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Ben Cass
ALLi Author Member
Location: United States of America (the)
Genres: Fantasy/SciFi/Speculative
Skills: Writing Workshop, Speaking Engagement/Lecture, Press/Media Interview
From a young age, Ben Cass was in love with the premises of fantasy novels and comic books: amazing creatures, fantastic heroes, and magical powers that existed right beneath our noses. He created detailed storylines to act out with his toys, often updating the stories until he was satisfied with the plots.
His love of writing began in his senior year of high school, when he had to write short stories for his English class. He wrote the first one in ten minutes, all because it was due the next class period and he’d completely forgotten about it. That story was greeted with laughter and applause by his classmates and teacher. His subsequent assignments garnered even more positive responses, and Ben began to seriously consider writing as a hobby.
A native Floridian, Ben attended Florida Southern College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, double-majoring in Secondary Education. Ben graduated in 1998, and has been in education ever since.
Ben is a certified geek, and loves Superman, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and other sci-fi/comic book characters and stories. You can find Ben on Twitter under the handle @bencassauthor.
Ben lives in beautiful Broward County, Florida, with his wife and son, where he continues his career as an educator.
Ben Cass' books
The Lost Tayamu
At 16 years old, Jen stumbled out of the forest and into the woods that fringe the small midwestern town of Groverton, remembering nothing about her life except her first name and age. She was soon adopted by the Aston family, whose young daughter Ellie was thrilled to get a sibling.
Now, twelve years later, Jen is living a good life as a news anchor, raising Ellie after their parents were killed in a house fire. Jen still can’t remember her past, but that doesn’t really bother her, since she and Ellie are in a good place now.
Things suddenly change when Jen barely escapes three attempts on her life, leaving the sisters shaken and afraid. Jen owes her life to the secretive new PE teacher, Coach Doyle, who has miraculously appeared to save her every time. Doyle has fighting skills fit for a martial arts movie and reflexes just this side of impossible, but how long can he keep them safe? And why does Jen feel like she should know him?
While Jen starts to fall in love with the charming Doyle, Ellie is shocked when she discovers something otherworldly in the coach’s barn, convincing her that Doyle is definitely not a PE teacher. Ellie does not like secrets being kept from her, and is determined to unravel the enigma that is Coach Doyle. The truths that will be revealed, however, will change all their lives forever.
The Uncrowned Queen
The story begun in "The Lost Tayamu" continues...
Moments ago, Ellie and Jen Aston were in their small midwestern town of Groverton, but now, they find themselves on a parallel Earth, in the magical land of Kiamada. Accompanied by Alistair Doyle, his twin sister Kira, Kira's husband Jerry, and the giant Wiler, Theonus, Ellie and Jen have to adapt to their new lives in this similar, yet still different, world. Weird plants and strange animals aren't that surprising, but Bar Truga, the sentient island that is home to the Tayamu, is unlike anything Ellie and Jen had prepared themselves for.
While Jen strives to regain her lost memories, Ellie must deal with her Tayamu powers coming in faster and stronger than they should. When a rare, surprising new ability manifests, Ellie suddenly finds herself with a new partner in life, and must learn to control this ability before she accidentally kills herself.
Having received word from Nature that the uncrowned queen of Kiamada has returned home, Seaile, the First of the Tayamu, sets out with her apprentice to find the queen and restore her to the throne. But does the queen even want to rule? And why did she choose to leave in the first place?
When Doyle is forced to reveal their presence in Kiamada, news reaches the despotic ruler of Kiamada, Mathon, who sets plans in motion to protect his rule…plans that will place Mathon on a collision course with the Tayamu, and bring old friends to a new world in search of help.
The Shattered Earths
The story that began in "The Lost Tayamu" and continued in "The Uncrowned Queen" comes to its conclusion.
"When two worlds collide, only one may survive."
Since ending Mathon’s tyrannical reign several days ago, these words have echoed in Jen DuAston’s mind. Determined to get the residents of Groverton out of harm’s way and onto Bar Truga, Jen uses a dimensional rift and returns to the tiny midwestern town that raised her for twelve years…. just before the Chiami strike with a devastating attack.
When Mathon’s full diabolical plan is revealed, the Tayamu face an evil that hasn’t been seen for thousands of years….not since Kiamada was ripped away from its home and brought to an alternate dimension. To save both Earths from being shattered, it will take untold power…and, possibly, the ultimate sacrifice.