Since it’s that day that should be a Federal holiday but still ain’t (my birthday) today… I want to talk about something quite near & dear to my gruesome lil’ heart:

My next novel.

It is the 9th — and final — book of my Enoch Wars saga.

I started writing the books in August 2013.

And we will launch this last one next month in August 2023.

(So a clean 10-year journey.)

And if the feedback this final book in the series has been getting from the few who have read it are an indication, then it should be a big hit with fans of the series. I am already working on screenplays for them. And I have big plans to expand this into its own franchise — even if I have to somehow self-finance it all myself George Lucas-style.

In fact, here is what long time customer Daniel Throssell sent me about the 9th novel after I sent him an advanced copy:

Okay … I’m done.

Couldn’t help myself. Just had to finish it so I can focus and actually get back to my work.

My conclusion:

Magnificent.

Truly your crowning achievement in this entire series … and a fitting way to tie it all together.

I laughed out loud multiple times. I literally wept even more. I had my mind and theology challenged by ideas I had never heard before that have prompted me to study. And I was truly blown away by the delightful complexity of the plotline and how gripped I was the whole time.

I never would have thought that a book so full of sex, violence, gore, demons, foul language and so many other ‘evil’ things could be so edifying. Honestly. Not just as a fiction reader, but as a Christian, I felt convicted, challenged, and inspired by so many things in this book. And I find myself wanting to force all my brothers to read it too, to inspire them.

Anyway, thank you so much for letting me read this book. It really is your finest work. And I honestly feel like a better man for having read it.

My publisher Greg Perry (Oklahoma’s #1 used book dealer) said this:

“I just need to tell you how brilliant this is. How you took a series that seemed to be done and completely gave it an unexpected and glorious ending. . .A masterpiece Ben. SS is a masterpiece. It DEMANDS that I start back on book 1 as soon as things settle here. Which they might be about to do.”

And as for Stefania (who edited it)?

She’s biased of course.

But on her first reading, for enjoyment not editing, I remember falling asleep as she read the last three chapters and the epilogue. And an hour after I fell asleep she woke me up literally in tears. I think it was a truly surreal experience for her, as chapter 17 had her laughing thinking I’m the funniest guy in the world. Chapter 18 had her angry at me thinking I’m the biggest asshole in the world. Chapter 19 had her in deep thought for the next few days. And the epilogue still makes her equal parts sad and amped up with excitement whenever she thinks about it.

Which is interesting.

Because Daniel told me something similar about the ending:

Even 2 or 3 weeks after finishing it he couldn’t get the ending out of his head.

Like I told Greg when he finished reading it:

Writing is a rollercoaster.

So’s reading.

It should be, at least.

There is a copywriting lesson embedded in that.

I hope you caught it…

Anyway, fans of the other books will hopefully find it the best of the bunch. But for those who have not read it, and who are now curious, you can get the first 8 books on Amazon — print or kindle, with most of them on audio book (7 will be published on Audible shortly, with 8 on deck right after that).

One more thing:

A totally understandable and rational question people always ask when I launch a new title (especially since there are so many now) in the Enoch Wars series has always been:

“Do I need to read the ones before it to enjoy this next one?”

The answer is yes and no.

Yes, in the sense if you want to read the story as intended.

No, in the sense that you will figure things out as you go if you start with book 9. It stands on its own in many ways. And if I did my job right, it will make you want to go back and read the first 8 after. It’d be like watching Empire Strikes Back before watching Star Wars.

That’s my analogy.

And I’m sticking to it.