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Adam Bender reads… Lemire, Hornby and More

Published by Adam on October 30, 2019

What does an author read? Books, obviously. Here are some of my recent highlights! Follow me on Goodreads to see more of what I’ve been reading. Please rate and review my novels while you’re there!

Frogcatchers by Jeff Lemire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A moving, surreal graphic novel about life and death. Jeff Lemire shines again! It’s a short read, but very affecting. Twilight Zone with an emotional core. You’ll want to add it to your collection for later re-reading and to show your friends and family.

State of the Union: A Marriage in Ten Parts by Nick Hornby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes it’s nice to have a quick, breezy read, and that’s what I got in Hornby’s latest.

The author has recently had much success with screenplays, and this novella (about 130 pages) certainly reads like one. It’s mostly dialog, with the few scene descriptions reading like the setups for a theatre production. Given the ad on the cover for a Sundance TV special, maybe a quick translation to screen was the intention.

If the above doesn’t put you off (it didn’t me), you’ll find Hornby’s usual British wit in full force here, this time focusing on marriage and the challenges of maintaining a relationship for many years. It’s easy to read and hard to put down until you reach the end.

Looking forward to seeing the screen version!

The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1)

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m no scientist, but this book sure raises some intriguing physics conundrums! This was a bit more of a math book than I expected, but the main plot kept things moving.

What really separates this from other sci-fi is the historical detail about China’s Cultural Revolution. That’s not something I learned much about in school as an American student, and reading about it from a Chinese author’s perspective adds welcome authenticity.

I also appreciated the occasional comic relief from the policeman Da Shi to break up what could have been an overly heady affair.

Think I need a break before I get to Book 2, but I probably will continue with this thought-provoking series.

Other Kingdoms by Richard Matheson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was well entertained by this novel’s unreliable, somewhat senile narrator who delights in simple wordplay. Those seeking an epic fantasy should look elsewhere–I would put this more in the genre of Vonnegut or Joseph Heller. It’s a light and easy read that brought a hearty chortle from time to time.

View all my reviews

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!

Photos: The Wanderer and the New West book signing at ALA Annual 2019

Published by Adam on July 6, 2019

I won’t lie — I’m still buzzing from last month’s American Library Association (ALA) Annual 2019 Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC.

I gave away free signed copies of The Wanderer and the New West to librarians and educators from around the country. The good folks at the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) hosted me and were a big help bringing in the crowds. My wife Mallika lent a hand getting me set up and taking photos as dystopian fans arrived to learn more about my novel.

The conference itself took place in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and was widely attended. Mallika and I saw great keynotes by Frank Miller and Hoda Kotb.

I brought a suitcase full of books — 25 copies in all — and I have to admit that I was a little scared going in that I’d have to bring most of them home. In actuality, I gave out all the books before my 20 minutes was up at the stand! I even gave out a few eBook and audiobook editions to visitors who didn’t get a paperback.

The event left me on a pretty big high! I hope to get out to another big event like this soon. It was great to meet everyone who stopped by!

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Audiobook Out Now! The Wanderer and the New West

Published by Adam on June 6, 2019

Want to hear the Wanderer’s gravelly twang deliver an acerbic sendoff before he dispenses with another Red Stripe gangster? Do you yearn to listen to clever Kid Hunter’s bold attempts at flirtation?

Now you can! The audiobook edition of The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender has arrived on your favorite digital platform!

The cover for The Wanderer and the New West — Now also an audiobook!

Look for it today on Audible, Google Play, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Nook, Rakuten Kobo, Scribd and many more popular platforms! You’ll also be able to find it at your library via services like Overdrive, Hoopla, and Bibliotheca. Check the book’s official page for an updated list of links.

James Sasser provides the stellar narration — just listen to a sample by clicking one of the store links above to hear for yourself!

Many thanks to Findaway Voices for producing and distributing the audiobook. Findaway connects indie authors with professional voice actors and gives them access to a wide network of audiobook retailers.

Named to Kirkus Reviews‘ Best Books of 2018, The Wanderer and the New West won gold for Dystopia in the 2018 Readers’ Favorite Awards and best Western Fiction in the 2018 National Indie Excellence Awards.

A rogue vigilante seeks redemption in a lawless, near-future America that fully protects the rights of armed citizens to stand their ground. When a marksman known as the Wanderer opens war against injustice in the state of Arizona, his violent actions attract the attention of journalist Rosa Veras, writer of a subversive blog about America’s return to the Wild West.

Prefer a stare down with the written word? The Wanderer and the New West is also available as a paperback and eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and many other popular retailers.

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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