much happier and I’ve managed to get a nice little following of fans that always lift me up when I’m down or doubting myself! That makes it all worth it.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about MTB Publishing, Inc. LLC – what should we know?
I started my own publishing company, MTB Publishing, Inc. LLC, when I decided to become an indie author. Writing is a business and I wanted to treat it as such, though I know not all authors feel this way. Right now there is just me under the company name, but that may change one of these days–who knows.

As far as what I specialize in, I love and read fantasy, so that is what I write–teen and young adult fantasy. I mean, who doesn’t need a little more fantasy and magic in their lives in today’s world? I think what sets me apart is the amount of research I do for every book. Even though it takes me longer to write and my books are fantasy, I still want to make it as real and logical as possible so my readers buy into it. My time travel book, Next Time I See You, is a good example of this. I did a ton of research (a lot of which was way over my head!) because I needed to find a way for my normal, every-day character to go back in time. I mean, normal people can’t just jump into a rocket ship and travel back in time anytime they want to–that I’m aware of anyway. So it took quite a bit of research for me to find the solution, and it turned out to be a good one! There is an actual time machine currently being built by a physicist who insists it will work. It was the perfect vehicle for my story and when my readers noted it was so realistic that made all that time I spent worth it.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Putting yourself out there. It’s a little scary when put your heart and soul into something to then put it out for the world to see and judge. Some writers I know have several stories written, but just can’t seem to let them go. Some don’t want to do the face-to-face interactions with readers, either, but to be successful that’s what you have to do. You have to find that little hidden extrovert inside you. Fortunately, I don’t have a problem with that. I love talking with readers and doing school presentations and such, and I take every opportunity I can get to do so.

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