Please give a warm welcome to author and poet Ben Ditmars

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Tell us a bit about yourself

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Ah, the million-dollar question. Which is good, because I could really use a million dollars. I am an author and poet, currently working in bookkeeping and accounting. This ties into my latest collection Number Poetry – all about the hidden rhythm of the written word. But when I’m not writing or counting beans, I enjoy exploring local history and traveling. I found a bar near my parent’s house where Al Capone used to relax. Pretty cool, eh?

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Have you always wanted to become an poet/author?

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I’ve always wanted to be heard. But I’m shy around strangers. Writing helps me decipher my thoughts and communicate better.

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What was your inspiration for the writing?

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I find inspiration everywhere. The sky, the trees, stars in space – a lot with the stars in space. Science in general makes me think and ask questions. It’s a good conduit for metaphors. So is romance. My favorite poems from other poets are romantic ones – borderline erotic. Sex is liberating as an art form. And probably other ways too.

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Do you have any quirks while writing?

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OCD. Lots of OCD. I can agonize over a single word or piece of punctuation for hours. It’s slightly more muted writing for publications, because I can take time. But if it’s for the internet, you’re naked when it’s posted. There’s an urgency, exhilaration and fear that goes with it. But it also helps you find what works and resonates with an audience.

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Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

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Research the publishing and business world. Go to author events and see how they promote and interact. Watch Mad Men. Read as much as possible of the genre you intend to write. Think of who your audience will be and what you can give them they don’t have.

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What are you working on now?

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I’m working on quite a few things. A book of romantic haiku, a haiku novella and fantasy adventure, and a young-adult collection with various life lessons. It should be a real hoot.

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What are your hopes for the future?

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I would love to keep expanding and reaching new audiences. That’s my biggest struggle is growing the ranks of people who read poetry. Partly, I’ve been doing this through posting on Instagram, or the Gram as hip Gen-Y kids call it. Or it Gen Z? I’m too much of a Millennial to actually remember.

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Do you have anything to say to your fans?

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Yes, as a matter of fact. I appreciate you staying with me through these weird ideas I have. I could be living under a bridge shouting haiku, but you like my posts and buy books so I don’t have to.

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Buy links

Amazon

Author links

Twitter

Website

Amazon

Facebook

Instagram