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Guess who's back.....

2/25/2013

1 Comment

 
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.
1 Comment

Cross Your Fingers...

8/21/2012

1 Comment

 
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....
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*updated* I Loved You First Cover Reveal + Giveaway!!

8/2/2012

15 Comments

 
Hello everyone and welcome back. Today is special for me as I get to talk about one of my favorite books, I Loved You First by my good friend Reena Jacobs. Now, for those that don't remember how I feel about this book, click HERE to read my review where I gave it a 10 out of 10. So, moving forward, it's coming up on the 1 year anniversary since the release of I Loved You First and Ms. Jacobs has decided to hit everyone with a new cover and it goes a little something like this....
Pretty sweet, huh? I know!! So, on to the real reason you're here - the giveaway!! All you have to do is leave a comment and answer this question: what is your favorite romance book and why? Be sure to list your email address as well or else we won't be able to contact you if you win. What are the prizes?? Glad you asked.

So every day we’re going to do a giveaway. Each giveaway will run from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm. At the end of each giveaway, I'll randomly select a commentator from the posts featured that day. Readers can find a list of the daily winners on my blog.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
So, be sure to enter to win one the great prizes. In closing I will give you an excerpt from I Loved You First, more information on Reena and where you can purchase her great book.

Motorcycle magazine in hand, I flopped on Seth’s bed.

My position gave me a direct line of sight to my friend in his bathroom. Every student received their own personal suite with a private bath, small living room, and miniature kitchen which included a microwave and fridge. No stove. Administration didn’t trust young college students not to burn down the dorm. Campus living—one of the many perks of attending Van Buren University.

I set the magazine aside and shook my head at Seth’s primping. “I don’t know why you do this to yourself.”

“Like I have a choice.” He raked a comb through his hair, giving the reflection in the mirror his full concentration. He always avoided gels, leaving his hair baby soft. On rare occasions, I ruffled my fingers through the silky strands. I’d always pretended like it was in play, but really I just loved the texture.

“I don’t have time for this.” He slammed the comb down and tousled his hair, substituting the neat and tidy look for unkempt bad boy and turned to me. “How’s this?”

I pinched my chin, going for serious. Black loafers—nice. Tight black jeans—oh, double nice! Blue shirt which contrasted perfectly with his eyes. The effect had me saying nom nom nom inside. I shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess.”

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.

Available at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || The Book Depository || Amazon || CreateSpace

Reena Jacobs is just a writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she’s known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for “just one more purchase.” Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog.

Connect with Reena online:

Email: reenajacobs@reenajacobs.com

Website: http://www.reenajacobs.com

Blog: http://www.reenajacobs.com/blog

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4392112.Reena_Jacobs

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reena-Jacobs/460417660477

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ReenaJacobs

15 Comments

One day book push/contest!

6/6/2012

2 Comments

 
Hello everyone. Today, and today only, there's a contest featuring four of my writing peers and their books. Peep the description/details below as well as the covers for the respective books and make sure you pick up one (or two or three or all four) and support a writer.
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2 Comments

My worries...and joys.

5/30/2012

1 Comment

 
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.
1 Comment

New Additions to the Site

4/3/2012

0 Comments

 
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 clicking on the Audio link on the site.

Another development - I have posted the first three chapters of Head Above Water on the new Excerpts tab so that you can sample it, 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!
0 Comments

Head Above Water Paperback Copies

2/27/2012

2 Comments

 
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/purchase-bens-work.html 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.
2 Comments

Writing Update

1/4/2012

1 Comment

 
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-Water-ebook/dp/B006LZR8R6/ref=sr_1_10_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324349663&sr=1-10 


Barnes & Noble Nook =
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/head-above-water-benjamin-jones/1107965938?ean=2940013844346 

 
 
Smashwords = https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114222

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.
1 Comment

Writing Update

1/4/2012

1 Comment

 
1 Comment

Head Above Water Release

12/20/2011

1 Comment

 
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-Water-ebook/dp/B006LZR8R6/ref=sr_1_10_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324349663&sr=1-10 

Barnes & Noble Nook =
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/head-above-water-benjamin-jones/1107965938?ean=2940013844346 
 
Smashwords = https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114222

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.
1 Comment
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    Benjamin Jones

    Author, wanna-be ninja, lover of hip hop music, the written word and monkeys.

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