SPARKS: The Epic, Completely True Blue (Almost) Holy Quest of Debbie
a novel by S.J. Adams (the version of Adam Selzer who swears more)
published November, 2011 by Flux Books
 | SPARKS is the John Hughes-esque story of Debbie Woodlawn, a Full House-obsessed 16 year old agnostic who attempts to get over a crush on her religious best friend by embarking on a "holy quest" with a couple of misfits who have invented a religion of their own. In one unforgettable night, they show her a side of Des Moines she never knew existed - the one that has bowling alley skanks, practical time travelers, George Washington, cloak room fornicators, naked trike angels, butt prints on the windows of the governor's mansion, and love, love, love. "Touching and humorous....Debbie and her offbeat cohorts are nuanced and authentic." - Publishers Weekly "Original and appealing...a kinetic and well-paced comedy that just might win a few converts." -Kirkus "Hilarious... will appeal to teenagers who are a little bit on the outside." - School Library Journal |
SJ's page
indiebound | EXTRAORDINARY* The True Story of my Fairy Godparent, Who Almost Killed Me, and Certainly Never Made Me a Princess What if you really WOULD just die if you didn't get kissed by a vampire prince at the dance? An epic tale of love, magic, mystery, musical theatre and unicorn poop. Reviews (coming soon) "Ask Gregory Grue" Magic 8 Ball App (coming soon) Excerpt: Introduction Excerpt: Chapter 1 pre-amble Excerpt: Chapter 1 Trailer A Trailer B (Long): |
Random House 2010 | I KISSED A ZOMBIE AND I LIKED IT! Ever since Megamart was caught raising the dead to use as slave labor, and the vampires "came out of the coffin," every teenage girl has dreamed of dating a "post human," except for Alley Rhodes. Alley thought dead guys had no reason to live...until she met Doug... Simultaneously a scathing parody and a sweetly romantic tale in its own right. Hilarious. - Kirkus "Delightfully wicked - Publisher's Weekly "Original, unpredictable, funny, romantic, and tragic." - School Library Journal web: ikissedazombie.com Website includes videos, soundtrack, and all kinds of cool "special features." |
Random House 2009 Order On Indiebound | THE SMART ALECK'S GUIDE TO AMERICAN HISTORY "In the vein of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert...witty and appealing." - School Library Journal "Speeding along on humor, Daily Show-style...the laugh-out-loud approach should win over reluctant readers." - Publisher's Weekly A Junior Library Guild Selection A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction 2011 nominee website: smartalecksguide.com Meet The Smart Aleck Staff |
indiebound Random House 2008 | I PUT A SPELL ON YOU: From the Files of Chrissie Woodward, Spelling Bee Detective "entertainingly satiric....the characters are suprisingly well developed...with the middle-school accessibility of Andrew Clements, the freewheeling humor of Gordon Korman, and a witty charm all its own." - Bulletin of Children's Books Reviews "If Y'all Wanna Join a Gang, Join the Good Times Gang!" - mp3 of a song from the book! |
indiebound Random House 2008 | PIRATES OF THE RETAIL WASTELAND Can you prove a point by taking over a corporate coffee shop and turning it into an accounting office to see if anyone can tell the difference? "As invigorating and smoothly satisfying as a good cafe latte." - Teenspace Reviews Leon's Bad Album Covers |
 Random House 2007 | HOW TO GET SUSPENDED AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE When Leon tries to direct an avant garde sex de film entitled La Dolce Pubert, he runs afoul of the local guidance counselor. "Smart and savvy on all fronts. . . . Full of read-out-loud-to-whoever-happens- to-be-around passages." - The Bulletin Part of the ALA's 2010 BANNED BOOKS WEEK Packet. An essay and discussion questions. |
 | "A work of comic genius...Selzer has struck gold." - Booktrends |
 Llewellyn Press, 2009 | "Adam Selzer is my guy. Totally. There's nothing floofy or flippy about this book. Selzer isn't some dude that smells like incense and wears MC Hammer pants as a ruse to look like a dime store Romani." - Litbites |
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 White Chapel, 2008 Written under the name "Wild Bill Griffith" | FATAL DROP True Tales of the Chicago Gallows Now on $2.99 on Kindle Smart Aleck Staff Notes: This is one gory book. Deviating from his usual style, Selzer made it a point not to make any jokes in this one. Featuring many crime stories that have never before been published, Selzer didn't even want to put his own name on this. Fascinating stories and history, though. |
KINDLE EDITION: Just $2.99! | BOBCAT NATION: LIFE AMONG THE DYLAN FANS: What keeps Bob Dylan fans coming back to concert after concert? Author Adam Selzer tries to find out in this hilarious 2004 memoir. Part rock criticism, part travelogue, and part social commentary, Adam travels the country, trying to keep one step ahead of his creditors and meeting prominent Dylan fans. New Kindle edition features several new Dylan essays for a total of 80,000 words. Don't have a kindle device? Get the free Kindle App for Mac, PC or your smartphone! |
