Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Welcome to My Blog!
This is my first blog post, I don't have a book or author to feature today and I'm actually updating and cleaning up my blog a little so this post has changed a bit! Stay tuned for some amazing books, amazing authors, and maybe some insight as to who I am!
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Ben Burgess Jr! Ben Burgess Jr! Ben Burgess Jr!
So, yeah, I ended up deleting ALL of my previous posts, but that's alright, sometimes we need to start fresh, right? Well, here is something fresh for all of you! I read a book recently by author Ben Burgess Jr. "Love and Happiness". It was totally so much better than any Tyler Perry movie I have ever seen and it really hit the spot. I mean, it hits you in all of your feels. Well, it did me. But, yeah. One of the wonderful ladies that I have befriended had the chance to interview him and I'm going to share that interview with you guys. Just so you understand what is going on, BOLDED things are her questions to him. If I add anything anywhere, I will underline it so that you know I have added it myself. If you haven't read any of his books though, you really should. He's an amazing writer and a very awesome, wonderful person! Well, what are you waiting for? Oh, that's right... the interview:
Tell a little about yourself.
I’m a father, husband, NYPD Detective, Author, and personal trainer. I’m a person who wants to leave a lasting, positive difference in the world.
Wow, I guess you learn something new everyday! I had no idea that you were a detective and I have been advertising you for a week. Based on the way you write, I am pretty sure that you are one of those detectives that have a soft side, but either way, thank you for your services as a NYPD Detective!
What can you tell us about your books?
I put my heart and soul in every book. I believe art imitates life, so when fans read my books, I want to challenge them with stories that will make them think. With all of my books, my goal is to stir the readers emotions.
To me, saying that you put your heart and soul into every book, is definitely true. I have only read the one and I cannot wait to finish the others, as well as anything you write in the future. You definitely are stirring emotions, I do not believe there is a single emotion that didn't hit with "Love and Happiness" when I was reading it!
What genre do you write and why?
I write African American Fiction/Urban Fiction and Contemporary Romance. I write in those genres because I feel they’re broad enough for me to write realistic stories. I try to write novels where a majority of people can relate to the situations and characters.
If a fiction writer, is any part of your book based on events in your life?
All of my books have a part of me in them. “Monster” was semi-fictional. 90% of it was true, with a lot of characters, situations, and names were changed around to protect the actual people they were based on. A part of the character design for “Samantha” in my novel “Wounded” was based on a family member of mine as well as numerous women I’ve met in life. In “Love and Happiness”, both Chris and Karen have parts of me in their character design. After interviewing a lot of women to get the “voice” down for Karen, I feel she has such a diverse personality because she was based on lots of women. I feel when an author puts parts of his soul in his work, the readers can feel the emotion in the book and it makes it easier to connect.
Knowing that "Monster" was semi-fictional, I now know what my next book is going to be to read. I will be visiting Amazon for a purchase later tonight. You are such an amazing author when it comes to showing work from more than one side of the story and I applaud you for such wonderful work!
What was the greatest challenge you faced with publishing your work?
One of the most significant challenges I’m facing now is convincing readers that not all African American Fiction/Urban fiction book are about drug, baby mama drama, gangs, or crime. I feel that sometime African America fiction is viewed as the “reality tv show.” of literature when many stories within the genre are deeper than that. Sometimes its very hard for me to find reviewers and bloggers to give my novels a chance because of the stigma that comes with the genre. While it can be frustrating, I know the best way to change people is by doing it one at a time. I try to alter the opinions of every reviewer I meet with my work.
You are a three time Reader’s Favorite International Award Winner. Tell us a little about that and will you be going for a fourth this year?
I’m a big believer and fan of Reader’s Favorite. They were the first book award competition that I won. Even though my first novel “Monster” was received well by readers, I wasn’t completely confident in my skill as a writer. Winning that competition helped me to not only gain recognition, but it also gave me the confidence to continue to write. I’ve been blessed to win the competition for three straight years, and I cherish it every time I win. I’m hoping to go for a fourth this year when I enter my next novel “Daddy’s girl.”
I'm so excited! I really cannot wait to read "Daddy's Girl!"
Do you have an interesting writing quirk?
I’m very weird when it comes to writing. I don’t follow an outline, everything is mapped out in my head. I constantly rewrite and edit while I’m writing, which is considered a big writers no-no. I have a weird Quentin Tarrintino approach to writing my books. I write the parts as they come to me. It could be the middle of the book, the end of the book, it doesn’t matter. As I write more of the book, I make evolve to fit together with the parts that I’ve previously written.
Ah, I think every writer has some sort of writing quirk. I have the uncanny inability to finish what I start when it comes to writing. I'm hoping that the short story I wrote alongside C. M. Wright's Author Services for the Anthology "Once Upon A Zombietale" may change that. I have about 10 different books just sitting there waiting for me to finish but never have. Argh, I'm so awful!
Do you have a favorite author or book?
My favorite author is Eric Jerome Dickey. His books as well as Richard Wright’s Native son, are the reasons why I am an author today. I’ve been blessed with speaking to Eric Jerome Dickey personally and he has been a good mentor to me. I was honored when my favorite author was one of the first people to support first novel “Monster,”
That's amazing to hear. I have two favorite authors as of now. Wendi Starusnak and of course, you, sir, Ben Burgess, Jr.
Describe yourself in three words.
Persistent. Assiduous, Giving
I'm not so sure those were the three that I would have chosen for you, I would have chosen talented, giving, and rawkawesome! (Yes, I know it's not really a word, but it's my word, so shush Edi!)
End Interview.
You can visit Ben in the following places:
Tell a little about yourself.
I’m a father, husband, NYPD Detective, Author, and personal trainer. I’m a person who wants to leave a lasting, positive difference in the world.
Wow, I guess you learn something new everyday! I had no idea that you were a detective and I have been advertising you for a week. Based on the way you write, I am pretty sure that you are one of those detectives that have a soft side, but either way, thank you for your services as a NYPD Detective!
What can you tell us about your books?
I put my heart and soul in every book. I believe art imitates life, so when fans read my books, I want to challenge them with stories that will make them think. With all of my books, my goal is to stir the readers emotions.
To me, saying that you put your heart and soul into every book, is definitely true. I have only read the one and I cannot wait to finish the others, as well as anything you write in the future. You definitely are stirring emotions, I do not believe there is a single emotion that didn't hit with "Love and Happiness" when I was reading it!
What genre do you write and why?
I write African American Fiction/Urban Fiction and Contemporary Romance. I write in those genres because I feel they’re broad enough for me to write realistic stories. I try to write novels where a majority of people can relate to the situations and characters.
If a fiction writer, is any part of your book based on events in your life?
All of my books have a part of me in them. “Monster” was semi-fictional. 90% of it was true, with a lot of characters, situations, and names were changed around to protect the actual people they were based on. A part of the character design for “Samantha” in my novel “Wounded” was based on a family member of mine as well as numerous women I’ve met in life. In “Love and Happiness”, both Chris and Karen have parts of me in their character design. After interviewing a lot of women to get the “voice” down for Karen, I feel she has such a diverse personality because she was based on lots of women. I feel when an author puts parts of his soul in his work, the readers can feel the emotion in the book and it makes it easier to connect.
Knowing that "Monster" was semi-fictional, I now know what my next book is going to be to read. I will be visiting Amazon for a purchase later tonight. You are such an amazing author when it comes to showing work from more than one side of the story and I applaud you for such wonderful work!
What was the greatest challenge you faced with publishing your work?
One of the most significant challenges I’m facing now is convincing readers that not all African American Fiction/Urban fiction book are about drug, baby mama drama, gangs, or crime. I feel that sometime African America fiction is viewed as the “reality tv show.” of literature when many stories within the genre are deeper than that. Sometimes its very hard for me to find reviewers and bloggers to give my novels a chance because of the stigma that comes with the genre. While it can be frustrating, I know the best way to change people is by doing it one at a time. I try to alter the opinions of every reviewer I meet with my work.
You are a three time Reader’s Favorite International Award Winner. Tell us a little about that and will you be going for a fourth this year?
I’m a big believer and fan of Reader’s Favorite. They were the first book award competition that I won. Even though my first novel “Monster” was received well by readers, I wasn’t completely confident in my skill as a writer. Winning that competition helped me to not only gain recognition, but it also gave me the confidence to continue to write. I’ve been blessed to win the competition for three straight years, and I cherish it every time I win. I’m hoping to go for a fourth this year when I enter my next novel “Daddy’s girl.”
I'm so excited! I really cannot wait to read "Daddy's Girl!"
Do you have an interesting writing quirk?
I’m very weird when it comes to writing. I don’t follow an outline, everything is mapped out in my head. I constantly rewrite and edit while I’m writing, which is considered a big writers no-no. I have a weird Quentin Tarrintino approach to writing my books. I write the parts as they come to me. It could be the middle of the book, the end of the book, it doesn’t matter. As I write more of the book, I make evolve to fit together with the parts that I’ve previously written.
Ah, I think every writer has some sort of writing quirk. I have the uncanny inability to finish what I start when it comes to writing. I'm hoping that the short story I wrote alongside C. M. Wright's Author Services for the Anthology "Once Upon A Zombietale" may change that. I have about 10 different books just sitting there waiting for me to finish but never have. Argh, I'm so awful!
Do you have a favorite author or book?
My favorite author is Eric Jerome Dickey. His books as well as Richard Wright’s Native son, are the reasons why I am an author today. I’ve been blessed with speaking to Eric Jerome Dickey personally and he has been a good mentor to me. I was honored when my favorite author was one of the first people to support first novel “Monster,”
That's amazing to hear. I have two favorite authors as of now. Wendi Starusnak and of course, you, sir, Ben Burgess, Jr.
Describe yourself in three words.
Persistent. Assiduous, Giving
I'm not so sure those were the three that I would have chosen for you, I would have chosen talented, giving, and rawkawesome! (Yes, I know it's not really a word, but it's my word, so shush Edi!)
End Interview.
You can visit Ben in the following places:
Pick up his books!
You can find "Love and Happiness" on Google Play, iTunes, Nook, and Amazon. You can find "Monster" on Amazon, Nook, iTunes, and Google Play, as well. You can also find "Wounded" on iTunes, Nook, Google Play, and Amazon.
Well, I don't see anymore information that is needed today, so that is all... for now. I'd like to think Elle Klass for allowing me to use her interview with Ben Burgess Jr. You can view her blog and see the original entry here.
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