Benjamin Jones's Blog
February 25, 2013
Guess Who's Back...
I am done slacking; it has been six long months since I last posted a blog - that's a long f**king time - but I'm back. So...., what's been going on in the last 180 days (give or take a few)? Well.....
I've been steadily working on The Girl In The Red Balloon and that's coming along pretty nicely. I'm hoping that, by the end of this year, I will have a draft ready that I feel will be fit to be read by some of my trusted colleagues.
What about the HUB series you ask? I had briefly started on it but decided to let it sit until I finish TGITRB. But, while it's sitting, I am busy compiling ideas in my head for it so it's not like nothing at all is going on with it. I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to put out volume 4 (tentatively titled H.U.B. 4Ever (see what I did there??) or simply go ahead and resolve the whole series and get it over with. What do you guys and gals think?
The Hip-Hop book is still happening and Debbie and I are back to working on that again. If you're a fan of Hip-Hop music then I think you're going to be really happy with it. We have put a lot of thought and effort into it and it's going to be something special.
Outside of writing, life has been happening: relationship status changes, moves, etc..., etc.... but I'm still here and doing what I feel that I do best: writing.
So, I'm still here and I'm not done with this writing thing. I still have some beautiful things left to write.
Ben, out.
I've been steadily working on The Girl In The Red Balloon and that's coming along pretty nicely. I'm hoping that, by the end of this year, I will have a draft ready that I feel will be fit to be read by some of my trusted colleagues.
What about the HUB series you ask? I had briefly started on it but decided to let it sit until I finish TGITRB. But, while it's sitting, I am busy compiling ideas in my head for it so it's not like nothing at all is going on with it. I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to put out volume 4 (tentatively titled H.U.B. 4Ever (see what I did there??) or simply go ahead and resolve the whole series and get it over with. What do you guys and gals think?
The Hip-Hop book is still happening and Debbie and I are back to working on that again. If you're a fan of Hip-Hop music then I think you're going to be really happy with it. We have put a lot of thought and effort into it and it's going to be something special.
Outside of writing, life has been happening: relationship status changes, moves, etc..., etc.... but I'm still here and doing what I feel that I do best: writing.
So, I'm still here and I'm not done with this writing thing. I still have some beautiful things left to write.
Ben, out.
August 21, 2012
Cross Your Fingers...
So yesterday I put a copy of my novel, Head Above Water, into an envelope, along with my bio, contact info, etc..., into an envelope and sent it off to the main guy at the Arkansas Literary Festival. If they like it, and I need you to cross your fingers that they do, they will select me to be a featured author at the festival in April of next year.
So, keep me and my book in your thoughts in the hopes that I make it onto the panel and be that featured author that I know I am. :-)
More later....
So, keep me and my book in your thoughts in the hopes that I make it onto the panel and be that featured author that I know I am. :-)
More later....
August 2, 2012
I Loved You First Cover Reveal + Giveaway
Today on my blog I'm running a cover reveal + giveaway for my good friend Reena Jacobs and her book, I Loved You First. We're coming up on the one year anniversary of it's release so, to celebrate, we have a new cover to unveil plus plenty of goodies to be won.
So, stop reading this and visit http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com... to find out how to 1) get your copy of I Loved You First and 2) get some free stuff!
I LOVED YOU FIRST is a new adult love story told through the eyes of Alex, an African-American/Caucasian student, who takes a journey of self-discovery while watching her best friend come to terms with his sexuality.
I Loved You First
So, stop reading this and visit http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com... to find out how to 1) get your copy of I Loved You First and 2) get some free stuff!
I LOVED YOU FIRST is a new adult love story told through the eyes of Alex, an African-American/Caucasian student, who takes a journey of self-discovery while watching her best friend come to terms with his sexuality.
I Loved You First
June 6, 2012
One Day Book Push/Contest - Today Only!
http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com...
This is a one day only BOOK PUSH for June 6th 2012. Yup, four authors DETERMINED to bring their books to the world AND to see them climb high in Amazon’s Ranks. We have a Zombie-ish apocalypse with a splash of romance, a romantic suspense with a dash of humour, a Thriller with a huge helping of action and a Ya Paranormal with a mystery blended in.
Sundered, A Zombie-ish Apocalypse-
Red is an Attitude- Romantic Suspense
Allegiance- Thriller/Action adventure
Cassidy Jones and The Vulcan’s Gift- YA Paranormal Mystery
And you, my friends, can help. How? Easy peasy. Not only can you help, you can WIN BIG while you’re at it.
Here’s the run down. Purchase any ONE (1) of the books, and send your receipt to us and you’ll be entered in for a grand prize of $50.00 in Amazon Gift Cards! PLUS if you purchase all FOUR (4) books, not only will you have 4 entries, you’ll also be in for an additional SECRET DRAW.
Now, we can’t tell you what the draw is, because that would ruin the whole SECRET thing. But we will give you a hint. IT’S FABULOUS!
Okay, you want another hint? Hmm. How about DOUBLING THE GIFT CARDS?! Oh, right. Secret’s out.
What are you waiting for?
More stuff?
Well, If you insist.
4 randomly drawn entrants will win back their purchases. FREE BOOKS. Crickey!
Send all purchase receipts to shannonjmayer@yahoo.ca Winners will be drawn randomly, announced on June 8th at http://shannonmayer.blogspot.com
For additional information regarding this contest contact shannonjmayer@yahoo.ca
This is a one day only BOOK PUSH for June 6th 2012. Yup, four authors DETERMINED to bring their books to the world AND to see them climb high in Amazon’s Ranks. We have a Zombie-ish apocalypse with a splash of romance, a romantic suspense with a dash of humour, a Thriller with a huge helping of action and a Ya Paranormal with a mystery blended in.
Sundered, A Zombie-ish Apocalypse-
Red is an Attitude- Romantic Suspense
Allegiance- Thriller/Action adventure
Cassidy Jones and The Vulcan’s Gift- YA Paranormal Mystery
And you, my friends, can help. How? Easy peasy. Not only can you help, you can WIN BIG while you’re at it.
Here’s the run down. Purchase any ONE (1) of the books, and send your receipt to us and you’ll be entered in for a grand prize of $50.00 in Amazon Gift Cards! PLUS if you purchase all FOUR (4) books, not only will you have 4 entries, you’ll also be in for an additional SECRET DRAW.
Now, we can’t tell you what the draw is, because that would ruin the whole SECRET thing. But we will give you a hint. IT’S FABULOUS!
Okay, you want another hint? Hmm. How about DOUBLING THE GIFT CARDS?! Oh, right. Secret’s out.
What are you waiting for?
More stuff?
Well, If you insist.
4 randomly drawn entrants will win back their purchases. FREE BOOKS. Crickey!
Send all purchase receipts to shannonjmayer@yahoo.ca Winners will be drawn randomly, announced on June 8th at http://shannonmayer.blogspot.com
For additional information regarding this contest contact shannonjmayer@yahoo.ca
May 30, 2012
My worries...and joys
Maybe it's the plight of all writers, specifically the "independent" ones like myself, who worry about what this writing thing is going to lead to, if anything.
Writing is one of only a handful of things that I KNOW that I'm good at it but I worry that, when it's all said and done, will I just be like many before and after me who will be a great writer that no one has ever heard of. Maybe I'm a bit narcisstic in calling myself a "great" writer but, if I didn't truly believe that I was good at what I did then I wouldn't be doing it.
I worry that people will look at my books as being "run of the mill" or just average when I want them to be so much more than that. Any time I write something I want to give readers something different than what they've read before. I want them to feel the characters and the soul that I've put in it because any time I write something I put myself into it because what I write, in varying degrees, is me, even in the H.U.B. series.
But, at the same time, I find solace in knowing that total strangers who have read my book have loved it. I find joy in the fact that even one person has spent their money on something that I have created.
It still amazes me that a reader will leave a comment to me on Goodreads.com telling me that I'm a "great writer" and that they wish they could write a book like Head Above Water. Reading that lets me know that I've accomplished what I had hoped to do, even if I may be 999,000 people short of my intended sales goal.
I find joy in myself - in the fact that I'm committed to doing something, no matter the hurdles or setbacks that I face. I love how I keep trying to find reviewers and keep finding festivals, conventions, radio shows, etc... to get my books out. It makes every penny I've spent worthwhile.
Writing is one of only a handful of things that I KNOW that I'm good at it but I worry that, when it's all said and done, will I just be like many before and after me who will be a great writer that no one has ever heard of. Maybe I'm a bit narcisstic in calling myself a "great" writer but, if I didn't truly believe that I was good at what I did then I wouldn't be doing it.
I worry that people will look at my books as being "run of the mill" or just average when I want them to be so much more than that. Any time I write something I want to give readers something different than what they've read before. I want them to feel the characters and the soul that I've put in it because any time I write something I put myself into it because what I write, in varying degrees, is me, even in the H.U.B. series.
But, at the same time, I find solace in knowing that total strangers who have read my book have loved it. I find joy in the fact that even one person has spent their money on something that I have created.
It still amazes me that a reader will leave a comment to me on Goodreads.com telling me that I'm a "great writer" and that they wish they could write a book like Head Above Water. Reading that lets me know that I've accomplished what I had hoped to do, even if I may be 999,000 people short of my intended sales goal.
I find joy in myself - in the fact that I'm committed to doing something, no matter the hurdles or setbacks that I face. I love how I keep trying to find reviewers and keep finding festivals, conventions, radio shows, etc... to get my books out. It makes every penny I've spent worthwhile.
April 3, 2012
New Additions to Site
Hey guys and gals.
As you know, assuming you visit the Event Calendar part of my site, I recently had a radio interview with Mr. Marc Medley (my 2nd with him). It was an awesome interview, just like the first, and I now have the audio of the full interview posted. You can listen to it by going to http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com....
Another development - I have posted the first three chapters of Head Above Water on the new Excerpts tab so that you can sample it (http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com...) , hopefully enjoy it and then want to purchase it.
That's it for now but I promise to update this more frequently in the future.
Ben, out!
As you know, assuming you visit the Event Calendar part of my site, I recently had a radio interview with Mr. Marc Medley (my 2nd with him). It was an awesome interview, just like the first, and I now have the audio of the full interview posted. You can listen to it by going to http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com....
Another development - I have posted the first three chapters of Head Above Water on the new Excerpts tab so that you can sample it (http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com...) , hopefully enjoy it and then want to purchase it.
That's it for now but I promise to update this more frequently in the future.
Ben, out!
February 27, 2012
Head Above Water paperback copies now available!
Hello wonderful friends.
This post I am SO HAPPY to be writing. This morning my paperback copies of Head Above Water are FINALLY ready. This long journey of getting this book out is finally over - having gone from being in my head to being in a notebook to being published as an e-book to now being in paperback. And it has my picture on the back! :-)
I know times are hard for everyone but, if you love a good book, especially a romance book, then please support your book and pick it up! You can get it for $14.99 + S/H at https://www.createspace.com/3795232
ISBN: 978-1470058364
404 Pages
Will be available at Amazon.com in the next few days and I will put the link up for it once it's up and running on their site.
Autographed copies (the only place to get them) can be obtained via my site at http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com... for $14.99 + $3.00 S/H.
MANY THANKS to all who read over it and helped point out out the seemingly endless list of typos, grammatical mishaps, etc..., etc...
So, tell your friends & family and anyone else that has a jones for a good romance that Head Above Water is available. I appreciate all the support.
Ben.
This post I am SO HAPPY to be writing. This morning my paperback copies of Head Above Water are FINALLY ready. This long journey of getting this book out is finally over - having gone from being in my head to being in a notebook to being published as an e-book to now being in paperback. And it has my picture on the back! :-)
I know times are hard for everyone but, if you love a good book, especially a romance book, then please support your book and pick it up! You can get it for $14.99 + S/H at https://www.createspace.com/3795232
ISBN: 978-1470058364
404 Pages
Will be available at Amazon.com in the next few days and I will put the link up for it once it's up and running on their site.
Autographed copies (the only place to get them) can be obtained via my site at http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com... for $14.99 + $3.00 S/H.
MANY THANKS to all who read over it and helped point out out the seemingly endless list of typos, grammatical mishaps, etc..., etc...
So, tell your friends & family and anyone else that has a jones for a good romance that Head Above Water is available. I appreciate all the support.
Ben.
January 4, 2012
Writing Updates
Welcome back everyone. Hope all of you had a good holiday!
I felt the need to update everyone on what's going on with me. First, as most all of you know, I dropped the price on all of my published works on Smashwords, Amazon and Kindle to $.99 and, due to that I'm assuming, December ended up being my biggest month by far in terms of sales, not only on the new book, Head Above Water, but also on the H.U.B. series. I'm not making as much from each sale but I would rather have more sales than the money; the money will come if it's meant to be.
I have had nothing but positive reviews so far on the just released Head Above Water and I'm happy about the sales, though I would always be happier with a few more. :-) Just in case you were wondering where you can get it, let me tell you:
Available for $0.99 via the following:
Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Head-Above-Wate...
Barnes & Noble Nook =
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/head-...
Smashwords = https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
I'm also still knee deep in work on the Hip-Hop project with my co-writer Debbie Cunningham. When not working on that I'm working on The Girl In The Red Balloon so I'm anticipating for the upcoming year and a half or so are going to be full of new and exciting work. On top of all that you will also see the release from the collaboration that I have going on with my fellow Clan of the Flying Pens members - that's going to be real special.
I'm also working to get my name out there and trying to schedule radio interviews and conventions. I just completed a radio interview that I believe will be up to hear in the next week or so. I also have a radio interview coming up on March 24th and a convention that I will be attending to promote H.U.B. on March 3rd so I'm grinding HARD!
Anyway, I think that's about it for right now. As my grandmother likes to say, stay sweet!
More info later.
I felt the need to update everyone on what's going on with me. First, as most all of you know, I dropped the price on all of my published works on Smashwords, Amazon and Kindle to $.99 and, due to that I'm assuming, December ended up being my biggest month by far in terms of sales, not only on the new book, Head Above Water, but also on the H.U.B. series. I'm not making as much from each sale but I would rather have more sales than the money; the money will come if it's meant to be.
I have had nothing but positive reviews so far on the just released Head Above Water and I'm happy about the sales, though I would always be happier with a few more. :-) Just in case you were wondering where you can get it, let me tell you:
Available for $0.99 via the following:
Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Head-Above-Wate...
Barnes & Noble Nook =
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/head-...
Smashwords = https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
I'm also still knee deep in work on the Hip-Hop project with my co-writer Debbie Cunningham. When not working on that I'm working on The Girl In The Red Balloon so I'm anticipating for the upcoming year and a half or so are going to be full of new and exciting work. On top of all that you will also see the release from the collaboration that I have going on with my fellow Clan of the Flying Pens members - that's going to be real special.
I'm also working to get my name out there and trying to schedule radio interviews and conventions. I just completed a radio interview that I believe will be up to hear in the next week or so. I also have a radio interview coming up on March 24th and a convention that I will be attending to promote H.U.B. on March 3rd so I'm grinding HARD!
Anyway, I think that's about it for right now. As my grandmother likes to say, stay sweet!
More info later.
December 20, 2011
Head Above Water is now available!
Head Above Water, my long labor of love, is now available!
A self described adult fairy tale, Head Above Water is the tale of a man named Darryl and a girl named Leena who both work at the same company but work in two different offices a thousand miles apart.
A chance meeting sparks a fire in the both of them but circumstances prevent them from being together. Through the course of their lives they find it hard to remain apart and, though they are fated to be apart, they remain determined to be together.
Head Above Water asks the question - how much would you sacrifice for love?
I hope that everyone will check it out and enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Available for $0.99 via the following and coming soon for iTunes:
Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Head-Above-Wate...
Barnes & Noble Nook =
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/head-...
Smashwords = https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Spread the word to all of your friends and family as getting the word out is the hardest process for indepenent writers such as myself.
Thank you,
Ben.
A self described adult fairy tale, Head Above Water is the tale of a man named Darryl and a girl named Leena who both work at the same company but work in two different offices a thousand miles apart.
A chance meeting sparks a fire in the both of them but circumstances prevent them from being together. Through the course of their lives they find it hard to remain apart and, though they are fated to be apart, they remain determined to be together.
Head Above Water asks the question - how much would you sacrifice for love?
I hope that everyone will check it out and enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Available for $0.99 via the following and coming soon for iTunes:
Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Head-Above-Wate...
Barnes & Noble Nook =
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/head-...
Smashwords = https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Spread the word to all of your friends and family as getting the word out is the hardest process for indepenent writers such as myself.
Thank you,
Ben.
December 15, 2011
Site Upgrades + Price Drops!
Morning/afternoon/night everyone (had to make sure I have everyone covered).
It's about to be a new year and, as such, come new beginnings. I have re-vamped the Home page of my site - www.whatishub.net as well as the online store as it was too cluttered and is now a lot "cleaner" and easier to navigate. It's probably LONG overdue but it's done now so I feel better about myself.
Other major development, I have dropped the price of all H.U.B. Volumes to $.99 on the Kindle, Smashwords & Nook. I also went back and re-formatted the Kindle & Nook versions as they weren't the best when I first uploaded them and they now look a LOT better and definitely worth the $.99.
So, please show some support and purchase a book or two (or six) and let me know your thoughts on the new look of the site (I'm sure there will be more changes to come soon).
As an FYI, my new romance novel Head Above Water drops on 12.22.11! Be sure to pick that up!
Thanks,
Ben.
It's about to be a new year and, as such, come new beginnings. I have re-vamped the Home page of my site - www.whatishub.net as well as the online store as it was too cluttered and is now a lot "cleaner" and easier to navigate. It's probably LONG overdue but it's done now so I feel better about myself.
Other major development, I have dropped the price of all H.U.B. Volumes to $.99 on the Kindle, Smashwords & Nook. I also went back and re-formatted the Kindle & Nook versions as they weren't the best when I first uploaded them and they now look a LOT better and definitely worth the $.99.
So, please show some support and purchase a book or two (or six) and let me know your thoughts on the new look of the site (I'm sure there will be more changes to come soon).
As an FYI, my new romance novel Head Above Water drops on 12.22.11! Be sure to pick that up!
Thanks,
Ben.
