Skip to content

Tag: We The Watched

Divided We Fall is an ABNA quarterfinalist

A couple of months ago, I entered the manuscript for my second novel in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. Now I’m happy to report that Divided We Fall has made it through the first two rounds and is a quarterfinalist!

There were 500 novels across five genres that made the cut. Divided We Fall was one of 100 sci-fi/fantasy/horror entries.

A couple Amazon.com reviewers had a look at the first few chapters, and here’s what they had to say:

Amazon Reviewer 1:

This novel has some serious promise. Here we are in the first few thousand words and we already have a love triangle and a religious/political rebellion. Seriously, the author has provided some interesting angles to work out what the pitch promises to deliver.

Amazon Reviewer 2:

Its flows and is good. With a few fixes it may outpace “The Handmaids Tale.” I hope to see more.

Even if I don’t make it any further in the contest, I will still get a review by Publishers Weekly. This will be a great tool for convincing literary agents and publishers to take a look (unless PW hates it, but I’m feeling optimistic).

What’s that you say? If I win the contest, I won’t need to convince anyone else?

Hey dude, take a chill pill! I’m trying to measure my expectations here!

For now, please check out the sample and–if you like what you read–leave a review. Please also give my first novel We, The Watched a go. I appreciate all your support!

1 Comment

What’s Up?

I know, I know. It’s been too damn long since my last blog post.

What have I been doing? Well, journalism mainly. As you may have figured out, I’ve made it to Sydney and have been writing tech stories a plenty for Computerworld, CIO and Techworld. Check out this handy Evernote shared notebook for a selection of my best recent stuff.

On the creative side of things, I have been busy sending my new novel Divided We Fall to literary agents. This has been quite a bit of work but I am hoping for the best. I will also be entering the novel in this year’s Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, which opens for entries in January. Whatever happens, I want to try to get this novel out to the public as soon as I can. I am open to self publishing, as I did with We, The Watched, but I’m giving the traditional route a “fair go,” as they say in Australia. If you’d like to help, please review my first novel on Amazon or other stores where it’s sold–this helps get it more notice, which in turn increases demand for the sequel!

Hmm… I guess sending my novel to agents is more marketing than creative. So, on the actually creative side of things, I’ve been working on a screenplay adaptation of We, The Watched, and would say I’m about a third of the way through. It’s a fun challenge converting the story to screen. The good news is the story adapts pretty well, perhaps due to its relatively short length and emphasis on action and dialog. And the three-act movie structure is really making me think hard about how to tell the story as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Oh yeah, and I updated the blog design. Cleaner and looks better on a smartphone. Suh-weet!

So yeah, that’s me.  Will try to have more updates soon. Been listening to a lot of really good music and reading a bunch of cool comics–so yeah, look out for some new posts, yo!

Leave a Comment

Snap a Pic of CCTV

The novel We, The Watched takes place in a nation where it’s just about impossible to avoid the eye of a surveillance camera. But it might not be as sci-fi of an idea as you’d think.

A surveillance camera in Sydney
A surveillance camera in Sydney

You’ve probably seen plenty of CCTV signs and cameras around your town, too. Starting today, I invite you to watch the watchers and share your own pics of surveillance in action on my Facebook page at facebook.com/wethewatched.

Most cameras and signs are in public spaces; please DO NOT break any laws as you are snapping pics.

 

1 Comment

Moving to Sydney

This will be my view.

So, yeah, my wife and I are moving to Sydney.

No, really. Like, the one in Australia.

Moving abroad is something we’ve been talking about doing for years.  We both had amazing, life-changing experiences studying abroad in college. We share the strong belief that you can’t really get to know a city unless you live there, and we are beyond excited to experience Sydney. We leave next month!

Whilst down under, I will continue to work as a technology reporter and simultaneously forward my creative endeavors, including a screenplay of WE, THE WATCHED and hopefully a few short stories. I’ll also continue to pitch my second novel, DIVIDED WE FALL, to the literary world. And of course I will keep the blog updated with news of my Australian exploits!

By the way, please check out my new Twitter account (@WatchAdam).  I plan to use it for some quick takes on the latest music, movies and videogames, as well as news on my projects.  If you’re only interested in news on my novels and other creative work, my Facebook page is probably the easiest way to stay up to date.

1 Comment

The End

On Monday I typed those two words that are the goal post for any author writing a novel: The End.

Yes, that’s right. I have finished my second novel, Divided We Fall. As I mentioned last month, there is still some polishing to do, but I think it’s in good shape. I’m shooting to enter the novel in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA) contest, which begins accepting submissions next week. After that, I will begin to circulate the novel around the publishing world. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you a release date at this point because it all depends on if it’s accepted by a publisher. I’m open to self-publishing (as I did for my previous novel, We, The Watched), but I’m going to hold off until I get more feedback from agents and publishers.

For now, here’s my current tagline for Divided We Fall:

A revolutionary and a government agent try to mend their fractured nation and reconcile a broken romance.

For more updates, please keep checking back here and also my official Facebook page.  Now, back to writing…

 

 

 

Leave a Comment
Adam Bender | adambenderwrites.com | watchadam.blog