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…