Author Interview – Mark M. Bello – The Final Steps

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, Mark M. Bello talks about his new cozy mystery, The Final Steps, and what inspired his story.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

Mark M. Bello is an attorney, civil justice advocate, award-winning author of the?Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series, and co-host of the?Justice Counts Podcast.??About 5 years ago, I began my new career as a writer. Nothing unique about that—right??But I did this, post retirement, at the age of 65!?After over 40 years in the courtroom, I now write legal thrillers based on personal experience and headline-making news.

Mark decided to write a novel about his experience handling the case and the rest is history. His fictional protagonist, Zachary Blake, and his “ripped from the headlines” escapades take readers deep into Blake’s many quests for justice and provide readers with front-row access to the courtroom. Mark’s eighth Blake series novel,?You Have A Right to Remain Silent, his new cookbook,?L’Dor V’Dor II, The Blake-Lewin Family Cookbook of Traditional Jewish Recipes, and?the first edition in his children’s safety/social justice picture-book series (Happy Jack—Sad Jack, A Bullying Story)?were released this Spring.

A native of Detroit, Mich., Mark earned his law degree from Western Michigan University—Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Oakland University in Rochester.

Mark and his spouse, Tobye, have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. When he’s not writing, He enjoys sports, traveling, and spending time with family.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

I was one of the first attorneys to sue the Catholic Church over sexual abuse by clergy. Back then, clergy abuse was a dirty little secret, and many lawyers extracted extra settlement dollars by agree to confidential settlements. I persuaded his clients to pursue the case publicly, and the offending priest was eventually defrocked. Recently, that same priest was indicted by the new Michigan Attorney General and now resides in a jail cell. The experience inspired my first novel,?Betrayal of Faith, a fictional thriller, depicting the experience of a young, down and out lawyer, a “David” taking on a “Goliath” defendant, the church, and a mysterious clandestine organization within the church that disposes of these matters by?any means possible.

When did you take a step to start writing?

As I indicated above, about 5 years ago. I have been busy since, writing 7 more Zachary Blake legal thrillers, two children’s social justice/safety picture books, a Jewish cookbook, and a Holocaust era novella (prequel to the Blake series)

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

I started and stopped over a 20 year period. Life got in the way. After I retired, I picked up the unfinished manuscript and wrote it in about 6 months.

How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?

About 2 months to write—still in the editing stage, trying to make it the best it can be.

Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write The Final Steps?

My 8th Zachary Blake novel,?You Have the Right to Remain Silent,?was a legal “whodunnit,” in the spirit of Agatha Christie and the old?Murder She Wrote?television series. I enjoyed writing it, a departure from the ‘ripped from the headlines’ format I used in the previous 7 novels. I’ve been wanting to create new characters and a new series. The result is my latest novel and first cozy mystery,?The Final Steps.??

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