Meet Ben Meeks | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Meeks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to do something more fulfilling than spending every day in a cubicle. I was paid well, had excellent job security and benefits, and was in a regular routine. Life was good but ultimately unsatisfying. I had planned to retire from that job but I started pursuing writing in 2013. It was a dream I had given up on decades before. By 2020, I had a couple books out. I was seeing steady growth in my sales and events, and it seemed like the right time to make a move. I had been at the company for twenty years at that point, so it wasn’t a small decision. I’d been working there for almost my entire adult working life. I believed in my books and what I have to offer as an author, so I just went for it. Looking back, I can honestly say I had no idea what I was doing. I should have done more planning and preparation. Covid ended up doing a number on my business, but that’s a different story. It’s been a lot of work, but very rewarding. I’m glad I did it and I’m not looking back.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I wrote the urban fantasy trilogy The Keeper Chronicles. Petrified – book one, Betrayal – book two, and Taken – book three. Its set in North Georgia and follows the exploits of a wereotter named Obie that hunts demons for the Earth Mother. If you’re familiar with North Georgia you will recognize many of the scenes in the books.

At the end of November to beginning of December, I’ll be releasing book one of my new LitRPG series Paxor Seven. It’s Sci-fi based, think World of Warcraft meets Halo.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m partial to the beltline, by Ponce City Market. Great place to have a nice walk and grab some lunch.

I’ve been playing disc golf for around fifteen years. My favorite place to play in Atlanta is Perkerson Park. If you play and you haven’t been to Perkerson go check it out!

The Goat Farm Arts Center is worth checking out. It was some kind of manufacturing facility that has been repurposed into an artist collective. There’s lots of old brick buildings covered in vines, It has a great atmosphere with all kinds of activities going on. I used it as a setting in book two!

There are so many great breweries in Atlanta too. My favorite is probably Torched Hop. They have a large selection of games that are free to play. My favorite is Bocce. It’s a prime spot to hang out with friends or date night.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The first event I participated in was the Dahlonega Literary Festival. I made two friends at that event Mab Morris and Shanna Bosarge. They’ve both had a huge impact on my writing career in completely different ways. They took me under their wing and got me started on the path to success.

My wife, Ashley, also deserves a lot of credit. I wouldn’t be where I am without her support and understanding. She must be a saint to put up with my shenanigans.

Website: https://www.authorbenmeeks.com/

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Other: https://www.patreon.com/authorbenmeeks