The Story Behind the Story of “BeeBop: The Honeybee Wannabee Hero!”

Truth Bee Told

When my children were young, they expected a new story every night. During story time theywere fully engaged, listening to every detail. Maybe they liked the story, or maybe they just wanted to put off going to sleep. Whatever the reason, we had their attention and found story time to be a great opportunity to impart moral values and teach positive character traits. After all, the Greatest Teacher used parables to teach moral lessons.


BeeBop is one of the stories I told my kids. BeeBop is an orphan bee, adopted by a hive. Like our children, he attended class to learn how to “beecome” a productive member of the hive. While in school he meets Buzz, a much bigger bee, who makes fun of him and points out to everybee, “He’s not one of us.” Everyone who has ever been in school has had to deal with bullies, so our kids quickly identified with BeeBop. He also meets BettyBee, who becomes his best friend.

The hive desperately needs a major nectar find before winter and BeeBop makes a big
discovery. He races to the hive to announce his great find, but Buzz calls him a liar. Nobee beeleaves him, except his one loyal friend.

BettyBee, and a wise old bee named Elderbee convince the hive to take a chance on BeeBop.Elderbee whispers to BeeBop, “Don’t let me down, young bee. Never disappoint the hive.”BeeBop responds, “Thank you sir, I will never let you or the hive down.”

All available forager bees travel a great distance to retrieve the nectar BeeBop described. But, when they arrive, the flowers are gone. Buzz says, “I told you he was lying.” Rejected, and shamed by the hive, BeeBop loses hope, but BettyBee tells him he should “never give up.”

He shakes off his gloom and solves the mystery of the missing flowers, but the hive won’t listen. He’s thrown into BeeJail on a charge of unbeecoming beehavior. If convicted he’ll be expelled from the hive, the most devastating penalty any bee can suffer. Risking everything, BettyBee flies all night to search for evidence to help her friend.

BeeBop must overcome despair, doubt, a bully and even a bear. He must make the best use of all the skills he learned in school if he is to have any chance to solve the mystery of the missing flowers, save the hive, and regain the respect of his best friend. This is a story of loyalty, bravery, determination, and forgiveness written for readers of all ages Our kids loved it, and I hope yours will, too.

James D. Bell is a retired judge and the award-winning author of two legal thrillers, Vampire Defense and Maximilian’s Treasure. Judge Bell and his wife Joanne tell stories at their home next to a bubbling brook near Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

Authors: Find Inspiration for Writing

By James D. Bell

American novelist, John Gardner, once wrote in his On Becoming a Novelist, "Theoretically there's no reason one should get writer's block, if one understands that writing, after all, is only writing, neither something one ought to feel deeply guilty about nor something one ought to be inordinately proud of.” Gardner wrote that your emotions can alter your ability to write, and write well. Negative emotions, like lack of confidence, fear and doubt can create writer’s block.  Gardner also said that using our emotions coupled with a hypersensitivity to our surroundings and a curiosity about people can make us good writers. How, then, can we use our emotions to keep the good writing flowing?

To keep my writing fresh and compelling when I was writing Vampire Defense, I needed inspiration. You can find inspiration for writing and blast writer's block at the same time, too. When inspiration wanes and writer's block creeps into the picture, inspire yourself and regain your footing by trying these strategies:

Take a walk - Change your surroundings. Don't sit and stare at a blank computer screen or a pristine page of paper. It could make the writer's-block agony worse. Slip on some comfortable shoes and head outside. Examine the beauty of what you're seeing. A little exercise and nature can spark creativity in more ways than you can imagine.  A hike down a nature trail and an evening by a campfire inspired several of my best chapters.

Experience Art - Unique and complex art can be great inspiration. Seeing local art in person is encouraged; if that’s not possible, flip through art books or even browse online.

Write in a journal - This is recommended for any author. It doesn’t have to be fancy, or something you write in every day. A plain notebook will do, although a nice journal can be motivating. Write down thoughts you have, plot and new character ideas, quotes you find, and pieces of dialog you hear. Go back to this journal when you need inspiration.  I carry a Mole Skin journal in my pocket and jot down ideas whenever they strike me.

Listen to Music - It can be inspiring to download and play great music, from Mozart to Beethoven to the Beatles to Radiohead. Play it in the background as you write, and allow it to lift you up and move you.

Instead of letting negative emotions like lack of confidence, fear or doubt, hinder your writing, you can actually transfer those emotions to a character and use them to help you write your next bestseller. Try these tips and see if they help you discover what inspires you and kick-start your creative juices again. Inspiration to conquer writer's block is all around you--you simply need to take note, then... get back to writing.

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James D. Bell is an award-winning author. James D. Bell is a retired County, Circuit and Chancery Judge who practices law in Mississippi. He was the youngest trial judge in state history and received the highest bar association approval ratings ever given to a Mississippi Circuit or County Judge. He is listed in Preeminent Lawyers, Outstanding Lawyers of America, and other lists of leading lawyers. Judge Bell authored the Circuit Judges Bench Book, published by the Mississippi Judicial College, a book that is used by all Circuit Judges in Mississippi, a Law Journal article on Habeas Corpus, published by the University of Mississippi School of Law, as well as a number of guest editorials in the Clarion Ledger, the Jackson newspaper. He also helped write rules of procedure and evidence used in the courts of Mississippi.Judge Bell is a speaker at legal seminars on evidence and trial tactics and at various churches and civic groups on the evidence that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Judge Bell has been involved in some of the most significant cases in Mississippi, and drew on actual experiences when he wrote the Vampire Defense. He is the son of an American Indian mother and a prominent local businessman. He is devoted to his wife, Joanne. They live in Ridgeland, Mississippi and have four children. His book is Vampire Defense. Connect with him via his social media links:Website:http://vampiredefense.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VampireDefense 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/james_d_bell