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Category: Life

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!

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In Memory of Gary Zingher

Published by Adam on May 27, 2019

I dedicated The Wanderer and the New West to my friend Gary Zingher. Known to some as the Daffodil Kid, this great writer, school librarian and camp counselor passed away last month. My family and his many friends celebrated his life on May 26 in Callicoon, NY.

I said a few words:

When Gary would visit my family during summer breaks, we would hang out at home during the long days while my parents were at work. We’d play cards or board games most of the day, with epic tournaments of Yahtzee, Crazy Eights and Scrabble. Even though I was a kid, I don’t think he ever let me win.

We usually would order a meatball pizza for lunch. Gary claimed our local pizza place was as good as anything in New York City. That was a pretty high compliment coming from him.

We’d watch a lot of movies– videotapes borrowed from the library, or rented 4 for $4 from the local video store. He introduced me to a lot of classic adventure and sci-fi movies, like Kidnapped, Westworld and The Omega Man.

He was always writing notes and drafts in a pad for his next magazine article, and sometimes he’d ask me to help him brainstorm ideas for the theme of his latest piece. He’d also read stories I wrote and encourage me to keep at it.

Then my parents would come home, which usually meant a dinner like Beef Stroganoff or Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, and even more movies!

Those were some pretty fun days!

I write stories now, both as a journalist and as an author. When I was writing my latest novel, a sci-fi Western adventure, I thought back to the movies I watched with Gary, and our shared passion for writing.

So I put this at the beginning:

“Dedicated to Gary Zingher for igniting my fervor for action-adventure stories and for encouraging me to spin exciting tales of my own.”

We miss you, Gary.

Gary (left) with Adam and Mallika Bender
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Adam Bender | adambenderwrites.com | watchadam.blog