At B&N Press, we’re proud to spotlight the journeys of authors who have transformed their dreams into reality. And, this month, we’re to glad to share the story of Paul J Bennett! In his own words, Paul reflects on the long and winding path that led him from the imaginative realms of Dungeons & Dragons to becoming a bestselling indie author with over thirty novels to his name.
Join us as Paul maps out his incredible tale—a tale of perseverance, creativity, and the unwavering passion that has fueled his enduring career.
A Guest Post by Paul J Bennett
My Writing Journey
My journey as an author is long and twisted. It began when I first laid hands on a copy of Dungeons & Dragons. I was barely a teenager, yet I was immediately caught up in creating worlds others could experience. This fueled my dream of writing a book. But while I could start one easily enough, the ending never came to me. I had no idea how to finish a story.
I found myself at fifty-five years of age, looking for an outlet for my imagination. I’d completed a successful stint in the Canadian Armed Forces and was now an IT Instructor. Still, the dream of writing a book burned inside me.
With many unfinished manuscripts taking up disk space on my hard drive, I returned to my fantasy roots and based my first book on a role-playing campaign I’d created. Using this, I now had a basis for the story and knew how it would end. All I had to do was find the time to write it while working full-time.
With my wife’s support, I dedicated much of my free time to realizing my dream. After nearly six months, Servant of the Crown was complete. But then I read somewhere that you should write your first book, put it away, and come back to it later. This was some of the best advice I have ever received. After writing the second book in the series, Sword of the Crown, I completely rewrote the first.
Now, here I am. Thirty-three books and many years later. I have four series on the go, including a most recent addition to Heir to the Crown saga. And I’m making a living as an independent author, something that would have been unthinkable to that teenager of years past.
The Helping Hands of Barnes & Noble
Ever since I uploaded my first book to Barnes & Noble, they have been an integral part of my publishing journey. Their support and guidance made navigating the world of self-publishing much easier. By choosing my books as ‘Top Indie Favourites, ’ Nook readers have had a chance to adventure along with me as I add the fantasy world of Eiddenwerthe.
With today’s spotlight feature, Barnes & Noble is once again supporting an indie author by helping me share my latest release, Peril of the Crown, with their epic fantasy readers!
About Paul J Bennett:
Paul J Bennett is an international bestselling author of Epic Fantasy, Military Fantasy, and Sword & Sorcery novels. With thirty-three novels and seven novellas in four series, all set in the same fantasy world, Paul has an adventure ready for everyone.
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