Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
Monday, September 17, 2018
Ben Miller Publishes Second Book
Miller, a 1993 graduate of Nazareth High School, veteran of Naval Intelligence, having served as part of America’s NATO contingent during the Bosnian War. He was assigned to an intelligence reconnaissance squadron with a security clearance three compartments above Top Secret, tasked with monitoring and recording the atrocities of the war, and at times, creating targeting intelligence used by NATO bombers.
In his new book, Miller shares intensely personal aspects of his life, like his struggles with mental illness, life-altering personal experiences from childhood to the present, and his steadfast faith in God. Dear Billie is written in the format of a letter to the innkeeper of the B and B, which serves as the present-day setting for a story filled with flashbacks and introspection.
Miller has chosen to self-publish his newest book after being to remove mentions of his religious faith by agents and publishers who felt that God was “not marketable.” Miller refused and is instead, taking his book directly to the public on the crowdfunding side, Kickstarter. The campaign page for Dear Billie can be reached with this link- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dearbillie/book-dear-billie-salvation-in-the-poconos
Miller is rated 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs and has spent over two decades struggling with Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, GAD, PTSD, and Depression. Miller gained notoriety in the late 2000s as the creator of an international campaign called “Donate My Weight,” which raised food and monetary donations for food backs around the world and ultimately helped to feed millions of hungry men, women, and children across America.
“My story is one of perseverance and triumph, in the face of constant mental anguish and struggling. I went from putting the barrel of a pistol in my mouth at the lowest point in my life, to finding purpose again, becoming a loving husband and father to five great kids. There will always be aspects to our lives we can’t change. We must either accept them and move forward or allow ourselves to become mired in the pain and remain living in the past.”
Blogger's Note - This news release was supplied by the author. I know Ben, and though he and I differ on many subjects, I consider him a man of personal integrity and am only too happy (and a little jealous) that he is publishing his second book.
4 comments:
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Good Luck with his book. How was he wounded in battle? Was it in Bosnia.
ReplyDeleteHoly crap ,we have somebody in Nazareth that was high end Intell. I gotta guess your pal was up front doing GPS target references points . Nazareth has a lot of good folks , people like Ben ,can’t be known at the time he was down range. I’ve love to to meet him. He is an American hero - G2 guy . When I had a discussion with then General Mattis ,I expressed to him ,that the Marine Corps should have a program for older Marines to augment guys on security watches. He replied he was was an old Marine . LOL.- I want his book .
ReplyDeleteHonor Super Omnia!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Ben. Another outstanding Lock Haven alumni.
Thank you, Bernie. I appreciate you sharing this on your blog and your kind words.
ReplyDelete