Ben Adams

Press Release
A detective unearths a secret that entwines conspiracies involving shape-shifting aliens, Elvis Presley, and Mary Todd Lincoln in The Enigmatologist, a comedic sci-fi/mystery novel by Benjamin Adams

Twenty-something John Abernathy is disillusioned. His job as a private investigator is unfulfilling, and he can’t find work in his chosen field, Enigmatology, the study and design of puzzles. He is about to quit when the National Enquirer calls. A woman in Las Vegas, New Mexico sent them a photo of someone who’s supposed to have died 35 years ago—Elvis Aaron Presley. And they need John to investigate it.

When the Elvis impersonator, Al Leadbelly, is murdered, John investigates, finding Air Force colonel, Alvin Hollister—convinced Leadbelly has information regarding Elvis's death—at the crime scene conducting his own investigation. John discovers great-great-great grandfather's journal—unearthing a conspiracy entwining Elvis, shapeshifting aliens, and Mary Todd Lincoln. When John finds Leadbelly, alive and wearing a sequined jumpsuit, John must help him escape before Colonel Hollister finds him, and discover if Leadbelly is really Elvis, an obsessed fan, or something more.
About the author:

Ben Adams is a San Francisco Bay Area writer. His work has appeared in Everyday Weirdness, an online
literary magazine. He is currently enrolled in Stanford’s Novel Writing Program. The Engimatologist is the
first book in a trilogy.

Suggested questions to ask the author:

1. What's an "enigmatologist"?

2. Could you talk about what inspired you to write this book?

3. One of your central character's is an Elvis impersonator. Could you talk about the theme of identity and how it applies to your book.

4. This book starts out as a mystery and ends up in the realm of science fiction. Could you talk about the thought process behind the decision to have the novel shift genres half-way through?

5. Could you talk about the role conspiracy theories play in your book?

6. Could you talk about how you approach humor in your writing?

7. Being a humorous book, how much research went into it? How much is based on fact, versus how much of it is fantasy?

8. This book is set in the southwest. Why did you choose this location for your novel? and why was it important to you?

9. Could you talk about the process of writing this book, and how the novel changed over the course of writing it?

10. Many writers subscribe to the philosophy, "Write what you know." How much of you is in this book?
For interviews contact Ben Adams