Fractured Horizon featured on Forgotten Classics

Happy Halloween!

I'll take off my sorceress hat for a minute to share the fun news that Julie of Forgotten Classics spent the first five minutes of her latest podcast Ep 59 (Chapters 10-12 of Secret Adversary) discussing Fractured Horizon. In her own words, it is a podcast . . . "featuring great authors and stories that should be better known. A little about the authors and their writing, with samples." Her comments were insightful and I couldn't be happier!

Bill left me a great comment on Podiobooks. He asked about a particular song in one of the episodes. I want to be sure to give credit to Everyday Jones for the majority of music used in my episodes. I list which songs are used in the episodes in the Credits portion of my web site. The full versions of their music can be downloaded for free at Everyday Jones on Podsafeaudio.

I'm currently considering which Extra to add to the web site. I'm thinking that perhaps I'll add some of the additional information about the rift and Ants. Remember them? Interested? The scenes are set in David and Cabel's future.

Anything else you'd like to know? Questions? Extras you'd like to see? Let me know in the comments or email me directly.

I've completed recording the second section of the book and will continue to post episodes each week. If you're enjoying the story be sure to rate it on iTunes or Podiobooks.com. That's the best way to get others interested and brighten my day.

And most importantly, keep listening! Thanks.

I'm not supposed to be talking to you

I’ve been reading up on blogging. I had assumed that I would use my blog to provide additional insight into my audio novel, Fractured Horizon, as I released the episodes. However, if you are listening to the episodes then I should not be writing to you at all—I already have you.

Instead, I need to focus on finding topics that can be made to obliquely touch on my podcast. There are many excellent articles out there giving these strategies, but at the highest level I have learned that I need a catchy title, need to be timely (such as capitalizing on the election or holiday season), quite possibly uses a large-numbered list, and to bring together lists of resources.

Perhaps I’ll consider it. But for now, for me, this spot is reserved for my novel and the group of people who are realizing that they’d like to hear about it. Of course, I may be acting a little short-sighted. Once the podcast is over, the blog could still go on.

So: Episode 14 is released! Here's the episode blurb:

"In mourning and blaming Kay, Orlando sets in motion a plan that is not his own. He delivers a brutal ultimatum.

Ward learns that he has been serving the Royals. That alone is not enough to make him question his resolve. However, learning that Kay is the only help he can expect from the Adams forces him to reveal how the Royals have given themselves the edge. Will Kay accept Orlando's offer? Or will Kay and Ward unite to fight the Royals undeserved power? And what does the 'undeserved power' think of the whole thing?"

Stay tuned for my next blog: 8 Ways Podcasting Will Improve Your Life and Save Christmas
(You’re intrigued, aren’t you? Darn those experts.)

Should I Be Withholding?

I have a small dilemma.

As an author of a podcast novel, Fractured Horizon, I have a whole new level of complexity beyond what I've written on the page. My narration skills, silences, and music all add to the experience. Even the length of the episode is important, since some people rely on a solid half-hour of company for their jog or commute. I understood that going in.

Now I have to ask a new question: How mean should I be?

Preparing to publish my next episode, I re-listened to it as a final quality assurance pass. All was fine-- until I heard my end music. What? Surely the episode couldn't be over? I was so certain that there was another scene to go that I checked the original files. How could I have decided to hold off on the payoff? There was a revelation coming that I'd hinted at all episode. And I don't say it until the next one?

I started fuming about certain shows (Lost being the first that springs to mind) where answers are held so dear that they are almost meaningless when finally revealed. I certainly didn't want to do that. Moved to be fair to my listeners, who should never be short-changed, I opened the next episode and prepared to move the scene. I'd recorded them both at the same time so the audio should be fine.

Re-listening, though, it became apparent that the scene worked well where it was. Common wisdom among the experienced is to end on a cliff-hanger. If I always give answers at the end of the episode, a listener might forget me entirely. (Is that possible? Surely not!)

You know the feeling that you don't want something to end, the fearful knot in your stomach that makes you check the clock to see if it's REALLY House's final diagnosis or whether your mystery has a nice thick stack of pages between you and the end? I'd like to give that feeling. I'd relish being the one to make you fear the sound of my end music. And don't you like realizing that you're enjoying something so much you don't want it to end? Isn't it fun to have theories to gnaw over at odd moments of the day?

Temptation is a terrible thing. Especially when I can say that it is for your own good.

Cliffhanger? Perhaps I should end on an unsatisfying

Fractured Horizon Topped the Chart for Two Weeks!

A big thank you to everyone who has subscribed to my novel through Podiobooks. Fractured Horizon was on top of the chart for nearly two weeks!

Also, I want to give a shout out to Frank for his kind email. Thanks for letting me know you're enjoying the book.

The book is in full swing now, and I'm feeling great about the progress of our characters. The roller-coaster is at top speed and the adventure, surprise, and emotion come faster now. Episode 13 has a major death, Episode 14 ties together the past and present, confusing enemy and friend, and Episode 15 brings someone into the mix that you never expected. It's huge! I tell you, if this were on television I'd save it for sweeps.

Pardon my enthusiasm. I'm always like this about my writing and it's really nice to have other people to share the experience.

I went to my hometown this weekend. I tried to explain what I'm doing, showed my web site, and played a few minutes of an episode before my extended family's eyes glazed over completely. This is not a model that is easy to understand. I don't sell anything, I don't make any money, I just offer something and ask for people's time in return.

A kind word every now and again is appreciated. Rate it on iTunes or Podiobooks.com if you're enjoying the novel. And keep listening!

The next episode will come out tomorrow. It also marks the return of the Adams. We get to them the way they like to be seen-- going to war.

Heather

Episode 12- Costumed trickery

Episode 12 is now available on my feed and is pending approval on Podiobooks.

The majority of Episode 12 takes place at a lavish costumed ball seen through a new set of eyes. This is one of the longer episodes, about 44 minutes, and by the end of the party longstanding questions will be answered.

Episodes 13 and 14 are complete and queued up, and 15 recorded but needs editing. I will return to releasing episodes once a week now that all feeds are in sync.

I'm impressed and humbled by the number of people who took the time to go back and re-listen to Episode 9 to get the additional 13 minutes. To make this easier, I have included those same minutes as a bonus episode in my RSS feed. If you haven't heard it, please listen to Leslie's battle against Kay. Thank you.

Enjoy it.

Ninjas are coming after me

My novel Fractured Horizon is #1 on the Podiobooks Top Ten, but the Ask a Ninja book is breathing down my neck. I can't hold out very long against a ninja, even over the internet.

I have just released Episode 11 on Podiobooks and expect to release Episode 12 on Podiobooks and my RSS feed later this week. Hallelujah, the two feeds will be in sync. Enjoy the poor struggles of our characters in an episode of partying, costumes, betrayal, and mistaken identities taken to stomach-dropping extreme. Even I, their dauntless narrator, have some sympathy to spare.

Also, make sure that you've seen the final battle between Kay and Leslie. It's now included in Episode 9, but if you missed it I'm going to have it available off my feed for a short time as a bonus episode.

Anything else you'd like to know that I've missed? I'm here to serve your listening enjoyment.

Episodes 9 & 10 on Podiobooks. Question for Fracture Horizon Listeners

Fractured Horizon is doing really well, and has reached number two in the Podiobooks Top Ten.

I've just released Episodes 9 & 10 on Podiobooks and will release Episode 11 shortly. That will bring my RSS feed and Podiobooks feed more in sync and make these blog postings more pertinent for all my listeners.

I have gotten some questions from two listeners. Thank you Jordan and Devlin. I'd love to hear from more of you. I've edited the questions for length and clarity (no spoilers):

Q: I understand that Kay went into hibernation to try and “catch up” in time with David. What I don’t get, is why. Where did this Great Love come from that compelled her to cross time to find him?
A: I've added 12 minutes to Episode 9 that were going to appear in Episode 13 just so that this question gets answered sooner in the book. Our only views of David are from the very un-romantic Devon, and although Kay was raised by a romantic and therefore entirely susceptable to the pangs of her first love, there is more at stake than a young girl's heart.

Q: I’d like to see some of the sorts of behaviors I associate with a warrior society. Swearing. Sex (explicit or implied). Camaraderie. The scene in Episode 9 with Kay was great, I’d like to see more of that. If this story is heading where I think it’s heading, you should do more to establish the Adams' humanity.
A: At the start of the book Kay is an outcast. Rejected and trying to prove herself, she bonds only with outsiders like herself. In Volume III we finally see the inner workings of the Adams and their society, and it’s pretty juicy. Hopefully it will satisfy you, though I don’t think the book is going precisely where you think.

Q: What exactly is a Receiver?
A: In this world there are two types of psychics: Senders and Receivers (and yes, there’s a reason for that). Senders have telekinesis (Persuasion) and are especially able to be sensed by Receivers. Receivers are clairvoyant, can prognosticate future possibilities, and are especially sensitive to Sendings. I’ll add it to the glossary.

I hope that you're enjoying the podcast novel. Send me a message or make a comment to let me know what you think so far. I'm also on Twitter as hroulo, let me know you're out there and I'll mention you in the blog, and bonus points if you can answer this question: Who is Ward and why does he hate Kay?

If you haven't started listening to the book, consider it! It's free. How often do you get something for free? I'm going to be listening to Mark of a Druid this weekend, by Rhonda Carpenter.