June 29, 2009

Dear Reader,

Things have settled down quite a bit as far as the busyness of my novel release. Though I’ve done most of my online interviews and other Internet events, I’m not finished yet. Fatal Illusions will be featured in a blog tour via the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance (CFBA) on July 6-8. During that time frame up to fifty or so CFBA members will be blogging about my novel; some will also be posting reviews. I’ll also be guest judging at Pix-N-Pens the same week. We’ll see what the Lord wants to do through these opportunities. On June 1, my publisher told me that my novel “is off to a good start,” so I’m encouraged. More good news is that the VCY America bookstore recently agreed to stock my book.

More Reviews Needed

If you read Fatal Illusions and feel you can recommend it, please consider writing a review for Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, or Barnesandnoble.com. Positive reviews are a great help in promoting the novel. Another place to submit a review is the USA TODAY Faith & Reason Book Club. Guidelines are at the bottom of this page. If enough of you submit reviews, the blog might actually highlight my novel.

Write-to-Publish Conference Recap

I can only describe my experience at the Write-to-Publish Conference at Wheaton College on June 3-6 as amazing and groundbreaking. I met with three literary agents, two editors, and several novelists—not to mention all the new writing friends I hobnobbed with while I was there. The experience was truly refreshing and educational—everything I hoped it would be. I even began a new writing schedule. Because of connections I made, God has already been opening doors. Praise Him! You can read the full story here: http://www.adamblumerbooks.com/2009/06/09/what-god-did-at-wtp/

Book Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Addy Forrest for winning my June book drawing for a free copy of Fatal Illusions!

Want a Sneak Peek?

I’m looking for a few good men and women to participate in a group of “first readers” who will get a sneak peek at my next novel as it evolves. The purpose of the group is to read chapters or scenes and provide constructive feedback. If you’re interested, please reply to this e-mail and let me know. Obviously, I can’t open up this opportunity to everyone, so I will have a screening process for those who apply. If you consider yourself to be a savvy fiction reader who has a detailed eye for plotting, story details, and characterization, I’d love to hear from you. Tell me why you’d make a good candidate and list the last three novels you’ve read.

Update on My Dad

As always, you can read reports about my Dad’s cancer journey at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larryblumer. Dad’s recent scan showed no cancer growth since his surgery in February. Hallelujah! He is still undergoing chemo, however. Thank you for keeping my parents before the Lord in prayer.

If you haven’t yet obtained a copy of Fatal Illusions, you can always request one at your local bookstore, or you can find a copy online at Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, or other online bookstores. Recommend that your church library or local library purchase a copy. Be sure to check my Web site and my Events page for the latest on what’s been happening. Thanks again for your support and encouragement. May the Lord receive all the glory!

My Author’s Web Site: www.adamblumerbooks.com
My Writing News and Book Reviews: www.northwoodsblumer.blogspot.com
My Freelance Editing Services: www.blumer.org/adam

http://thoughtsofasojourner.blogspot.com/2009/06/books-i-have-read.html

This year, I bit the financial bullet and decided that with my novel coming out in March, I just had to go to the Write-to-Publish Conference this year (June 3-6) at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Bless Lin Johnson’s soul (she’s the director). She’s been sending me brochures advertising the conferences for years, but I simply never found the finances (or the courage) to take the next step. I know; it’s silly. I’ve been involved in publication work of some kind and publishing short stories and articles for years, but the thought of going to a writers’ conference freaked the fire out of me. Anyhow, God seemed to be prodding me like a little lamb who didn’t want to follow the flock, but I decided to do the right thing after all. Not a fun step (because I’d rather stay cloistered in my north woods office), but definitely a necessary one. Especially this year.

And boy am I glad I went to the conference this year! Where do I start?

The one-one-one meetings with agents and editors made the conference worth every cent. Before I talk about the agents I met, I probably need to briefly explain what agents do and why I feel I need one. Publishing has become more exclusive in recent years. Most publishing houses, even Christian ones, won’t even consider projects (these are called “unsolicited manuscripts”) unless the author has approached them through an agent or met an editor at a conference. (My publishing story for my first novel is an unusual one.) For a 15 percent take on sales, an agent improves writing and book proposals, provides career advice, and looks at contracts and makes sure the author is being treated fairly (advances and royalties). He or she also knows what the various Christian publishers are looking for and can shop the author’s projects to the houses that are the best fit. The long and short is that a career novelist (someone who would like to do more than produce an occasional book) needs to have an agent in today’s world. As a freelance editor who lives on a shoestring budget, I’d love to make a little more money on my advances, though I’ll admit upfront that money is not my chief motivation for writing. But I’d really like to focus on the writing and not have to think about which publisher to approach for which book and what x, y, and z in my contract mean. An agent helps in those areas, too. more…

http://brevianotes.blogspot.com/2009/05/book-review-adam-blumers-fatal.html

April 29, 2009

Dear Reader,

This newsletter is shorter than usual for the simple reason that I’m swamped. Since the release of Fatal Illusions on March 31, my life has been hectic with a blog tour, a book signing, and several online interviews, including Brandilyn Collins’s Forensics & Faith blog. Be sure to check my Web site and my Events page for the latest on what’s been happening. So far, reviews of Fatal Illusions (like this one and this one) have been very positive. Family and friends will feel pressured to say nice things, so when perfect strangers who have nothing to lose post positive reviews at their blogs, I can’t help feeling excited. If you have read the novel and liked it, please consider writing a review at Amazon.com, CBD.com, or Barnes & Noble. My local newspaper also gave the novel a wonderful review. Friends have reported book sightings from a Barnes & Noble in Minnesota to the campus bookstore at Bob Jones University. A friend in Germany also bought a copy across the big pond.

Answers to Commonly Asked Questions

How can I get a copy of your novel? Because I don’t know which bookstores will put the novel on their shelves, the best way is to buy it at Amazon.com or CBD.com. If my novel isn’t at your local bookstore, simply order it. With my name and the novel’s title, you should be able to order the novel from any bookstore in the country.

How can I get a signed copy of your novel? Unfortunately, I’m not selling my own autographed copies. And unless you attend one of my signings, I may not have a way to personally sign your book. But there is an alternative. As a special thank you to those who are purchasing a copy, upon request I will mail you a free signed bookplate as my way of saying thank you for your support. (A bookplate is a sticker you may affix inside your book.) Simply send me your mailing address, and I’ll mail you a bookplate soon.

How is the novel selling? To be honest, I’m not sure. One indicator is CBD’s listing of Kregel’s bestselling fiction. Another indicator is my sales rank at Amazon.com, which fluctuates like the U.P. weather. Sometimes the numbers are down; sometimes they’re up. The rank shows that somebody somewhere is buying the novel at various times; Amazon.com then compares the sales to those of other books. On the whole I’m encouraged.

Keep praying for my dad, who is almost finished with his first stage of chemo and radiation. I’m posting regular updates here for those interested.

My first book signing at the Hopehouse in Iron Mountain on April 18 went well. Thank you to those who sacrificed part of a beautiful Saturday afternoon to drop by and support me. I appreciate your encouragement. Copies are still available at the store for those who couldn’t make it.

Book Giveaway Winner—Congratulations to Julie Broadworth for winning my April book drawing for a free copy of Fatal Illusions. For my next drawing, starting today through the end of May, I will be giving away another free copy of Fatal Illusions. If you would like to enter the drawing, request Fatal Illusions at your library, church bookstore, or local Christian bookstore. Let me know you have completed this action by replying to this e-mail. If you have already requested the novel at one of those places, just let me know; you’ll be entered in the drawing. I’ll announce the winner in my May newsletter.

What’s Next for Me? Right now, I’m doing whatever I can to help spread the word about my novel after my regular responsibilities. I’m also working on the sequel. Thanks again for your support and encouragement. May the Lord receive all the glory!

Fatal Illusions is a tale that brings together the best of several writing elements, and weaves them into a suspenseful and compelling read that contains a satisfying spiritual and emotional depth. Adam Blumer’s writing takes a look at realistic struggles faced by many Christians today. He sets these issues amid the disturbing criminal case of a serial killer, and as he carefully merges the story lines, the reader is amazed at how the emotional/spiritual aspects of the primary story is mirrored in the dark depravity of the criminal. Everyone is seeking to obey someone – is it the voice of God, of man, or the devil himself?

Marc and Gillian Thayer serve as pastor and wife in a large urban congregation. When one of Marc’s church members reveals her psychologically disturbed state, the Thayers suddenly find themselves in what seems to be an unending nightmare. Death has already touched their lives once, and when Marc’s life is almost snuffed out, they are forced to relocate and re-examine their lives as never before.

Other lives also hang in the balance, and the Thayer’s struggles prove to be a mirror image of some darker, more sinister disturbances taking place in the life of one lonely, misunderstood young man who suffers an un-natural fascination with Houdini. This man has already taken the lives of several young women, and the Thayer’s lives are on a collision course with his demented mind. When their daughter Crystal becomes the object of the killer’s desire the entire community of Whistler’s Point is shaken to its core.

Adam Blumer doesn’t shy away from presenting the spiritual struggles taking place in the lives of his characters as they face times of hardship. The Thayer’s wind up dealing with one horror after another, and along the way they are forced to examine their faith in a very personal – and sometimes painful – way. I appreciated this aspect of his writing a great deal, and I loved the way he blended it with the hunt for the serial killer! The ending was particularly amazing – over and over again!! It still gives me the creeps!

I highly recommend Fatal Illusions and look forward to reading more stories by Adam Blumer!

—Kim Ford

http://thecypresstimes.com/Article.cfm?articleID=21825

“This book is magnificent! Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. I’m definitely a new member of the Adam Blumer fan club. The book had a lot of action that never quite let up. Even at almost 400 pages I read this in a day and a half. The book never seems to slow down, so it’s a quick read. One of the great things about this book was that it was a Christian murder mystery. Typically in this genre you get a certain amount of cussing or sex scenes. You get none of that here, just non stop action. This book also through some twists at me that I wasn’t expecting, and believe me I’m not easily surprised by plot twists anymore. I’d put Fatal Illusions up against a James Patterson novel any day…it’s that good! I’m definitely recommending this to anyone who likes a fast paced thrill ride of a book.”

—Marta Hoelscher

I’ve followed Brandilyn Collins’s Christian suspense novels for several years, so it was an honor when she contacted me and said she wanted to interview me at her blog. Check it out:

http://forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/2009/04/fatal-illusions.html

http://www.bjucampusstore.com/ePOS?store=468&item_number=2800825420988&form=shared3%2fgm%2fdetail.html&design=468