Douglas Bell

Tory Porter (born August 11, 1967), better known by his pen name Douglas Bell, is an African-American writer and publisher from Houston, Texas. He is best known for his fictional works, which often explore themes of social justice. Bell's debut fiction series, "The Cake Series," is a semi-autobiographical duology consisting of two books: "Cakewalk" and "Love Cake."
==Early life and education==
Bell was born and raised in an upper-middle-class home in Houston, Texas. During his formative years in the 1980s, he attended predominantly white, non-coed Jesuit schools. He obtained an architectural engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Texas A&M University.
==Career==
Following his graduation from the University of Texas, Bell started his engineering career. After gaining over 12 years of experience across various companies, Bell left his corporate job to become a magician. Subsequently, after a successful four-year stint as a professional magician, he returned to the corporate world.
Bell further pursued an executive MBA from Texas A&M University Mays Business School, leading him to prominent roles within corporate America.
Bell always had a passion for writing. He started his writing career by submitting a short story to a contest, which later encouraged him to transform it into a full novel.
Bell made his literary debut through a semi-autobiographical duology, The Cake Series, featuring the novels "Cakewalk" and "Love Cake." Released in March 2022, "Cakewalk" tells the story of Bryan, a black man navigating the challenges of revealing his relationship with his transgender girlfriend, Nadia. The book explores themes of identity, acceptance, and societal norms.
In March 2024, Bell released the second installment of The Cake Series, "Love Cake," delving deeper into the evolving relationship between Bryan and Nadia and offering readers a profound exploration of love, acceptance, and societal expectations.
Bell is the founder and owner of Bumbershoot Press, a publishing company. The company aims to provide a platform for untold stories within our society, focusing on producing literary fiction that features diverse narratives and perspectives.
==Philanthropy==
Through his literary works, Bell actively engages in philanthropic work, focusing on community service and raising awareness of social issues. He addresses topics such as racism, human rights abuses of undocumented immigrants, and supporting LGBTQ+ communities. Bell is involved with Rothko Chapel, which uses art to highlight human rights violations. Additionally, he leads discussions at the Houston Zen Center, exploring the application of Buddhist principles to combat racism in society. Bell also serves as the board chair for Bloomsday Literary, a non-profit organization supporting the production of literary fiction and poetry by BIPOC and LGBTQ+ authors.
==Personal life==
Bell resides in Houston, Texas. He has been married to his wife for seventeen years and has two children: a daughter and a son. 
Beyond his literary pursuits, Bell is recognized for his keen fashion sense. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, exercising, cooking, visiting art museums, attending live contemporary dance performances, and collecting fountain pens. 
==References==
==External links==
* Personal website
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* Douglas Bell on Facebook
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Category:1967 births
Category:American writers
Category:American publishers (people)
Category:People from Houston
Category:Texas A&M University alumni