Lily Ruth Publishing

Question #2: What are your favorite books/authors?

I love lists…so for now, I will give you my top 10 books and authors. And here they are, in order: 

10. The Shack by William Paul Young. William Paul Young is a friend of mine, and I originally met him in Enid, Oklahoma while he was on book tour for his world famous book, The Shack.

9. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I have read this book three times forward, and one time backward! I recently purchased the “Special Illustrated Edition” and have traveled to almost all of the places described in the novel.

8. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. I loved the movie so much as a child, that the book was a must read soon after my grand cinema viewing!

7. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. What a book!!! This book was so very inspirational.

6. The Berenstain Bears and The Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain. One of my favorite children’s books while I was just a little guy! The illustrations are so fun and full of adventure!

5. The Sundancer by Ben Joy. My Book!!! How could I leave this out of my Top 10???!!!

4. The Bunnicula Series by James Howe. Ohhh My Gosh…what great reading memories! These were the book I would read when it was raining too hard to go out and play! I loved the adventures and crazy antics of Howard dog, Chester the cat, Howle the dachshund, and a little bunny named…BUNNICULA!

3. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. I was introduced to Bill Bryson while backpacking through Europe. His books comforted me while I would sleep in the overcrowded hostels all across Europe. In this book, Mr. Bryson paints such a vivid picture of the Appalachian trail. This book is a must read…and after you read it…try walking some of the Appalachian trail! Woo hoo!

2. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. This was my very first big book I ever read…all the way nack in 5^th grade! What an excellent read, and so very full of adventure.

1. I always, ALWAYS leave the number one spot open for when I stumble across the greatest book of all time. I am still looking… Perhaps I will find it tomorrow! Will you?

Question #3: Ben, how do you juggle your responsibilities as a new author and a graduate student?

I have a super power: I take different shapes.

I am not much of a multi-tasker, and when I put my energy into anything, I give 100 percent! Therefore when I am a writer, I am a writer and nothing else! I focus entirely on the project at hand. I become the artist.

So when the time comes to prepare for a test, I simply become the student, and nothing else. I change myself into the character that is needed to accomplish my goal!

Question #4: Ben, what is your favorite part about writing?

Writing is deep thinking. It is a chance to evoke a human power that trumps involuntary bodily functions.

When you write, you feel as if you are turning on parts of your brain that sometimes are not used as often as we would like in our visually stimulating world that we live in.

Writing gives me a chance to filter exactly what, when, and how I want to say something. I have command of sentence structure and appeal. I have the ability to allow the reader to feel joy, anger, and/or frustration.

Ultimately, writing is my absolute favourite form of communication. It simply makes me happy.

Question #5: Ben, what is the greatest challenge?

The greatest challenge is editing the initial idea. The rough draft of any writer is so pure, yet mixed with grammatical errors, side notes, coffee stains on the paper, and frustration in pen form. But I love it! If I could, I would wish to release any or all of my writings without spell check or editing…rough draft style! However, editing is the next step in the writing process, and is absolutely necessary.

Also, another challenge is finding a place of concentration! This world can be so loud and “in your face.” Sometimes I travel many, many miles (to the ocean or to an open prairie) just to find a place that I can shut off the world, and write. You know…get away from bills, scheduled events, etc.

Sometimes a writer’s life is a life of solitude…but in a way, it is peaceful! I find comfort in solitude!

Question #6: Ben, how do you come up with “ideas” for writing?

Sometimes, Mr. Idea shows himself in full, through an environmental movement (like a sunrise). HELLO THERE, MR. IDEA! MESSAGE RECEIVED LOUD AND CLEAR!

Other times, Mr. Idea visits in a subtle manner. An old woman begins to cry, and Mr. Idea is hidden in her tear.

Sometimes, Mr. Idea is angry and displays his true colors, violently if necessary! It is then I see Mr. Idea…while experiencing great discomfort… like if I am feeling sad, alone, or even sick.

And at other times, Mr. Idea whispers to me in my dreams, and allow me to remember pieces of him to tell to my friends during the day.

But most interesting is when Mr. Idea hits me! It is almost like magic! Mr. Idea hits me, and I can not stop my fingers from writing about him!

Question #7: Ben, how did you go about getting published?

My illustrator (or the Illustrator of all Illustrators), Heather Payer-Smith, is a dear friend of mine. We originally met in college at the University of Oklahoma, and were apart of an “Acting for Camera” course. We co-starred in a University of Oklahoma film presentation. From there, we established a life-long friendship, always keeping in touch throughout the years.

Seven years later, during my Master’s work at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, I sent her a story I wrote. She loved it, and at the time happened to be illustrating for numerous books.

After working on edits and a title, together we submitted The Sundancer to an incredible publishing company, Lily Ruth Publishing. And the rest, my friends is history!

Question #8: Ben, what advice do you have for writers?

Watch the movie “Throw Mama from the Train.” As they say in that movie, “A writer writes…always!”

Question #9: Ben, what was the inspiration behind The Sundancer?

Sometimes nature can be your friend, even when you have no friends at all…

I had just begun my works as a Graduate Student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. I moved from the North Texas metro-plex down to Corpus Christi, Texas…knowing not a single soul!!! I was alone, and a little scared. I had a terrible time sleeping at nights. But I loved the sunrise.

I would get up every morning (sometimes at 4:30 a.m. in the morning) and run to the Cole Park Pier. From there, I would stretch, and wait for the sun to rise. I found hope in the sunrise. As the sun rose, I was filled with hope…hope that I would make new friends…hope that I would do well in school…hope for a promising future.

I felt a strong connection to the sunrise. It is my belief that the sunrise will help you through some of your harder moments, and allow you to see the light…the path…your direction…or the end of your quest!

Question #10: Ben, what message do you hope to convey to your audience?

That you can make the sunrise every morning. The world is counting on you!!!