Learn More About Our Authors
At BestSelf Publications, our authors bring powerful stories, lived experiences, and hard-earned wisdom to the page. Many of the writers featured here have spent years reflecting, learning, and growing through some of life’s most difficult circumstances. Their books share insights on personal development, resilience, accountability, and the pursuit of a better future. Each author represents a unique voice and perspective, united by a commitment to growth, reflection, and using their experiences to inspire and educate others.
Nicholas J. Ely
Author of “The Prisoner Manifesto” and “Reform Starts With US”
Nicholas J. Ely was born on August 31st, 1990, in Des Moines, Iowa. Raised in Sioux City, Iowa, by divorced parents, he was 15 when he was locked up for the first time. Released at 17 years old, he later lived in Omaha, Nebraska, where he graduated from Northwest High School.
By profession, Nicholas is an author who writes books for incarcerated people;
By captivity, a prisoner serving a natural life sentence (since 2011) for a “felony murder” conviction; and, by hustle, a baker of cheesecakes and maker of hot pockets that feed the prisoner’s soul.
Having only been free for eighteen months since the age of 15, Nicholas has not experienced the world since he was 20 years old. He hopes that one day the system will acknowledge the science of brain development and forgive him for the impulsive, desperate, and youthful decisions he made.
With no violence on his institutional record, Nicholas has still spent four years in solitary confinement and four years in a supermax controlled movement unit. Fortunately, this isolation provided nearly a decade of reflection, reading, and personal growth, ultimately transforming him into a different person—a better person.
Intrigued by philosophy and religion, you will often find Nicholas with his nose in a book that requires a dictionary to understand. After becoming an advocate himself, Nicholas aspires to educate and provide a voice for other incarcerated individuals. He writes and posts blogs regularly at Facebook.com/freenicholasely and works to “End the Felony Murder Rule in Nebraska.”
Nicholas has dreams and high hopes that one day he will be free again with his wife, family, and loved ones. For now, his reality is spending 21 hours a day in a cell by himself—reading, writing, exercising, and planning his next move in the fight for justice.
Contact the author:
App: Getting Out (GTL)
Name/Number: Nicholas Ely #077049
State: Nebraska
Facility: RTC
Follow the author on social media:
Instagram: More Than An Inmate
Facebook: More Than An Inmate
TikTok: @freenicholasely
Website: www.morethananinmate.com
T.J Foster
author of “ATL above the law”, “obsessed”, “mean streetz” and more…
T.J. Foster was raised in the east side of Detroit, Michigan. With him actually being from the streets, he realized he had a true talent when it came to urban literature. Now he is the author of several novels. His collection includes writings such as Evil Angels, Obsessed, and Quiet as Kept. With a writing style and and a raw descriptiveness that can only come from real street experiences, T.J. Foster leaves you satisfied and wanting more.
Ira Leon
author of “An insignificant life?”
Coming Soon…
YSL Enochial
author of “The enochian bible” and “the testament of enoch”
YSL Enochial is a title of spiritual significance—a soul having a human experience. There is no “date of birth” for this title, only a date of manifestation. The earliest known date of manifestation was on Walpurgisnacht of 2002, when The Testament of Enoch was received.
The physical manifestation of YSL Enochial is a person known as the “Standing One” of the era, recognized through faith and leadership of the temple. It is the sole responsibility of the Standing One to realign the people with the correct beliefs of the One True Religion (paradoxically, all religions).
In recent times, YSL Enochial has released The Enochian Bible and The Testament of Enoch to the world—because the time is now. There is no longer time to wait, as the sign of “the times” is present.
Contact the author via the publisher: info@bestselfpublications.com
Marcos Perez
Author of “Flying cUpid and the secret of the three mountains”
Marcos A. Perez was born on May 19, 1990, in North Platte, Nebraska. Around 13 years of age, he got into boxing, where it came naturally to him. With far more wins than losses, he could have eventually gone pro if he had stuck with it. However, during his freshman year, he got into a fight and was expelled from school.
Marcos had no choice but to move to Grand Island, Nebraska, to attend high school. Unfortunately, that’s where things started to take a darker turn for the young man. Falling in with the wrong crowd, he eventually became involved with drugs and gangs. Despite using drugs daily and being in a gang, Marcos always maintained a job and did the best he could to help raise his three beautiful daughters.
Amid all the chaos and darkness in his life, Marcos found that the only thing that gave him peace and happiness was his girls. But unfortunately, even they were no match for the destructive power of drugs. At 32 years of age, his drug use began to take a serious toll, and he fell victim to the pressures of his job and society. After quitting his job and running out of money, Marcos robbed a hotel at gunpoint. He was caught the next day and, after serving eight months in the Hall County Jail, he pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was sentenced to 8–12 years in state prison.
Marcos is currently serving his time with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services in a Supermax Controlled Movement Unit, where he spends 21 hours a day in his cell. Fortunately, it is there that he has found a deeper sense of purpose in life, including parenthood, sobriety, and manhood. He reads every day—primarily books on parenting, self-help, finance, religion, and relationships—anything that will improve his mindset, parenting skills, and overall well-being.
With one book already written and published for his youngest daughter, Marcos has completed a second book for his middle daughter, which is awaiting publication. He plans to write a third for his oldest daughter and hopes to eventually write an autobiography following the success of Prison to Prosperous.
Marcos is currently awaiting a parole hearing to determine whether he will be granted parole in December 2026.
A message from the author:
Love yourself so you can love others. Be yourself so you can be free from others’ views of your worth. Always remember… Family over everything.
Contact the author at:
Marcos Perez #216993
Derrick ‘Tha Truth’ Rollins
Author of “Tales of a Bad Chick”
Derrick ‘Tha Truth’ Rollins is an aspiring New York Times Bestseller Author. Having grown up on the Westside of Chicago, he continuously strives to be his best self, loves helping others and enjoys the freedom of writing urban novels. His goal in life is to be the best father he can be and help in prison reform. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, at mei dolore tritani repudiandae. In his nemore temporibus consequuntur, vim ad prima vivendum consetetur. Viderer feugiat at pro, mea aperiam
Kimi Cortez
Author of “Pray and Grow Free”
Coming soon…