In anticipation of the release of Humanity's Ultimate Battle (H.U.B.) Volume 3: The Tipping Point, I decided to come up with a promotion.

From now until 9.15.11 anyone who purchases a copy of the paperback version of H.U.B. Volume 1 & 2 will receive the ebook version of H.U.B. Volume 3: The Tipping for free (Volume 3 to be released on 9.10.11). Doesn't that sound awesome? I know!!

So, be sure to get your copy at http://www.whatishub.net . Thanks for the support; much appreciated!

Ben.

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 clicking HERE.

* 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.weebly.com ) 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.....

For my daughter.....

When I find out you were coming I was afraid, not wanting to be the father that my father was. Once you were here I had no doubts. June 23rd, 2000 you were born - the greatest work of art I could ever hope to write.

Who would've predicted that your mother and I wouldn't last but I appreciate her for carrying you. Seeing you smile is worth all the headaches and tears I shed going through custody fights over you. I hate that I only see you every other weekend; there's something not right about a willing and loving father not being able to see his child except every two weeks. But, regardless, the times we have are precious. The first time I dropped you off after the custody issues came up I cried so much and I was so hurt and I have always tried to hide the pain I feel from you, though I don't know how good I am at doing that sometimes.

You're growing up so fast. It seemed like only yesterday when I was the first person to hold you once you were born. I continue to be proud of the young lady you've become and the time we spend together is priceless: feeding ducks, watching iCarly, choir performances, watching movies. Who would've known that one day you would tell me that you were proud of me for having my book on Amazon? That alone is worth more than any amount of books I will ever sell in my lifetime.

You are my daughter. My friend. My little queen. My favorite person in the world. My lasting legacy. A true beauty in a sometimes ugly world. My constant. My love.

Daddy loves you.

This is a hard review for me to write.

I was offered a chance to read this book via Twitter by Ms. Zantow and, of course, I never turn down a chance to read a free book, so she sent it to me and here we are. The plot is as follows:

"The moon has not changed in the fifty years of the dark lord Magna’s rule—but everything else has.

All too often, the servants of Dark Overlords are dispatched with a lazy flick of the hero's sword. But in Shadowing, the job benefits of fire, mayhem, and shapeshifting almost make up for it. In between burning down villages, the minion's primary directive is taking out heroes. When a man in golden armor and his faithful companions sneak across the border on a quest to assassinate the Dark Lord Magna, long live the Magna, it's up to the Shadows to cut his quest short. As always, things do not go quite according to plan, and one henchman ends up lone-wolfing it across the permafrost lands, following the stench of valor.

A story of sword and sorcery, tooth and claw, and wyvern wing."


Shadowing is a true fantasy epic, complete with Heroes, elves, swords, Dark Overlords, shape shifters, etc.... which, taken all together, I thought would work for me but, as it turns out, it didn't for whatever reason. I know the age old adage that you can't please everyone but I really WANTED to like this book but it just didn't hit me like I hoped that it would, which is not a knock on Kat or her story telling abilities per se.

My problem was/is that I couldn't get into the book at all, even at a short 83 pages. Even at such a short amount of pages it took me a while to finish it as I kept putting it down and then picking it back up later and I found myself actually wanting it to end just so that I would be done with it. When I did finish it I had a hard time telling my wife what the story was about when she asked because it really made no impression on me.

As I said, no one likes all books and this happened to be one that I really didn't like for whatever reason. Will you like it? It's a good possibility. Would I give Ms. Zantow's next work a shot? Most definitely as, being a writer myself, I know how difficult it is to to even START a book so if someone takes the time to write something then I owe it to them to take the time to read it. So, check the book out and judge it for yourself because books, like art and music, are in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone likes Thriller and it's the top selling album of all time. I didn't like Avatar and it's the top grossing movie ever!

4 out of 10 stars.

Find the book HERE and check it out - only $.99 on the Kindle.

As you can tell by the title of the book, I Loved You First is a story about love and, me being the sucker for romance and love that I am, I was eager to read it when she gave me the opportunity to do so. I'm so glad that I did!!

Straight up, I absolutely LOVED this book. The story of a girl named Alex and her love for her best friend Seth - it sounds so simple at first but the wrench in the plan comes from the fact that Seth is gay. Alex knows this but it doesn't change her feelings even though, deep down, she knows that the chances of Seth loving her the way she wants to be loved by him are very slim.

I want go into any spoilers as to what happens in this book but I will say that I Loved You First is everything that love is: it's sweet.... it's painful.... it's laughter.... it's crying..... it's real..... it's confusion..... it's something that you can't forget.

Anyone that has ever been in love with a best friend, or been in love PERIOD with someone they KNEW they could never be with, will relate and be able to appreciate this book for the greatness that it is. The characters and situations are real and easy to identify with. The story itself makes for a page turner - I think it took me no more than 2 hours to read it.

Get this book!

10 out of 10.

Paperback, 142 pages Published July 29th 2011 by Reena Jacobs more details... ISBN 9781463529 primary language English url http://ReenaJacobs.com