Author Bio

Benjamin Fortier grew up in a small village in northern Rhode Island. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and within ten days of high school graduation, he was standing on the yellow footprints at Parris Island. Less than nine months later he was patrolling the streets of Fallujah with the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. His latest book, Phantoms (published in 2023 by Dead Reckoning Collective) was awarded the Robert A. Gannon award for poetry dealing with Marine Corps life.

His short play, The Path at Belleau Wood, was a vignette of the full-length play Across Time, produced by Returning Soldiers Speak and ArtsUp! LA. He is currently serving on the board of directors for the veteran non-profit group, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines Association. When he's not writing, he's playing video games, cuddling his dog, gardening, or trying to get better at one of the many instruments he's determined to master.

Fortier is an award-winning author, having won the Robert A Gannon Award in 2023 with his third poetry book: Phantoms. This book, published by Dead Reckoning Collective, explores the dichotomy of warfare told from the point of view of a Marine Corps veteran that experienced combat in Fallujah, Iraq during the height of renewed violence in the city.

Musician

Twenty years of music.

Mostly mediocre metal about sad stuff.

Playwrite

Fortier is also the author of two short plays that have gone into production:

The Path at Belleau Wood
Michael and the Saints

These dramatic works highlight the journey of combat veterans as they struggle to return home, facing adversity both internally and externally.