Adam Joins Author Network at ShoutLife.com

http://www.shoutlife.com/adamblumer

First Round of Revisions Finished

Whew! The first round of revisions on my upcoming novel are finished, and I sent the updated manuscript off to Kregel on Feb. 28. Now it's time to wait and see if my improvements are enough. A second round of revisions may be forthcoming. For those unversed on how these revisions work (I was until I actually began going through the process myself), let me explain what revisions are. I wish someone had told me more about what's involved before I began the process, so I hope this information is helpful.

When a publisher accepts a novel for publication, they accept the big picture of the novel (the plot, the message, the characters, etc.). But that doesn't mean there aren't little loose ends here and there that need to be tied up. The revisions process is one of the first steps along the way before someone actually holds a copy of the novel in his hand. Basically, the revisions stage is all about typing up those loose ends. It's about clarifying details that may be confusing or adding more emotional nuance where a scene is lacking. Another author has said that a novel is never completely done. There's always something one could add or change, but at some point someone needs to draw a line in the sand and say, "This is when the novel is done." The publisher makes that call. After all, their name goes on the book too, so the product must represent them and their reputation. They decide when the novel is where they want it to be. If they feel a scene isn't as powerful as it ought to be and needs more work, they ask the author to change it.

For example, one character in my story appeared in a few scenes but didn't seem to connect to the main protagonists of my story as strongly she should have. She needed either to become more connected to the story or be cut out altogether. (I can't imagine the work needed to cut her out.) I needed to make her more involved in the story and with the main characters. She needed to have a bigger reason for being in the story other than a conversation or two. So I made her more involved. I integrated her into more scenes. I tied her relationship to the female lead more clearly. Another scene simply didn't seem necessary and didn't contribute much to the story, so I cut it in half and made it more important.

Other changes included clarifying police procedure details, fixing other details that were unclear, fixing boo-boos where my mind crossed the river without building a bridge, adding more emotion to a couple scenes, making dialogue feel more natural in a few spots. I welcome these changes because I realize I can't see everything by myself. Writing a novel is daunting enough. Keeping track of all the little details, especially in a shifting-viewpoint novel with lots of action and several plot threads, is next to impossible without the help of a committee. My attitude, therefore, is "I'm all for it to make the novel the best product it can be."

Hopefully, one round of revisions and a month of Saturdays are enough. But if another round of revisions is needed, I'm up to the task—all in the desire to make the novel even better. I'll keep you posted on what happens next.

I can announce that the novel is currently going through a title change. I won't lie about my initial dismay at receiving this news; my heart was so set on Now You See Him. But apparently (and amazingly) another suspense novel came out in January with the same title. So Kregel's marketing department and I are considering new titles. I'll let you know what the final title will be.

Another announcement: Kregel will officially announce the novel in August, and the release date will probably be in September. I have so much to do: set up my official author website, join the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers, http://www.acfw.com), write the Reading Group Guide for my novel, write my own questions and answers for possible interviews, etc. May the Lord receive all the glory!

First Round of Revisions Begins

On January 31, a UPS truck pulled in front of our house, and the young man in brown dashed up the sidewalk to our front door. In his hand was a manuscript-sized box from Kregel Publications. I puzzled over the box. Why would Kregel send my manuscript back to me? Maybe they had changed their minds and decided not to publish my novel after all. Or maybe Kregel wanted me to review the manuscript of another Kregel author (I edited two upcoming Kregel novels last fall).

I opened the box and read the cover letter with some trepidation. I was wrong on both counts. A Kregel editor had written comments in the margin of my novel manuscript, and my revisions were due by the end of February. Also enclosed was a two-page Evaluation Memo, a list of specific problems (some small, some big) in the novel itself. The first round of revisions has begun!

I've read through the Evaluation Memo several times, trying to make sure I understand what needs to be done. Some change requests are clear, some are not. (I have queried the editor for clarification.) Thankfully, the revisions aren't nearly as bad as I had feared, though February will definitely be a busy month for me. My Saturdays will be dedicated to revisions, but I'm up to the challenge.

Novel Scheduled for Fall 2008 Release

It's official. Kregel Publications (Grand Rapids, MI) has confirmed that they plan to release my Christian suspense novel this fall (sometime between August and October) to take advantage of pre-Christmas sales. My editor said they are shooting for a September release. He also alerted me to the fact that edits on the novel will begin soon and that novel titles often change during production. (In fact, I've been requested to supply five novel titles!) My heart has been set on Now You See Him for so long that it's difficult imagining the project having a different title. I'm not saying that I'm possessive of the title; if someone has a better one, I'm more than open to it. The title just came to me so naturally during the writing process that I've never considered anything else. I'm hoping the title won't change, but there are no guarantees. The folks at Kregel produce up to 90 books a year and are pros at this; I trust their judgment.

Kregel just sent me a packet in the mail containing the Author FAQ, an Author Questionnaire, and a Fiction Art Form. The Author FAQ tells me important information like when bookstores will start stocking my novel, when I will get my author copies, how I can promote my novel, how I will know how well my novel is selling, where people can buy my novel, how Kregel will use my photo, etc.

Besides typical contact information, some of the things I need to provide for the Author Questionnaire include the following: my biography, a photo of myself, a list of seven possible endorsers (people who might say nice things about my book and whose opinions bear some weight with other people—do you have any recommendations?), a request if I would like to do TV or radio interviews, three summaries of the novel (50 words, 100 words, and 200 words), confirmation of how I would like my name to be appear on the book's cover, five possible novel titles, and a list of 30 to 40 influencers. A free copy of the novel goes to "influencers," those who are interested in helping to promote the novel; I just provide the names. If you're interested, please let me know. I've also been invited to write discussion questions about the novel for book clubs and to write and answer my own interview questions about the project.

The Fiction Art Form is intended to help the artist who will soon be designing the novel's cover. (This, I've been told, is one of the first steps in production.) I've been asked to provide the following: background/setting, character descriptions, story conflicts, symbols (flowers, fabrics, objects, Bible verses, or natural phenomena that illustrate or clarify the book's objectives and would be appropriate in cover art), and a Bible verse that sums up the story's theme. I'm also invited to send a picture, drawing, or other description that may help the artist create a cover that captures the setting, characters, mood, and feel of the book.

Many have asked what the novel is about. I've been holding off on saying too much, not wanting to steal the thunder of Kregel's editors and marketing team. Because of growing interest, however, I will share something here. My novel's tentative title is Now You See Him, but as I've shared, titles frequently change during production. As for the story itself, here's a (hopefully tasty) morsel to whet your appetite.

Gillian Thayer’s calligraphy business in Chicago keeps her mind off personal tragedy. But when her husband, Marc, a pastor and biblical counselor, becomes entangled in a church discipline situation that turns violent, she and her family flee the bad press and take a sabbatical at Whistler's Point, a creepy historic lighthouse on Upper Michigan’s Lake Superior. Also new to the area is Haydon Owens, a serial killer who strangled three women in Cincinnati with a magician’s trick rope. Haydon dreams of being the next Houdini, but pursuing his dream means turning his back on his past, which is easier said than done. When he claims his next victim, the police arrest Marc Thayer, the last person to see the victim alive. Chuck Riley, original investigator on the Magician Murders case, comes out of retirement to help Gillian clear Marc’s name by taking another look at the forensic evidence. Can they stop Haydon before he kills again? The clock is ticking, and Haydon spots his next victim . . .

I hope you enjoy reading the novel as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I've got some work to do, but these are exciting times! Check back soon to read about the next step in the process. May God receive all the glory!

Book Review: Showdown

Dekker, Ted. Showdown. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006. Jacketed Hardcover, 384 pages. $22.99.

Purchase: Thomas Nelson | CBD | Amazon

ISBNs: 1595540059 / 9781595540058

Subjects: Christian Fiction, Suspense/Mystery
Chapter Excerpt

Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.

The Gist

Marsuvees Black, a self-proclaimed preacher, strides into Paradise, a small town in Colorado, claiming that God sent him to bring “grace and hope.” Black looks more like a stereotypical gunslinger and behaves more like a magician. After calling a town meeting to proclaim his message, he pulls an apple out of the air. A moment later, he turns it into a snake. Then, while everyone watches, he makes a man’s wart disappear.

The people are instantly enamored by his charisma and enchanted by his miracles, but who is this guy? Is he really who he claims to be? The only one who seems to be asking the important questions is Johnny Drake, a boy who lives in Paradise. Everyone else has fallen to Black’s charms; his good looks especially make the women swoon.

But Johnny knows something is wrong. The first person to question Black is now dead, apparently from a heart attack. Johnny witnessed the man’s violent death and knows Black is responsible. That’s only for starters. Black admits that he introduced a gel-like substance into the town’s water system to make people more receptive to his message, and he is passing around a bottle of the stuff. The gel seems harmless, or is it? People begin seeing strange visions and acting out their most carnal and violent tendencies. Has Black brought grace and hope or led the town to the dark side?

Meanwhile, in a monastery in the nearby mountains, 37 children have been isolated from the evils of the world and taught God’s Word in a test project sponsored by Harvard University and directed by David Abraham. But even isolation from the world can’t protect them from the evil in their own hearts. When one student, Billy, ventures into the forbidden dungeons, he crosses the line into evil, putting the student body and the future of the school into peril. When the school leaders allow a public debate between good and evil, Billy wins the day. More students head for the dungeons, which are inhabited by mammoth, gel-secreting worms that slither along the walls. If these ingredients seem creepy, just wait. More

See the Trailer for "Prince Caspian"

The movie is coming out next May. Prepare to be blown away by the trailer.

Christmas Carol

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Lo! Newborn Jesus
Soft and weak and small,
Wrapped in baby’s bands
By His Mother’s hands,
Lord God of all.

Lord God of Mary,
Whom His Lips caress
While He rocks to rest
On her milky breast
In helplessness.

Lord God of shepherds
Flocking through the cold.
Flocking through the dark
To the only Ark,
The only Fold.

Lord God of all things
Be they near or far,
Be they high or low;
Lord of storm and snow,
Angel and star.

Lord God of all men,—
My Lord and my God!
Thou who lovest me,
Keep me close to Thee
By staff and rod.

Lo! newborn Jesus
Loving great and small,
Love’s free Sacrifice,
Opening Arms and Eyes
To one and all.

Peter Jackson Agrees to Produce Hobbit Movies

Wonderful news for fans of The Lord of the Rings movies!

Read the 2007 Christmas Letter

Book Review: Midnight Sea

Reviewed by Adam Blumer.

Coble, Colleen. Midnight Sea. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007. Paperback, 320 pages. $14.99.

(Review copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson.)

Purchase: Thomas Nelson | CBD | Amazon

Read an excerpt.

Reading Group Guide.

Aloha Reef Series #4 / Women of Faith Series #15

ISBNs: 1595541403 / 9781595541406

Subjects: Christian Fiction / Suspense

RITA finalist Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of several novels including The Rock Harbor Series, The Aloha Reef Series, and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea.

The Gist

Leilani (Lani) Tagama, a florist designer, is working at her aunt’s coffee farm in Hawaii when a bullet kills a coworker and strikes Lani, blinding her. Who pulled the trigger and how Lani copes with her blindness draw the reader into a fun, engaging quest of discovery. While Lani struggles through the unanswered question of whether her blindness is permanent, Ben Mahoney arrives on the scene. Fueled by guilt due to a friend who went blind because of his negligence, Ben temporarily allows Lani to use his guide dog, Fisher, a golden retriever.