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| Adam Blumer, author of THE TENTH PLAGUE |
I’m blessed today to have Adam Blumer answering my nosy author questions. Adam and I went to the same college (didn’t meet there, but we had many of the same writing teachers!). Adam’s first novel, Fatal Illusions, kept me hooked to the end of the book. And he’s just released his second suspense novel, The Tenth Plague. I enjoy following Adam’s blog, http://www.adamblumerbooks.com/blog/, where he is running an excellent series on keeping vulgarity out of Christian fiction. Here’s Adam’s bio:
Adam Blumer is the author of Fatal Illusions (Kregel Publications) and The Tenth Plague (Kirkdale Press). A print journalism major in college, he works as a freelance writer and editorafter serving in editorial roles for more than twenty years. He lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his wife, Kim, and his daughters, Laura and Julia.
I was impressed with the endorsements on Adam’s book, especially this one: “A chilling tale that keeps readers turning pages and pondering its truths. The Tenth Plague is a solid entry in Adam Blumer’s bibliography, and fans of thrillers with spiritual depth will find much to enjoy.” —C. J. Darlington, author of Thicker than Blood and Bound by Guilt
BUT NOW…Let’s Chat!
HG: Hi Adam, great to have you over today. In your newest book, THE TENTH PLAGUE, you begin with an iron ore mine collapse scene. I was totally gripped as I read it. Was this based on a real mine collapse?
AB: Yes, the prologue is a fictionalized account of the 1926 Barnes-Hecker mine disaster near Ishpeming, Michigan. I even used correct character names. I learned about the disaster when I read No Tears in Heaven by Thomas G. Friggens and realized how the tragedy could complement my plot. Mr. Friggens, the regional expert on the disaster, kindly looked over my prologue for accuracy and gave me a few pointers. I felt honored to write about the tragedy in memory of those who perished.
HG: Your main characters, Marc and Gillian Thayer, return in this book (they were also in your previous novel, FATAL ILLUSIONS). I find it refreshing to have realistic marriages portrayed in Christian fiction. How do you keep their marriage dynamic believable?
AB: I guess since I’m married, I have an edge. Understanding the dynamic in my own marriage, I suppose, enabled me to make this relationship and its conflicts believable. Though I’m a male writer, I think I have a decent grasp of how a wife might feel in certain situations. And of course my wife was one of my first readers, and I asked her a number of questions during the first draft. If I didn’t get something quite right, she was helpful in getting me on the right path.
HG: Your books are labeled “Meaningful Suspense.” What themes have you worked into THE TENTH PLAGUE?
AB: One of my favorite themes is how the past, particularly past hurts, affects our present. Both the villain and my heroine, Gillian Thayer, grapple with heartbreaking real-life issues from their past. But how they respond shows two very different paths. My hope is that readers will see the stark contrast in the context of biblical truth presented in the story. The bottom line is that God is enough, and He offers the solution to every problem of life. This is another repeated theme in my stories.
HG: Okay—question for the squeamish. I know you’ve integrated some of the biblical Egyptian plagues into this story, right? Are there any particularly gross plagues you had to handle in this novel?
AB: Well, wouldn’t that be giving it away? JI guess it depends on how you define the word gross. Every one of the ten plagues appears in some “form” in my novel; that means some appearances are literal, and some are symbolic, but I’m not going to say much more than that and risk giving too much away. Read Exodus 7-11 and decide which plague would be the grossest for you to experience. You’ll have to read the novel and see which one I chose to highlight.
HG: Finally, you have a very interesting journey to publication—you’ve never had an agent. Would you recommend this as a viable route to aspiring newbie writers?
AB: I didn’t really choose this route—God chose it for me. Given what I know about publishing now, I would recommend starting out with an agent. In my opinion the road can be a bit bumpy and lonely if you try to go it alone. I can think of several instances when the encouragement of an agent would have been a big help. And yes—I hope to have an agent of my own before too long, the Lord willing.
Thanks so much for the interview, Adam! I’ll be wondering about those plagues…of course the death of the firstborn would be the worst, in my mind. But the others would be quite horrid, too. Looking forward to having time to read this!
Water turns to blood. Flies and gnats attack the innocent. Marc and Gillian Thayer’s vacation resort becomes a grisly murder scene, with a killer using the ten plagues of Egypt as his playbook for revenge.
When their friend turns up dead, Marc and Gillian put their vacation on hold, enlist the help of a retired homicide detective, and take a closer look at the bizarre plagues as they escalate in intensity. Meanwhile, a stranger is after the Thayers’ newly adopted baby. Will they uncover the truth behind the bitter agenda before the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn son?
****And now over to you readers! Please chime in with your comments and questions for Adam today! And include your email to be entered for a drawing of one free e-book copy of The Tenth Plague!****
AND I always forget to say when I’ll draw the winner! I’ll draw the winner this Monday, February 18th!
Thank you, Heather, for hosting me at your site!
Great interview!! This sounds really interesting. I'd vote the bugs as the second worst, after the firstborn child plague. I can't even type the D word.
I just finished reading Fatal Illusions earlier this week and can't wait to get on to The Tenth Plague. Where can I find a copy of The Tenth Plague that is not an e-book? I've looked at Lifeway, and Barnes and Noble and Amazon! Keep writing Adam! We need more solid Christian fiction!BTW…I went to the same college as Adam and Heather, but several years earlier!
Gail, I just read FATAL ILLUSIONS recently and enjoyed it so much, too. And I'm not sure if THE TENTH PLAGUE is available in non-ebook format, but Adam will probably respond to that! And yes, it's a good college, no matter what year you graduated!
Great interview, Heather and Adam! I've always been a little squeamish about the plagues – thought it was such an epic and mind-blowing method for God to use to get people's attention. It's also such a clear picture of how stinkin' stubborn we can be to have our own way, isn't it? Anyway, this book sounds chillingly good. Thanks for sharing!
Nice interview, Heather and Adam! I am curious also if The Tenth Plague can be purchased in book format. I am one of the few who still likes to hold a paper book and I've held off on purchasing an e-reader. 🙂
Jill, I like those "real" books, too, but I finally bit the bullet and loaded the free Kindle app onto my laptop. The key is not doing lots of computer work on days I plan to read, b/c my eyes feel burnt-out at the end of the day!
Jill and Gail, The Tenth Plague is only in e-book format. But it's well worth a read if you can load it up! Gail, have you tried the free Kindle app for computers?
Thanks Heather! I agree, the eye burn does kick in after too much time on the computer.
The title and cover alone are awesome. Definitely a book I'll be reading!
I'm enjoying Fatal Illusions right now and look forward to reading The Tenth Plague and all the other books Adam will write!
I also went to the same college as Adam, several years later, and I was a print journalism major, too. I'm also an aspiring author, so I have been happy to see his dream of getting published come true! He is one of my new favorite writers, and I can't wait to read "The Tenth Plague." Also, Monday is my birthday, so winning a copy of his book would be a perfect present! My email is thanesmommy@yahoo.com: please sign me up for the drawing!
Emmy, what year did you graduate? I was '95. Wonder if we had any of the same classes? I had Ms. Solomon for News Writing. And I'll let you know if you win!
Heather, I enjoyed the interview on Adam. What a funny, small world we're in–that you and Adam attended the same college, as well as a commenter.Adam–I'm encouraged that you didn't give up writing the type of stories you are called to write. You're an inspiration!estock(at)fairpoint(dot)net
Hey there Jessica! I know, love that cover art!And Kathy, I enjoyed FATAL ILLUSIONS, too.Elaine, thanks for stopping by! Can't wait to see who wins the ebook!
Heather, I graduated in 2002. I had Miss Solomon for a lot of classes and I loved her!I also had Dr. St. John, Mr. Sylvester, and Miss Watkins, among others.
So great, Emmy–I had all those teachers, too! And Mrs. Turner.
Can't wait to read this new book. I've been waiting a few years to finish the story from Fatal Illusions! Thanks Adam! Your an awesome writer and I look forward to many more!mtalhelm@aol.com
Looking forward to reading this book!
Congrats, Adam, on your new release. It sounds right up my suspense alley and I hope I win! jredwood1 at gmail dot com.
I had Mrs. Turner, too, and she is also one of my favorite authors. Have you read her books? So good. I own all but one, I think, and have read them all multiple times.
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