Skip to content

Tag: Utopia PR

Utopia PR author dishes about Dystopian Comedy on Car Con Carne

Well, that was fun. This week I had the pleasure of going on the Car Con Carne podcast to talk about my new novel, Utopia PR!

Car Con Carne is so called because, in better times, host James VanOsdol would interview folks from the Chicago area in his car and eat meat. Alas, we ate nothing succulent. On the bright side, the pandemic Zoom-style format made it a lot simpler for a Philly guy like me to join the show!

We had a fun conversation about where I got the ideas for my critically acclaimed political satire, what I like about the dystopian genre, why social media is overwhelming yet inescapable, and how I’m a really just a big comic book nerd.

You can watch the podcast recording in its full webcam glory below, or listen to the radio-style podcast wherever podcasts are podcast. (See below the video for a selection of links.)

Podcast Links

Learn more about Utopia PR and where to buy it here!

2 Comments

Get an early copy of the new novel Utopia PR

My next novel Utopia PR will be in readers’ hands in just one (hopefully short) month! Personally, I can’t wait for Feb. 22, so I’ve set up a couple ways for you to get an early copy of the eBook edition.

For Kindle owners who enjoy a good game of chance (and frankly, who doesn’t?), I present to you this Goodreads giveaway! Enter to win one of 100 free copies of the Kindle edition. The contest ends Feb. 12, meaning you’ll get the book more than a week early!

For those who want an early copy and don’t mind paying $2.99, I will have a pre-sale on Smashwords starting on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day! The pre-sale is open only to members of The Underground, my free-to-join e-newsletter.

Prefer a physical book and don’t mind waiting for Feb. 22? I’m excited to announce the paperback edition is now available to pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with more booksellers expected to add it soon. The eBook was already available for pre-order on those sites, plus Apple, Google Play and Kobo.

Utopia PR continues to garner positive early praise!

“In a tale that’s reminiscent of political farces such as the HBO TV series Veep, Bender employs a smooth, amusing, and straightforward prose style that’s briskly paced … Its tone is irreverent, and readers looking for a quick chuckle will likely enjoy Bender’s winking comedy, which is punctuated with genuinely sweet, sincere moments.” — Kirkus Reviews

I’m even more excited to hear what you think. Please leave a customer review wherever you get a copy or on Goodreads. I’m an indie author with a limited marketing budget, so your help spreading the word really makes a difference.

Book reviewers may also obtain an ARC at NetGalley. If you write a review, please contact me to let me know and I’ll be happy to feature it on my blog or via social media. I’m also available for interviews if so desired.

Thanks for all your support!

Leave a Comment

My protagonist is tweeting and I think I’m afraid

I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but I think the protagonist of my next novel is tweeting. According to his Twitter profile, Blake “The Hammer” Hamner also has a business website.

I thought I was writing a novel — a dystopian satire called Utopia PR — but Blake seems to think I’m the co-writer of a very serious non-fiction memoir on his days managing crisis communications for the president.

So yeah, that’s kind of worrying. But hey, 2020 has been pretty weird.

Anyway, he seems to be sharing some savvy public relations tips under his handle, @Utopia_PR, as you can see below. I followed him. Maybe you should follow him, too.

Oy, I think I need a drink.

Utopia PR is coming soon. For updates on my new novel, or Blake’s memoir, or whatever the heck it is, please join the Hammer’s email list. Or mine. Whichever you prefer.

1 Comment

Returning as editor… Jim Spivey!

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.

Leave a Comment

Next novel update: Utopia PR

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…

1 Comment
©2023 Adam Bender | adambenderwrites.com | watchadam.blog