After researching historical 'talking poltergeist' cases, Bell learned about a contemporary family experiencing the phenomena in 1995. After conducting interviews, he agreed to write about their shared supernatural experiences, culminating with the book Testament. The family was seen on television in the November 1995 ABC special Ghosts, Mediums, Psychics: Put To The Test and this footage also aired in the summer of 1996 on 20/20. Among the authentic phenomena filmed for the special was a dining room chair moved by an unseen presence.

During his visit to Oklahoma, Bell witnessed the materialization of objects and heard spirit utterances among other startling occurrences. After returning to Los Angeles, the bizarre events around him continued. The details that he relates enable others to perceive parallels in the lives of such people as Edgar Cayce, Madame Blavatsky and Nostradamus.

Prior to finding a more spiritual path as metaphysical author, Bell worked in the entertainment industry. He was a staff publicist at Paramount Pictures and contributed to campaigns for such films as Braveheart, Fatal Attraction, Forrest Gump, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and several Star Trek films. Many of the movies had paranormal themes, including Ghost, Fire in the Sky, Scrooged, Dead Again, and Pet Sematary.

Bell comments, "Although I didn't know it then, working as a movie studio publicity writer while in my spare time researching and writing about the paranormal would provide me with a unique perspective upon finding myself experiencing a bizarre series of events beyond anything I'd seen on the screen."

Mark Russell Bell's Books:
Testament

Excerpt from Hollyweird http://paranormalnews.com/article.asp?ArticleID=1060