Benjamin Davis's Blog, page 6

​The King of FU

Hi everyone! Our first book got published…

It is a somewhat demented poetic magical-realism memoir about growing up in America in the 90’s.

Illustrated by Nikita, published by Nada Blank Press and written by me.

If you don’t have a kindle / live outside of the US, you can get a digital copy straight from the publisher here:

https://www.nadablank.com/copy-of-epress

You can also get it on Kindle or Paperback on Amazon. It is up on Kindle Unlimited right now as well so if you’ve got that you c...

bees

New poem of mine just published over at Hijacked Amygdala. Check it out and let me know what you think.

hijacked amygdala

my dad never runs from bees
but I run from bees
does that mean I am not a man?

bees are small and evil little yellow and black things
that cause you pain
but everyone still wants to save them

I want to kill them all
but if we kill them all we all also
die
this is called nature
it sucks
it is an absurdist joke in bad taste

I was outside of a wedding when it happened
the bee...

How Saint Petersburg, Russia Inspired me to Write Magical Realism

artwork by Nikita Klimov

Before I left for Russia, when I’d tell Americans where I was headed, they’d say, “why the hell are you going to Russia?” And, I never was able to answer, as much as I wanted to. I was only curious and even more curious about what made people quite so afraid. Were there monsters in Russia? Were there spies down every alley and primordial bits of darkness that I’d have to navigate in order to avoid being lost forever?

On the plane, I began reading a book called, Russia...

Let’s Freelance This Bitch [Week 2]

My brother and I decided to quit our jobs and try to whole digital nomad thing. We both have school loans totaling about $800 a month. But, before you feel bad for us, here are the facts: We are men. We are white. We are in our twenties, college educated and if we broke down on a street corner and cried “MOOOOMMMYY.” Our small-town Massachusetts mother would morph into a mythical beast, fly to Russia to burn our enemies and carry us home in the crux of her wing. We are privileged as fuck. I s...

Let’s Freelance this Bitch

[WEEK 1]

My brother and I live in Saint Petersburg, Russia. We recently decided to quit our jobs and try to become freelance writers, because—fuck it. There are so many blog “abouts” that say “I made a living from my laptop traveling the world. I am a digital nomad woo-hoo!” But, how easy is it, really? We don’t know yet, but we’ll find out.

Here is our Journey.

SUCCESS!

One recurring editorial client. One script editing and voice recording with promise for future work. One ghost written art...

3 insane conversations I’ve had with my Russian girlfriend | Russia Beyond

New article up on Russia Beyond about 3 conversations I’ve had with my Russian girlfriend. To be fair, they changed the title to “3 insane conversations I’ve had with my Russian girlfriend.” I didn’t realize they were insane, maybe I am insane. Oh dear…  I am sure that Russian women are not the only ones who create these kinds of dialogues, but if you plan to date a Russian, plan to have your ideas challenged.

https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/328913-russian-girlfriend-conversations

 

Well–That was new.

The security guard in my building is old. He doesn’t smoke. He used to smoke, but not anymore; he tells me every day. His English is not very good. Now that winter is dead, he spends more time outside. He finds me there and he says, “I used to smoke, but I don’t, now.”

Then, yesterday he came to me. He said, “I remember a story. There was a smoker, a soldier. And, he was smoking. The colonel. Colonel, you know?”

I nodded, took a drag.

“Yes. A colonel, he saw a soldier smoke. And the soldier s...

CIGARETTES, COINS, AND THE WATER OF LIFE|RUSSIAN TRANSLATION

We’ve been working on putting all of the stories I wrote for Flash-365 project that are based in Russia into a book of Magical Realism in Saint Petersburg. As a preview, for those of you who are interested, it includes a new translation of “Сigarettes, Coins, and The Water of Life”, my very first story about the day I came to Russia.

Сигареты, монеты и вода жизни

Я попал в это место в животе серой птички родом из Европы. Она выплюнула меня прямо на тротуар. М встретил меня там.

«Возьми, они п...

Why Russians and Americans aren’t that Different | Russia Beyond

A new article I’ve written for Russia beyond about how the actual people living in the two countries that are allegedly ‘enemies’ have plenty of their own shit to worry about without fretting over whether Putin and Trump are fighting or fucking.

https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/328816-russians-americans-difference

 

Going to the Proctologist in Russia

The Russian Butt Doctor | On Flash-365

[image error]

I recently had surgery on the least fun place on my body for someone to stick a knife. (O.K.–second least fun place.) It all started with a visit to the proctologist after starting to feel discomfort in my booty. A true account of that first visit (first of five) is up on Flash-365 with a lovely piece of art by Nikita Klimov to go with it. Click the link below:

The Russian Butt Doctor