tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273657844468621972024-03-13T06:31:33.628-04:00Benjamin W. BassBenjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-78328757410841204102023-09-24T10:42:00.002-04:002023-09-24T10:42:47.011-04:00The Chosen OneSo, hear me out on this - A while ago, I was on the internet and someone had a post about why "The Chosen One" is always a teenager... and not a grown person with the ability to be rational or something.Hang on... searching... okay, here is the original post: So that got me thinking about the different stories and whatnot that surround these types of characters. And now I'm going to bore youBenjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-43472703280907244492022-03-03T07:32:00.001-05:002022-03-03T07:41:08.776-05:00Henry Street! Some of you may or may not know that in early 2020 I found myself with the option to sign with a publishing company and have my books distributed nationally. This was very exciting and, despite my reluctance, I finally said yes. I took my book offline, scoured the web for links to my amazon page, and made myself an online ghost in preparation for "release day"Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0Batesville, IN 47006, USA39.3000511 -85.22218410.989817263821152 -120.378434 67.610284936178843 -50.065934tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-46601727027968118332021-12-10T14:57:00.003-05:002021-12-10T14:57:51.571-05:00'Twas the night for spatchcocking! 'Twas the night for spatchcocking! 'Twas the night for spatchcocking, so let's crush this bird!Before you get too excited, It's not a dirty word.I flipped that bird over, and cut out its spineBroke his meaty chest, and set him to brine!His name is Lance and he's our main dinner feastHe's been brining for 48 hours - that big, sexy beast.Buttermilk and salt, and maybe an Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-48325318656732507692021-11-23T19:44:00.005-05:002021-11-23T19:52:54.332-05:00Starting OverTonight, standing in my garage, I looked at the wall covered in photos and memorabilia from my life... and while these things bring me joy to look at, to remember the times and places I'd been, they're holding me back... They're preventing growth. They are a tomb in which I've housed my creativity, never to be used again. They've become an altar to my past in which I pray my previous works Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-49862164785146164122021-11-07T09:11:00.000-05:002021-11-07T09:11:24.598-05:00As a Thank You for Veterans DayThis week, we take time to honor our Veterans. We say thank you for all that they've done and all that the continue to endure after they've come home.It's not always easy to come home from the war and return to a "normal life" in the civilian world - and this is something I have tried very hard to portray in Alone In The Light. I have taken great pains to show the physical, mental, and emotional Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00568846057850590478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-7799006065325767192021-09-09T14:23:00.006-04:002021-09-09T14:24:59.455-04:00"The story is there, I just need to tell it."Today is September 9, and 8 years ago, I wrote, "The story is there, I just need to tell it." Well, 8 years later I'm an award-winning author with over 3,000 copies of my book in circulation, a professionally produced Audiobook with amazing narrators, and a National re-release coming on November 9, 2021 through my Publisher, Hurn Publications. It's a very exciting time for me.Saturday, Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-61680059361063402402020-11-25T14:18:00.004-05:002020-11-25T14:23:41.982-05:00Giving Thanks; An Abridged List Of The Good Stuff In LifeEvery year, we sit around the table and give thanks. And with it being 2020 and all, we're having trouble finding those little things we're thankful for... I mean, it's been just a shitty year overall am I right? And not just with COVID... the whole year just seems to WANT to make life suck. But we're pulling through... We're moving forward to a better and brighter tomorrow free of the crap Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-45405964862822269652020-04-13T14:53:00.000-04:002020-04-13T14:53:51.827-04:00Living Behind The WireA couple of days ago, two of my Twitter friends were discussing "life at home" and how it is very much like being on deployment - with the military.
I'll be damned if that didn't hit home really hard.
This whole "Quarantine" thing is very much like being deployed. And that has its good moments and bad moments.... and a WHOLE lot of downtime and boredom.
Let me give you the quick and dirty -&Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-43349689274635818932020-03-19T16:30:00.002-04:002020-03-19T16:30:36.387-04:00Mental Health During Quarantine So, uh, yeah. Where do I start?
I've had an eventful 41 years so far... but this is my first nationwide lock-down/quarantine. So, you know, good times! My kids will now be out of school until May 1 at the earliest and I am moderately concerned about my employment in the foreseeable future... but that's a blog post for a different day.
Today, we're talking about being cooped up in the house Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-34773649920515966522020-03-12T11:18:00.001-04:002020-03-12T11:22:51.906-04:00Achievement Unlocked - F*CK YOU, STUDENT LOANS!Good morning, world!
Despite the dumpster fire raging across the land, I've been on a mission to find a silver lining - something that would bring me joy and make my life less... stressful. Aside from watching the news, what is the most stressful thing I can think of? - Student Loans.
It's hard to enjoy life when you're barely scraping by some months. Add to that the mandatory student Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-12209168270476105032020-03-02T12:38:00.001-05:002020-03-02T14:01:36.623-05:00The Unwelcome Anxiety of Memory.
The Unwelcome Anxiety of Memory.
I can't speak for anyone else, but as we approach the 17th anniversary of "Shock and Awe" and the invasion of Iraq... I find myself getting anxious. Just like I do every year. I don't know if this anniversary is the cause of massive anxiety attack today, or just a convenient excuse - but I sort of feel like the two may be connected.
Shock and Awe on the Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-54192783230346408502020-02-27T17:46:00.001-05:002020-02-27T17:46:41.882-05:00Preppers and rice!
I am going to talk today about a little thing I like to call, "You bought WHAT?"
I was in the Army for 10 years. Well, National Guard AND the Army for a total of 10 years. Point is, I spent a lot of time being dirty and hungry in some really unpleasant places. After my time in, I've become fond of things like being clean, eating food... not getting shot at... you know, things like that. And Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-3284091999449464772020-02-17T15:36:00.000-05:002020-02-17T16:20:22.756-05:00Frank - A Short Story
“Frank”
Written by: Benjamin W. Bass
“Can you tell me your name?”
“Frank... er, Francis James Ackerman... People just call me Frank.”
“May I call you Frank?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Do you know why you are here, Frank?”
“I was told you could help me get a job.”
“That we can, Frank. We help people get jobs.”
“That’s good.”
“You signed the red-form, right, Frank?”
“Yeah…”
“That’s Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-79694305959878385062020-01-20T11:53:00.000-05:002020-01-20T11:53:10.006-05:00Sick and tired of being sick... and tired.
Laziness is a hard habit to break...
A friend of mine made a comment about "wanting to become healthier" recently on his Twitter feed and that really got me thinking. It got me thinking about myself and my current state of health.
I, like many of you, like to drink alcohol. It's a nice way to wind down after a long, stressful day. But this isn't healthy.
I also like food. Especially Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-3063477476840681522019-12-24T11:02:00.000-05:002019-12-24T11:42:55.717-05:00Twas The Night Before Christmas - 2019
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS - 2019
Twas the day before Christmas and I am wearing a smirk,
The last present has been wrapped so I don't feel like a jerk!
The kids and some bourbon were dropped off to my mom
Along with homemade sausage - which is the bomb.
This year has been trying, not the usual happy ole time
And I'm having trouble coming up with happy things to rhyme
But that's Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-46882044386934712852019-12-20T11:33:00.000-05:002019-12-20T11:49:08.440-05:00Did You Just Drop The F-Bomb?
FUCK!
There, I've said it. Glad we could get that out of the way.
I'm here today to talk about the important use of "language." And, no, I don't mean grammar and punctuation. I mean "naughty words"... you know... shit, fuck, damn, ass, and so on.
As some of my readers may know - I was in the military. And, having been in the military, I have a close, personal relationship with swearing. It'sBenjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-34025831282908702392019-12-04T10:20:00.001-05:002019-12-04T10:20:30.524-05:00From our family to yours!Today is December 4th. I know we're still 3 weeks away from Christmas, but I wanted to take a minute to say thank you all for your support and to offer up a simple "Merry Christmas" from me and my family to you and yours.
Things are about to get very busy on my end, so I don't know if, or when, I'll be getting over here to my blog. So I am taking the moment to wish each and every one you a very Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-81972266095759774212019-11-08T11:56:00.003-05:002019-11-08T11:56:50.527-05:00Thank you for being a friend!One of the best things to come out of writing Alone In The Light is the connections I have made with people who have read it.
I have been contacted by people who I might otherwise never interact with. They've informed me how much the story has spoken to them and how much they've been able to connect with the characters I've created. On multiple occasions, I've struck up wonderful new Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-58422520948010921352019-10-04T16:17:00.003-04:002019-10-08T10:50:31.542-04:00An Open Letter To Jenna Bush Hager's Book ClubDear Jenna,
I know that November is still several weeks away, but I would like to recommend a book for your #ReadWithJenna selection - Alone In The Light, by Benjamin W. Bass.
With November being the month of Veterans Day, I feel this book would be a particularly good choice. It was written by a veteran and tells the tale of two soldiers who meet in Kuwait and are painfully separated by the warBenjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-26971611233076439742019-09-16T10:45:00.001-04:002019-09-16T10:45:26.555-04:00My first book signing!This Thursday will be my very first Book Signing/Meet The Author event! I am very excited about this.
This will be held at the Carnegie East Wing of the Shelby County Library - in Shelbyville, IN.
The event will be from 7:00PM until about 9:00PM when the library closes for the evening.
If I understand how this will go - I'll start with a general talk and discussion of the book and, once I've Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-33605116679451626272019-08-26T14:03:00.000-04:002019-08-26T14:03:06.171-04:00The AUDIOBOOK!I am so freaking excited I can barely stand it.
I am moving forward with the Audiobook version of Alone In The Light and it is going to be AMAZING.
AMAZING!!!
I have been in discussion with two narrators who will both be adding their voices to this project and bringing my story to life in a way I couldn't imagine until I heard them reading it. I was just blown away. Like - WOW... It's Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-86470242062519833612019-08-15T12:31:00.000-04:002019-08-15T12:31:18.322-04:00No such thing as bad press!
The saying goes, "There's no such thing as bad press." - Or so I've been told. I guess that's true, too. Today's local paper featured a front page story about me, my book, and my efforts to draw attention to PTSD, TBI, and veteran suicide...
The article itself is good, but... there's always a but, right? BUT they put the title of my book in the article incorrectly. Not once, but TWICE.
It's Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-1071797355600421362019-08-14T12:59:00.002-04:002019-08-14T13:04:47.626-04:00If you like it, put a ring on it? No, that's not right... Ah, the world of publishing a book. It's all movie contracts and phone calls with Stephen King...
No. No, that's a lie. It might be real for SOME authors, but not for me. And not for many self-published authors who do everything out of pocket. For us, it's much more "spend your day online trying to promote your book in ways that make you almost uncomfortable."
Like right now.
Hi! I'm Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-37055374960890353202019-08-08T13:25:00.003-04:002019-08-08T13:25:39.254-04:00FREE BOOKMARKS!Hello again, everyone! How are you today?
I'm doing quite well, having filled up on homemade tamales for lunch... You have no idea. They were delicious.
Anyway - I am writing today to inform you all of some free stuff!
I will be shipping out FREE bookmarks to anyone who reads and reviews Alone In The Light.
No catch. That's it.
Leave an honest review on Amazon, B&N, or Goodreads and I Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-727365784446862197.post-32718519199977395302019-08-02T13:37:00.002-04:002019-08-02T16:01:15.209-04:00Alone In The Light - A Visual CompanionWhile the events and characters of my book are fictional - Every place I've mentioned in Alone In The Light is a real place. You can visit all of them... I'd really recommend against F.O.B. Kalsu in Iraq though... And Camp Wolf no longer exists. But Fairland and Batesville, Indiana are both very real. As well as Indiana University in Bloomington. Some of the buildings have changed names since Benjamin W. Basshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05578759781135048360noreply@blogger.com1