Chip Bell is an Arnold attorney, but his adventure novels take you to the tropics

Jan. 13--Editor's note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do.

People who step into Charles "Chip" Bell Jr.'s office in Arnold are transported to the tropics.

Images of palm trees, Key West, the Caribbean and even pirates are scattered about in several rooms.

Some are reminders of trips while others inspire his writings.

The New Kensington resident is working on his 16th book, "Tin Cup Chalice," in The Jake Sullivan Series.

The fictional Jake is named after Bell's dog, a Jack Russell terrier.

The lead character is a federal prosecutor-turned-adventurer and go-to guy for the president of the United States.

"He gets his dream job in Miami," Bell said of the series introduction. "He has a problem with the attorney general, gets fired, drifts down to Key West, starts doing insurance business. ... (He) discovers a plot involving the government and the attorney general, and through that becomes a confidant to the president.

"The rest of his adventures are no longer as a federal prosecutor. He's out all over the place trying to solve various problems that are going on."

Bell began his series in October 2010. Each book draws from historical events and legends.

Bell's wife, Linda, and their two daughters, Jennifer Kosior and Jessica Donahower, are also characters in his novels.

The titles of his books are borrowed from Jimmy Buffett song titles such as "Come Monday" and "Jamaica Mistaica."

Bell grew to love the tropical rock icon after a few concerts with his friend, Mike Langer, who's also featured in the series as Sullivan's best friend, Mike Lang.

"The way they talk to each other is the way my friends talk to each other -- busting chops all the time," Bell said. "People seem to enjoy their relationship. It has a little bit of real life in it. A lot of it's fiction and fantasy, but that's what makes it fun."

Bell writes about two books a year, one in the spring and the other in the fall. The books are between 200 and 225 pages .

His work was immortalized in song by tropical rocker Donny Brewer. He and Bell collaborated on "Trouble in Paradise (The Ballad of Jake Sullivan)," which can be found on iTunes and Brewer's album, "Blues Lagoon."

Bell, 69, was born in Harrison and grew up in Tarentum during the 1950s and '60s. He graduated from Tarentum High School in 1968.

"I grew up in a time I wish every kid could grow up in," he said. "I'd leave home in the morning with a lunch bag on my bicycle (and) go play ball all day in the summer. My dad (Charles Bell Sr.) would whistle, and I'd come home at night. I could hear that whistle anywhere in Tarentum.

"It was just a great place to grow up and a great time to grow up. Everybody knew everybody. ... To this day, I've met so many people that you say hello to them and all of a sudden you're their friend for life."

He studied history at Allegheny College in Meadville and earned a bachelor's degree before being drafted into the Army in 1972.

Bell served through 1974 and reached the rank of corporal. He didn't see any combat on the battlefield, but plenty of action in the court room.

He was stationed at Fort Monmouth, N.J. where he worked with the criminal investigations department and assisted prosecutors with AWOL absent without leave cases and other crimes.

That experience inspired him to pursue a law degree from Duquesne University's School of Law.

He worked at Herbert's Men's Shop in the Heights Plaza Shopping Center in Harrison while attending night school. He graduated in 1979 and would go on to work for the Washington County-based law firm Rosenberg, Sewak, Pizzi & Bell.

He specialized in accidents and medical malpractice. Bell left the firm in 2002 to open his own practice in Arnold. Most of his clients now are from referrals.

"The trial business, like every other business, sort of changed," he said. "You had to be more selective in your cases. Your cash flow wasn't always the same, especially in a small firm. There wasn't enough to go around for everybody, and I got tired of driving 100 miles each day after 23 years."

Bellgot involved in the city's Weed and Seed program in 2002. He resigned a few years before the state-sponsored, crime-reduction and community revitalization initiative died out in 2009 due to lack of funding.

When he's not writing or practicing law, Bell enjoys spending time with grandchildren Charlotte and Daniel Kosior, ages 3 and 7, respectively.

Bell also wrote a television pilot and feature film, both based on his novels. He hopes they can someday be developed and shown.

Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, [email protected] or via Twitter .

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