JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Ben Burgess, Jr., author of Monster
(Wasteland Press)

“Monster” begins with Ken Ferguson, a guy in his twenties, that is put through the wringer growing up in a dysfunctional family. As an adult, his heart and ego are ripped to pieces when his girlfriend. He thought she was “the one”, but she emasculates him and dumps him for a bad boy.

Ken begins his transformation. Fueled by anger and being tired of the “nice guy” routine, Ken drowns himself in one-night stands, threesomes, affairs with married women, and sleeping with one conquest after another. He adopts the philosophy of having no commitment and no attachments, but he meets his match with Ashley.

Ashley makes him want to stop his promiscuous ways, but she turns out to do even more damage to his ego and his heart, wounding him deeply. With his philosophy reinforced, Ken spirals out of control and becomes a MONSTER.

Sleeping with and mistreating random women he meets at bars and clubs, Ken uses sex to forget about his insecurities, his anger and his sadness. He becomes a predator that uses and abuses women to no consolable end.

Will Ken learn to let go of his heartbreaks, or will he be consumed by them and continue to be a MONSTER?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write “Monster”?

Ben Burgess Jr.: The poem “Ugly” from my first published book “Times Have Changed and Life is Strange” is the poem that inspired me to write “Monster”.When I was writing that poem, I reflected on my life and felt this would be a good story that would teach and possible change people’s lives. Continue reading 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Ben Burgess, Jr., author of Monster →