Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Rose . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Ben thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Many people have been confused by certain aspects of my novels. In Everybody But Us there are those who have accused me of an anti-Christian bias. That is not even close to accurate. I attempt to explain a theological understanding that is inclusive rather than exclusive. I present an interpretation of Holy Writ that is as liberal as The Deity worshipped. I also describe the horrors of Conversion Therapy and religion gone wrong.
In The Long Game I endeavor to show both the Barnumesque aspects of the church and the truest meaning of salvation from the point of view of an addict.
I also believe that some people have this notion of the homeless eating out of dumpsters or exclusively in soup kitchens. In fact, most I have met frequent nicer places and enjoy more elegant fare. This is especially true in big cities where access to upscale dining establishments is readily available.
My stories are inspired by people who took what they had and built incredible lives. That includes nicer clothing, food, and residence. That a reader chooses to pigeonhole the homeless is tragic.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Ben is an Oregon native who currently resides on The Florida Gulf. He has travelled extensively by bus, car, freight train, Amtrak, and foot in an effort to see America and find stories to write.
Born at the end of the turbulent sixties, his travels began in his formative years. Early in life he developed a love of cheap motels, and authentic diners.
He speaks fluent hipster as well as English.
Ben is an ally to the LGBTQ+ Community, a supporter of human rights, and a believer in racial and gender equality.
As one with high functioning ASD, GAD, and PTSD, Ben has seen his share of hard traveling, abuse, and bullying which is reflected in his literary works.
After dealing with a couple of less than honest publishers, and being rejected by a few mentorship programs on Twitter, Ben approached Breaking Rules Publishing (which sadly is no more). His first two novels were published and have seen moderate success.
At present, Ben is seeking to find an agent for his future works and a movie producer for his first two novels.
Ben’s biggest peeve is that far too many people approach authors with promises of glory and international viewership…for the small price of…
Working on a $0.00 budget, the money either needs to be a percentage based on success of the marketer….or it just ain’t gonna fly.
When it comes to writing the money should always flow to the author and never the other direction. If an influence is good enough then they don’t need to be paid up front. They can accept a commission based on their success.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I see the world around me failing. Especially recently. I see too much hatred, misunderstanding, and attempts to dehumanize the “other.”
My goal is to lend a voice to those who are marginalized and mistreated. I seek to offer a better vision for our nation. I seek to show that we are human first, and our sex, color, gender, et al second. If people could see the humanity in others then we might find a way forward out of the national and tribalistic mess we have made.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
We need more artistic grants available that are easily navigable. Creatives often live on the economic margins and without any resources. They either give up creative time in order to work numerous jobs, or they are starving and borderline homeless due to a lack of funds. This could be ameliorated if moderate to large grants were available nationally to support creatives.
Furthermore, the process for receiving literary reviews on places like Amazon needs to be separated from reviews of non-creative items (like bedding, cookware, electronics, etc.) Creatives depend on reviews, and not everyone has the funds to spend a set amount on a given site prior to reviewing a book.
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Purpose Through Passion