Things Happening Now: Shoot the WISB and Man of Steel

After a brief Twitter discussion with Paul Weimer, I've decided to move the Shoot the WISB segments over to The Skiffy and Fanty Show.  There are a few reasons for this, but the fact that this blog is, well, a blog is the most obvious of those reasons.

In any case, if you want to hear the latest episode, you can do so here.  Paul and I are joined by David Annandale and Michael Underwood to discuss Man of Steel!

Thanks for listening!

Poll: Would you watch or tune in to a live-writing event?

One of the interesting things I did with my friend Adam last year was a collaboration in which we more or less wrote a story live. While that story didn't pan out (still have it and think it's a wicked piece of work that we should one day finish -- Andy Remic would love it), it made me think about how I might use Google Docs to let people sneak a peak at my writing process. Google lets you share a document with anyone, and it shows updates more or less as they are happening.

Since I'm working on WISB-related stuff, I thought some of you might like to see me at work (and to see the rough drafts as they come into being).  I could select a time (maybe a daily time or something) and give the link out on my blog.  Even if you couldn't make it to the live event, you could still check in on the progress.

Would any of you be interested in this?  Let me know by clicking on the little poll.

Coming Soon: "Lendergross and Eaves"

Collecting all the votes I received on my blog and on Young Writers Online, it seems folks want to see "Lendergross and Eaves" first (following closely by "Suckled at the Edge of Flesh").  Cool beans.  That gives me some direction and focus.

And so, for your gentle reminder, here's the description (once more) of the upcoming WISB Short Story, "Lendergross and Eaves":

Set in the same city as the previous story, and in roughly the same era. 

The Anurians of Bifur live out their toad-like lives in the slums, eking out an existence while the city finds new ways to exploit them. Except for Terk. He's cornered the Eaves market, pushing illicit drugs as high as the elite circles. That is until someone important is murdered with Terk's calling card all over him. Except Terk doesn't kill people. Maims? Sure. But never kills. Which means someone is trying to set him up to ruin him. Unless he can figure out who's behind it all and clear his name. Well, mostly clear his name, that is...

I shall finish it soon!

WISB Shorts: Which do you want first?

I'm starting up the WISB Project again.  This year, I am going to finish it.  Through and through.  That means four new short stories set in Traea, and a full novel podcast, with an ebook release.  And to make up for life's complexities, I will give anyone who donated $5 or more a copy of the ebook for The World in the Satin Bag (and the deal applies to anyone else who decides to donate in the future).  I won't be pushing for donations this time, around, though.  Donate if you want.  All I really want is to hear from people.  If you like a story, or a chapter, leave a comment.

But for now, I need some direction.  I have four short stories in the works for the project, ranging from pre-WISB eras to distant futures (though still very much in the realm of fantasy).  Based on the following descriptions, which would you want to read first?  You can leave extended answers in the comments, if you are so inclined.

Here goes:

The Video You've All Been (Not) Waiting For (a.k.a. That WISB Thing)

You all remember how I promised to make a video of me doing embarrassing crap?  No?  Oh.  That's depressing.

Wait, you were just messing with me?  That's nice of you...

In any case, that video is now made, with a lot of additional nonsense.  Why?  Because I was later than late on making it, and then a series of technological problems prevented me from doing it.  But a promise is a promise, and now it's here for your amusement.

For the record, you will find the following in the video:

• The Electric Slide (performed poorly, of course)
• Peanut Butter Jelly Time (somewhat quietly displayed due to me being a nice person)
• The Truffle Shuffle (performed a little too well for my comfort...)

You will also find me doing silly crap and one particularly amusing geek reference.  If you know the reference, leave a comment!

So here you go:

Feel free to share it.  You know you want to!

Update:  Some folks have said they are having issues using the above video.  Below you should find a YouTube version for your amusement.  Thanks!

No YouTube version after all.  The copyright bastards swarmed in and deleted all the audio simply because I used part of a song, despite giving it proper attribution.  So...I deleted the video and will never upload anything there again.  To those that had issues using the Blogger video above:  sorry.  I tried to provide an alternative, but the pricks at the music companies have apparently neutered YouTube.  Post a song with music in it and they'll cut the audio out.  Meh.  It's crap like this that contributes to piracy.

WISB Podcast: Triple My Embarrassment By Picking a Third Dance

I've already apologized for putting off a lot of things I promised.  One of those things was the dance(s) I said I'd do if I reached my funding goal (over a month ago).  Since I met that goal, I'm required to provide a video of me performing Peanut Butter Jelly Time and the Truffle Shuffle.  But then my laptop died, taking with it my webcam and my only method for making those videos...

That barrier has now been solved.  I went ahead and bought one from the store.  It's a pretty good one, too (for the money).  Which leads me to the point of this post:

In order to "pay you all back" for making you wait so extraordinarily long for an embarrassing video, I've decided to let you all select a third dance for me to do on camera.  It can be anything, so long as I can reasonably do it (or look funny trying) and it's not vulgar (sorry, I'm not taking my pants off or anything like that).

What would you have me do?

A Short Story Wants to Get Away From Me

Earlier this week, I started writing a short story entitled "The Girl Who Flew on a Whale" as part of my WISB Podcast project.  The story, as my friend Adam Callaway remarked, is a whimsical fantasy for young readers (chapbook level).  I've always wanted to write a story like this.  They're fun to read and the current venture has been fun to write.  But one of the issues I've had is the tug in my mind to turn this short story into a much larger project.

"The Girl Who Flew on a Whale" is about a young girl who lives in a semi-Victorian-era town on the continent of Traea (many centuries after the events of The World in the Satin Bag).  Her mother wants to prune her for the aristocracy, while the little girl, affectionately called the Dreamer, wants nothing to do with that world -- rather, as her name implies, she dreams of the legends and myths of her world, wondering and wishing some of them are true.  The conflict is one that I'm sure has been seen many times before, but it is also a conflict that is close to my heart.  I don't have children, but know that when I have them, I'll do everything I can to foster their creativity.

WISB Podcast: Chapter Fifteen (The Golden Path and Silhouettes)

The next chapter is finally up.  "The Golden Path and Silhouettes" continues James' journey to Arnur as he and his companions attempt to escape Luthien's forces and survive the unexpected terrors of a world gone mad.  Now they have to find the Golden Path, which will lead them safely to Arnur.  Some things, however, aren't easily found...

Chapter Fourteen -- Download (MP3)

Thanks for listening.  Please give WISB a review on iTunes!

There's an extended apology at the end of the episode (in case you're wondering why it is so late).  The short of it is:  school (as expected), more surgery (unexpected), and...yeah.

(Don't forget to check out what I've done to sweeten the pot for anyone who donates to the project.  Plenty of free things are available, from ebooks, paperbacks, random letters from me, and even a character written about you into the world of WISB. Please consider donating!)

(All podcast chapters will be listed on the Podcast page.)

The Status -- A Very Long Summer and the WISB Funding Update

Two things:

1.  The Lizards and Financial Mumbo Jumbo
The last couple weeks have contributed tremendously to my long history of garbage-ness.  I had to have one of my lizards (Taj) put down, today marks the day when my other lizard is expected to go into surgery (Noodles), and so on.  Emotionally, I'm in one of those "well, life kinda sucks, but at least I woke up today" moods.  Such events also have other ramifications -- namely, financial ones (my vet has been very kind to me and allowed me to defer payments on some things; they've also reduced the cost of some of the bills when they didn't have to -- but cremation services and the like have still put a strain on my financials).  I've got about $5 until next Friday, which I hope will

WISB Podcast: Chapter Fourteen (The End of the Beginning)

The chapter is late and I'm feeling like crap about it.  Life is not being kind to me as of late, what with having to put one of my leopard geckos down, starting up school and teaching, and other similar issues.  But it's here and I'm going to get my crap together and put myself on a regular schedule.

The fourteenth chapter finds James and his companions (Pea and Darl) at the far edges of Arlin City, inches from escaping.  But escaping weights heavily upon James...and I'll leave it at that so you'll have something to look forward to!

Chapter Fourteen -- Download (MP3)

Thanks for listening.  Please give WISB a review on iTunes!

(Don't forget to check out what I've done to sweeten the pot for anyone who donates to the project.  Plenty of free things are available, from ebooks, paperbacks, random letters from me, and even a character written about you into the world of WISB. Please consider donating!)

(All podcast chapters will be listed on the Podcast page.)

The New Writing/Editing/Podcasting/Reviewing Agenda/Plan/Thing (Yeah)

The last few weeks have been nothing short of crazy.  My sister spent two weeks (ish) in town, which was great because I've only seen her all of four hours in the last two years.  Likewise, the school season started up again, putting me head first into a poetry/film course that (let's face it) is way outside of my area of expertise (though I've been inspired to write some pretty nutty poetry as of late, which Adam Callaway has read and subsequently went nutty over -- you can read more about that on my Google+ page).  I'm also teaching a Survey in American Literature course, which is an amazing experience, but also a good deal of work.

The result of all these events has been a pitiful output of writing-ness, which includes, in partial-list form, the following:

WISB Podcast: Chapter Thirteen (Of the World Below)

After a short delay, the new episode is here. James and his companions are stuck in the dark world below the earth while Arlin City fights of Luthien's forces. But the world below is not what it seems. Listen to find out more:

Chapter Thirteen -- Download (mp3)

Thanks for listening.  Please give WISB a review on iTunes!

(Don't forget to check out what I've done to sweeten the pot for anyone who donates to the project.  So far, six people have donated. Plenty of free things are available, from ebooks, paperbacks, random letters from me, and even a character written about you into the world of WISB. Please consider donating!)

(All podcast chapters will be listed on the Podcast page.)

P.S.: In case you missed it, I've agreed to do two very embarrassing things on camera if I meet my funding goal. Find out what they are here and support this podcast!

WISB Podcast: The Final Push -- Last Day!

Well, today is the last day of the funding drive for The World in the Satin Bag.  As of this moment, I am $135.44 short of my goal, which means I don't have to do the Truffle Shuffle or Peanut Butter Jelly Time this time tomorrow if that number doesn't change.  That's up to all of you, though.

But if watching me embarrass myself doesn't do it for you, remember that there's lots of free stuffs to be had once the project is finished.  But only for folks who donate!  I need roughly 14 people to donate $10 each and I'm over the hump.  Could you be one of those 14?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

It's hard to complain, though.  Reaching $860ish in a month is not bad at all.

Anywho!  Thanks to everyone who has supported the project thus far.  You rock!  I will have the next chapter up this weekend, which will keep you all entertain, I'm sure.

WISB Podcast: My Grandma Will Be a Frog

One of the amusing things about my family is that it explains why I am so strange.  I seem to contain much of my strangeness on this blog, but every once in a while, it gets out...

For example, I recently wrote the following to my Grandma in response to a misunderstanding she had about the WISB podcast project (i.e., the donation tier):

I'll write a character *based* on you, which means you'll likely be a talking frog named Bethel from Ferngarden-upon-Erethen. But that will be up to you. How interested are you in being a giant talking frog?

To which she said this:

Me a FROG what a novel idea. I know so little about them
I know that they are toadly great
Are hoppy most of the time
Jump willing into new and different situations
They love their pad
They slurp their food
Eat most of the meals on the fly ... or is that the fly
Go to great lengths ...orally ... for most of their meals ... sometime without moving
Can be environmentally friendly ..... they are green for the most part and are a super insect abaters.
I will concider being a frog BUT only if I don't turn into something fluffy and cute if a tall dark and handsome stranger kisses me
Can you change the name to Bethellda it sound a little classier and you know me I'm all about couth and culture.

Do you see now why I have become a very strange 27-year-old man?

(Chapter Thirteen is on its way.  My sister is currently staying here as part of her "get to know my brother so I can annoy him better" vacations.  But the chapter is coming!)

WISB Podcast: Chapter Twelve (Of Tunnels and Pitch)

The new episode is here. My apologies for the delay. I explain why I waited so long to put up the 12th chapter at the end of the podcast.

In any case, now that things have gone terribly wrong in Traea, James and his companions (Darl and Pea) make their escape. But the tunnels under the earth are not what they seem...

I hope you enjoy the episode:

Chapter Twelve -- Download (mp3)

Thanks for listening.  Please give WISB a review on iTunes!

(Don't forget to check out what I've done to sweeten the pot for anyone who donates to the project.  So far, six people have donated. Plenty of free things are available, from ebooks, paperbacks, random letters from me, and even a character written about you into the world of WISB. Please consider donating!)

(All podcast chapters will be listed on the Podcast page.)

P.S.: In case you missed it, I've agreed to do two very embarrassing things on camera if I meet my funding goal. Find out what they are here and support this podcast!

The Halfway-Point Donation Push: I Will Embarrass Myself For You (Ha!)

If you haven't heard, I am selling my body to readers of this blog and my Twitter followers.  Let me explain:

When I began podcasting The World in the Satin Bag, I set up a donation tier, which offered those of you willing to donate $1 or $10 or whatever some perks and personal bits to keep you happy.  Those perks include copies of the ebook, paperbacks, silly handwritten letters from me, and other goodies that you should check out.

But I also offered to do something embarrassing and altogether unbecoming of my nature (at least to those that don't know me personally).  I said that if I met my funding goal for the month ($1,000 by July 1st; you can see the progress on my sidebar), I would do something on camera for everyone to watch...and you'd decide what I would do.  Thanks to some friends and acquaintances on Twitter, I have agreed to do these silly things:

The Truffle Shuffle (from The Goonies)

AND

Peanut Butter Jelly Time

I'm perfectly open to more suggestions, and will add them to the list as they are made aware to me.  But these are conditional.  I have to reach that goal, and I'm not there yet.

So, if you want to see me embarrass myself by doing two dances which will likely outlive my reputation as a science fiction and fantasy writer, you should do the following:

1. Donate anything you can.  Look at the donation tier if you want even more perks beyond the privilege of laughing at me.
2. Tell all your friends and get them to donate too.
3. Share this on your blog, your Twitter, Facebook, or wherever.
4. Check out the novel podcast.  It's on iTunes and on this blog (either in the Podcast section or under the WISB Podcast tag).

There are less than two weeks left to reach the goal.  I need about 68 people to donate $10 each to reach it (as of 6/16/2011), which doesn't sound like a whole lot, but is actually a lot more than you might think for a fairly small fellow like me.

And that's all I'll say on that.  Spread the word!

WISB Podcast: Chapter Eleven (Turned Black the Old Oak and Farewells)

I took a little extra time on this chapter to get the description right.  What happens in Arlin City is really important to the story; weak description was pulling the power of the scene into the dumps.

But the episode is now here and ready for your listening pleasure!  Here you go:

Chapter Eleven -- Download (mp3)

Thanks for listening.  Please give WISB a review on iTunes!

(Don't forget to check out what I've done to sweeten the pot for anyone who donates to the project.  So far, six people have donated. Plenty of free things are available, from ebooks, paperbacks, random letters from me, and even a character written about you into the world of WISB. Please consider donating!)

(All podcast chapters will be listed on the Podcast page.)

WISB Podcast: Now on iTunes! Reviews Appreciated

I may have mentioned this on my Twitter account and certainly on the latest episodes of the podcast version of The World in the Satin Bag (and, of course, in the episode posts themselves).  But it seems to me that I should make a more official announcement about it on my blog.

As of this moment, The World in the Satin Bag Podcast is available on iTunes.  You can click that link or search for the podcast on iTunes (which is simple enough, I'm sure, since there can't be more than one podcast by the same name).  If you have enjoyed the novel thus far, please consider writing a review on my iTunes page.  The more happy for the show, the more exposure it might get, which is good, considering I'm trying to make sure I can pay rent next month!

And, as always, if you feel like letting me know you like the show, you can donate using the chip-in widget on my sidebar (which uses Paypal).  Check out the donation tier to see what you can get at various donation levels. The higher the donation, the more nifty stuff I'll give you, including really personal things, like bad drawings, amusing updates, and, if you're so inclined, a character based on you!

WISB Podcast: Chapter Ten (On the Brink)

It's here. James has survived an attack by one of Luthien's beasts, but there is something mysterious about that creature. Something sinister. The continent of Traea is a strange place, with magic and monsters of all shapes and sizes. James is only beginning to understand this.

Here's the episode:

Chapter Ten -- Download (mp3)

Thanks for listening.  Please give WISB a review on iTunes!

(Don't forget to check out what I've done to sweeten the pot for anyone who donates to the project.  So far, four people have donated, bringing me over the first milestone.  New story coming to you soon!  Thanks to everyone who is supporting this project!)

(All podcast chapters will be listed on the Podcast page.)

WISB Podcast: Another Late Episode (I Have Jackasses For Neighbors)

I had hoped to have the episode up by now, but my upstairs neighbors have made editing and recording essentially impossible for the last four hours or so. I'm the kind of person who edits and writes when there is either complete silence, music, or so much noise that the sounds blend together (such as in a cafeteria). Sadly, my upstairs neighbors think it's amusing to stomp up and down and let their dog bark whenever it damn well pleases. I've been recording little bits between their noise, which, sadly, has been creeping into the recording. I gave up when it took me almost an hour to record three pages worth of material (that amounts to about eight minutes of audio). Even with my talent for screwing up simple words when speaking them out loud, this is a ridiculous amount of time to devote to recording something. As such, I gave up and will release the episode tomorrow afternoon.

What does this mean for WISB? I'm going to start recording episodes in the morning when my neighbors are supposed to be at work. I will also start leaving little presents on their door mat as a thank you for their wonderful asshole-ish behavior. Apparently having the cops enforce the city's noise ordinance once for a party that ran for five hours (until almost two in the morning) was not enough. I will get my revenge!

In any case, I apologize for the delay. I suspect a lot of you are behind on listening anyway, since I've been releasing the episodes every day since the 1st of June. This will give you a chance to play catchup (and donate $10).

Thanks for your patience and support.