Benjamin Jones's Blog - Posts Tagged "head-above-water"
Head Above Water News + Other Goodies
Hello all.
Wanted to post something real quick and let everyone know that the progress for Head Above Water is going very VERY well. I am done editing it and right now I am in the process of typing it up and getting it formatted so that it can look decent in the upcoming e-book. I'm hoping to have it released sometime this year after H.U.B. Volume 3 drops, maybe around the first week or so in December. Check back later for an actual date.
I have a print interview with the good folks at Getfanged.com (check them out www.getfanged.com ) coming up very soon and I believe there will be contest for the first three volumes of HUB to correspond with the release of H.U.B. Volume 3: The Tipping Point on 9.10.11!
The 1st Chamber from the Clan of the Flying Pens is coming real soon as well. Lot of good things cooking in my kitchen!
www.benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com
Wanted to post something real quick and let everyone know that the progress for Head Above Water is going very VERY well. I am done editing it and right now I am in the process of typing it up and getting it formatted so that it can look decent in the upcoming e-book. I'm hoping to have it released sometime this year after H.U.B. Volume 3 drops, maybe around the first week or so in December. Check back later for an actual date.
I have a print interview with the good folks at Getfanged.com (check them out www.getfanged.com ) coming up very soon and I believe there will be contest for the first three volumes of HUB to correspond with the release of H.U.B. Volume 3: The Tipping Point on 9.10.11!
The 1st Chamber from the Clan of the Flying Pens is coming real soon as well. Lot of good things cooking in my kitchen!
www.benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com
Third Time's The Charm
Okay, we'll try this again! I've tried to write this blog entry twice and both times I've f**ked up and lost everything I wrote. So, this time I'm going to write w/out using fancy bullet points and just get on with.
Let's see what's been going on with me and my attempt at a career in writing:
* First of all, I've recently gotten on Google+ so, if you're on there and think I'm awesome (as you should), add me. You can find me by visiting https://plus.google.com/?tab=mX#11456... .
* As most of you probably know (and if you don't know now you know) Humanity's Ultimate Battle (H.U.B.) Volume 3: The Tipping Point is completed and ready to be released on 9.10.11. You can find all things HUB related by visiting www.whatishub.net Be sure to pick up Volumes 1 and 2 today so that you'll be caught up when the Tipping Point arrives. I'm really excited about this volume of the series as I feel my writing has definitely gotten better since volume 2. I'm starting to hit my vampire stride!
* Head Above Water, my romance novel that pre-dates the H.U.B. series by about a decade, is FINALLY ready to be released upon the world and I'm looking at a late 4th quarter 2011 release date. This is a sharp turn from my work on H.U.B. so I'm interested to see the reviews on it. I'm currently awaiting feedback from a select few who I have sent it to. This book is really my baby and it's time for it to spread its wings and take flight.
* The Clan of the Flying Pens project (http://www.theclanoftheflyingpens.wee... ) is almost here. 6 different writers, all of different writing styles/genres, coming together to showcase their work is going to be a BEAUTIFUL thing. I've read some of the Clan members work and it's really, really good. Not sure exactly what I'm going to be contributing (probably some poetry, segments of Head Above Water, portions of H.U.B. 3, etc...) but it's going to be FIRE, that I can assure you! SHOUT OUT to the Clan!
* While it's on my mind, big SHOUT OUT and THANK YOU to all my buds on Twitter, especially my writer/artists out there. I've met some real bad ass folks on there and for some of them to actually tell me that I inspire them is an AWESOME feeling. I enjoy people actually wanting ME to read THEIR work and give my feedback on it. Who would've thought?!?!
* I'm knee deep in work on The Girl In The Red Balloon, the novel I've decided to write while taking a break between volumes 3 and 4 of H.U.B. I'm not sure how the story is going to end yet but I'll figure that out in a few months. Be sure to check back for more info on this story later.
* Beginning to think of festivals/conventions that I can hit up next year to continue to get my writing brand out. Just this morning I got an email in regards to a festival next March that I'm interested in attending. Once things are confirmed I will be sure to post information on them. Speaking of confirmed, I will be having a book signing on 9.10.11 at the Camelot bookstore in Little Elm, TX from 12-6. Also, I will be having a book signing at the Little Elm Library on October 24th from 11-2. If you would like more info on either of these hit me up at ben(at)whatishub.net
* I have made a few booksales over the last few weeks (thanks to all of you for your purchase - each book sold helps to make my dream a reality) and the traffic to my sites has been awesome so thanks to everyone who has visited.
* Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/maddwriter
That's all I can remember right now but, if there's something I forgot, I will make another post. More later.....
Let's see what's been going on with me and my attempt at a career in writing:
* First of all, I've recently gotten on Google+ so, if you're on there and think I'm awesome (as you should), add me. You can find me by visiting https://plus.google.com/?tab=mX#11456... .
* As most of you probably know (and if you don't know now you know) Humanity's Ultimate Battle (H.U.B.) Volume 3: The Tipping Point is completed and ready to be released on 9.10.11. You can find all things HUB related by visiting www.whatishub.net Be sure to pick up Volumes 1 and 2 today so that you'll be caught up when the Tipping Point arrives. I'm really excited about this volume of the series as I feel my writing has definitely gotten better since volume 2. I'm starting to hit my vampire stride!
* Head Above Water, my romance novel that pre-dates the H.U.B. series by about a decade, is FINALLY ready to be released upon the world and I'm looking at a late 4th quarter 2011 release date. This is a sharp turn from my work on H.U.B. so I'm interested to see the reviews on it. I'm currently awaiting feedback from a select few who I have sent it to. This book is really my baby and it's time for it to spread its wings and take flight.
* The Clan of the Flying Pens project (http://www.theclanoftheflyingpens.wee... ) is almost here. 6 different writers, all of different writing styles/genres, coming together to showcase their work is going to be a BEAUTIFUL thing. I've read some of the Clan members work and it's really, really good. Not sure exactly what I'm going to be contributing (probably some poetry, segments of Head Above Water, portions of H.U.B. 3, etc...) but it's going to be FIRE, that I can assure you! SHOUT OUT to the Clan!
* While it's on my mind, big SHOUT OUT and THANK YOU to all my buds on Twitter, especially my writer/artists out there. I've met some real bad ass folks on there and for some of them to actually tell me that I inspire them is an AWESOME feeling. I enjoy people actually wanting ME to read THEIR work and give my feedback on it. Who would've thought?!?!
* I'm knee deep in work on The Girl In The Red Balloon, the novel I've decided to write while taking a break between volumes 3 and 4 of H.U.B. I'm not sure how the story is going to end yet but I'll figure that out in a few months. Be sure to check back for more info on this story later.
* Beginning to think of festivals/conventions that I can hit up next year to continue to get my writing brand out. Just this morning I got an email in regards to a festival next March that I'm interested in attending. Once things are confirmed I will be sure to post information on them. Speaking of confirmed, I will be having a book signing on 9.10.11 at the Camelot bookstore in Little Elm, TX from 12-6. Also, I will be having a book signing at the Little Elm Library on October 24th from 11-2. If you would like more info on either of these hit me up at ben(at)whatishub.net
* I have made a few booksales over the last few weeks (thanks to all of you for your purchase - each book sold helps to make my dream a reality) and the traffic to my sites has been awesome so thanks to everyone who has visited.
* Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/maddwriter
That's all I can remember right now but, if there's something I forgot, I will make another post. More later.....
Head Above Water Release Date
With this blog posting I am SUPER EXCITED to announce - FINALLY - the release date for my long gestating romance novel entitled Head Above Water. That date is the first day of Winter, December 22nd, 2011
Head Above Water is a story I like to call a grown up fairy tale. Set in a modern world but with a splah of fantasy thrown in the story hits you with laughter, tears, unexpected twists and leaves you with one question: how much would you sacrifice to be with the one you love?
It's gonna be a real hot winter!
http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com...
Head Above Water is a story I like to call a grown up fairy tale. Set in a modern world but with a splah of fantasy thrown in the story hits you with laughter, tears, unexpected twists and leaves you with one question: how much would you sacrifice to be with the one you love?
It's gonna be a real hot winter!
http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com...
Fundraiser
I decided to try a fundraiser to raise the funds to get my book Head Above Water printed up. The cost of this service, for 100 copies, is approximately $574 so that's the goal I'm trying to reach. If I can get 574 people to donate one dollar then I'll be giddy beyond all belief. Of course, if you want to give more, I won't turn it down. :-)
About Head Above Water: Head Above Water is actually the first novel that I ever wrote, way before my work on Humanity's Ultimate Battle (H.U.B.). It's a romance book with a touch of "fantasy" elements added in; I like to call it an adult fairy tale. The book begs the question: how much would you sacrifice to be with the one you love?
What does your donation get you? Everyone who donates, be it $1.00 or $100.00, gets their name and hometown in the acknowledgement section of the book which is a pretty cool thing to see. How often do you get to see your name in a book? I know!! Plus every donor will receive a free copy of the ebook before it drops in December.
My goal is to raise the money, or as much of it as I can, by January 15th, 2012. The e-book of Head Above Water is coming out on December 22, 2011 so I would like to have the physical book soon after or, depending on how fast I can raise the money, possibly able to release it on the same day as the e-book.
How can you donate? I'm glad you asked. Visit http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com... where you'll be able to donate as little or as much as you'd like via Paypal.
If you have questions please do not hesitate to shoot me an email at ben(at)whatishub.net
Thank you in advance for your donations!
Ben.
About Head Above Water: Head Above Water is actually the first novel that I ever wrote, way before my work on Humanity's Ultimate Battle (H.U.B.). It's a romance book with a touch of "fantasy" elements added in; I like to call it an adult fairy tale. The book begs the question: how much would you sacrifice to be with the one you love?
What does your donation get you? Everyone who donates, be it $1.00 or $100.00, gets their name and hometown in the acknowledgement section of the book which is a pretty cool thing to see. How often do you get to see your name in a book? I know!! Plus every donor will receive a free copy of the ebook before it drops in December.
My goal is to raise the money, or as much of it as I can, by January 15th, 2012. The e-book of Head Above Water is coming out on December 22, 2011 so I would like to have the physical book soon after or, depending on how fast I can raise the money, possibly able to release it on the same day as the e-book.
How can you donate? I'm glad you asked. Visit http://benjaminjoneswrites.weebly.com... where you'll be able to donate as little or as much as you'd like via Paypal.
If you have questions please do not hesitate to shoot me an email at ben(at)whatishub.net
Thank you in advance for your donations!
Ben.
First Review - Head Above Water
I am ECSTATIC!!!! If I had some money I would give it to you (but, alas, I don't so - sorry).
The first review for my upcoming novel, Head Above Water, has come in, courtesy of Ms. Kim Bailey, and it was more than I had anticipated it to be. I was nervous to even open the email but, now that I have, I'm on cloud 9. Check it:
"I have to tell you, I'm an avid reader and book clubber and I have never read a book like this. There's so much detail and imagination! I can appreciate that it was a love story sprinkled with a little science fiction. I'm not really into romance novels honestly, but this book worked for me; mostly because I could relate to the characters and bits and pieces of Darryl and Leena's relationship. Who hasn't been crazy in love at least once in their life?
I was able to imagine each and every character from the protagonists to the DLI employees. You did a great job making everyone's personalities seem so realistic. My favorite parts were the constant thoughts of Darryl and Leena. It was amazing how they were both thinking and feeling the same things almost simultaneously. Every thought was riddled with emotion and it made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen next. The ending was an unexpected, but nice surprise! I totally was not prepared for that. At. All.
Overall I think you did an excellent job! There's love, drama, sex, dysfunction, death and the afterlife. What more can one ask for in one book?"
Thanks again to Ms. Bailey for taking the time to read and review my work; MUCH APPRECIATED.
Head Above Water will be released on 12.22.11 - the first day of Winter - on Smashwords, Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Be sure to get your copy!!
The first review for my upcoming novel, Head Above Water, has come in, courtesy of Ms. Kim Bailey, and it was more than I had anticipated it to be. I was nervous to even open the email but, now that I have, I'm on cloud 9. Check it:
"I have to tell you, I'm an avid reader and book clubber and I have never read a book like this. There's so much detail and imagination! I can appreciate that it was a love story sprinkled with a little science fiction. I'm not really into romance novels honestly, but this book worked for me; mostly because I could relate to the characters and bits and pieces of Darryl and Leena's relationship. Who hasn't been crazy in love at least once in their life?
I was able to imagine each and every character from the protagonists to the DLI employees. You did a great job making everyone's personalities seem so realistic. My favorite parts were the constant thoughts of Darryl and Leena. It was amazing how they were both thinking and feeling the same things almost simultaneously. Every thought was riddled with emotion and it made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen next. The ending was an unexpected, but nice surprise! I totally was not prepared for that. At. All.
Overall I think you did an excellent job! There's love, drama, sex, dysfunction, death and the afterlife. What more can one ask for in one book?"
Thanks again to Ms. Bailey for taking the time to read and review my work; MUCH APPRECIATED.
Head Above Water will be released on 12.22.11 - the first day of Winter - on Smashwords, Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Be sure to get your copy!!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
