Ed's Thoughts
Monday, July 7, 2025
Why Redemption Is a Must-Read for Military Thriller Fans on Google Play Books
If you enjoy novels that blend high-stakes action with deep emotional transformation, Redemption by Ed Benjamin is your next must-read.
What’s the Story About?
Redemption follows Harry — one of the U.S. Air Force’s finest fighter pilots, whose life takes a sharp turn after a near-death experience in fierce air combat. Discharged and grounded, Harry is forced to navigate a new life outside the cockpit — a journey filled with personal loss, investigation, healing, and a search for meaning.
This isn’t just a story about war. It’s about what comes after the uniform — and the human cost of service.
What Makes Redemption Stand Out?
✈️ Unparalleled accuracy in military aviation – written by a USAF veteran
🧠Gripping emotional arc – explores PTSD, purpose, and transformation
🕵️♂️ Complex detective subplot – adds intrigue and depth
📚 Highly accessible – now available on Google Play Books for instant reading
Who Should Read This?
Fans of Tom Clancy, W.E.B. Griffin, or Dale Brown
Readers who enjoy redemption arcs and military realism
Anyone curious about life after military service
What Readers Are Saying:
“A rare blend of action and heart. I couldn’t put it down.”
— Verified Review
“Finally, a military thriller that feels real and still tells a human story.”
— Military Book Club Member
Where to Get It: Google Play Books
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=KoJpEQAAQBAJ
Saturday, June 28, 2025
I asked AI to describe my novel, Redemption!
On a Lark, I asked Chat GPT, what my novel, REDEMPTION, was about, and This is What I Got.
“ Redemption “ by Ed Benjamin is a military thriller that not only provides an engaging fictional story but also offers insightful details about aviation. The narrative follows Harry, one of the United States’ finest fighter pilots, whose life is dramatically changed after a near-death experience (NDE) during combat leads to his medical discharge. This book takes readers on an emotional journey through Harry’s struggles with loss, heartbreak, and his quest for redemption, blending military action with a deep, emotional story line .
My favorite review “…one of the best action-packed, people sensitive novels ever written!”
The book is praised for moving effortlessly between exhilarating fighter pilot action scenes and complex detective work, showcasing an unmatched technical understanding of the United States Air Force, described as unparalleled in fiction. Harry, the protagonist, is a former Air Force hero who navigates his new reality after being grounded and medically discharged. This transition challenges him to find new purpose and meaning outside the military .
Overall, “ Redemption “ is not just a story about military exploits but also a profound exploration of personal recovery and the quest for a second chance. Its blend of action, technical detail, and emotional depth makes it a compelling read for those interested in military thrillers and stories of personal transformation.
My Reaction: AI got it! Yay! If you want to check it out click here.
Keep Your Loved Ones at risk for Dementia & Alzheimer’s SHARP
Help Your Loved Ones Sharp — Games to help Seniors (Great for Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care)
They’re easy, entertaining, and may help slow dementia symptoms.
Why Mental Exercises Matter for Seniors
As we age, cognitive functions naturally decline. But just like physical exercise strengthens the body, mental workouts can help keep the brain sharp.
Regular brain activities may:
Improve memory recall
Delay dementia progression
Reduce boredom and loneliness
Boost confidence and mental clarity
5 Fun and Easy Activities to Try at Home
1. Spot the Difference Puzzles
These challenge visual memory and attention to detail.
2. Mazes and Pattern Recognition
Boost problem-solving and spatial awareness — seniors love the “a-ha” moment!
3. Word Anagrams & Simple Math
Strengthen language and number fluency.
4. Shadow Matching Games
Visual logic puzzles that feel more like play than therapy.
5. Attention-to-Detail Challenges
Great for engaging the brain without stress.
Get yours today
👴 Recommended: Grandpa B’s Fun and Exciting Activity Book for Seniors
If you’re looking for a complete, ready-to-go workbook, check this out:
👉 Grandpa B’s Fun and Exciting Adult Activity Book for Seniors — Available on Amazon (affiliate link)
It’s created by a psychologist and full of activities like:
Mazes
Memory games
Logic puzzles
Word play
Visual brain teasers
Perfect for home use or as a thoughtful gift for aging parents, grandparents, or dementia caregivers.
Final Thought
Mental fitness matters. Even 10–15 minutes a day can make a difference.
Your loved one deserves fun, engaging, and meaningful ways to stay sharp — and this activity book is a great place to start.
Sunday, June 22, 2025
When Fiction Becomes Reality: Redemption and the US, Israel, and Iran Conflict
Tensions Erupt: US enters the War
On June 21, 2025, the United States launched a series of coordinated strikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites. These attacks came in response to weeks of escalating violence. Earlier this month, Israel struck deep into Iran, targeting missile batteries, nuclear facilities, and senior military officials. Iran answered with waves of drones and ballistic missiles that injured hundreds in Israel.
Now, American forces have joined the fray.
As fears of a regional war grow, the world watches nervously.
Why Redemption Feels Like a Warning
In Redemption, a top-tier U.S. Air Force pilot is ambushed by eight Iranian fighters during a high-stakes mission. It's fiction: but it's so close to today's headlines. The scenes of sudden attack, chaotic air battles, and strategic deception feel pulled from this morning's newsfeed.
Redemption doesn't predict the future - but it understands how fast war can spiral.
Here's how it mirrors real life:
Escalation: Just like today's rapid chain of strikes and counterstrikes, the personal conflict in Redemption is an example of how one mission can trigger global consequences.
Air power and politics: U.S. stealth, Iranian fighters, and the deadly chess match between nations - it's all there in the novel.
The human cost: More than missiles and politics, Redemption is about survival, fear, and second chances after war nearly claims everything.
A Story That Hits Harder Now
As headlines shout:
"U.S. strikes target Iranian nuclear labs and command bunkers"
"Iranian response to Israeli attacks kills dozens in Israeli cities"
Redemption gives readers something more personal: the war through a pilot's eyes. No politics. No punditry. Just one man, alone in the sky, trying to make it home.
One reader put it best:
"Regardless of my former USAF time and current FAA aviation credentials, I would have voted this one of the BEST ACTION-PACKED, PEOPLE-SENSITIVE NOVELS ever written!"
Read Redemption today - and see why fiction sometimes hits closer to home than the evening news.
[Get your copy here.]
Friday, June 20, 2025
When Fiction Mirrors Today’s Headlines: Redemption and the Iran Conflict
Tensions Today
In mid-June 2025, we’ve watched as Israel launched major airstrikes deep into Iran — targeting missile sites, nuclear and military infrastructure, and even senior IRGC leaders. Iran responded with ballistic missiles and drone attacks into Israel, injuring hundreds — and the world now braces for possible U.S. involvement and wider escalation.
Why Redemption Feels Uncomfortably Real
In Redemption, a top — of — the- line Air Force pilot fights for survival after being ambushed by eight Iranian fighters — just like the real threats reported today, including missile launches from Iran toward Israel, missiles from Israel toward Iran, and concerns about attacks on U.S. interests .
This fictional novel isn’t just a stirring story–it’s tapping into current global conflict dynamics:
Unpredictable escalation: real-world Iranian air- to- air missile attacks in Redemption.
State vs. proxy warfare: Israeli strikes aided by intelligence mirrors the combat scenes in the fictional world of Redemption
High Stakes: just like the tension over Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, Redemption centers on the human stakes for one man.
A Story for Our Moment
In an age of headlines like:
“Iran’s missiles injure more than 270 in Israel,” and
“First stealth drones and Israeli airstrikes deep inside Iran”
Redemption offers a ground-level, pulse-pounding perspective. It shows the human cost behind geopolitics: survival, fear, and redemption after gut wrenching air — to- air combat in the face of state-level threats.
As one reviewer noted, “Regardless of my former USAF time and current FAA aviation credentials, I would have voted this one of the BEST ACTION-PACKED, PEOPLE SENSITIVE NOVELS ever written!”
You can get your copy of Redemption here.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Death on aTexas Highway
Harry Miles just wanted to take his cherry-red Mustang out for a spin. Instead, he drove straight into a gunfight.
I'm excited to announce the release of the third case file in my Bulverde Beat mystery series:
📘 Death on a Texas Highway
Set against the dusty, sunbaked roads of rural Texas, this 8,700-word short thriller puts PI Harry Miles into the heart of a deadly encounter - and forces him to rely on courage, training, and instinct to survive.
This isn't the first time Harry's stepped into danger. But this time, it's personal.
🚗 What's the Story About?
It begins simply enough. Harry Miles - Air Force veteran, former fighter pilot, and now a private eye, is cruising through the Texas Hill Country in his restored 1963 Mustang. He's not looking for trouble.
But trouble finds him.
As he crests a ridge on a lonely highway, he spots something wrong. A Comal County Sheriff's Deputy is pinned down by a man wielding an automatic rifle.
There's no backup. And time is running out.
In that split second, Harry makes the choice most wouldn't.
He intervenes.
What follows is a pulse-pounding confrontation that tests Harry's judgment and commitment to do the right thing - even if it means putting himself in the crosshairs.
🔎 Why You Should Read It
Death on a Texas Highway is about more than a shootout. It's about the quiet kind of heroism - the kind that doesn't come with medals or parades.
It's about a man who's been through hell and chooses to keep doing what's right anyway.
If you enjoy:
Veteran heroes with grit and heart
Short, intense mystery thrillers
Rural Texas law enforcement stories
Fast-moving reads with authentic action
Then this story's for you.
📚 Catch Up on the Series
If you're new to the Bulverde Beat series, you can read each story (some are designated Case Files) as a standalone. But for those who want the full ride, here's the order so far:
🔥 Mystery Explosion - A bomb rocks a quiet neighborhood. Harry and Sheriff's Investigator Luke Remington search for the truth behind the blast.
🧩 The Code - A cryptic note. A brutal murder. And a hidden message which drives someone to murder.
🚔 Death on a Texas Highway - Courage meets chaos on a backroad standoff.
Active Shooter - A routine drive to conduct a search for a cold case is interrupted by an armed ex-Marine who believes he is back in Afghanistan
📖 Where It All Began
Want to dive deeper into Harry's past?
My full-length novel Redemption explores Harry's transformation from decorated fighter pilot to grounded investigator, dealing with loss, guilt, and a search for purpose.
Or check out Harry's War, the novella that started it all - a military thriller with emotional weight and intense action.
🔗 Get the Story
You can find Death on a Texas Highway and the rest of the Bulverde Beat series on Amazon Kindle:
👉 [ Amazon] Link is Here
Your support helps independent authors like me keep telling stories that matter. And if you enjoy what you read, a short review goes a long way.
✍️
Final Word
Thank you to all my readers - new and returning - who've joined me on this storytelling journey. Whether you're here for the mysteries, the action, or just to ride along with Harry and Luke on the backroads of Texas, I appreciate you.
More stories are coming soon.
Stay sharp. Stay kind. And if you see trouble on the road ahead - be like Harry.
Monday, June 16, 2025
Why Your Email Newsletter Might Be the Easiest Way to Make Money Online in 2025
Why Your Email Newsletter Might Be the Easiest Way to Make Money Online in 2025
Introduction:
Looking for a beginner-friendly way to make money online? You might be surprised to learn that one of the simplest and smartest side hustles in 2025 is writing a newsletter.
You don’t need a big audience.
You don’t need tech skills.
And you definitely don’t need to go viral.
What Makes Newsletters a Great Online Side Hustle?
More and more people are turning to email newsletters as a low-cost way to build income. Here's why:
You control the platform (no algorithm changes to worry about)
You build trust over time with real readers
You can start for free with tools like Substack or ConvertKit
You can monetize quickly, even with a small list
Top 5 Reasons to Start a Newsletter Side Hustle
1. You Can Write About What You Already Know
Whether it’s AI tools, parenting hacks, or book reviews — there's an audience for nearly every topic.
2. No Need to Be Famous
You don’t need 10,000 Instagram followers. Just 100 loyal subscribers can turn into income.
3. Monetization Is Built In
Here are just a few ways newsletters can make money:
Affiliate links
Paid subscriptions
Sponsored mentions
Selling digital products
Coaching or services
4. It’s Low-Risk, High-Potential
You don’t need to buy inventory, pay for ads, or record videos. It’s one of the safest ways to experiment with online income.
5. It Grows With You
Start simple. Then add more advanced monetization as you grow: premium tiers, automations, funnels, and digital products.
You Don’t Need Thousands of Subscribers
Some newsletter creators are making $500–$2,000 per month with fewer than 500 subscribers. It's all about:
Delivering helpful, consistent content
Picking monetization methods that suit your style
Building trust over time
Recommended Resource: A Simple Guide to Newsletter Profits
If you want to learn 12 proven ways to monetize your newsletter, check out this easy-to-read $8 guide:
👉 How to Make Money Online With an Email Newsletter by Minimalist Hustler on Gumroad (affiliate link)
It breaks down exactly how to earn from a newsletter — even if you're starting from zero.
Final Thought: The Best Time to Start Was Yesterday. The Next Best Time Is Now.
Email newsletters are one of the last “quiet” goldmines online. You don’t need to chase trends — just provide value.
💡 Start small.
💬 Show up consistently.
💰 Monetize with intention.
Whether you’re building your first $100 or your first 1,000 subscribers… the journey starts with one email.
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