Today I am thrilled to be on the blog tour for Adam Hamdy’s second novel Freefall. This fabulous thriller is out now in paperback and I’ve got a guest post from the man himself Adam Hamdy.
Before I share the author’s guest post here’s the book description to whet your appetite
Book description
ONE RULE. TRUST NO-ONE.
This explosive, pulse-racing thriller is perfect for fans of Jack Reacher and Orphan X, with a story as unexpected as a sniper’s bullet. Adam Hamdy’s first Pendulum novel was called ‘one of the best thrillers of the year’ by James Patterson.
JOHN WALLACE IS A TARGET
Hiding off-grid after exposing the shadowy Pendulum conspiracy, Wallace is horrified to discover he is still marked for death.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO PEOPLE HE CAN TRUST
DI Patrick Bailey is still reeling from the murder investigation that nearly cost him his life.
FBI Agent Christine Ash is hunting a serial killer with a link to an unfinished case
HE MUST FIND THE TRUTH
The death of a London journalist triggers an investigation that brings them back together, hurling them into the path of an unknown enemy.
BEFORE THE KILLER FINDS HIM
Hunted across the world, they are plunged into a nightmare deadlier than they could have ever imagined.
TOP TEN TIPS FOR READERS
The Internet is chock full of advice for writers, but what about readers? Here are ten tips that should help readers get the most from a life with books, by Adam Hamdy, author of Freefall (out in paperback on 16 May).
- READ WHATEVER YOU LIKE
One of the many beautiful things about books is that they offer tremendous choice. There are millions of books available on just about any subject imaginable, but one can experience a bit of snobbery about what one ‘should’ read. Don’t feel obliged to read a book because it’s been deemed worthy or has received critical acclaim. Find the genres, subjects or authors you enjoy and build from there. I believe readers should actively enjoy the experience of reading and if they’re not, the chances are they’re holding a book that isn’t right for them.
- FIND YOUR FAVOURITE BLOGGERS
This is something you can do from the comfort of home. Go online and find bloggers who read and review the types of books that interest you. Book bloggers form one of the most informative and generous online communities. The support they give authors and each other is wonderful and they provide a free and informative way to discover new books. Unconstrained by physical page space or publication schedules, bloggers will often review a wider range of books than national newspapers or magazines and can offer true expertise in their chosen genres. If you find a blogger’s review interesting or discover a new book thanks to their recommendation, reach out and let them know. It only takes a moment to show your appreciation for what they do.
3 VISIT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSHOP
Yikes! This one involves going outside. Don’t worry, bookshops are generally the friendliest places on the high street. Few people are more informed about books than booksellers and I’ve had some great recommendations from my local bookshops. Booksellers can quickly tailor suggestions to your specific reading tastes and usually like talking to readers. Another fantastic thing about bookshops is the access they can provide to authors. Your local cinema has little hope of persuading Steven Spielberg to come for a visit, but your bookshop can bring Lee Child to town. I can think of few creative fields where you can sit down with talent and interact in such an informal way. Most bookshops host events that take place in the evening and don’t cost much, if anything at all. It’s low cost, fascinating entertainment and provides an opportunity to meet your literary heroes as well as discover new authors. Get down to your local bookshop and find out what they’ve got going on. You might be pleasantly surprised.
- GO TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
It’s a magical place where people will give you free books and advice. Libraries rival bookshops for friendliness and accessibility and are general staffed by helpful, informative people who will put you on the right track, introducing you to books or authors you’ll like. Libraries will often host events and can order in almost any book ever published. Authors get a small royalty every time a book is borrowed from a library, so never feel awkward about telling an author you borrowed rather than bought a book.
- JOIN A BOOK CLUB
A few months ago, I went to a book club in London and had a fantastic time with a group of readers who grilled me about Pendulum. The wine flowed and the conversation was fun and entertaining. Book clubs are a great way to meet people and forge friendships and if you can’t find a real world book club in your area, you can get together with a few friends and start one, or you can seek out one of the many book clubs that are run online.
- EXPLORE NEW WRITING
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and keep reading the same genre or small selection of authors. Somewhere in the kerfuffle of book bloggers, newspaper and magazine reviews, booksellers, librarians and book clubs, you should get lots of new book or author recommendations. Read what you like, but also look around every so often and reach for something new, so the list of what you like keeps growing.
7 CONTACT AUTHORS
My youngest son is a big fan of Swapna Haddow’s Dave Pigeon series and wrote to her to express his admiration. Swapna wrote back and sent him some Dave Pigeon gear, which absolutely made his day. As an author, I know how much it will have meant to Swapna to have positive feedback from a fan. If an author has written something you like, reach out and let him or her know. Leave a positive review, ask a question, send a note. Most authors are very accessible and love hearing from readers, particularly if they have something nice to say.
- DON’T HATE A BOOK
Argggghhhhhh! I’ve read a book and I hate it more than cancer. That’s the only reason I’d ever give a book a 1-star review. In my opinion, 1-star is the equivalent of an ‘F’ and means the author has failed to do anything at all that redeems the book. If you’re not enjoying a book, stop reading and put it down. Move on to another that engages you. If you really hated a book and feel the need to share your opinion, remember that all art is subjective and that many readers will find positives in a book you disliked. Also remember that many authors read their Amazon and Goodreads reviews and that there’s a human being at the receiving end of any tirade. I never read reviews of my books, but I know many authors who do and I’ve seen the emotional impact they have. Authors are just human beings striving to produce the best work they can and make a living, and when someone goes to town with a bad review, it’s upsetting. If you have to throw some shade on a book, try to keep it civil.
9 GO TO FESTIVALS
Many big towns have their own literary festival or an arts festival that features authors. These single or multi-day events often feature a wide range of authors speaking on a variety of topics and are fantastic low cost entertainment. Most people will find something to interest them in a typical festival program and if you can’t afford to travel to the bigger literary festivals, go to your local one. Admission is usually inexpensive if not free. If you do go to a festival, set aside some time for the hotel or venue bar, where you can often get chatting to authors in an informal environment. Lee Child, Peter James and Val McDermid were among the many big names circulating in the bar during my first ever Harrogate and I’m not ashamed to say that I got a little star struck.
- SUBSCRIBE TO MAILING LISTS
Many authors operate email lists via their websites and give subscribers exclusive news, offers and competitions. I recently offered subscribers the chance to win a £100 Book Token and the opportunity to name a character in my next book. In addition to giving readers the opportunity to win unusual or unique prizes, most authors are keen to build a rapport with their readers, and mailing lists are a great way to get inside the worlds of authors you love and learn more about them.
Who Is Adam Hamdy
Identified as an Amazon Rising Star, British author and screenwriter Adam Hamdy works with studios and production companies on both sides of the Atlantic.
He is the author of the Pendulum trilogy, an epic series of conspiracy thriller novels. James Patterson described Pendulum as ‘one of the best thrillers of the year’, and the novel was a finalist for the Glass Bell Award for contemporary fiction. Pendulum was chosen as book of the month by Goldsboro Books and was selected for BBC Radio 2 Book Club.
Prior to embarking on his writing career, Adam was a strategy consultant and advised global businesses in the medical systems, robotics, technology and financial services sectors.
Buying links for Adam Hamdy books
My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for inviting me to join the tour!! and Adam Hamdy for the guest post.
The book review café 
I agree completely about not hating a book!! I put my rating system on my “about” page so people would understand that they probably won’t see many 1 or 5 star reviews. To me 1 star means it had NOTHING redeeming about it AT ALL. It was just a big hot mess!! 5 stars to me is like the be all and end all of books. If I was stuck on a desert island this would be my go to book.. Isn’t that why they’re the lowest and highest on the scale?
I also love the “find your favourite book blogger” HOW COULD ANYONE CHOOSE?? There are so many great bloggers out there. I love that I follow so many because then I sometimes get different opinions on the same book. It allows me to get a better sense of whether the book is for me, or not. 💖💖🍻
… Sorry about the novel! 😉
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