book Archives ⋆ Utopia PR

You really like hearing my voice!

Hey, it’s me again–Blake Hamner–and yes, the n is still silent. I’m super excited to announce the release today of my very first audiobook, Utopia PR! It’s exactly the same as the print version I published last year, except now you get to hear my melodious voice say every word.

Editor’s Note: Audiobook is narrated by Tristan Wright.

Hey, who wrote that? I don’t have an editor. That’s why the book I wrote is so great.

Editor’s Note: There was an editor, and technically, Adam Bender wrote the book.

Pssh, whatever. What I was trying to say is that you can buy the audiobook today directly from me or from your favorite online retailer.

Listen to an excerpt from Utopia PR: The Audiobook

I’ve already received some really great reviews on NetGalley, and just like I did after the paperback and eBook editions came out, I wanted to share a few excerpts from my favorite pieces of feedback.

Quite a few years ago I was on a trip to Florida with my family and we picked up Little Green Men by Christopher Buckley, it was a hilarious political satire book and until I listened to Utopia PR by Adam Bender I had not seen or maybe I should say heard its equal. Utopia PR is hilarious and fascinating, it does a good job of both satirizing and skewering politics and PR men and women. If you enjoy political satire at all you should grab this book, its really entertaining. Even if you have not read any political satire and just enjoy a good story and maybe a little dark humor then this book will tickle your fancy as it did mine. It reminded me a lot of Christopher Moore’s books as well in just how well written it was.
Daniel L., Reviewer

I love a review with a few good comps! I also love anything related to skewering. People, kebabs, beloved institutions — I skewer it all.

This is madcap, satirical quirkiness at its best. It’s scary ‘cos it could actually be based on fact. It’s funny ‘cos it isn’t. I think.
Loved the audio version, it’s short and I wished it was much longer, though it ended neatly and I would heartily recommend it.
Katy K, Librarian

It is based on fact. Why do people keep saying it’s funny? This is my life! Interesting she said it’s short. Maybe one day they’ll let me release the Blake Hamner cut. It’s got a lot more singing.

This is a fast paced, action, humorous, dystopian take on what PR seems to be about about, and it isn’t the truth.
Peter T., Educator

Ain’t that truth. By the way, I’d love to take your class, Peter!

While listening to this audiobook, I could easily see it as a made-for-Netflix movie or limited series. I loved the banter between characters and the dry humor. I think it would play out nicely on screen.
Emily M, Reviewer

You heard Emily, Netflix! Let’s get this greenlit!

Just give it a try, if you dont like it you can complain about it in a comment section.
Kate M., Reviewer

Yeah! Complain about it in the comments section, ya jerks!

Thanks to all of you listened to the audiobook already and wrote reviews. For those of you clicking BUY as we speak, please leave a review somewhere and send me the link! I’ll try to feature you in a future blog post!

Great reviews for my dystopian crisis communications book

Hey, it’s me, Blake Hamner, and I want to be honest with you for a change. I faced some pretty dark times working as a spin doctor for Our Leader. But now, seeing all the great reviews for my new dystopian ~~satire~~ memoir Utopia PR, I’m starting to think it may have been worth all the stress, shame and humiliation. Horrible, horrible humiliation.

Read My Book!

In any case, just wanted to share some of the words that brought a smile to my face in recent days.

“In a tale that’s reminiscent of political farces such as the HBO TV series Veep, Bender employs a smooth, amusing, and straightforward prose style that’s briskly paced … Its tone is irreverent, and readers looking for a quick chuckle will likely enjoy Bender’s winking comedy, which is punctuated with genuinely sweet, sincere moments.”
Kirkus Reviews

I know, I know — You’re probably asking either, “Who’s Bender?” or “Isn’t Bender a robot from Futurama? What does that delightful curmudgeon have to do with this?”

The review is referring to my ghost writer Adam Bender, who for some reason has been getting much of the credit for my book. I don’t want to get into legalese, so for now I’d ask you to please read Bender as Hamner. The n is silent, by the way.

“A dystopian novel laced with intrigue, science fiction, romance and humor … I recommend this book to fans of dystopia who would appreciate a comedic writing style and the underlying themes of marital challenges, finding your purpose, diversity and manipulation through social media.”
Reedsy Discovery

Honestly, who doesn’t love those underlying themes? Sounds like I really hit all my marks!

Here’s one blogger’s take:

“My expectations for Bender’s novel were relatively low; I thought I would laugh at some situations, and that would be it. I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting and was surprised by how much I could relate to Blake’s work ethic dilemmas.”
Mab’s Musing

I love this one because “under promise and over deliver” is PR 101! I am a little sorry to have kept Mab up all night reading, though. Here’s another blogger:

“I enjoyed Utopia PR and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys satire dressed up in a designer suit cut from the cheap polyester-blend fabric of modern reality.”
Spoiler Rotten Reviews

Yes! Yes! That’s exactly what I was going for!

Now then, here’s some excerpts from my favorite Goodreads reviews!

“The novel is written in a casual style which allows the humor to be amplified to level that had me laughing out loud more than I have laughed reading a book as far as I can remember.”
Neema / Goodreads

So, while I take a little issue with Neema unable to contain his laughter at my life, it is a five-star review. I won’t make too big an issue of it.

“At a time when it may feel like the world has gone to hell in a handcart the exuberant mockery in this speculative political landscape is a gift.”
Wendy / Goodreads

Know what you mean, Wendy. I know what you mean.

“I do love me a drop of bonkers in a book and this offering definitely has that – and then some! It’s also very clever and well executed, starring some of the weirdest but slightly compelling characters I have met in time.”
Kath / Goodreads

“Deeply weird, but overall enjoyable.”
Grace / Goodreads

Weird, I’m starting to see a theme here…

Read My Book!

Keep the great reviews for Utopia PR coming! If you’ve read my book, please let me know your thoughts on Goodreads, LibraryThing, your blog or wherever you bought the book. Feel free to send me a link or tweet it at @Utopia_PR, and I’ll try to feature it right here on my blog!

No, it’s not #fakenews… It’s the Utopia PR book cover reveal!

Blake Hamner here! I’m excited to reveal the cover for Utopia PR, my new book coming Feb. 22, 2021!

While it might read like a dystopian satire, it’s actually a memoir of my time handling crisis communications for Our Leader. It is definitely not #fakenews or a science fiction novel. This book represents my total, unvarnished truth. You can trust me because I’m in PR.

You can preorder it today!

Kindle

Smashwords

Join Blake’s email list for updates!

Bailey McGinn designed the beautiful cover for Utopia PR. We wanted to go for something simple and iconic. The image highlights one of my greatest PR accomplishments during my time working for the president: turning one of his killer robotic hounds into the hero pup who’s now universally beloved by the nation!

You might be wondering why the cover lists Adam Bender instead of Blake Hamner as the author. I think this was my publisher’s error. See, Adam is my ghostwriter. He helped congeal my wildly brilliant thoughts into coherent sentences and chapters. Don’t panic: I’ve submitted a customer support ticket and am promised a response within 3-5 business days.

In any case, here’s a book summary…

Public-relations extraordinaire Blake Hamner (the “n” is silent) put off his honeymoon for his big break: joining a major political campaign for president. Now, the “Hammer” struggles to make time for his marriage as Crisis Communications Manager for Our Leader, who since taking power has become increasingly mad and totalitarian.

The Hammer starts to reconsider his career choices when one of Our Leader’s savage steel hounds attacks the Comms team at a press conference. When a revolutionary called Jetpack levels grave allegations against Our Leader—and implicates Blake for the cover-up—the PR rep who thought he could talk his way out of any crisis finds himself utterly trapped in a dystopian job.

Please subscribe to my mailing list below for updates on when the book becomes available for preorder. It will available soon as both a traditional paperback and digital eBook. Also, please leave a comment — I’d love to hear what you think of the cover.

Writing a Book on Managing Crisis Communications for the President

Blake Hamner here. (That’s pronounced like hammer, by the way. The ‘n’ is silent.) I used to be Crisis Communications Manager for the President, but now I’m breaking out on my own to start a PR consulting firm! Also, I’m writing a book–a memoir about my last few months working for Our Leader.

I just got WordPress up and running, so you’ll have to excuse the woeful lack of content. For now, you can learn more about me on my homepage. Please follow @Utopia_PR on Twitter and sign up for my mailing list below for updates about Utopia PR and my upcoming book.

Look forward to working with you!

— Blake “The Hammer” Hamner