Hi, I’m Ben. I’ve been writing stories since I was 12 years old and now, at 28, I’ve decided to try and make a real career out of it. I’ve written everything from short stories, to poems (I’m bad), to web novels and full blown epics. Mostly they’ve been published anonymously on various websites, been stuck in editing limbo on my PC, or are currently in the process of being queried.

I made this website (with WordPress) not only as an author space for the future, but also to publish many of the stories I’ve previously written. There are many sites I’ve tried for uploading web novels before, but I just couldn’t find any that I truly thought were right for me, so I figure why not just post them in my own space? Not to mention, they were written in an earlier stage of my writing career and I feel this is the perfect opportunity to edit, revise, rewrite and republish my work for a potentially new audience.

As a writer, I like to think I specialize in fantasy and science fiction, but I’m not picky. I’ll write anything from realistic, modern day dramas to light-hearted adventures – pretty much anything that takes my fancy. I tend to be a gardener writer and most days my writing process is to just sit down and follow a vague idea to see where it takes me, which often leads to an interesting twist that will take even me by surprise. I also have an incredibly over-active imagination; I’m constantly thinking up (and then often forgetting) new ideas that one day, I’ll hopefully get to write.

Outside of writing, I’m pretty much an average nerd. I’ve got a degree in Computer Science, I like video games, reading and cooking, and I absolutely love science and technology – especially anything that brings us closer to a real cyberpunk future. I would absolutely get cybernetic enhancements and take a pill that grants me immortality if I got the chance.

My inspirations are pretty much endless, and I always felt it’s a bit of a disservice to list one when there’s always twenty more I didn’t think of at that time. In general, though, my absolute favourite works are those that offer an interesting perspective in a unique world, have massive emotional depth, are philosophical, and filled with the kind of small details or smart writing that makes you go “wow!”. I also have a special place in my heart for anything that combines elements of both fantasy and science fiction. Frank Herbert’s Dune, Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun, and Dan Simmons’ Hyperion are just some of the examples of the impossible heights I would love to climb.

Beyond reading and writing, I’m a huge video game player (the medium that got me interested in telling stories in the first place) and a fan of pretty much all other artistic mediums (yes, games are art!). Some of my favourite game series include Dark Souls, Metal Gear and Halo. I’ve been known to enjoy anime, though usually the more classic offerings, such as Akira, Berserk, Dragon Ball and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

I think, ultimately, I just want to escape this world for one where the impossible is only a suggestion, and where we can all become the kind of epic characters we love to read. My own writing is my attempt to bring some of that to life, to create my own worlds and characters worth caring about, and hopefully you enjoy them as much as I do.

Thank you and stay amazing!