Los Angeles author/global traveler Ben Crockett talks about his debut release “Squeeze Light” drawing from his experiences from his childhood adventures navigating L.A.’s subterranean passageways blending personal experiences with fiction creating a world that’s haunting yet exhilarating while bringing the shadowy underworld to life as a coming-of-age thriller exploring friendships, survival, unexpected dangers and tangled mysteries with life-altering moments that will shape everything forever! Ben shares his stories about being born and raised in Los Angeles who is also as a storyteller, writer, and photographer and shares his stories behind the book! Check out the amazing Ben Crockett and his debut release on all major platforms and www.bencrockett.com today! #bencrockett #author #globaltraveler #losangeles #squeezelight #childhood #subterranean #shadowyunderworld #bmxbikes #subway #spreaker #iheartradio #spotify #applemusic #youtube #anchorfm #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnerbencrockett #themikewagnershowbencrockett
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here are the Terrific gentleman who's an author, global traveler
and adventure and storyteller, writer, photographer. Born and raised in
(01:41):
La is a new book drops from his own childhood
adventures Nativities, navigating the La subterranean passageways, blending personal with
experience fiction, creating a world basically that's haunting yet exhilarating
and also brings shadowy underworld to life. And it's also
on coming of age throw exploring friendships, survival, and places
(02:01):
to escape, but more. The book is called Squeeze Light, Life,
Laces and gentlemen. Plus it's beautiful downtown Los Angeles. Amazing author,
global traveler and adventure and storyteller and the author of
Squeeze Light, The multi time Ben Crockett, Ben, good morning,
good afternoon, good evening. Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 6 (02:17):
Thanks for having me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
What you guys have you on board? Bench? You're an author,
global traveler, adventure and storyteller, writer, photographer, born and raised
in LA. You have a new book that draws from
your own childhood adventures navigating the LA subterranean passageways, blending
personal experience with fiction, creating a world that's haunting and exhilarating.
But yet you also bring a shadowy underworld to life.
(02:39):
Call me a fages thriller, exploiting to friendships, survival and
places to escape, unexpected dangers, tangle mysteries and life altering
moments that's shaped forever. It's called Squeeze Light, and it's
amazing book you've got before getting on at Ben, tell
us how first guest started.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
I'm the book or just writing in general?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
No, just you in general? All the way back, way
back machines wack.
Speaker 6 (03:02):
We're going We're going deep.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Okay, Yeah, yeah, bike do that too, So.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
I was Yeah. I was born in Locrasento, which is
a suburb of Los Angeles up in the foothills of
the mountains and uh kind of north of Burbank, and
we were tucked away up there. And when I grew
up up there, the neighborhood next door to Hunga was
run by the Hell's Angels and they had kind of
(03:30):
full control over that whole neighborhood. And so as kids,
when we wanted to navigate town, we had to find
other safer ways to get around town because we were
all rode BMX bikes, my friends and I, and getting
to where the dirt jumps were required, traveling alternate routes
through backyards, behind buildings, and some of the time under
(03:52):
these tunnels. They're just washes that go underground, and so
you learned to follow them and navigate them and get
around town safely, have your bike at the other end
so it didn't get stolen. But that's pretty much how
it got started that, you know, growing up there riding BMX.
I that was kind of my driving focus in life
(04:14):
was riding bikes, and I worked my way up eventually
found my way into testing bikes for BMX Plus magazine
and over the next several years made some friends there,
worked there for free, and took me another sixteen years
to work my way up to editor and head photographer
over at BMX plus magazine, and that spun off into
(04:38):
an off road magazine four wheel drive Toyota owner, and
I did that for several years, and you know, after
a while, print media just got so niche and so
difficult to you know, make any kind of a profit on.
And so from there I started doing some online stuff
and then at a certain point decided I didn't like
(04:58):
the rules to riding in MAGA magazines and rules to
riding online, and decided I would try and just write
something on my own. See what happened that.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
That's retainly amazing. You've been with BMX for quite some time.
It's amazing.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
Yeah, I'm forty five years old and I still try
and ride three or four times a week. So it's
it is fun. I try not to look at myself
in the mirror because I realized I'm just an old
guy still riding BMX bikes, riding little kids bikes at
the skate park. But it is fun. Kind of keeps
you mobile makes you think it's a it's a science
project to figure out tricks and stuff. And so you know,
(05:33):
as long as as long as it keeps making me
smile when I do it, I'll keep doing it.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Maybe think of that guy who you rode uh BMX
bikes like that. He was a movie called Rat. I
think of something Allan. I can't remember Gary Allen or
whoever was. It made me think of it.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
Yeah, Yeah, Rad was a when I was a kid,
and there weren't you know, in the eighties, there were
no Now you have, like YouTube is full of BMX
videos and you could get DVDs and it evolved so
much so quick. But when I was a kid, all
you had was Rat. Everybody knew Rad, and you would
just analyze that movie and watched it over and over again.
(06:11):
And it's kind of cool to get to a point,
you know. I never thought when I was, you know,
six seven years old, watching that over and over again
that at a certain point I would know all those guys,
know the stuntmen, you know, know the writers, be able
to do interviews with them. So it was you know,
you kind of you stick with stuff long enough, then
it takes you some pretty crazy places, but it is fun.
(06:33):
You know, BMX is a it's a small world, you know,
big picture, it's still kind of a niche sport, but
it's it's definitely cool to have had those experiences.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
And what was that one exact, precise moment that's simply
implement you mean doing the rest of your career? What
do you what do you mean like like with like
a certain event, a certain point or anything like that
light bulb moments says, that's why I'm going to do
where it's writing or fixing bikes or being like an author,
just going through the subtrade and passageways in La so venturing.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Growing up, I don't know where I came from, but
I just decided I'm going to take every opportunity people
give me because I didn't grow up with a lot.
We didn't have a ton of money, and I always
say it's like we were, you know, as an adult,
I look at it and go, man, we grew up
kind of poor, but I never knew it, which I
think is the greatest possible scenario. I never knew we
didn't have a lot of money. We just had so
(07:29):
much fun in the mountains and exploring and so I
kind of did anything I could do that was free.
If anybody gave me an opportunity to come help them
at work, I'd go do it and decide if I
liked it or not. And sometimes you find yourself liking things,
and riding was one of those things. Since I was
a little kid, I always found I had a good
(07:54):
time when they would give me a something to write
about and I would find a way to make it
funny or find a way to make it interesting. Or
when I got into high school, I made a habit
of if they gave me a project to write about,
I would start on topic and then see how diverted
I could get from that topic by the end, and
then see when the teacher finally figured out that I'd
(08:15):
taken them on some weird side story that they didn't
think they were going on. And that kind of the
creativity in writing was it always stuck with me. I
always enjoyed it. Working at the BMX magazine, our reader
base was thirteen and under and thirty and over, so
I had to find a way to write things that
were compelling for people who are over thirty, but also
(08:39):
intriguing for kids that are thirteen and under. And it
was a challenge, and I think it really developed my writing,
you know, because a lot of people started and quit.
Like when I worked there, dozens of people would start
and quit because they couldn't handle the rules. And I decided,
if I'm going to have to, if I'm going to
write this, I want to be the best at writing this.
I possibly can really invested myself in it. And then
(09:01):
when I went to the off road magazine, it's I
realized nobody's really reading the stories. They just want numbers.
They want to see statistics. They want to see hard facts,
horsepower to horsepower ratios, and that, to me, there's no interest.
You just realize if you try and divert and write
something unique or interesting or funny, nobody's reading it anyway.
(09:25):
So I left and then I did some online stuff,
but it was really at a certain point I sat
down and went I've been talk thinking about writing a
book for years and years and years and years, and
ultimately I decided, I'm gonna sit down, I'm gonna write
for an hour a day. I'm going to get up early,
write an hour every day and see what happens if
I burn out. After two weeks, I burn out. But
(09:46):
if I keep going and the ideas keep coming, I'll
keep going and it, you know, every day I sort
of looking forward to that one hour because I had
so many ideas and just not enough time to get
them all on paper, and I could see the whole
story so clearly and just you know that was really
the point where I realized, like, I enjoy writing more
than work. I was pursuing it so much for work
(10:10):
that when I sat down and really started writing for myself,
I realized how much I enjoy it. And I had
to tell myself I had to just sit down and
go If people hate this, they hate it. But if
they enjoy it, they enjoy it. But I'm not gonna
I'm just going to write what I think is funny,
(10:30):
write what I think is a good story. And that
was kind of the most rewarding thing is when I
finished it and I started having, you know, review after
review of people I don't know, you know, people in
other countries and stuff that have gotten the book and
love it, love the story, love the characters. They have
tons of questions and want to know what's reality and
what's made up, And you know that, to me, that's
(10:54):
like the biggest marker of my success. You know, if
nothing else happens with the book, I look at that
and go, that's the greatest success I could do. You know,
I wrote something that other people found enjoyable.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
And that sounds like something you really enjoyed doing. Who's
some of your favorite authors and writers going up? Especially
your favorite books.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
If I think back on books, I really enjoyed books
and stories that are told out of order, you know,
like Quentin Tarantino style stuff. I really like things that
don't follow a normal timeline, and I tried to work
that into my book. But I also love adventures that
are rooted in reality. Because when I really started going
(11:35):
back and looking at books that I read over and
over again, in books that I really really love, every
single one of them was rooted in reality. And then
I look at ones that I don't love, and it's
when everything gets written off as there's a ghost or
magic and that's what makes it happen. And that never
captivated me. And I know a lot of people love it,
(11:56):
but it never captivated me. So Jaws was you know,
reading the book Jows, reading the screenplay of Jaws, all
that is mesmerizing to me because you realize so much
of that movie and so much of the book, nothing happens.
There is no you know, you don't see the shark.
You just hear about the shark and these stories that
(12:17):
are going on around the shark. And then when it
finally does happen, it's this great thing and it's kind
of a slow burn. But it's based in reality, so
you can really put yourself in that book and almost
live it in your head, which is what I was
going for.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
That is certainly interesting. Jaws was one of my favorites.
Some people call it the Shark movie, and that was
really unique as well too. You got a unique book
called Squeeze Light. We'll talk more about it with Ben Crockett,
but first listen to the Mike Weders show at the
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Amazing Both to tell author global traveler Adventure and storyteller
(15:07):
Ben Crockett here on the Micro Wenders Show with them
Squeezed Light as well too and before geting a that
you say, also travel around the globe and being adventure
was some of the places you actually went to as
a traveler.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
Well, the BNMX magazine. I I kind of had a
unique life where I was twenty one and never I'd
been on a plane once. I never really traveled much
outside of you know, one state in every direction from California,
and starting at the BMX magazine, within two weeks, I
was getting on planes. I was flying all over the US.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Oh wow, to go.
Speaker 6 (15:44):
China, Europe, I mean Asia, South America. I was going everywhere. Canada,
all all for BMX Bike. It was really cool. And
then the off Road magazine the same thing started there
and just travel around, drive cars, drive forward by forest
and oh my gosh, over the planet, which was another
(16:06):
great adventure for sure, and then that just plants a seed.
And then at a certain age, you you know, have
the money and so you start traveling and it's I
like to go have those adventures and meet people and
interesting people, and you know, I've been to the to
the Amazon and Africa, you know, all over Africa, and
it's you know, you realize when you look at places
(16:29):
and go, eh, maybe not maybe it's going to be uncomfortable.
It's going to be a lot of bugs. And then
you go do it and you realize, you know, all
it takes is one interesting person and one great experience,
and then all that's all you have are those memories.
You don't have the discomfort, so we're never, never really
worried about that. But taking all that and the people
you meet, and I always think I have ideas for
(16:51):
new stories and books in my head and I go,
I need this character is missing something. What is this
character missing? What is this person or personality trait that
this unique personality trait that this person needs to make
them perfect for a book. And that's what kind of
keeps me going and wanting to meet people and talk
with people, is you go, oh, wow, this person has
(17:15):
just a weird tick, something bizarre. They're always like tugging
at their collar, or you know, they sniff constantly, and
all of those things can be wrapped up into a
character to take them from somebody who's just a person
in passing to a person that you kind of understand
and can visualize and relate to. So that that is
a big driving force behind traveling too, and the people
(17:38):
that you meet.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
And certainly interesting as well too. And your new book
drops from you on childhood adventures now have gained the
SubTerrain and passageways and personal experience and everything like that,
and of course also brings the shadow world to life
as well too. And maybe just a bit more about
the book, a little bit about the adventure and of
(18:01):
course you guys are seeking meaning and everything like that.
Just a lot of explorations as well too. Maybe a
bit more about the book and some of the things
you encounter as well.
Speaker 6 (18:11):
Uh So, the book I really wanted to write something.
My son started watching Stand by Me when he was
about eleven years old. He really fell in love with
that movie and watched it over and over and over again.
Oh yeah, I look back at that and think when
I was a kid, that took place twenty years before
I was born. And then there was the Goonies happened
(18:34):
later on, and that kind of was its own thing.
And I thought, my son doesn't have anything that bounces
back kind of this childhood adventure that's rooted in reality
and mystery, and so that was the driving force. I thought, well,
I'm going to write something for him. I'm gonna write
something he's going to read if and when I finish it,
and he'll enjoy it, and he'll get a kick out
(18:55):
of some of the adventures I had as a kid
and some of the tales from my friends. But then
after I finished it, I realized all of my reviews
and all the people who were reading it and really
really loving it were all late thirties early forties. I
started looking at the reviews and the ages and then
having people go, I'm going to make my kid read
(19:18):
this book. They need to understand how we grew up
in the nineties. They need to understand this, but the
nineties didn't just happen by accident. I was trying to
think of the last great time when I felt like
kids were really free, and that was kind of it.
It was just before pagers, just before cell phones. You
really just left the house with no money in your
(19:40):
pocket and you were home when the street lights came on,
and whatever happened in between was kind of between you
and your friends and didn't necessarily make it home to
tell the tale. So that was really the driving force.
And then I really wanted to have I had a
friend who pas as the way, and I thought this
(20:02):
would be great to have one more adventure, to just
kind of create one more adventure, as much of it
was real or as much of it was fake, just
with that group of friends. And so that was kind
of a cool experience to be able to relive that.
And you know, I think all the people involved that
read it appreciated as well.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
So and I think there are some adventures as well,
and I expect the dangers tangle memories and life ultering
moments maybe some of the mysteries that you encounters well too.
Were some of the things that really stood out in
your adventures around the around the subways and everything like that.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
So it was at the time. In reality there were
when the Hell's Angels were there, their kids were you
couldn't touch them. So in the book they're called the untouchables.
You couldn't do anything to them, you couldn't get in
fights with them, and so they kind of had free reign.
But you knew full well you don't mess with those kids,
you don't cross them. So in the book, I always
(21:01):
wondered the idea of what would happen if he did,
What would happen if we didn't have those street smarts
or somebody decided to push the wrong buttons, And so
that's what sparks the conflict in the book. And this
group of kids, they don't have any money, they don't
have anything really going on, nowhere to be. It's their
last summer before they start high school, and they're just
(21:22):
out causing mischief. But everything seems to compound and build
until it all comes crashing down in the end of
the book. But it's not just that conflict with the
kids of the Hell's Angels. It's they're pushing buttons with everybody,
(21:43):
with adults around them, with the police around them, and
they're just having good, harmless fun. But everything slowly rolls
together until it meshes. At the end, there's a mystery
about a building that they keep seeing when they're out
at night. It's condemned from when the North Grade earthquake happened.
They condemned the top few floors of this school, and
(22:06):
they keep seeing lights on on the top of this school,
so they want to go explore it. And when they
explore it, they kind of uncover some mysteries that they
shouldn't have seen. And it forces these two groups together.
It forces this group of kids and these you know,
offspring of the motorcycle club, forces them together to survive.
And so it was fun really tying that all together
(22:28):
and melding reality with you know, the twenty percent of
the book where I push it further to make it
just a good story.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
And it did it take some time for the group
of kids to mesh with the Hell's angels or how
long did it take? You know, like was it like
you know, slowly warming and everything like that? Was it like,
you know, what, was it contentious or is it like
in INDI ends it's like, hey, we're all the same.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
It was conflict all the way to the end until
it became a life and death situation and they had
to choose. We had this group the Untouchables, is they've
had their fill and they've been kind of shamed by
this group of kids that keeps teasing them and then
disappearing into the underground, and they've had their fill, and
so they're actually trying to kill these this group of kids,
(23:14):
and then they get they encounter a conflict that's greater
than both of them, and it forces them they either
need to work together or they're all going to die.
And so it's forced. But in that forced union, they
learn that they some of them can work together, and
some of them aren't as different as they think. They're
(23:35):
all just kids of different ages trying to work out
their troubles in life. And that's I realized as I
was writing the book, that that's kind of all kids.
You know, every every kid, no matter where they come from,
everyone's got their own problems. They're just trying to figure
it out in their own way, whether they're rebelling, whether
they're just being quiet and reclusive. You know, they're acting out.
(23:59):
There's healing things, they're you know, poking the bear, they're
causing conf but really they're all just trying to find
their way, and that's the way a lot of kids are.
So writing it, I felt like it was something a
younger demographic could really relate to, because there's a dozen
kids that come and go through this book, and they're
(24:20):
all so different, and yet they all kind of need
each other to get by for different reasons.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
And do you think with the same setup, do you
think this would have worked in the twenty twenty decade
or we even twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
I don't think it could have because you would have
to spend so much time trying to explain away. Cell
phones kind of ruin everything, like it would change everything.
You could use Google Maps to look at these washes
and figure out where they might be going. If they
want underground here, they got to be coming out somewhere
down here, whereas back in the day you had to
(24:58):
sit with a Thomas Guide, you had to pull out
map and like on a paper map, try and figure
out where people were going. And that makes it kind
of this last great analog adventure, which is what I
was going for. There are no cell phones, nobody's parents
know where they are. They're not tracking their phones. Nobody's
(25:18):
asking for you know, sending you a page and asking
you to call them back. And nobody's posting anything on
social media. There is no social media. So it's you're
out having this adventure and you're finding your own way.
You're meeting people as you're out, and that's a big
part of it. It's meeting and interactions.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
And what do you want people to get from the book.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
I want them to kind of relive. As I said,
I wrote it for younger teens, and I had that
in mind as I was writing it, something that would
be appropriate, something that maybe they could read in a school.
But at the same time, when I have all these
parents reading it and appreciate it, I understand that I
wasn't the only one who grew up this way. And
(26:04):
they really loved it. And they either loved the fact
that someone else had had adventures like they did, or
they appreciate the fact that other people were out having
these adventures while they were at home, you know, if
they were at home with their friends because their parents
were you know, their parents would let them go out,
or they were just homebodies, whatever it was. I've heard
(26:26):
it both ways from people who've read the book and
like it for different reasons, but it really seems to
resonate with people just of that era taken.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
Back mm and certainly it is rad as well too.
We got to say that we're here with you, amazing
author Ben Crockett of the book Squeeze Light. Getting more
to that minute you listen to the Mike Winners Show.
At the Mike Winnershow dot Com powered by sound Web
CDOs brought to buy official sponsor to the Mike Waders Show,
Inductual Warring Out the me Most It's the Missing available
on Amazon. The Sweet Sums spreen by Serene Wagon based
(26:57):
on a Life of King David at more Amazon dot com.
Or Sweets Somaserena Wagner and Sensey Swinging, Eric Damworth, all
of Me New music toming soon, Ericdoimusic dot com. We'd
be back from melt to tell out the Benkrockett of
Squeezelight after this time on.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Hey everybody, this is Eric Diamond and you're listening to
the Mike Wagner Show.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonicweb Studios. If
you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit
www dot Sonicwebstudios dot com for all of your online needs.
Call one eight hundred three oh three three nine six
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(27:35):
To get started today, mention the Mike Wagner Show and
get twenty percent off your project. Sonicweb Studios Take your
image to the next level.
Speaker 7 (27:44):
Hi, I'm Burl Bear, legendary American author, and I'm here
to tell you about Missing. The new mystery suspense novel
by me and mosen Ze is really a good book,
very surprising. Never metaphor I didn't like, especially in this book.
Here you have a main character whose life has been
filled with suspare His wife died A nine to eleven
is a young daughter died of a rare disease. He's
(28:04):
not a happy camper. What does he do for a living.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
He's a physical fitness trainer.
Speaker 7 (28:09):
When somebody hardly knows, somebody's never met, he only has
encountered on our internet chat line, goes missing.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
This is his journey. He's going to go rescue them.
Speaker 7 (28:18):
This is his search for redemption and search for his
own personal promise.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Land.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
He couldn't do anything about the death of his wife.
The death of his child. But maybe he could rescue
this woman he's never met, that is, if she exists.
Missing by Me and moss.
Speaker 7 (28:31):
In Zia International in scope, vastly entertaining, full of surprises.
I suggest you get it either paperback or an electronic
condition for your kindle.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Missing by Me and mosin Zia.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Hey, everybody, this is Eric Diamond. You're listening to The
Mike Wagner Show. You can check out our music and
know all about us at www dot ericdiamondmusic dot com.
Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, TikTok.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
You can friend me on Facebook.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
You can follow me on Facebook, and you can even
buy both of my albums off of Facebook. Just get
a hold of me on the Facebook Messenger. We have
them available in CD or thumb drive. Thank you so
much and hope you have a great day.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena
Wagner's book The Sweet Sawmist, now availed on Emsong. This
book includes thirty exquisite pinions by well known and unknown
painters and King David Psalms. The Sweet Salmist gives us
a new perspective on his life in this book through
the songs he wrote. His time as a shepherd in
the field is where the book starts, and it goes
on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship with King Saul,
(29:31):
as well as other events. It's a story of love, betrayal, repentance,
and more. It also offers advice and approaching God and
living a life that pleases him. Check out the book
The Sweet Salmist by Serena Wagner, now available on Amazon
keywords Sweet Salmist, Serena Wagner. Hey, Hey, this is Raye
Powers and boy are you in luck?
Speaker 6 (29:50):
Right place?
Speaker 4 (29:51):
Right time? Tuned into the Mike Wagner Show.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
You heard me.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
Went back off the bank kruck a Squeeze Light here
on the mic when your show cover a lot of
ground going back to the days of BNX more as
well too of course BMX one of the favorite bikes
as well too. And lastly, where can you find your books?
Squeeze Light and all your other works have been.
Speaker 6 (30:14):
I'm on Amazon. The book is exclusively on Amazon right now.
I Self publishing seemed to be the way of the future,
I guess, and I really since I didn't wasn't sure
if I was going to finish this book or not.
I figured why waste another couple of years as a
first time author trying to find a publisher when I
(30:36):
could just get it out there and really hustle and
maybe pull on some connections from the BMX industry and
music industry and just try and get the book out there,
and if people enjoy it, they enjoy it. I don't
really anticipate, you know, when I was writing it, I
didn't expect tons of people to write it or read it,
And now I have all these people writing reviews and
(30:57):
loving it. Not what I expected. It's being pitched as
a movie, and we've had some feedback on that, which
is nothing that I would have expected. But it's apparently
that nineties era and the Childhood Adventure really pulled some
strings with people.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
And subtly he does a great job of it as
well too. Ben And who do you consider biggest influence
in a career.
Speaker 6 (31:20):
That's tough because I've done so much, But I have
to say, when I started at the BMX magazine, the
guy who brought me on, Adam Booth, He hired me
just to write because he really didn't want to write,
and he was a great photographer, and I love to write.
And so when I started there, when I would get
(31:41):
frustrated when I was angry at what I was up against,
like the rules about what I could write and what
I couldn't write, he really put it in perspective and
just said, hey, why not just just be the best
writer you can under these rules, like do the best
you can. And then he also taught me photography when
everybody was shooting film, So from never picking up a
(32:03):
professional camera a s DSLR camera or SLR camera before that,
he taught me everything. I shot film for fifteen years
before everything went digital, and it's a really cool knowledge.
I'm still really close with him, and you know, we
have fun with it, so that I would have to
say he was probably my biggest influence.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
And certainly a big one as well. And what's the
best advice you can give the aim by.
Speaker 6 (32:28):
This point, take every opportunity, Like I said earlier, I
did that early on, and you find yourself stumbling into
you get a background movie part, or you get to
go meet someone who you've always idolized, or you get
to go meet someone in a band that you've always loved,
(32:49):
or play in a band that you you know you've
wanted to do, and it's really Sometimes you end up
in an uncomfortable situation, or you go to a party
you didn't want to go to and it stinks. But
sometimes tis you go when you meet someone important or
a great personality, and I'd have to say more often
than not it works out to the positive and just
(33:11):
chip away at stuff and you start small. Like when
I started this book, I didn't have any visions of
ever finishing it. I thought I would tap out and
not have the patience to get through it all. And
you know, like I said, five hundred pages later, you'd
learned from the experience. I was excited to do it.
Every day. I was excited to write, and then when
I finished, I was kind of depressed that I'd finished,
because it was I in my head, I'd finished this
(33:33):
last great adventure with my childhood friends and learning, working
with an editor, getting the book out there, and then
now getting to just talk with great people like yourself
and discuss the book and life. So it's a fun
it's fun adventure all the way around. If nothing else,
it was a great experience. It was life experience that
(33:54):
I can.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Take with and certainly a rat as well, with a BMX.
I write a pull it out right now if you're
talking to you, Ben, so was only do that? Yeah,
we're here with the multi talent author Ben Crockett Squeeze
Light here on the Mike Waidner Show. We're gonna say
something better.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
Or no, I just say, like if that's one of
those things. Rad is one of those movies that it
strikes a chord with so many people. And I think
that's why because it was that only dose of BMX
that was out there in the day. It's kind of
like gleaming the cube, possibly for the skateboard world, but
(34:33):
people love it and that was kind of something I
wanted to work into my book too. It's a it's
a generational piece. It's kind of a timestamp of what
was going on in the nineties and people who grew
up in Los Angeles will find a lot of familiar
stuff in there that they'll like a lot of Easter eggs.
But you don't need to have grown up or even
been to Los Angeles to appreciate what was going on
(34:55):
or the story.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
So and I think that's great as well too. We're
here with author Ben Crockett a Squeeze Light of the
Mike Winners Show. Ben a verb thank if you time
you been absolute fantastic, Larrier a lot looking Ford had
soon keeps up today, keep in touch, lavavy back And
what's your website? How do people contact you? Whoring people
purchase or check out your book?
Speaker 6 (35:14):
You can find out everything you need to know at
bendashcrocket dot com. All the links, all my interviews, this
will be there, links to buy the book, what's going
on with it in the future and future projects as well.
Speaker 4 (35:27):
And what's the website again.
Speaker 6 (35:29):
Ben dash Crockett with two t's dot com.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
We'll certainly check that out once again. Ben, a very
big thanks you, timing you, Ben, absolutely fantastic, looking forehand
soon keeps up today, keep in touch, lavavy Back. We
wish I'll best and Ben you definitely have for great
fitt you awesome.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonicweb Studios. If
you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit www.
Dot Sonicwebstudios dot com for all of your online needs.
Call one eight hundred three oh three three nine six
zero or visit us online at www dot sonicwebstudios dot
(36:04):
com to get started today. Mention the Mike Wagner Show
and get twenty percent off your project. Sonicweb Studios take
your image to the next level.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Hey everybody, this is Eric Diamond. You're listening to the
Mike Wagner Show. You can check out our music and
know all about us at www dot ericdimondmusic dot com.
Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, TikTok. You can friend
me on Facebook. You can follow me on Facebook, and
you can even buy both of my albums off of Facebook.
(36:35):
Just get a hold of me on the Facebook messager.
We have them available in CD or thumb drive. Thank
you so much and hope you have a great day.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
Hi.
Speaker 7 (36:43):
I'm Burl Bear, legendary American author, and I'm here to
tell you about Missing, the new mystery suspense novel by
me and mosen Zi. It's really a good book, very surprising.
Never metaphor I didn't like, especially in this book. Here
you have a main character whose wife has been filled
with the spear. His wife died nine to eleven. Is
a young daughter died of a rare disease. He's not
(37:03):
a happy camper. What does he do for a living.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
He's a physical fitness trainer.
Speaker 7 (37:08):
When somebody hardly knows, somebody's never met he always encountered
on our internet chat line, goes missing.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
This is his journey. He's going to go rescue them.
Speaker 7 (37:17):
This is his search for redemption and search for his
own personal promise. Lad he couldn't do anything about the
death of his wife, the death of his child, but
maybe he could rescue this woman he's never met, that is,
if she exists.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
Missing by Me and most.
Speaker 7 (37:30):
In Zia international in scope, vastly entertaining, full of surprises.
I suggest you get it either paperback or an electronic
addition for your kindle.
Speaker 3 (37:38):
Missing by Me and Moss and Zia.
Speaker 4 (37:40):
The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena
Wagner's book The Sweet Sawmist now a velbon Emson. This
book includes thirty exquisite paintings by well known and unknown
painters and King David songs. The Sweet Semist gives us
a new perspective on his life in this book through
the songs he wrote. His time as a shepherd in
the field is will the book starts, and it goes
on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship shop with
King Saul as well as other events. It's a story
(38:02):
of love, betrayal, repentance, and more. It also offers advice
on approaching God and living a life that pleases him.
Check out the book The Sweets Armers by Serena Wagner,
now available on Amazon keywords Sweet Salmis Sorena Wager.
Speaker 5 (38:18):
Thanks for listening to The Mike Wagner Show powered by
Sonicweb Studios. Pasit online at Sonicwebstudios dot com for all
your needs. The Mike Wagner Show can be heard on Spreakers, Spotify, iHeartRadio, iTunes,
YouTube Anchor, FM Radio Public, and The Mike Wagner Show
dot com. Please post our program with your donations at
the Mike Wagnershow dot com. Join us again next time
(38:40):
for another great episode of The Mike Wagner Show
Hey everybody, this is Eric Diamond and you're listening to
The Mike Wagner Show.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonicweb Studios.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Hi, this is Miamos. They are also known as Mia
No Time for Love. Check out my latest book, Lifting
available on Amazon.
Speaker 4 (00:14):
The Mike Wagner Show also brought to by The Sweet
Somuch by Serena Wagner, Available on Amazon, highlighted up Bogo.
Speaker 5 (00:20):
David, It's now time for The Mike Wagner Show, powered
by Sonic Web Studios. Visit online at Sonicquebstudios dot com
for all your needs. The Mike Wagner Show can be
heard on Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, iTunes, Anchor, FM Radio Public,
and The Mike Wagner Show dot Com. Mike brings you
(00:41):
great guests and interesting people from all across the globe.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy another great episode of
The Mike Wagner Show.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Everybody's Mike from Mike Widner Show powered by Sonkweb Studios.
Write to Brofession, sponsor to The Mike Wagner Show International,
worrying out the Me and Mulson's Missing avail on Amazon
and paperback and ebook coming soon, Missing too by me Mulsons,
The Double, The Spence Double, The Fun. Check it out
on Amazon. Also brought to by The Sweet Somis Sparserena Wagner,
based on the life of King Dave, including theory s
quiz of Pains King David Palms The Sweet Soistparserena Wagner
(01:19):
keywords Amazon keywords Sweet Samma Serena Rner Check it out today.
Also brought to by the Sense It Swaging Eric Daimond
with the lest All of Me newsic coming soon Ericdimsia
dot com, Follow on Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and more. Well,
here are the Terrific gentleman who's an author, global traveler
and adventure and storyteller, writer, photographer. Born and raised in
(01:41):
La is a new book drops from his own childhood
adventures Nativities, navigating the La subterranean passageways, blending personal with
experience fiction, creating a world basically that's haunting yet exhilarating
and also brings shadowy underworld to life. And it's also
on coming of age throw exploring friendships, survival, and places
(02:01):
to escape, but more. The book is called Squeeze Light, Life,
Laces and gentlemen. Plus it's beautiful downtown Los Angeles. Amazing author,
global traveler and adventure and storyteller and the author of
Squeeze Light, The multi time Ben Crockett, Ben, good morning,
good afternoon, good evening. Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 6 (02:17):
Thanks for having me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
What you guys have you on board? Bench? You're an author,
global traveler, adventure and storyteller, writer, photographer, born and raised
in LA. You have a new book that draws from
your own childhood adventures navigating the LA subterranean passageways, blending
personal experience with fiction, creating a world that's haunting and exhilarating.
But yet you also bring a shadowy underworld to life.
(02:39):
Call me a fages thriller, exploiting to friendships, survival and
places to escape, unexpected dangers, tangle mysteries and life altering
moments that's shaped forever. It's called Squeeze Light, and it's
amazing book you've got before getting on at Ben, tell
us how first guest started.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
I'm the book or just writing in general?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
No, just you in general? All the way back, way
back machines wack.
Speaker 6 (03:02):
We're going We're going deep.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Okay, Yeah, yeah, bike do that too, So.
Speaker 6 (03:08):
I was Yeah. I was born in Locrasento, which is
a suburb of Los Angeles up in the foothills of
the mountains and uh kind of north of Burbank, and
we were tucked away up there. And when I grew
up up there, the neighborhood next door to Hunga was
run by the Hell's Angels and they had kind of
(03:30):
full control over that whole neighborhood. And so as kids,
when we wanted to navigate town, we had to find
other safer ways to get around town because we were
all rode BMX bikes, my friends and I, and getting
to where the dirt jumps were required, traveling alternate routes
through backyards, behind buildings, and some of the time under
(03:52):
these tunnels. They're just washes that go underground, and so
you learned to follow them and navigate them and get
around town safely, have your bike at the other end
so it didn't get stolen. But that's pretty much how
it got started that, you know, growing up there riding BMX.
I that was kind of my driving focus in life
(04:14):
was riding bikes, and I worked my way up eventually
found my way into testing bikes for BMX Plus magazine
and over the next several years made some friends there,
worked there for free, and took me another sixteen years
to work my way up to editor and head photographer
over at BMX plus magazine, and that spun off into
(04:38):
an off road magazine four wheel drive Toyota owner, and
I did that for several years, and you know, after
a while, print media just got so niche and so
difficult to you know, make any kind of a profit on.
And so from there I started doing some online stuff
and then at a certain point decided I didn't like
(04:58):
the rules to riding in MAGA magazines and rules to
riding online, and decided I would try and just write
something on my own. See what happened that.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
That's retainly amazing. You've been with BMX for quite some time.
It's amazing.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
Yeah, I'm forty five years old and I still try
and ride three or four times a week. So it's
it is fun. I try not to look at myself
in the mirror because I realized I'm just an old
guy still riding BMX bikes, riding little kids bikes at
the skate park. But it is fun. Kind of keeps
you mobile makes you think it's a it's a science
project to figure out tricks and stuff. And so you know,
(05:33):
as long as as long as it keeps making me
smile when I do it, I'll keep doing it.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Maybe think of that guy who you rode uh BMX
bikes like that. He was a movie called Rat. I
think of something Allan. I can't remember Gary Allen or
whoever was. It made me think of it.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
Yeah, Yeah, Rad was a when I was a kid,
and there weren't you know, in the eighties, there were
no Now you have, like YouTube is full of BMX
videos and you could get DVDs and it evolved so
much so quick. But when I was a kid, all
you had was Rat. Everybody knew Rad, and you would
just analyze that movie and watched it over and over again.
(06:11):
And it's kind of cool to get to a point,
you know. I never thought when I was, you know,
six seven years old, watching that over and over again
that at a certain point I would know all those guys,
know the stuntmen, you know, know the writers, be able
to do interviews with them. So it was you know,
you kind of you stick with stuff long enough, then
it takes you some pretty crazy places, but it is fun.
(06:33):
You know, BMX is a it's a small world, you know,
big picture, it's still kind of a niche sport, but
it's it's definitely cool to have had those experiences.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
And what was that one exact, precise moment that's simply
implement you mean doing the rest of your career? What
do you what do you mean like like with like
a certain event, a certain point or anything like that
light bulb moments says, that's why I'm going to do
where it's writing or fixing bikes or being like an author,
just going through the subtrade and passageways in La so venturing.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Growing up, I don't know where I came from, but
I just decided I'm going to take every opportunity people
give me because I didn't grow up with a lot.
We didn't have a ton of money, and I always
say it's like we were, you know, as an adult,
I look at it and go, man, we grew up
kind of poor, but I never knew it, which I
think is the greatest possible scenario. I never knew we
didn't have a lot of money. We just had so
(07:29):
much fun in the mountains and exploring and so I
kind of did anything I could do that was free.
If anybody gave me an opportunity to come help them
at work, I'd go do it and decide if I
liked it or not. And sometimes you find yourself liking things,
and riding was one of those things. Since I was
a little kid, I always found I had a good
(07:54):
time when they would give me a something to write
about and I would find a way to make it
funny or find a way to make it interesting. Or
when I got into high school, I made a habit
of if they gave me a project to write about,
I would start on topic and then see how diverted
I could get from that topic by the end, and
then see when the teacher finally figured out that I'd
(08:15):
taken them on some weird side story that they didn't
think they were going on. And that kind of the
creativity in writing was it always stuck with me. I
always enjoyed it. Working at the BMX magazine, our reader
base was thirteen and under and thirty and over, so
I had to find a way to write things that
were compelling for people who are over thirty, but also
(08:39):
intriguing for kids that are thirteen and under. And it
was a challenge, and I think it really developed my writing,
you know, because a lot of people started and quit.
Like when I worked there, dozens of people would start
and quit because they couldn't handle the rules. And I decided,
if I'm going to have to, if I'm going to
write this, I want to be the best at writing this.
I possibly can really invested myself in it. And then
(09:01):
when I went to the off road magazine, it's I
realized nobody's really reading the stories. They just want numbers.
They want to see statistics. They want to see hard facts,
horsepower to horsepower ratios, and that, to me, there's no interest.
You just realize if you try and divert and write
something unique or interesting or funny, nobody's reading it anyway.
(09:25):
So I left and then I did some online stuff,
but it was really at a certain point I sat
down and went I've been talk thinking about writing a
book for years and years and years and years, and
ultimately I decided, I'm gonna sit down, I'm gonna write
for an hour a day. I'm going to get up early,
write an hour every day and see what happens if
I burn out. After two weeks, I burn out. But
(09:46):
if I keep going and the ideas keep coming, I'll
keep going and it, you know, every day I sort
of looking forward to that one hour because I had
so many ideas and just not enough time to get
them all on paper, and I could see the whole
story so clearly and just you know that was really
the point where I realized, like, I enjoy writing more
than work. I was pursuing it so much for work
(10:10):
that when I sat down and really started writing for myself,
I realized how much I enjoy it. And I had
to tell myself I had to just sit down and
go If people hate this, they hate it. But if
they enjoy it, they enjoy it. But I'm not gonna
I'm just going to write what I think is funny,
(10:30):
write what I think is a good story. And that
was kind of the most rewarding thing is when I
finished it and I started having, you know, review after
review of people I don't know, you know, people in
other countries and stuff that have gotten the book and
love it, love the story, love the characters. They have
tons of questions and want to know what's reality and
what's made up, And you know that, to me, that's
(10:54):
like the biggest marker of my success. You know, if
nothing else happens with the book, I look at that
and go, that's the greatest success I could do. You know,
I wrote something that other people found enjoyable.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
And that sounds like something you really enjoyed doing. Who's
some of your favorite authors and writers going up? Especially
your favorite books.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
If I think back on books, I really enjoyed books
and stories that are told out of order, you know,
like Quentin Tarantino style stuff. I really like things that
don't follow a normal timeline, and I tried to work
that into my book. But I also love adventures that
are rooted in reality. Because when I really started going
(11:35):
back and looking at books that I read over and
over again, in books that I really really love, every
single one of them was rooted in reality. And then
I look at ones that I don't love, and it's
when everything gets written off as there's a ghost or
magic and that's what makes it happen. And that never
captivated me. And I know a lot of people love it,
(11:56):
but it never captivated me. So Jaws was you know,
reading the book Jows, reading the screenplay of Jaws, all
that is mesmerizing to me because you realize so much
of that movie and so much of the book, nothing happens.
There is no you know, you don't see the shark.
You just hear about the shark and these stories that
(12:17):
are going on around the shark. And then when it
finally does happen, it's this great thing and it's kind
of a slow burn. But it's based in reality, so
you can really put yourself in that book and almost
live it in your head, which is what I was
going for.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
That is certainly interesting. Jaws was one of my favorites.
Some people call it the Shark movie, and that was
really unique as well too. You got a unique book
called Squeeze Light. We'll talk more about it with Ben Crockett,
but first listen to the Mike Weders show at the
Mike widershow dot compowered by sondqwb TDOs. Visit online at
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(12:54):
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Called today one eight hundred and three, all three, three,
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all three three nine six zero or email to support
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(13:16):
author Me and mulson Zi. If you love fast based mysteries,
you love Missing by Me and melson The Available on Amazon.
A paperback in e book, Missing is fast based and
intrigued with an undifigurable twist. It takes place in four countries,
two strangers, one target, where truth is illusion and those
who love me to first go Missing. It's available on Amazon.
A paperback in e book Missing by Me and malson
Zea has gone great reviews and Evil Lovan and George
(13:37):
by Howard, celebrities including jord Cassie forst Riley and many
of us. So grab your copy today. Foreges Missing by
Me and mulson The available on Amazon Coming soon, Missing
to by Me and moulson Zia Double the Spence, Double
the Fund. Check it out on Amazon. Also barked by
the Sweet Salmist by Serena Wagner, based on a life
of Dave, including Three squizz of Pains and King David Psalms.
The Sweets almost gives a new perspective Dave with palms,
(13:59):
you'rres the Thomas Shepperer started and Complicate Your Turbot Layship
of King Salt is to have love, betwelve, repentance, hope
and more. Check out the Sweets homes by by Serena
White and Amazon keywords Sweets Homus Serena Wagon also brought
by Sensay Swinging, Eric Damers Las Police All of Meat
featuring the talent track I've Got a New Heartache, Bring
Me Sunshine and more. Eric the award winning, multi multi
(14:22):
war winning artists and doctor Newess Hall of Fames album
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and the micro innershow dot com. We're here at the
Amazing Both to tell author global traveler Adventure and storyteller
(15:07):
Ben Crockett here on the Micro Wenders Show with them
Squeezed Light as well too and before geting a that
you say, also travel around the globe and being adventure
was some of the places you actually went to as
a traveler.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
Well, the BNMX magazine. I I kind of had a
unique life where I was twenty one and never I'd
been on a plane once. I never really traveled much
outside of you know, one state in every direction from California,
and starting at the BMX magazine, within two weeks, I
was getting on planes. I was flying all over the US.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Oh wow, to go.
Speaker 6 (15:44):
China, Europe, I mean Asia, South America. I was going everywhere. Canada,
all all for BMX Bike. It was really cool. And
then the off Road magazine the same thing started there
and just travel around, drive cars, drive forward by forest
and oh my gosh, over the planet, which was another
(16:06):
great adventure for sure, and then that just plants a seed.
And then at a certain age, you you know, have
the money and so you start traveling and it's I
like to go have those adventures and meet people and
interesting people, and you know, I've been to the to
the Amazon and Africa, you know, all over Africa, and
it's you know, you realize when you look at places
(16:29):
and go, eh, maybe not maybe it's going to be uncomfortable.
It's going to be a lot of bugs. And then
you go do it and you realize, you know, all
it takes is one interesting person and one great experience,
and then all that's all you have are those memories.
You don't have the discomfort, so we're never, never really
worried about that. But taking all that and the people
you meet, and I always think I have ideas for
(16:51):
new stories and books in my head and I go,
I need this character is missing something. What is this
character missing? What is this person or personality trait that
this unique personality trait that this person needs to make
them perfect for a book. And that's what kind of
keeps me going and wanting to meet people and talk
with people, is you go, oh, wow, this person has
(17:15):
just a weird tick, something bizarre. They're always like tugging
at their collar, or you know, they sniff constantly, and
all of those things can be wrapped up into a
character to take them from somebody who's just a person
in passing to a person that you kind of understand
and can visualize and relate to. So that that is
a big driving force behind traveling too, and the people
(17:38):
that you meet.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
And certainly interesting as well too. And your new book
drops from you on childhood adventures now have gained the
SubTerrain and passageways and personal experience and everything like that,
and of course also brings the shadow world to life
as well too. And maybe just a bit more about
the book, a little bit about the adventure and of
(18:01):
course you guys are seeking meaning and everything like that.
Just a lot of explorations as well too. Maybe a
bit more about the book and some of the things
you encounter as well.
Speaker 6 (18:11):
Uh So, the book I really wanted to write something.
My son started watching Stand by Me when he was
about eleven years old. He really fell in love with
that movie and watched it over and over and over again.
Oh yeah, I look back at that and think when
I was a kid, that took place twenty years before
I was born. And then there was the Goonies happened
(18:34):
later on, and that kind of was its own thing.
And I thought, my son doesn't have anything that bounces
back kind of this childhood adventure that's rooted in reality
and mystery, and so that was the driving force. I thought, well,
I'm going to write something for him. I'm gonna write
something he's going to read if and when I finish it,
and he'll enjoy it, and he'll get a kick out
(18:55):
of some of the adventures I had as a kid
and some of the tales from my friends. But then
after I finished it, I realized all of my reviews
and all the people who were reading it and really
really loving it were all late thirties early forties. I
started looking at the reviews and the ages and then
having people go, I'm going to make my kid read
(19:18):
this book. They need to understand how we grew up
in the nineties. They need to understand this, but the
nineties didn't just happen by accident. I was trying to
think of the last great time when I felt like
kids were really free, and that was kind of it.
It was just before pagers, just before cell phones. You
really just left the house with no money in your
(19:40):
pocket and you were home when the street lights came on,
and whatever happened in between was kind of between you
and your friends and didn't necessarily make it home to
tell the tale. So that was really the driving force.
And then I really wanted to have I had a
friend who pas as the way, and I thought this
(20:02):
would be great to have one more adventure, to just
kind of create one more adventure, as much of it
was real or as much of it was fake, just
with that group of friends. And so that was kind
of a cool experience to be able to relive that.
And you know, I think all the people involved that
read it appreciated as well.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
So and I think there are some adventures as well,
and I expect the dangers tangle memories and life ultering
moments maybe some of the mysteries that you encounters well too.
Were some of the things that really stood out in
your adventures around the around the subways and everything like that.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
So it was at the time. In reality there were
when the Hell's Angels were there, their kids were you
couldn't touch them. So in the book they're called the untouchables.
You couldn't do anything to them, you couldn't get in
fights with them, and so they kind of had free reign.
But you knew full well you don't mess with those kids,
you don't cross them. So in the book, I always
(21:01):
wondered the idea of what would happen if he did,
What would happen if we didn't have those street smarts
or somebody decided to push the wrong buttons, And so
that's what sparks the conflict in the book. And this
group of kids, they don't have any money, they don't
have anything really going on, nowhere to be. It's their
last summer before they start high school, and they're just
(21:22):
out causing mischief. But everything seems to compound and build
until it all comes crashing down in the end of
the book. But it's not just that conflict with the
kids of the Hell's Angels. It's they're pushing buttons with everybody,
(21:43):
with adults around them, with the police around them, and
they're just having good, harmless fun. But everything slowly rolls
together until it meshes. At the end, there's a mystery
about a building that they keep seeing when they're out
at night. It's condemned from when the North Grade earthquake happened.
They condemned the top few floors of this school, and
(22:06):
they keep seeing lights on on the top of this school,
so they want to go explore it. And when they
explore it, they kind of uncover some mysteries that they
shouldn't have seen. And it forces these two groups together.
It forces this group of kids and these you know,
offspring of the motorcycle club, forces them together to survive.
And so it was fun really tying that all together
(22:28):
and melding reality with you know, the twenty percent of
the book where I push it further to make it
just a good story.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
And it did it take some time for the group
of kids to mesh with the Hell's angels or how
long did it take? You know, like was it like
you know, slowly warming and everything like that? Was it like,
you know, what, was it contentious or is it like
in INDI ends it's like, hey, we're all the same.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
It was conflict all the way to the end until
it became a life and death situation and they had
to choose. We had this group the Untouchables, is they've
had their fill and they've been kind of shamed by
this group of kids that keeps teasing them and then
disappearing into the underground, and they've had their fill, and
so they're actually trying to kill these this group of kids,
(23:14):
and then they get they encounter a conflict that's greater
than both of them, and it forces them they either
need to work together or they're all going to die.
And so it's forced. But in that forced union, they
learn that they some of them can work together, and
some of them aren't as different as they think. They're
(23:35):
all just kids of different ages trying to work out
their troubles in life. And that's I realized as I
was writing the book, that that's kind of all kids.
You know, every every kid, no matter where they come from,
everyone's got their own problems. They're just trying to figure
it out in their own way, whether they're rebelling, whether
they're just being quiet and reclusive. You know, they're acting out.
(23:59):
There's healing things, they're you know, poking the bear, they're
causing conf but really they're all just trying to find
their way, and that's the way a lot of kids are.
So writing it, I felt like it was something a
younger demographic could really relate to, because there's a dozen
kids that come and go through this book, and they're
(24:20):
all so different, and yet they all kind of need
each other to get by for different reasons.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
And do you think with the same setup, do you
think this would have worked in the twenty twenty decade
or we even twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
I don't think it could have because you would have
to spend so much time trying to explain away. Cell
phones kind of ruin everything, like it would change everything.
You could use Google Maps to look at these washes
and figure out where they might be going. If they
want underground here, they got to be coming out somewhere
down here, whereas back in the day you had to
(24:58):
sit with a Thomas Guide, you had to pull out
map and like on a paper map, try and figure
out where people were going. And that makes it kind
of this last great analog adventure, which is what I
was going for. There are no cell phones, nobody's parents
know where they are. They're not tracking their phones. Nobody's
(25:18):
asking for you know, sending you a page and asking
you to call them back. And nobody's posting anything on
social media. There is no social media. So it's you're
out having this adventure and you're finding your own way.
You're meeting people as you're out, and that's a big
part of it. It's meeting and interactions.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
And what do you want people to get from the book.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
I want them to kind of relive. As I said,
I wrote it for younger teens, and I had that
in mind as I was writing it, something that would
be appropriate, something that maybe they could read in a school.
But at the same time, when I have all these
parents reading it and appreciate it, I understand that I
wasn't the only one who grew up this way. And
(26:04):
they really loved it. And they either loved the fact
that someone else had had adventures like they did, or
they appreciate the fact that other people were out having
these adventures while they were at home, you know, if
they were at home with their friends because their parents
were you know, their parents would let them go out,
or they were just homebodies, whatever it was. I've heard
(26:26):
it both ways from people who've read the book and
like it for different reasons, but it really seems to
resonate with people just of that era taken.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
Back mm and certainly it is rad as well too.
We got to say that we're here with you, amazing
author Ben Crockett of the book Squeeze Light. Getting more
to that minute you listen to the Mike Winners Show.
At the Mike Winnershow dot Com powered by sound Web
CDOs brought to buy official sponsor to the Mike Waders Show,
Inductual Warring Out the me Most It's the Missing available
on Amazon. The Sweet Sums spreen by Serene Wagon based
(26:57):
on a Life of King David at more Amazon dot com.
Or Sweets Somaserena Wagner and Sensey Swinging, Eric Damworth, all
of Me New music toming soon, Ericdoimusic dot com. We'd
be back from melt to tell out the Benkrockett of
Squeezelight after this time on.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Hey everybody, this is Eric Diamond and you're listening to
the Mike Wagner Show.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonicweb Studios. If
you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit
www dot Sonicwebstudios dot com for all of your online needs.
Call one eight hundred three oh three three nine six
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(27:35):
To get started today, mention the Mike Wagner Show and
get twenty percent off your project. Sonicweb Studios Take your
image to the next level.
Speaker 7 (27:44):
Hi, I'm Burl Bear, legendary American author, and I'm here
to tell you about Missing. The new mystery suspense novel
by me and mosen Ze is really a good book,
very surprising. Never metaphor I didn't like, especially in this book.
Here you have a main character whose life has been
filled with suspare His wife died A nine to eleven
is a young daughter died of a rare disease. He's
(28:04):
not a happy camper. What does he do for a living.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
He's a physical fitness trainer.
Speaker 7 (28:09):
When somebody hardly knows, somebody's never met, he only has
encountered on our internet chat line, goes missing.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
This is his journey. He's going to go rescue them.
Speaker 7 (28:18):
This is his search for redemption and search for his
own personal promise.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
Land.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
He couldn't do anything about the death of his wife.
The death of his child. But maybe he could rescue
this woman he's never met, that is, if she exists.
Missing by Me and moss.
Speaker 7 (28:31):
In Zia International in scope, vastly entertaining, full of surprises.
I suggest you get it either paperback or an electronic
condition for your kindle.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Missing by Me and mosin Zia.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Hey, everybody, this is Eric Diamond. You're listening to The
Mike Wagner Show. You can check out our music and
know all about us at www dot ericdiamondmusic dot com.
Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, TikTok.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
You can friend me on Facebook.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
You can follow me on Facebook, and you can even
buy both of my albums off of Facebook. Just get
a hold of me on the Facebook Messenger. We have
them available in CD or thumb drive. Thank you so
much and hope you have a great day.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena
Wagner's book The Sweet Sawmist, now availed on Emsong. This
book includes thirty exquisite pinions by well known and unknown
painters and King David Psalms. The Sweet Salmist gives us
a new perspective on his life in this book through
the songs he wrote. His time as a shepherd in
the field is where the book starts, and it goes
on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship with King Saul,
(29:31):
as well as other events. It's a story of love, betrayal, repentance,
and more. It also offers advice and approaching God and
living a life that pleases him. Check out the book
The Sweet Salmist by Serena Wagner, now available on Amazon
keywords Sweet Salmist, Serena Wagner. Hey, Hey, this is Raye
Powers and boy are you in luck?
Speaker 6 (29:50):
Right place?
Speaker 4 (29:51):
Right time? Tuned into the Mike Wagner Show.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
You heard me.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
Went back off the bank kruck a Squeeze Light here
on the mic when your show cover a lot of
ground going back to the days of BNX more as
well too of course BMX one of the favorite bikes
as well too. And lastly, where can you find your books?
Squeeze Light and all your other works have been.
Speaker 6 (30:14):
I'm on Amazon. The book is exclusively on Amazon right now.
I Self publishing seemed to be the way of the future,
I guess, and I really since I didn't wasn't sure
if I was going to finish this book or not.
I figured why waste another couple of years as a
first time author trying to find a publisher when I
(30:36):
could just get it out there and really hustle and
maybe pull on some connections from the BMX industry and
music industry and just try and get the book out there,
and if people enjoy it, they enjoy it. I don't
really anticipate, you know, when I was writing it, I
didn't expect tons of people to write it or read it,
And now I have all these people writing reviews and
(30:57):
loving it. Not what I expected. It's being pitched as
a movie, and we've had some feedback on that, which
is nothing that I would have expected. But it's apparently
that nineties era and the Childhood Adventure really pulled some
strings with people.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
And subtly he does a great job of it as
well too. Ben And who do you consider biggest influence
in a career.
Speaker 6 (31:20):
That's tough because I've done so much, But I have
to say, when I started at the BMX magazine, the
guy who brought me on, Adam Booth, He hired me
just to write because he really didn't want to write,
and he was a great photographer, and I love to write.
And so when I started there, when I would get
(31:41):
frustrated when I was angry at what I was up against,
like the rules about what I could write and what
I couldn't write, he really put it in perspective and
just said, hey, why not just just be the best
writer you can under these rules, like do the best
you can. And then he also taught me photography when
everybody was shooting film, So from never picking up a
(32:03):
professional camera a s DSLR camera or SLR camera before that,
he taught me everything. I shot film for fifteen years
before everything went digital, and it's a really cool knowledge.
I'm still really close with him, and you know, we
have fun with it, so that I would have to
say he was probably my biggest influence.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
And certainly a big one as well. And what's the
best advice you can give the aim by.
Speaker 6 (32:28):
This point, take every opportunity, Like I said earlier, I
did that early on, and you find yourself stumbling into
you get a background movie part, or you get to
go meet someone who you've always idolized, or you get
to go meet someone in a band that you've always loved,
(32:49):
or play in a band that you you know you've
wanted to do, and it's really Sometimes you end up
in an uncomfortable situation, or you go to a party
you didn't want to go to and it stinks. But
sometimes tis you go when you meet someone important or
a great personality, and I'd have to say more often
than not it works out to the positive and just
(33:11):
chip away at stuff and you start small. Like when
I started this book, I didn't have any visions of
ever finishing it. I thought I would tap out and
not have the patience to get through it all. And
you know, like I said, five hundred pages later, you'd
learned from the experience. I was excited to do it.
Every day. I was excited to write, and then when
I finished, I was kind of depressed that I'd finished,
because it was I in my head, I'd finished this
(33:33):
last great adventure with my childhood friends and learning, working
with an editor, getting the book out there, and then
now getting to just talk with great people like yourself
and discuss the book and life. So it's a fun
it's fun adventure all the way around. If nothing else,
it was a great experience. It was life experience that
(33:54):
I can.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Take with and certainly a rat as well, with a BMX.
I write a pull it out right now if you're
talking to you, Ben, so was only do that? Yeah,
we're here with the multi talent author Ben Crockett Squeeze
Light here on the Mike Waidner Show. We're gonna say
something better.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
Or no, I just say, like if that's one of
those things. Rad is one of those movies that it
strikes a chord with so many people. And I think
that's why because it was that only dose of BMX
that was out there in the day. It's kind of
like gleaming the cube, possibly for the skateboard world, but
(34:33):
people love it and that was kind of something I
wanted to work into my book too. It's a it's
a generational piece. It's kind of a timestamp of what
was going on in the nineties and people who grew
up in Los Angeles will find a lot of familiar
stuff in there that they'll like a lot of Easter eggs.
But you don't need to have grown up or even
been to Los Angeles to appreciate what was going on
(34:55):
or the story.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
So and I think that's great as well too. We're
here with author Ben Crockett a Squeeze Light of the
Mike Winners Show. Ben a verb thank if you time
you been absolute fantastic, Larrier a lot looking Ford had
soon keeps up today, keep in touch, lavavy back And
what's your website? How do people contact you? Whoring people
purchase or check out your book?
Speaker 6 (35:14):
You can find out everything you need to know at
bendashcrocket dot com. All the links, all my interviews, this
will be there, links to buy the book, what's going
on with it in the future and future projects as well.
Speaker 4 (35:27):
And what's the website again.
Speaker 6 (35:29):
Ben dash Crockett with two t's dot com.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
We'll certainly check that out once again. Ben, a very
big thanks you, timing you, Ben, absolutely fantastic, looking forehand
soon keeps up today, keep in touch, lavavy Back. We
wish I'll best and Ben you definitely have for great
fitt you awesome.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonicweb Studios. If
you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit www.
Dot Sonicwebstudios dot com for all of your online needs.
Call one eight hundred three oh three three nine six
zero or visit us online at www dot sonicwebstudios dot
(36:04):
com to get started today. Mention the Mike Wagner Show
and get twenty percent off your project. Sonicweb Studios take
your image to the next level.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Hey everybody, this is Eric Diamond. You're listening to the
Mike Wagner Show. You can check out our music and
know all about us at www dot ericdimondmusic dot com.
Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, TikTok. You can friend
me on Facebook. You can follow me on Facebook, and
you can even buy both of my albums off of Facebook.
(36:35):
Just get a hold of me on the Facebook messager.
We have them available in CD or thumb drive. Thank
you so much and hope you have a great day.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
Hi.
Speaker 7 (36:43):
I'm Burl Bear, legendary American author, and I'm here to
tell you about Missing, the new mystery suspense novel by
me and mosen Zi. It's really a good book, very surprising.
Never metaphor I didn't like, especially in this book. Here
you have a main character whose wife has been filled
with the spear. His wife died nine to eleven. Is
a young daughter died of a rare disease. He's not
(37:03):
a happy camper. What does he do for a living.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
He's a physical fitness trainer.
Speaker 7 (37:08):
When somebody hardly knows, somebody's never met he always encountered
on our internet chat line, goes missing.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
This is his journey. He's going to go rescue them.
Speaker 7 (37:17):
This is his search for redemption and search for his
own personal promise. Lad he couldn't do anything about the
death of his wife, the death of his child, but
maybe he could rescue this woman he's never met, that is,
if she exists.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
Missing by Me and most.
Speaker 7 (37:30):
In Zia international in scope, vastly entertaining, full of surprises.
I suggest you get it either paperback or an electronic
addition for your kindle.
Speaker 3 (37:38):
Missing by Me and Moss and Zia.
Speaker 4 (37:40):
The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena
Wagner's book The Sweet Sawmist now a velbon Emson. This
book includes thirty exquisite paintings by well known and unknown
painters and King David songs. The Sweet Semist gives us
a new perspective on his life in this book through
the songs he wrote. His time as a shepherd in
the field is will the book starts, and it goes
on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship shop with
King Saul as well as other events. It's a story
(38:02):
of love, betrayal, repentance, and more. It also offers advice
on approaching God and living a life that pleases him.
Check out the book The Sweets Armers by Serena Wagner,
now available on Amazon keywords Sweet Salmis Sorena Wager.
Speaker 5 (38:18):
Thanks for listening to The Mike Wagner Show powered by
Sonicweb Studios. Pasit online at Sonicwebstudios dot com for all
your needs. The Mike Wagner Show can be heard on Spreakers, Spotify, iHeartRadio, iTunes,
YouTube Anchor, FM Radio Public, and The Mike Wagner Show
dot com. Please post our program with your donations at
the Mike Wagnershow dot com. Join us again next time
(38:40):
for another great episode of The Mike Wagner Show
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