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Ben’s Friends (67)

Beth

1,369 books | 72 friends

Liz

529 books | 85 friends

Ms. Hauer

4,393 books | 116 friends

Maria Dell'Orefice

185 books | 54 friends

1,034 books | 65 friends

Amy

332 books | 89 friends

Michael Trainer

248 books | 371 friends

Sam

135 books | 34 friends

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Ben Smith

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April 2013

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What are you currently working on?

Ben Smith Novel #2 is about a piano tuner and a sleep sanctuary in the Hudson Valley.
I’m still plugging away on my musical “Page Two”—with Steve Hanna. …moreNovel #2 is about a piano tuner and a sleep sanctuary in the Hudson Valley.
I’m still plugging away on my musical “Page Two”—with Steve Hanna. (less)

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Ben Smith Back in 2005, I was on a big anagram kick. I loved putting people’s names into the anagram server at wordsmith.org and seeing what combinations their …moreBack in 2005, I was on a big anagram kick. I loved putting people’s names into the anagram server at wordsmith.org and seeing what combinations their computers spit out. Type in Benjamin Smith; get out Banishment Jim. Type in Kanye West; get out Sweaty Ken. Type in Mother Teresa; get out Heart Meteors. Instant alter ego or new band name.

It was not a particularly welcoming activity on the first day of school, but I used to place students’ anagram names on their assigned seats and ask them to find their seat. Some names were more fruitful than others. Dylan Geringer’s name spawned so many wonderful combinations, among them the eventual title of the book. I also loved the rearrangement of letters my colleague Trevor Drake’s name conjured: Dr. Overtaker. I loved those two alternative names so much that, one night lying in bed, ten years later, I opened up my phone’s Notes app and wrote the first paragraph of Darling Energy. (less)

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