Read an excerpt from Naptown Blues by clicking on Events above.
NEW! VICTORY OF THE SPIRIT: Reflections on My Journey is a collection of personal essays about the author's life experiences.
"Your message comes across so lovingly, as though you are nurturing all of humanity with your wisdom, a sagacity that arises from your ability and willingness to reflect deeply on your life experiences." Dr. Chalmer Thompson
The essays are divided into sections with the following titles:
BEING BLACK
BEING EDUCATED
CHERISHING FAMILY
COPING WITH RACISM
KNOWING WHO YOU ARE
LEARNING AND GROWING
LIVING LONG AND WELL
MAKING YOUR LIFE WORK
NURTURING CHILDREN
RISKING THE UNKNOWN
SEEKING SPIRITUAL POWER
SURVIVING AMERICA
SUSTAINING COMMUNITY
This popular title, which sold over 50,000 copies when it was initially published in 1996, has been revised and updated. The 21st century edition is now available.
Janet Cheatham Bell
Janet Cheatham Bell is an independent scholar, writer, speaker, and publishing consultant. She and the experienced artist and designer, Merridee LaMantia have collaborated to establish Belmantia Custom Publishing Services.
Victory of the Spirit is the second book produced by Belmantia and the first to be released from Bell's revived Sabayt Publications imprint, dormant since 1994. In 2007 her memoir,
The Time and Place That Gave Me Life was published by Indiana University Press. Part II of that memoir is currently a work-in-progress.
Click on MY WORKS at the top of the page to obtain more information about and to order books.
To learn more about Naptown Blues and read an excerpt, click on EVENTS at the top of the page.
Bell has pursued her dream of creating and publishing books since 1986 when she established Sabayt Publications and published
Famous Black Quotations and some not so famous. She has subsequently published a dozen books including two self-published titles that were later licensed to Warner Books.
The publishing industry, like nearly all communication, has been deeply impacted by the digital age. Consequently, Bell has returned to self-publishing with the revised edition of
Victory of the Spirit, published in 2011.
Bell speaks to large audiences and small groups, and encourages others to live their dreams as well. She is proud that her son, W. Kamau Bell, a comedian and humorist, followed her example to pursue his dream of performing and directing.
