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

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!

March 30, 2009

Dear Reader,

Well, this is it! The release of Fatal Illusions is tomorrow, March 31! These are exciting days. Read what others are saying about the novel and download a reading sample here (PDF). Thank you to so many who have e-mailed me or sent Facebook messages expressing your support and encouragement. (For those of you on Facebook, be sure to participate in my book release giveaway tomorrow.) On March 9, my author copies arrived in the mail. Since the release isn’t until tomorrow, I was surprised to get the copies so early. It was an amazing moment to open the first box and hold the finished product in my hand. I took some photos of the event for posterity (you’re only a first-time novelist once). I was also surprised to discover that the novel was in stock at Amazon.com and already being sold! May the Lord receive the glory for leading me to this point. more…

February 26, 2009

Dear Reader,

Only thirty-six days left until the release of Fatal Illusions on March 31! I’ve experienced several blessings since Jan. 19, when many of you responded to my Count Your Blessings Book Giveaway and sent me inspiring stories about how God has been working in your lives. Thank you for sharing your heart-warming stories. God is indeed at work, and I think it’s always important to remember that fact. Then when the tough times come, memories of His goodness help us keep the right perspective.

Pray for My Dad

Speaking of tough times, my family has been going through the fire since Jan. 28, when doctors diagnosed my dad with brain cancer. Brain surgery this past Sunday, Feb. 22, in Milwaukee went without a hitch, and Dad has already been released and is doing surprisingly well. Praise God! Please pray for my dad and my family during this time. Our desire, of course, is that Dad would be healed and that the Lord would be glorified through this trial. I’ll be posting regular updates here for those who are interested. more…

Peering out the window, we realize that the falling snowflakes are as numerous as God’s blessings in 2008—simply too many to count. Laura (7) and Julia (4) are growing taller and looking more like little ladies all the time. We are praying that they will learn to love the Lord more and yield their lives to Him. They continue to do well in homeschooling and enjoy making new friends at church. Laura is a veteran flower girl now after filling the role twice in the last year. She began piano lessons this fall and had her first recital last week. Julia, our little “monkey” who loves climbing on everything, is learning her letters and numbers. Each day brings new joys and discoveries. Two hamsters died this fall, but both girls moved on pretty quickly. more…

December 16, 2008

Dear Reader,

Welcome to my December newsletter. Snow has blanketed the ground here, reminding me that Christmas and New Year’s are just around the corner. Because I know everybody, including yours truly, is insanely busy this time of year, I’ll keep this letter brief.

Publication of Fatal Illusions is moving forward. Up to nine established novelists are reading the suspense novel now and will turn in endorsements by the end of January. I’m waiting to do one more read, this time only for typos and other glaring errors. After that, the novel goes to press and should be available sometime in March, the Lord willing. more…

November 8, 2008

Dear Reader,

Do you ever wish life would slow down? It’s almost mid-November, and here I am working on my second newsletter already. What’s the status of Fatal Illusions? Kregel has said that the novel will be their “lead fiction title of the season,” so I’m getting excited. Right now, a copyeditor is fixing typos and other mistakes. I will have two more opportunities to read the novel: once after Thanksgiving (I can make minor changes) and around Christmastime (I’ll be checking page proofs only for mistakes). The novel goes to the printer at the end of January, and Kregel’s official release is sometime in March.

What else is there to do? I need to finish writing my dedication, acknowledgments, and the Reading Group Guide (discussion questions for reading groups). Several “endorsers” (established novelists) will read the novel and hopefully write positive reviews and recommendations. Review snippets of Kregel’s choosing will appear in promotional materials and somewhere in the novel. A Kregel publicist plans to discuss a marketing plan with me soon. Book signings? Radio interviews? Blog tours? I’m not exactly sure, but I guess I’ll find out. more…