Ben East Books

Citizenship | Literature

Select novels, short stories, and nonfiction on contemporary life.

PROFILES IN SERVICE

Ben East’s nonfiction debut recounts how JFK’s bold experiment shaped diplomatic careers and influenced modern American diplomacy.

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Novels

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  • Transit Post—Frankfurt

    Just so I have a post from Germany. We have a decent layover in Frankfurt, and although it’s zero three hundred at my point of origin—hence the cobwebs in my head—it’s 9:35 here and past noon at our final destination. Normal workaday hours to write and post! Marginally related to all this, I’ve been tracking…

  • Posting from a New Home

    After five years posting from DC, BenEastBooks moves on to Mumbai. Expect the same focus on craft and reviewing serious books by independent authors. Expect new writing invigorated by travel and adventure. Expect postings flavored with the exotic, the ancient, the extraordinary, and the very new. I welcome contributions, requests for reviews, and sensible observations. When…

  • Early Monsoon

    We always knew the monsoon would greet our arrival in Mumbai this Thursday. We never expected heavy rains to be part of our departure from DC. Yesterday the area received 4 inches of rain, equal to about 40 days of wet weather for this time of year for DC. July commonly sees 3.75″. What better…

  • Reader Wanted

    Today I finished my fifth novel. Tomorrow, it will be a gift for my son on his eighth birthday. I await the sense of release, the great pocket of freedom that opens up when a large file is deleted. Last December a man walked into the SweetLife Cafe wearing nothing at all but his socks.…

  • Maximum City

    We are neither here nor there. The carpets are up and the curios down. The boys are packed and shipped off south for a week with Naniji. A week from tomorrow the packers arrive. They’ll invade for 3 or 4 days to box up several categories of shipment: 700 lbs of air freight; 7k lbs…

  • O’er the Ramparts

    Today we raised the flag. Not just any flag, but the Star Spangled Banner. Today we raised the Star Spangled Banner over Fort McHenry. The breeze set in motion the 15 bands and 15 stars against a perfect blue sky. A perfect morning to raise the flag and relive the moment of Francis Scott Key’s inspiration. O…

  • Fly America… Call the Philippines

    When your official government travel orders authorize advanced seating to guarantee a seat beside your child during an international move—old home packed, new home empty… …but the airline won’t confirm your seat more than 23 hours before you fly… …and you spend hours on the phone… …talking to the travel agent… …and talking to the…

  • Rhymes with Fake Gnus

    1.       Fake shoes. Also called flip-flops. 2.       Fake brews. Non-alcoholic beer. Avoid at all cost. 3.       Fake dues. No payment required. 4.       Fake flues. Actually, you feel quite good but call in sick. 5.       Fake ruse. This is the same thing as telling the truth. 6.       Fake rues. Actually, you don’t care. 7.       Fake poos. Better smelling than the real thing. 8.       Fake…

  • Diplomatic Training

    U.S. diplomat Ben East revisits his old training grounds with his sons, eight and ten.

  • Can He also Ride a Porcupine?

    Two weeks ago (yes…) I visited my son’s class. I read to them from my current work in progress, a novel soon to be presented IHO Mohan’s eighth birthday. Before I finished the hands were up and all the mouths were saying ‘Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!’ They had plans for my principal foil, a character named…

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