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Returning as editor… Jim Spivey!

Published by Adam on June 14, 2020

In my last blog post, I told you the manuscript for my next novel was ready for a professional edit. Today, I’m happy to announce that Jim Spivey will be returning to edit Utopia PR.

Jim did a bang-up job proofreading my last novel, The Wanderer and the New West. Without getting too in-the-weeds on the nuances of editing, he will be doing a more intensive copy edit this time around (another editor did this for The Wanderer). Jim brings 20+ years of experience in the publishing industry, including at Hachette, DC Comics and Kirkus. Check out his website for more.

While I wait for Jim’s edits, I will be taking a much-needed break to catch up on video games (Life is Strange 2, Super Mega Baseball 3, Pokemon Shield and others…), TV shows (Devs, Afterlife, Space Force…) and books (There There, The Dark Forest and several comics). Even creators gotta consume, sometimes.

More updates soon! Keep your eye on this blog and subscribe to my newsletter to stay informed.

Next novel update: Utopia PR

Published by Adam on May 31, 2020

Exciting news about my upcoming fourth novel, Utopia PR. Last weekend, I completed my third draft! Nothing like a global pandemic to focus the creative mind, though I can’t say I recommend it.

The next step is to hand the story off to an editor. As I did for The Wanderer and the New West, I will be searching for a freelance professional via Reedsy. I believe that involving an editor was crucial to my last novel winning multiple awards and great reviews, so I’m psyched to commence this collaboration.

Utopia PR is a different kind of book for me. Dystopian remains my bread and butter, but this novel might more accurately be described as satire. Maybe the genres aren’t so different. Just as the prognosticating of dystopian authors like George Orwell seems ever more prescient, the line between comedy and current events is diminishing.

So, Utopia PR is satire about a public-relations specialist who struggles to find work-life balance while managing crisis after crisis for a dystopian American president in the near future. Some might describe it as a sci-fi spin on Thank You for Smoking by Christopher Buckley, or TV comedies like Veep and The Thick of It. I’m also influenced by the works of Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams.

I’ll have more details for you soon on the publishing process. In the meantime, please check out my first three novels and free short stories. Please subscribe to my newsletter for updates and, for a limited time, get my second novel Divided We Fall free! As an indie author, I’m grateful for all your support.

Signing off from the public health emergency in Philly…

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Adam Bender releases new short story: “Wrong Gate”

Published by Adam on December 26, 2019

Last month for NaNoWriMo 2019, I asked subscribers to my newsletter, The Underground, to submit a title for my next, yet-to-be written short story. The winning prompt was “Wrong Gate” by Janet Lerner from Raanana, Israel, and the short story is now available to download for free in the eBook format of your choice (EPUB, Kindle, PDF and more) at Smashwords!

In “Wrong Gate,” a businesswoman rushes to make her connection at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which at 17,207 acres is larger than the island of Manhattan! Will she reach her final destination? In the spirit of The Twilight Zone, “Wrong Gate” is a humorous short story with a terrifying twist.

You can read all my short stories for free on Smashwords! And if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my newsletter. Underground members get exclusive opportunities like this title prompt contest, plus first notice of new stories and updates on future works.

Happy New Year!

-Adam

A quick writing update before he wakes up

Published by Adam on October 27, 2019

It’s never great practice to start out a blog with, “It’s been a while since my last blog post.”

But it has been a while, hasn’t it?

I have a really good excuse, though! On July 15, I became a father, and so my son Rishi has been the priority for the last three months. I am writing this as he takes the lightest of naps, threatening to wake at any time to demand a cuddle. So if this post cuts off suddenly, you’ll know where I went.

So, quickly then, a writing update! I am editing the manuscript for my next novel, Utopia PR. It’s a satire following Blake “The Hammer” Hamner, a public-relations specialist who struggles to find work-life balance while responding to crisis after crisis for a dystopian leader.

The first draft is written, and now what I’m largely doing is figuring out what parts either don’t work or need strengthening. Sometimes after months of writing, you have to pull back and look at it from 10,000 feet above (or however many feet is customary). In this story, for example, I realized that I needed to make the bad guy’s threat a little bit more convincing. And just yesterday, I cut a scene that was too much like a previous one (though obviously I saved it for the special edition). Gotta cut the fat!

When am I finding time to write? Oh, you know, the other night I found some time between Rishi’s 9:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. meals…

Long story short, Utopia PR is shaping up quite nicely and I think it’s my most fun novel to date — this, coming from a Dystopian author! Can’t wait to share it with you.

By the way, I am looking for reviews of the new audiobook edition of The Wanderer and the New West. If you’re interested in listening to a free copy for review on your blog, Goodreads or even a popular online bookstore, please apply here!

Uh oh, Rishi just woke up. Gotta run!

Photos: The Wanderer and the New West book signing at ALA Annual 2019

Published by Adam on July 6, 2019

I won’t lie — I’m still buzzing from last month’s American Library Association (ALA) Annual 2019 Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC.

I gave away free signed copies of The Wanderer and the New West to librarians and educators from around the country. The good folks at the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) hosted me and were a big help bringing in the crowds. My wife Mallika lent a hand getting me set up and taking photos as dystopian fans arrived to learn more about my novel.

The conference itself took place in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and was widely attended. Mallika and I saw great keynotes by Frank Miller and Hoda Kotb.

I brought a suitcase full of books — 25 copies in all — and I have to admit that I was a little scared going in that I’d have to bring most of them home. In actuality, I gave out all the books before my 20 minutes was up at the stand! I even gave out a few eBook and audiobook editions to visitors who didn’t get a paperback.

The event left me on a pretty big high! I hope to get out to another big event like this soon. It was great to meet everyone who stopped by!