Monthly Archives: May 2015

Sports as Myth, Catholicism on Homophobia, and a Very Sleepy Puppy

Hi friends!

Just a quick note to let you know I’ve got an article featured at Pints & Prose this week. You should check it out!

Here’s the link:

Everyone is Tired All the Time: A Challenge from Three Angles – We can’t all manage annoyingly chipper, but let’s at least get to tired-but-happy.

While you’re there, I also recommend the following:

If Christianity and/or LGBT issues matter to you: An Appendix to Raw Tact: A Catholic Perspective on Homophobia

If you like football, or don’t get why people like football: From Free Agency to the Draft: Football’s Season of Hope

If you’re a writer/artist: Calling All Creators

If you’re a gamer: Nat One Productions

It’s so cool to get to work with the guys at P&P. I’ve rarely met a group that’s simultaneously so brilliant in really varied and interesting ways, incredibly driven, and yet totally laid-back, unpretentious, and genuinely fun to hang out with. Really downright silly at times. I wish you could all come spend an evening with us and a good bottle of whiskey.

Anyone else have a great support network in your writing, thinking, or life in general? Leave me a comment. I’d love to hear about it.

Cheers!

—Ben

So Many Cool Things! Free Book, New Site, Call for Submissions, Series Launch

Hi friends!

Sorry to go incommunicado on you. May kind of snuck up and pounced. Also I have so many cool things going on that I didn’t even know where to start, so apparently I didn’t, but that’s no way to live. So here’s a quick rundown for now.

  • The Stone and the Song is free this weekend! If you like fairy tales, lyrical writing, living(ish) statues, or stories where the heroine does as much rescuing as the hero, now’s your chance to snap it up. (Click here to get it on Amazon.)
    • Super-cool sidenote: Last weekend was the first free promo I’ve ever done. The Stone and the Song hit #1 Free in Fairy Tales within 24 hours, and stayed there until the end of the promo! This time around it’s been hovering around the Top 10 so far, even without much promotion. Also got my first reviews from strangers, I’m pretty sure, including its 10th 5-star review!
  • Pints & Prose is live! I’m one of the founding editors and art director for Pints & Prose, a Baltimore-based creative laboratory. We’ve hosted local gatherings for years, and we officially launched our online presence earlier this month. It’s a place for writers, thinkers, and creators to create great work, enjoy it together, and share it with the world. I haven’t said anything about it because I didn’t want to be premature, but it’s been super-hard to stay quiet on this one. But now we’re live, and there are already some fantastic articles up, including a piece about why sports needs villains and a couple perspectives on the recent Baltimore riots. Check it out at pintsandprose.com!
    Ben Ponders the Pocket Edition

    The pocket edition is in my actual pocket!

    • Are you creative? We’re also looking for guest contributors, so if you’ve got great creative work to share with the world, submit it here and we’ll take a look.
  • Bill and I launched our new series, Hubris Towers! I feel like I haven’t shut up about this one, so I won’t go into it at length. Short version: I think it’s one of the funniest things I’ve written lately. Early reviews seem to agree. Also the pocket edition is so cool! Learn more here or buy it on NookKobo, or Amazon (US Int’l).
    • Protip: Buy the pocket edition on Amazon and you get the Kindle edition free!

Brilliant!

I’m so grateful, as ever, to have you all along for the ride. Big things are happening, people. Leave a comment and let me know how you’re doing. I miss you.

Cheers!

—Ben