Damone Bester wasn’t just a student at Mendel, he lived and breathed “Blue Smoke.” The mantra of his Mendel track team brethren which, after a brief conversation with another Mendel Alum stoked the fire to pen his first novel about the school he so loved.
 

Born and raised on Chicago’s Southside to blue-collar parents, who were married 49 years, and one older brother, who’s backyard scuffles taught Damone one lesson, “Never quit.” And, after nearly 500 rejections from agents, managers, and publishers, turns out “Blue Smoke” still rises.
 

Damone is an author, poet, aspiring screenwriter and voiceover artist. The real Mendel was founded in 1951 on Chicago’s Southside and closed in 1988. Damone has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Illinois State University and has spent most of his profession in the Social Services sector. He currently lives in the Twins Cities area and enjoys fishing, bowling, basketball (watching, not playing) bean bags, and bragging about his nephew and nieces.