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Jul. 19--Bob Adamov loves going to Put-in-Bay and Florida, but the Cuyahoga Falls author doesn't go to just get a tan.
He goes for work, researching material for the books he has self-published through his Packard Island Publishing imprint.
Adamov said self-publishing can be hard, but he knows investing in himself has been a good bargain.
"When the first book (Rainbow's End) came out, I was scared to death," Adamov said. "I thought I was making a big mistake. I was stunned by how well the book was received, and it was extremely encouraging for me to continue writing."
Adamov has since put out two more books: Pierce the Veil and When Rainbows Walk.
When Rainbows Walk centers on a hunt for treasure during Hurricane Charley and takes place partly in Key West.
The book caught the attention of Hemingway Days co-director Carol Shaughnessy. The festival, which runs through this weekend, is the annual Key West celebration honoring author Ernest Hemingway. Shaughnessy was intrigued by the Key West connection and asked Adamov to be one of the featured authors.
"I was very interested in the premise of his book, and he's a great guy," Shaughnessy said. "You can tell he's a high-energy person that does his research and is very focused on his writing and care about getting it right. That's the kind of author that we want to bring into our Hemingway Days family."
At Hemingway Days, Adamov will do book readings, help judge an Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest and participate in a running of wooden bulls.
"When I got the invitation, I spent the next hour calling everyone I know sharing my excitement," Adamov said. "It was totally unexpected. You get people making comments to you, and you never know if they're going to be coming to fruition or not."
When he returns from Key West, Adamov will be at the Rock N' Resort Festival at Clay's Park near Canal Fulton signing books, and he'll make several other appearances throughout Ohio.
He even managed to squeeze in his fourth book, Promised Land, which will be out in August. It mixes murder and mystery, taking place in Lake Erie's South Bass Island and New Orleans.
Adamov said Promised Land could be his big break, and he has been encouraged by positive feedback from the book's editors.
"They said, as much as they liked the other books, they've shown I'm learning the craft," he said.
After an August book launch at Put-in-Bay, Adamov will head to New Orleans for a riverboat book-release celebration. He said Promised Land will ship from online retailer Amazon.com Aug. 1.
The summer is Adamov's busiest, but also a pivotal one in his life. The Fairlawn company where he works full time is being sold, leaving him out of a job. But he's hopeful about his future as an author.
"Everything could just be lining up perfect, though, if we get picked up by one of the national publishers," he said. "This could really be an opportunity for me. It's a little scary but exciting at the same time."
There's no time for Adamov to worry about anything but writing. He plans to have his fifth book, The Other Side of Hell, finished for a May release. Maybe by then, he won't have to worry about self-publishing anymore.
Dan Kadar can be reached at 330-996-3094 or dkadar@thebeaconjournal.com.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
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