Wooster author Bob Adamov finishes third book of 2022
Bob Adamov has been writing novels for two decades with an anniversary he celebrated on Oct. 19 with a new edition of his first novel, “Rainbow’s End.” That capped a year in which he released two other books: “Sunset Blues” on April 1 and “White Spider Night” on July 1.
Everyone who has ever sat at a keyboard has at one point or another thought about it: writing the great American novel — or at least the mediocre American novel.
OK, a novel, no matter how good — 300 or so pages of storytelling bliss. It sounds so easy. It’s not, as those who have tried and failed can attest.
Bob Adamov has been writing novels for two decades, an anniversary he celebrated on Oct. 19 with a new edition of his first novel, “Rainbow’s End.” That capped a year in which he released two other books — “Sunset Blues” on April 1 and “White Spider Night” on July 1.
Adamov once was where most would-be authors are: thinking about it.
“My childhood dream was to write a book one day, since I was 8 years old,” he said.
So at the age of 51 — “Turning 50 didn’t bother me, but 51 hit me like a ton of bricks,” Adamov said — he sat down and banged out the original “Rainbow’s End.” And that was that.
Except it wasn’t. People started reading Adamov’s book. More important, they started asking when he was going to write another one.
“I said, ‘I’m just doing one,’” Adamov said of his initial response. “I was absolutely stunned by the reception that my first book had. So that dream I had when I was 8 years old, I started to pursue it. This just took off way beyond my expectations.”
In fact, Adamov became prolific. Not quite Stephen King prolific, but with 16 titles in 20 years (his 17th book is a rewrite of the first), Adamov likely sits in the top percentile of writers.
And No. 18 is already in the offing.
“I’m supposed to be taking a break right now after doing the three in the last year,” Adamov said. “But I just started No. 18 yesterday. I was heads-down writing the first two chapters.”
Adamov said the president of the Ian Fleming Foundation will serve as a technical advisor and that the new book will have a James Bond twist to it. Fleming, who created the iconic British spy, is listed among Adamov’s influences, along with the likes of Mark Twain, Jack Higgins, Alistair MacLean and favorite author Clive Cussler, whose work Adamov’s has been compared to over the years.
“I try to imitate Clive Cussler’s writing style with a little Mark Twain sprinkled in,” he said.
In just his second book, Adamov moved his main character to Put-in-Bay, his home away from home. So now Emerson Moore, the investigative reporter, jets about the Lake Erie Islands — and sometimes other places such as Key West or even Wooster. Moore will make a stop here in the upcoming novel — solving mysteries.
Writing has become somewhat of a second career for Adamov, who considers himself “semi-retired” from a career in the business sector, doing, among other things, human resources, public relations, investor relations, finance and crisis management.
He is a graduate of Norton High School and Kent State University. He also studied at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Adamov has long wanted to get a movie made from one of his books and said that could be in the pipeline. He said there is a script to his novel, “Tan Lines,” that he has spoken with a director about. The two met this past July 4 in Wooster to discuss the prospect.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said. “He is talking to the No. 2 guy at one of the major studios. We’re waiting to see if they will greenlight it to go forward. He has the financing. I’d love to get a film made. If a film is made up in the islands, it would be a great way to pay back the people on the islands for everything they’ve done for me.”
The 73-year-old is showing no signs of stopping, though he might have to slow down a bit. Putting out three books in the last year was an arduous undertaking.
“I can do one a year with no problem,” he said. “This past year I told my wife if I get the idea of doing three books again in one year, pull me back, have me committed. The first book, ‘Sunset Blues,’ was a thriller set down in Key West, Florida, along with Put-in-Bay. The second one was easier to write. Murder suspects were lining up like airplanes lining up at the airport. I use a lot of locals. They’re surprised to find out they’re in the book.”
Wooster has shown up before in Adamov’s writing. In the novel, “Missing,” the main character loses his memory and winds up in a hideout on Smithville Western Road. One never knows when or where an Easter Egg might pop up.
Adamov lives in Wooster with his wife Cathy. For more information about his books, visit www.bobadamov.com, www.packardislandpublishing.com or follow Adamov on Facebook.