Ben East Books

Tag: Reading

  • Thoreau, Hold the Joe

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , ,

    Noble and wise, Henry David Thoreau also could be irascible, judgy, and temperamental. In Walden, we learn why: a conspicuous absence of coffee. Take his list of supplies: Rice….. $ 1.73½ Molasses….. 1.73     Cheapest form of the saccharine. Rye meal….. 1.04¾ Indian meal….. 0.99¾     Cheaper than rye. Pork….. 0.22 Flour….. 0.88  Costs more than Indian meal, both money…

  • Ten Questions

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , , , , , ,

    I am asked, “A book begins as an idea in the writer’s imagination. Eventually, this grain of sand turns into a pearl. What was the grain of sand that fired your imagination?” I respond: Orwellian signs in the DC Metro: “IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.” See what, exactly? Commuters staring empty-eyed at phones while…

  • Lords of the Flies

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , ,

    We boys are to be left alone while the lynchpin of our home operation conducts child labor research in island-nation Philippines for the next seven days. The irony’s not lost on me. How long ’til we descend into savagery? Not to worry. Rather than cranking the inevitable conflagrant sounds we so admire, we’ll tuck ourselves…

  • Writing for Children

    Writing for Children

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , ,

    HarperCollins India, Avid Learning, and Mumbai children’s book promoter Lubaina Tyebji Bandukwala put together an informative workshop on writing children’s literature this weekend. As I begin the search for a home to publish my own middle grade novels, I thought I’d confirm my take on the genre with people who actually know what they’re talking about. A…

  • Can He also Ride a Porcupine?

    Can He also Ride a Porcupine?

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , , , ,

    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…

  • Titles for World Book Day

    Titles for World Book Day

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in ,

    Re-posting these titles I wish I could find on Amazon, with a few more. Happy reading, writing, and whatever else it is you do with your books. The Novel Is Dead—A Murder Mystery   The Novel Is Dead. Long Live the Novel: An Arthurian Legend   The Attorney for the Attorney Representing the Client’s Attorney—A…

  • Indies Make it Great

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , ,

    These independent writers are Making Books Great Again: screamingskullpress.com roguepress.net joylesshousepublishing.com paperandinkzine.co.uk vidlit.com Who else do you support by reading, reviewing, and sharing?

  • No Whizzpopping Allowed!

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in

    How do you celebrate six years of Mohan? A small party with big guests, of course! Yes, all the invitees came to make dream jars in our former home, the BFG’s cave. And while they ate snozzcumber sandwiches and guzzled delicious frobscottle sodas and chomped on fleshlumps of watermelon, the evil giants ran off with the dream jars and deposited…

  • Good Deal at Goodreads

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in ,

    Goodreads is hosting a giveaway of Two Pumps for the Body Man. Follow the link at left to win a copy. Book reviewers can contact me directly for an electronic copy. Enter to win a copy of this all-too-real satirical look at America’s diplomats on the front line of the war on terror. Imagine a Sarah Palin-style head diplomat marching to the orders of…

  • “Blog Thing”

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in ,

    Two years ago I published my first book review. It was for a work of non-fiction by Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Bryant Wieneke. A returned volunteer myself, I did the review to satisfy a couple of urges. First, it was a service to a comrade, albeit one I’d never met. But we had the same fire…