Indie Authors Uncovered - Meet the person behind the pages - Benjamin Kamphuis - Magical Growth
Where were you born?
I was born in Holland, Michigan (United States).
Where do you live?
I live in West Michigan (United States).
Do you have fur babies?
I have a border collie mix named Dublin who is 11 and one of the smartest dogs (and inspiration for one of the main magical beasts in my book series).
I also have another dog, Clara, who is an Australian Shepherd. She is very cute, but not the brightest pup.
There is also Ginger, my devil cat. I do believe she is evil and someday hell will come back for her.
Do you use a pen name?
I do not.
What kind of writer are you?
- Contemporary Tech Writer (phone/tablet/voice over)
- Modern Day : Laptop or PC Writer
Name one book you loved as a kid - one you loved as a new adult - and one you love now.
- I loved The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (Brisingr as my favorite book).
- My adult favorite is The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.
- I am currently reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown and am really loving it.
Is there an author you look up to? Or had an influence on your craft?
Christopher Paolini is a big inspiration for me on the adventure front. Avatar:
The Last Airbender is a huge one on the show front. Pokémon is and forever will be my biggest love and inspiration for most of what I do.
How would you describe your craft in one sentence?
I want a reader to escape but grow within their mental health while learning about science in a magical, creative way.
At The Dreamer's Bookshop, we embrace diversity and advocate for invisible illnesses. How do you feel about those topics? Do you include messages in your writing?
Absolutely. Representation is SO important to me, and I try my very best to have realistic representation of people from varying cultures and backgrounds.
Mental health is a main feature in my fantasy books. I am an anxiety-filled person that wanted to have raw representation of anxiety, and other mental health conditions, within my series where the reader not only feels seen but learns how to grow.
Do you have red lines when it comes to writing/reading?
I guess stories with triggering scenes of sexual abuse. I really do not enjoy reading these scenes.
Was there a review that touched you more than others?
I do like this one for my second book:
Where to start with this incredible novel...READ IT ! I absolutely love the whole Pokémon
vibe ! The main character, Yaron, and his fantastic companion, Ricochet, are a pair to be
reckoned with. I do wish there was more that happened between them, but that is a personal preference.
Secondly, the personal journey that Yaron goes on is done stunningly well. The way in
which dissociation is explained makes it easy to comprehend. It is also done beautifully.
I love how the events of the first book in the series have truly significant impacts that carry over.
Thirdly, our other characters are struggling in their own way, but they can all come
together at the end of the day. You have the mother figure, Heritia, the 2 best friends,
Aurora and Naso, and a new friend, the Soothsayer. (Plus later, a new friend called,
Trigger.) The character development for all them is done extremely well. At one point, I
thought they'd jump off the page as they felt that real.
Lastly, the magic or Aura, is a really cool concept. To have magic be a type of
Aura is a really interesting take on magic, and one, I'm glad this series explores.
The different types of Aura definitely give off Divergent vibes, but also a fresh and new vibe all on their own.
Read this series! You won't regret it!
If someone asked you why you write, what would you answer in one sentence?
I write because I want to create things that have not been done before, while teaching things in a way that sticks.
Which book are you most proud of and why?
I adore my second book, The Calamities of Toterrum.
This book is and will forever be my dark baby, my Evanescence. It represents my own struggles with trust, betrayal, and anxiety in a way that has touched readers because of its stark vulnerability.
What would you tell an aspiring writer?
Just write.
I know that sounds simple, but the toughest hurdle to get over is that you might not think your story is worth hearing. It is, and your drafts will not be perfect, but you need to get it going!
The world needs your story.
What's a wish you have for yourself as an author?
I want to find a way to make marketing easier so I can spend more time on getting my other books out.
What's a wish you have for yourself as a person?
I wish that I can find satisfaction in what I have accomplished.
I am always striving for more and sometimes forget to enjoy the moments I have.
Do you have a message for your audience?
My fantasy series Shades of Aura is about to close on its first phase with book 3 this fall, but the next phase of the series will really take the story to new levels, subgenres, and intensity.
Buckle up.
