Life Seemed Good, But.... is a bizarre, funny, down-to-earth anthology of more than ninety original short stories. Bell's writing, originally begun as therapy while being a caregiver for someone he loved, grew into a ten-year column for a local bar magazine. The stories are shaped by understated gallows humor and the author's warped sense of reality. They can be read as offbeat fairy tales for adults; a cross between Aesop's Fables and the Brothers Grimm.

Set in and around the subtly unstable Mystee Forest, each story unfolds within a strict word limit, giving the collection a compact, controlled rhythm. Hidden trivia from science, literature, and culture is woven throughout. The stories connect in unexpected ways, forming a world that rewards attention and invites rereading. One reviewer called it shockingly amazing." The ebook version has been updated. An updated paperback will have a copyrighted date of 2026 at the beginning once the old version (now a collector's item) is sold off. A portion of the proceeds is used to support cancer research.