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trouble is brewing on 08.08.08…
Double Trouble on Amazon.com!!!

it’s been a while, so I’m making up for the absence with a hearty Reboot Camp, giving a few tidbits on what is coming for The Sarge and Captain Kiwi this summer. Then we jump into the fourth episode of The Survival Guide, a show that laid the groundwork for the recent “Tough Love” episode.

You have released your book into the wild. Well done. Now comes the hard part: getting reviews. You might think this is a walk in the park, but it’s not. While publishers complain that people are reading less and less, book reviewers are finding it difficult to keep up with the amount of titles out there. So how do you get your book reviewed, how do you review a book, and how do you deal with the thoughts and opinions of others?

Along with this Reboot Camp, we pay respects to actor Don S. Davis, hear hints of the Uber-Nemesis in this playful Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and wondering with the outside voice if Kiki Opdenberg will ever fire up the mic again.

And did you hear the promo at the end of this Reboot Camp? Yep, The Sarge and Captain Kiwi are up to no good…

• 08.08.08 — Double Trouble on Amazon.com
• 08.20.08, starting at 7:00 pm — Barnes & Noble of Camp Hill, PA
• 08.22.08, starting at 6:00 pm — Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem, PA

Yes, May and June might have kept me busy, but the Summer pace is just picking up so it’s time to mobilize the troops and hit the beaches. Don’t forget your sunscreen and ammo!

That is all.

Related Links

• I Should be Writing
• Con Schedules from Locus Online
• The Writing Show with Paula B
• Jana Oliver’s Time Rovers Series

Why, you may ask? Take a listen to this interview with Tech for Writers, a podcast that focuses on the different gadgets out there specifically designed for writers. Along with the background on “Double Trouble” expect to hear banter between the New Zealand Kiwi and Virginia Ham, tech tips for podcasting a novel, and some good old fashioned geeking out.

And yes, this is the first Double Trouble interview. Expect more as we close in on 08.08.08, Amazon’s day of Double Trouble! Also keep an ear on this feed for more Reboot Camps and new Survival Guides!

That is all.

Well, now I’m throwing it out there for everyone to see…

Okay…I’m not throwing it out there, but author J.C. Hutchins is.

The long-awaited, highly-anticipated, and seriously-hyped 7th Son: Obsidian is now officially live. These are short stories set in the 7th Son universe around the time of the nationwide blackout. Along with my own short story, other authors appearing in this collection of original fiction will include:

• Michael A. Stackpole
• Scott Sigler
• Mur Lafferty
• Matt Wallace
• Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff
• Christiana Ellis

The Obsidian Experience will also feature original contributions from these podcast personalities:

• Evo Terra
• Dan Klass
• Wichita Rutherford
• TD-0013
• George Hrab
• Soccergirl
• The cast of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd

Also featured in this feed will be listener contributions of first person accounts from those trapped in the grips of panic, darkness, and survival…and J.C. Hutchins is kicking off Obsidian with my short story, “Miles To Go Before I Sleep”. Thank you, Hutch, for this opportunity.

So now, for anyone out there who wonders if The Sarge practices what he preaches, have a listen, and then subscribe to 7th Son: Obsidian.

“When the power fails, chaos reigns.”

So what is in store for you in this episode?

00:00 — Introduction

• A very special introduction from The Sarge
• A very silly introduction from Intrepid Geekologist, Indiana Jim
• Someone take the cart machine away from Tee…
• What is The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy?
• Making time for yourself: An Evening with The Lord of the Rings
• Recording live at Balticon! (DING!)

09:02 — TOPIC: Writing Outside the Comfort Zone

• The disadvantages of writing something other than what you’re known for.
• The reasons you should stretch the creative muscles.

27:34 — DRILL CALL: Q & A with The Sarge

• Where do you draw the boundaries when writing fiction & non-fiction?
• When do you write what you know, and when do you write for the check?
• How do you introduce podcasting to those who don’t know what it is?
• What is the best advice you can give authors about to approach their first panel?
• Responding to the issue of pseudonyms…
• How has your success in podcasting affected you?

46:06 — The Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Moment

• Do you have a nemesis? Apparently, all the cool podcast authors have one.
• Someone suggested to Pip Ballantine that I should be her nemesis. Her reply was inspiring, to say the least…
• The Sarge steps up and goes on the offensive…and yeah, it’s pretty offensive. (Please don’t hurt me, Mur….)

51:26 — Closing

• Wow, Tee is really tired…
• The next Survival Guide? An interview with Mur would be nice…
• Upcoming Appearances
  • New Media Expo
  • Dragon*Con 2008
• And from 7000 miles away, Pip gets in the last word…

Links to Places and Podcasts Mentioned

• Chris Lester
• Nobilis Erotica
• P.G. Holyfield
• J. C. Hutchins’ 7th Son: Obsidian
• Top Ten Do’s and Don’ts in Podcasting
• Scott Sigler
• Wil Wheaton (and thanks for the “Don’t Be a Dick!” sentiment)
• Matt F-ing Wallace
• Scott Sigler
• Give Us a Minute
• Christiana Ellis
• Morevi: Remastered

STAY TUNED, TROOPS!
The video of this episode is on the way!

Craziness in May will not stop The Sarge! Welcome to The Survival Guide’s Reboot Camp where we look back on the early days of the podcast (and see how things have changed).

The book is in print…but is it in the bookstores? Maybe yes, maybe no. It might depend on your publisher; but no matter who you are, the mission to get yourself into a bookstore for a signing or speaking event is yours. It’s a good idea to know how to pitch yourself to a Community Relations Manager or Area Marketing Manager before getting on the phone.

And remember, troops, Balticon 42 is coming up and coming up fast. Hope to see you there!

That is all.

Welcome back for another blast from the past with another Survival Guide Reboot Camp.

So you want to attend a con not as an attendee, but as a guest? How do you get on to the programming? What do I do once I get on a panel?! After taking that first impression, it’s time to work on the follow-up. Fall in, Troops, we’re heading into a con…

Welcome to Reboot Camp!

To answer the demands for archives, I’m dropping into the feed, once a week, the episodes of Season One. I’m keeping it simple: New intro, new ending, and a blast from the past with The Sarge.

If you already have the episode, feel free to delete it but this is the shortest distance between you and the Archives. If you want to smile at the early days of the Survival Guide, have a listen. For old times sake.

In this first episode, the Survival Guide covers the first impression and the premiere Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Moment, awarded to a columnist that tried to fake their way through an article on podcasting.

Click here to jump to the blog entry for show notes…

Troops, for tonight, I surrender command to Survivalists Seth Harwood and J.C.Hutchins.

That is all.

Matt is gearing up for his Spring/Summer release, The Next Fix. Along with the latest development of The Failed Cities Monologues and his first collection, Matt also challenges himself in other ways by taking a seat behind the Editor’s Desk.

00:00 — Introduction

• I love doing The Survival Gui—what do you mean I missed March?
• Who was Joe Murphy and what was with the last show?
• Meet Matt Wallace through J.C. Hutchins’ Ultra-Creatives Podcast…
• …but meet the prolific Matt Wallace here on The Survival Guide.

9:18 — Marketing Your Shorts Off: Challenges in Selling Short Stories

• What are the promotional opportunities out there for short story authors?
• NOBODY EXPECTS DR. TRAN: Balticon Memories…
• The perception of writing short stories
• The Failed Cities Monologues
  • Facing the constant ebb and flow of the industry
  • Promoting a collection of monologues
  • How awards help the authors

25:12 — Promos

• The Adventures of Indiana Jim
• Mur Lafferty’s WASTELAND: Book Four of HEAVEN

28:26 — Marketing Your Shorts Off: Challenges in Selling Short Stories (Part II)

• Remaining on a monthly schedule for MOREVI: Remastered
  
• Billi’s Crazy Eights…more coming soon!
• Showing love at The Parsec Awards
• Returning to Matt Wallace with a talk about meeting his characters in the real world!
• Taking a seat behind the Editor’s Desk
• The challenge of writing columns
• The Next Fix from Apex
  • What you can expect from the darkness of Matt…
  • Opinions between King and Barker
  • TANGENT: Geeking out over film
  • “No World for Warriors” in print
• Matt’s Podcasting Presence
• What’s next for Matt?

50:22 — The Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Moment

J.C. Hutchins is a very naughty man who needs to be spanked.

56:41 — Closing

Infected, the new horror novel by Scott Sigler!

Now, if you’re not familiar with Scott’s work, be warned — Scott’s work is not for the faint at heart. He is about to grab the attention of booksellers and publishers, and we can hope that doors previously closed to podcasting authors like myself, Philippa Ballantine, P.G. Holyfield and Mur Lafferty to name a few (and there are so many talented podcasting authors out there…) will open.

Until that opportunity comes by, enjoy the PDF, and I will be talking to you soon…

That is all.

Now what do you do?

Find out from the guy who is experiencing it first-hand, author J.C. Hutchins. After an incredible ending to his podcast trilogy, 7th Son, Hutch is refusing to slow down and for good reason. Once again, The Sarge has a sit down with friend, fellow podcaster, award-nominated author, and all-around-good-guy, J.C. Hutchins.

00:00 — Introduction

• Welcoming back to Boot Camp for his third visit, author J.C. Hutchins
• Enjoying a nice brew with the best of glassware, a pint glass from Keepsie’s Bar!
• SPOILER ALERT: Revelations on 7th Son throughout this episode. You have been warned…
• A bit of gushing and discussion on the conclusion of a two-year journey

6:30 — Now What Do I Do?

• 2008: The Year of the Upgrade (in preparation for 2009…)
• Establishing an online community
• LOLCats…and 7th Son?
• Hutch’s Inability to sit still and relax…
• Avoiding burnout

22:50 — Promos

• Fear the Froot with Tony Mast
• Chasing the Bard
• Black Shadow

26:38 — Now What Do I Do?! (Part II)

• J.C. Hutchins new podcast offering: The Ultra-Creatives Series
• What would 7th Son: The Movie look like?
• The pressures on Hutch, 7th Son the Print Novel, and other podcasting authors….
• The Power of “SOLIDARITY!”

50:55 — Closing

• The Sarge is slowly getting a handle on things. Stay subscribed. There’s a lot more to come!

Turn your back for only a moment…and THAT’S when those New Zealanders strike…

(SARGE’S NOTE: My own snarky remarks to Pip’s attempt at recording a Survival Guide will be featured in italics.)

00:00 — The Survival Guide… podjacked by Captain Kiwi!

• NOW HEAR THIS: Prepare to drive on the wrong side of the road and spell everything with a “U”…
• Who the hell made HER a captain?! Frak me…
• Who is Philippa Ballantine? (Oh yes, this show is all about Pip…)
• A Brief History between the Sarge and the Kiwi

5:01 — Help, How Do I Beat the Distance?

Pip, while an award-nominated novelist in her own right, is based out of New Zealand. (Any further south and you’re in Antarctica!) So how do you promote your North American-published work when you are in a different hemisphere? Here are a few tips for authors trying to promote either coast-to-coast or continent-to-continent.

6:01 — Promos

• South Coast: A Shaman’s Tale by Nathan Lowell
• Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty

9:00 — Help, How Do I Beat the Distance (Part I)

• Wait a minute…DRILL CALL?! And Pip claims to listen to my show…
• Accept this fact: You will be in charge of your own publicity and marketing.
• The Zen of Being an Extrovert
• Tools available for the International Writer
  • Online Social Networking
  • The Internet Presence

22:22 — Promos

• Thesis: A Fantasy by Indiana Jim
• Morevi: Remastered by Tee Morris

26:25 — Help, How Do I Beat the Distance (Part II)

• Me?! Whine?! Harumph…
• Relishing in Your Own Novelty
• Making the Most of Your Time
  • Online Social Networking
  • Making an Internet Presence
• The Education in Travel

36:08 — The Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Moment (Sort of.)

“Pip’s Picks” of moments far too surreal to believe…

39:25 — Where to Find Pip in 2008

• NZ Guest of Honor at Conspiracy II
• New Media Expo 2008
• Dragon*Con 2008
• Podcasts and Projects in Progress
  • Chasing the Bard: The Podcast
  • Geist, a work-in-progress
  • The Dragon Clan of Morevi, coming soon…
  • …and a collaboration? (Who would be fool enough to do THAT?!)
• Pip’s Online Presence
  • The Pen and The Sword
  • Metamor City, as Eva
  • Morevi: Remastered, as Askana Moldarin
  • Weaver’s Web (Yeah, Pip, remember that — your first ever podcast?!)
  • Whispers at the Edge (Yeah, Pip, remember that — your award-nominated podcast?!)

42:50 — Closing

Related Links

• Kiwi Writers
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Facebook