Ben Sledge

LET'S GET SOME THINGS STRAIGHT...Cause you're probably wondering who the hell the tattooed guy is?

IN 1999 (LIKE THE PRINCE SONG) I JOINED THE MILITARY

prior to that I grew up in Oklahoma and was set to attend college at Oklahoma State University (where I eventuallygraduated from after dropping out 3 times. War is hell, ya know?). But then September 11th, 2001 hit and my military career and life took a different turn.

SO HERE'S WHAT'S TRUE…

I have my enemy marksmanship award (the Purple Heart) for wounds received in action while deployed to Afghanistan. I also earned a Bronze Star and two Army Commendation Medals for my actions overseas. I stayed enlisted for the eleven years I was in the U.S. Army and fought in Ramadi, Iraq during the most violent portion of the war. I also ending up losing my best friend in combat.

AND HERE'S WHAT'S NOT TRUE

I was not Special Forces though somehow that myth gets purported by journalists and organizations wanting to fluff my resume. I did, however, serve most of my time under Special Operations (Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command). I attended Defense Language Institute and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School while in the military, but please don't say I was a Ranger or make up crap I didn't do. That's silly and dishonest.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR WRITING?

Yeah, that was a fluke.

One of my best friends is a Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author and several years ago I got invited to write an article for an organization I respected called HeartSupport. So I asked him to help me and review my submission, which he promptly destroyed with a red pen. Little did I know that would fan flame for the craft and I continued to learn under his tutelage. I spent years honing, perfecting, and writing to an audience of no one except my parents (and pet cat who I'd read to). Somehow people took note years later and my writing took off on Medium. Since then, I've managed to author several viral blogs and landed Top Writer status in the categories of Life, Life Lessons, Mental Health, Relationships, Fiction, Love, and Short Stories. My writing has also been featured on Thought Catalog, Daily Mail Online, SOFREP, The Good Men Project, Our American Stories, and many other publications I can't remember. However, my true love is fantasy and science fiction, and I'm currently working on a fantasy trilogy full of elves and shape shifters. Most days I still write for HeartSupport where I now work.

YOU'RE AN ARTIST TOO, RIGHT?

I view art through numerous mediums. So I write articles, speak around the country to organizations and churches on pressing topics—and yes—still do graphic design almost daily. Some of my artwork has been featured in two New York Times Best-Selling novels, TIME Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox News, CNN, and again, other places I've forgotten.

OKAY, WHAT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE?

I'm married to an amazing woman named Emily who is—and remains—my muse. There's also a toddler that runs around my house named Adelaide who gives me snotty kisses I can't get enough of. I'm also a licensed minister overseen by an ethics board. Though that last tidbit of info I tend to keep that on the DL (that's "Down-Low for all you Baby Boomers) as there's far too many stigmas given the rampant culture of calloused and judgmental Christians. I want my words and actions to align instead.

I've been at the same church for over a decade and lead young adults at our Central campus and plan to never leave. I really do love people and believe there's hope for even the most lost and do my best to look like the man I claim to follow, though I fail miserably most days. Aside from that I have a growing collection of tattoos and hang my beanie in Austin, Texas.