Adam Cesare's Blog

Clown in a Cornfield hits Blu-Ray, 4k, and Shudder!

Hey! Clown in a Cornfield, the film based on my novel, directed by Eli Craig (Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil) and starring Katie Douglas is coming home to physical media.

You can pre-order a signed copy of the Blu-ray from our friends at DiabolikDVD right here.

There’s also a Steelbook 4K edition, but sadly that’s exclusive to Amazon. Pick that up here. It’s pretty cool, it comes with two sheets of magnets you can stick onto the back of the case to make your own Frendo (ala Colorforms).

If you’re a streaming type person, the film hits AMC+ and Shudder on August 8th.

Of course, the film is inspired by my 2x Bram Stoker Award winning novel series, and if you’d like to pick up my books signed, you can always do that right here through an indie bookstore. Or, if you don’t care if they’re signed. Here through amazon. Or Bookshop, the online retailer that supports indies.

Tell your friends.

Clown in a Cornfield: in Theaters this Week! UPDATED with VOD!

6/10/2025 UPDATE: Did you miss Clown in a Cornfield in theaters? Rent or own the film now on VOD, wherever you rent or buy movies (amazon, Apple Movies/iTunes, Fandango at Home, etc.).

Are you a physical media fanatic like myself and would prefer to own the film on 4K UHD (with a special Steelbook edition), Blu-Ray, or DVD? That’s coming soon, so pre-order now. Also, if you’re a physical media collector and don’t own signed copies of the book series… why not?

Yes, the time has come. Director Eli Craig’s adaptation of my book, Clown in a Cornfield, arrives in theaters this week! Please check you local listings here. Hope you can make it out to a showing.

It’s been a wild few weeks. Starting with SXSW in Austin, I’ve been in New York, New Orleans, back to NY, Chicago, a Las Vegas drive-in, and tomorrow night (May 6th) the movie has its Philly premiere (open to the public, with me Q&A-ing after, tix here). I’ll be ending this whirlwind tour spending opening weekend in Knoxville, TN as a guest at FrankenCon. If you’re in the Knoxville area there’s a special Q&A screening on Saturday May 10th (tix here).

Thank you to everyone who’s reached out and offered congrats and enthusiasm about the film. I really appreciate it. But now’s the time we need you most. The movie’s got some incredible early reviews (it’s sitting at 94% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, as I write this), but a movie like this: word of mouth is king. And to hold our own against the bigger movies in theaters, we need people to *actually* come out. So grab your friends, and some popcorn, and please support a bloody teen slasher film, in theaters, on opening weekend.

And if you wanted to look stylish while doing it: Fright Rags has officially licensed Clown in a Cornfield designs available to order now. I’ve been a fan of this company for ~20 years, and am so honored to have Frendo merch through them.

And of course, if you don’t have the book, or its sequel, or wanted to support a local indie while buying my books signed and personalized, you can always do that here on the Children’s Book World website.

Thanks so much.

Adam

Clown in a Cornfield: in Theaters this Week!

Yes, the time has come. Director Eli Craig’s adaptation of my book, Clown in a Cornfield, arrives in theaters this week! Please check you local listings here. Hope you can make it out to a showing.

It’s been a wild few weeks. Starting with SXSW in Austin, I’ve been in New York, New Orleans, back to NY, Chicago, a Las Vegas drive-in, and tomorrow night (May 6th) the movie has its Philly premiere (open to the public, with me Q&A-ing after, tix here). I’ll be ending this whirlwind tour spending opening weekend in Knoxville, TN as a guest at FrankenCon. If you’re in the Knoxville area there’s a special Q&A screening on Saturday May 10th (tix here).

Thank you to everyone who’s reached out and offered congrats and enthusiasm about the film. I really appreciate it. But now’s the time we need you most. The movie’s got some incredible early reviews (it’s sitting at 94% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, as I write this), but a movie like this: word of mouth is king. And to hold our own against the bigger movies in theaters, we need people to *actually* come out. So grab your friends, and some popcorn, and please support a bloody teen slasher film, in theaters, on opening weekend.

And if you wanted to look stylish while doing it: Fright Rags has officially licensed Clown in a Cornfield designs available to order now. I’ve been a fan of this company for ~20 years, and am so honored to have Frendo merch through them.

And of course, if you don’t have the book, or its sequel, or wanted to support a local indie while buying my books signed and personalized, you can always do that here on the Children’s Book World website.

Thanks so much.

Adam

INFLUENCER in Paperback!

It’s here! The vicious psychothriller that started life as an all-star Audible Original has finally hit paperback (and ebook) in a longer, unabridged “director’s cut” version.

If you’re in the US the book’s published by Union Square & Co. and is available here on amazon, at basically every B&N location in the country (where it’s shelved in the YA section), or here from my local bookstore, signed and personalized.

That beautiful cover is by Tomasz Majewski and here’s a better look:

If you’re in the UK we didn’t forget about you, the book’s available over there through Hachette.

Influencer is the story of a sociopathic instagram poet who thinks he’s the next coming of Charles Manson… and the one girl at school who’s trying to stop him.

I’m so incredibly proud of the book and want to extol its many virtues, but maybe I should just let the reviews speak for me.

We’ve gotten a starred review in Kirkus who called the book “A killer read” that “Horror fans will have a tough time putting this down once they start reading.”

A second starred review in School Library Journal who said “Rarely does a book build suspense as perfectly as this one.”

And then for blurbs we’ve got some absolute bangers:

“What’s so scary about Influencer is how possible it is—how likely it feels, and just how convincingly real these characters are. I read a lot of scary stuff, but this is the only book for years to worm its way into my dreams and make me finish the book faster, just so I can maybe sleep again.”
—Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians

“Sizzling writing and a skin-crawling story make Influencer one of the most addictive horror novels I’ve read. It’s deeply uncomfortable, deeply perceptive, and deliciously fun.”
—Darcy Coates, USA Today bestselling author of The Whispering Dead

“Influencer is a real nail-biter of a thriller! Relatable characters, devious plot twists, and a breakneck pace. Highly recommended!”
—Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Rot & Ruin and Long Past Midnight

The Church of Frendo Book Tour!!!!

To celebrate the release for Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo I will be traveling the country, doing a number of reading and signing events at some of the world’s most beloved indie bookstores.

And I want to meet you, so please come out!

Here are the dates and locations:

Chicago Tuesday 8/20, 5pm: The Horror House (this event is a co-production with Bucket O’ Blood Books, but will be taking place down the block at The Horror House. Don’t show up to the wrong store!)

Houston Wednesday 8/21, 6:30pm: Murder By The Book

Boston Thursday 8/22 7pm: Brookline Booksmith (in-conversation with Paul Tremblay. Registration’s not open at time of posting, but I will update this post with a link when reg does open: Booksmith’s events can sell out, so register if you plan on attending)

Doylestown, PA Saturday 8/24 12:00 pm: Doylestown Bookshop (with Lauren A. Forry)

Check out the event poster for the Chicago stop:

In addition to these launch week events, in September I’ll be vending alongside Headless author Scott Cole at the Market of the Macabre Saturday September 14th in Philadelphia’s Laurel Hill Cemetery, and I’ll be a guest at the Fright Reads Book Festival September 28-29th in Millersville MD. October’s going to be jam packed too, to celebrate the paperback release of Influencer, but I don’t have anything confirmed to share about that.

For these September dates: please don’t “hold off” on ordering a copy of Clown in a Cornfield 3 to pick it up from me in September. You may not get one, I have no idea how many copies I’ll have on hand by September (I don’t keep a large stock of my books for events, preferring to partner with bookstores) and it does me a lot more good to sell copies during (or before) launch week. Also, related (and because I get asked a lot): yes, at these expo events I’m happy to sign any and all books you bring from home.

If you’re in driving distance of any of these , most of stores will sell you a singed copy and hold it for pick up, so please contact them to inquire about that. Most of these stores also ship through the mail, if you want to pre-order the book and help support an indie.

You can also always order signed, personalized copies of Clown in a Cornfield 3 (and the other CiaC books, and Dead Mall, and the upcoming paperback of Influencer) from Children’s Book World in Haverford, PA. I stop in there about once a week to sign books through the mail, they’re a great store and offer flawless remote customer service to their website customers (even if it feels weird for me, a guy who loves gore and black t-shirts to be headquartered out of a children’s bookstore).

I’ll see you on the road!

Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo

Coming August 20th, 2024!

Preorder Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo in hardcover, audiobook, or ebook here on amazon.

Or here to order a signed and personalized copy through indie the bookstore Childrens Book World in Haverford, PA. As these orders need to be signed and personalized in-person, please be patient and allow extra time for shipping *after* the book’s August 2024 release date. US only, the store cannot ship to international customers: sorry!

If you haven’t read the first two, including the Bram Stoker Award Winning original, you can check them out here, and here for the sequel, in paperback, and all other formats. Or you can order them signed through my partnership with CBW here.

Note: these are Young Adult slasher novels. Young Adult does not equate to PG-13. Each would carry the equivalent to an R-rating. Readers proceed with caution.

Some more praise and blurbs for the series:

“A pulse-pounding thrill ride for retro-horror fans who are not faint of heart (or stomach).” —  Kirkus Reviews “There’s a lot to love about Adam Cesare’s new novel, Clown in a Cornfield. First, the title. Holy crap. Then the front cover. Double holy crap. Also consider it’s already received blurbs from people like Clive Barker, Stephen Graham Jones, and Paul Tremblay? Triple holy crap. People are going to be talking about this novel all year. Get ready for it.” — Lit Reactor“Cinematic and blood soaked.” —  Booklist “This party starts early, and it does not stop until all the bodies have hit the floor.”  — Stephen Graham Jones, author of  Mongrels  and  The Only Good Indians “Adam Cesare’s CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD starts as a fun and scary retro-slasher but then cleverly twists and bloodies its way into being a very new kind of beast. Rejoice horror fans new and old, and be terrified of Adam’s everyday clowns.” — Paul Tremblay, author of  A Head Full of Ghosts  and  The Cabin at the End of the World “Tense, modern and gory, Cesare’s Clown in a Cornfield is simultaneously classic and fresh. This is thrilling, old school horror for a new generation.” — Madeleine Roux, author of the Asylum seriesThis debut horror novel has all the trappings of a good, popcorn-scented slasher flick. Reluctant readers will find this a quick and fun read. They will definitely appreciate the stress-relieving escapism. Suggest it to readers looking for Stephen King read-alikes and fans of the Friday the 13th franchise. — YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Nominee“This book is a violent and timely tale with thinly veiled yet compelling subtext that should resonate. It’s a breakneck slasher sequel that doesn’t waste any time getting to the action and suspense.” — Bloody DisgustingClown in a Cornfield is a true-to-form classic horror story, complete with blood and gore, chainsaws and crossbows, and abundant deaths. This is a truly fun piece of escapism for teens who are okay with slasher-flick violence.   — YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Nominee“Clown in a Cornfield delivers everything the title promises–and more. More carnage, more mayhem and a sly social commentary that cuts to the bone. A must-read for horror fans.” — Riley Sager,  New York Times  bestselling author of  Final Girls “Cesare’s cinematic eye means the set-pieces are loud, brash, and dramatic (it’s no surprise that there’s a film adaptation in the works). Given what we are all experiencing now, there’s something wonderfully pleasing, nostalgic, and even therapeutic spending several hours cheering on Quinn – smart and brave — as she takes on […] killer clowns.”  — Locus Magazine“With this novel, Cesare is going to create a new generation of life-long horror fans.” — Signal Horizon Magazine“This pitch-perfect horror experience can be enjoyed as pure entertainment for its fun retro slasher style, but teen readers will also fully appreciate the sly underlying social commentary.” —  Booklist  (starred review)Also don’t miss… INFLUENCER, a teen psychothriller Audible Original. Coming to paperback, expanded and revised, in October 2024! Pre-order now!

INFLUENCER, an Audible Original, is Here!

Do you know how hard it’s been keeping a whole new novel a secret?!

But I did. Mostly.

Yes Influencer is out right now exclusively on Audible. Click here to listen. You’re either going to need an audible membership, or *I think* you can buy the book ala carte here on Amazon.

As detailed in this announce in Variety, it’s narrated by not one, not two, but three incredible talents: Isabela Merced (the upcoming Fede Alvarez Alien and Superman Legacy),Christopher Briney (The Summer I Turned Pretty), and with a special appearance by audiobook star Brittany Pressley.

But don’t let the multiple, big-name narrators fool you: this isn’t a podcast or an audiodrama or a “sound movie” anything “new media” like that. This is a full-blooded, real-meal, whole-ass novel! It’s got themes and plot and everything! And at nearly 100,000 words It’s actually my longest book?

What’s it about you ask? Well, Audible’s official synopsis gets a little spoilery for my liking so let me just say that it’s about a sociopathic Instagram poet, kind of a teenaged American Psycho, who plays a game of cat-and-mouse with the one girl at his school who sees through his act.

I’m so incredibly proud of this audiobook, produced in conjunction with Temple Hill Entertainment (they of the upcoming Clown in a Cornfield movie fame) and hope that you’ll take the time to sit down and listen to these wonderful performers read the most insane, deranged sequences I’ve ever written.

Which brings us to the warning on the product page: It’s serious! Yes, like Clown in a Cornfield this is a Young Adult novel. But this warning is there for good reason. This is a dark book. No worries if you have to sit it out because of the content.

But for those of you who want to go for it: when you finish, please consider leaving a quick rating and review. It only takes a moment, using Audible’s app or desktop interface and it would help me out so much.

Oh. And because I know it’s going to be a question I hear a lot: yes, this is an Audible Original/Audible Exclusive. There is not a physical or ebook edition at this time. But I’m well aware there are people who either don’t do audiobooks or want to double-dip and have a physical paperback on their shelves. I can’t give you a release date or any details beyond: I got you. Believe me. Sorry you have to wait (maybe even as long as a year) but I’ve got you.

Also: did you see this? Yes. Another beautiful Matt Ryan Tobin cover, designed by Jenna Stempel-Lobell. Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo will be out August 20th, 2024. Which is a long time from now but pre-orders help tell the publisher that the saga of Kettle Springs should continue onto book 4 (which I really want to do but don’t have the greenlight for yet)!

Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo Available for Pre-Order Now!

Yes! It’s true! That is the cover (Matt Ryan Tobin’s art and Jenna Stempel-Lobell’s design) for Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo. If you’d like to hear more about the book and a few exclusive tidbits, head over to Bloody Disgusting

It’s out August 20th, 2024. Which sounds like a long ways away, and it kinda is, but pre-orders help communicate to HarperTeen that they should let me write more books, so I very much appreciate anyone who picks up the book early.

You can grab it from amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever else you get books.

And if you’re not caught up on the series remember that Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives recently reached paperback. Which you can buy from amazon or signed and personalized from our friends at Children’s Book World.

DEAD MALL Trade Paperback! CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD 3! CLOWN Movie Announced!

Your eyes are not deceiving you, that’s art by Siren Head creator Trevor Henderson! Recently revealed over at Dread Central, the trade paperback edition of Dead Mall (the comic written by me, with art by David Stoll and letters by Justin Birch) hits comic and bookstore shelves in June 2023, but is available for pre-order right now! If you want to hear David, Trevor, and I talk about the series (and “mall horror” as a subgenre) with DC editor Mary Beth McAndrews: please click over to Dread.

The team and I couldn’t be prouder of this book, I couldn’t be happier with the support we’ve received from Dark Horse (both on an editorial and a promotional level), and we’re so excited to bring you the whole bloody story collected as a graphic novel (which, don’t worry, the trade is going to include some special goodies for everyone who’s already read the miniseries as single issues).

I’ve talked ad nauseam about how important pre-orders are for prose books, and the same goes (maybe even moreso) for comics. So I won’t bore you with why, but please pre-order (amazon, B&N, or through your local comic shop).

Also, unrelated, but big news I’d forgotten to post until right now:

Yes, the deal’s been in place for a while, but a few months ago Deadline officially announced the Clown in a Cornfield movie. Eli Craig (Tucker & Dale vs Evil) is attached to direct from a script by Carter Blanchard. I’m overjoyed, to say the least, and so happy to be working with Temple Hill to be bringing this dream to reality.

But that’s not all that was announced in that article. If you read carefully they spill that… yes, I’m writing Clown in a Cornfield 3. The subtitle and synopsis to that one’s still under-wraps (believe me: it’s good), but it’s a great time to make sure you have the first two books and are caught up on the series:

DEAD MALL out soon from Dark Horse Comics!

Behold! That’s the first issue of Dead Mall, a cosmic horror monster comic that hits comic book shops October 26th. The book has covers and interior art by David Stoll, letters by Justin Birch, and is being published by one of the best pubs out there: Dark Horse Comics.

Dead Mall is a 4 issue mini-series about a group of teens who become trapped in an abandoned mall… a mall that wants to eat them. To say any more would spoil the surprise of these 4 issues, but I’ll just say: I’m very very proud of what we’re making here, a book pitched as “Chopping Mall meets The Ruins meets Nightbreed“. If you’re a fan of my work in prose, especially the Clown in a Cornfield books, you will enjoy this comic!

And don’t take my word for it, you can read the first six pages of issue one over at Bloody Disgusting.

Great, right? Single issue sales help comics a lot. So, please, consider driving out to your local comic shop on Wednesday October 26th and picking up the print edition. And while you’re there, please pre-order issues #2-4 or have them added to your “pull list” with the shop. If you don’t *have* a local comic shop, print copies can be ordered through Things From Another World right here.

And, since I know I’m going to get this question: yes, there will be a collected trade paperback edition (in fact, you can already pre-order it on amazon here), but pretty please grab the single issues as they’re released!

I’ve written a few comics (most notably this arc on Dark Crystal), and love the medium. But this is my first creator-owned book, so any and all support in spreading the word is appreciated. Thanks!