I have the great fortune to call C.C. Chapman my friend.

I’ve personally known him since 2006, though I feel like I’ve known him for at least a year longer than that. His Accident Hash show was one of the first podcasts I ever heard, back in those wild Early Adopter days. He regularly appeared on Adam Curry’s influential Daily Source Code, and — in a groundbreaking turn that I believe fundamentally changed (and improved) the way musicians promote their work — helped spearhead the Podsafe Music movement. That alone is huge, but for a cat like C.C., it represented merely the beginning of his career in the social/new media space.

In person, C.C. is a big man with a boisterous, infectious laugh, and a personality that could fill a ballroom. The wit on this dude is katana-sharp; the brain behind those eyes moves a mile a minute. I’ve quietly watched C.C. in public settings, and folks just gravitate to the man. This may sound peculiar, but I say it with absolute respect and awe: C.C. Chapman is the Sanka coffee of social settings.  Shit happens instantly with C.C.  Boom, instant friendships, instant hugs and handshakes — he’s conversation caffeination. Just add water, and you’re off to the races with this guy.

Here’s a guy who, six years ago, was working at a Boston college and — within mere months — became a progressive personality in the podspace, spotted online trends long before others, and helped found Crayon, one of the world’s first social media-friendly marketing companies. He moved on to co-found The Advance Guard, another successful social media-centric marketing company. The Advance Guard was recently acquired by Campfire, a company that has concocted some of the most creative and resonant online campaigns I’ve ever seen. (It’s no wonder: one of Campfire’s founders is Mike Monello, one of the brilliant brains behind the creation and viral promotion of The Blair Witch Project.)

C.C. is future-friendly, baby. Plug and play. While most folks in this space are shilling for Twitter followers, or writing the most un-fucking-helpful Top 10-style blog posts about the social media douchebaggery du jour, C.C. remains ever-able to see things more clearly, spot trends more easily, comment more insightfully, and — most important — cut through the masturbatory fishbowl bullshit better than nearly anyone I know. He leads by example.

The dude probably knows he’s a player, but he always downplays it. That’s cool. I can brag about him all I want.

I can count on one hand the people I’ve met whose optimism burns as brightly as C.C.’s. I read this in his blog posts, I especially hear it in his enthusiastic Managing the Gray podcasts, and have seen it in person. This boundless optimism has personally inspired me throughout the years — I might have unwittingly channeled a sliver of C.C. in my own exuberant Hey, everybody!-powered podcast persona — and I know I’m not the only one.

Funny thing about C.C.: In his posts and tweets (and in emails to me), he’ll often capitalize the word Friend. It took me a few times seeing this to grok that this was not, in fact, a typo. I reckon that for C.C. (whose generosity is legendary, if you know him), the word Friend is indeed a proper noun, a thing that is worthy of capitalization, nigh-sacred. If you’re a Friend, the dude will go to bat for you again and again and again, and will never ask for anything in return. If that doesn’t warrant a respectful capitalized Friend in your book, then I got nothin’ for ya.

I’ll cite a recent example of C.C.’s generosity and Friendship. Within the tiny subculture of podcasting, there’s an even tinier subculture of folks (like me) who create and listen to podcast fiction. One of our own — Tee Morris — recently experienced a death in the family, and was confronted with the terrifying reality of raising his daughter as a single dad. An online auction was created to raise funds for Tee’s daughter.

C.C. was there. He promoted the auction, and participated in it. He purchased at least two items. (I’m humbled that both were items that I either created, or helped create.) Out of respect to C.C., I won’t share how much he contributed to this cause, but will say that it was enough to move me to tears. That is the act of someone who truly values community, and the people within that community.

More significant, it is the act of someone who Gets It. All of these tweets, these blog comments, these one-and-zero-soaked lives so many of us live, they mean nothing if we give nothing. C.C. gives spectacularly.

I dare not deify the man; that’s not my intent. I simply wish to illustrate what kind of impact one person can make through friendliness, intelligence, talent and generosity. I think C.C. loves to love — something he and I have in common. He falls head-over-heels for people and projects and products, and enjoys sharing that passion with others. I admire him for that.

I used to be a newspaper and magazine features reporter. I often view things, and people, in terms of stories. C.C.’s story has been an incredible one so far: the communities he’s help build … the artistic works of others that he’s shared … the creativity he’s helped facilitate in his day gigs and beyond … the endless enthusiasm for this world and the people around him. Big man, big heart.

But the best part about C.C.’s story is that it’s nowhere near over. From the sidelines, I’m watching him grow. C.C.’s still in Act One, in that part of the movie where the hero’s just hitting his stride on that mythologized Call To Adventure.

Peculiarly, I’m reminded of Dr. Seuss right now. Today is the author’s birthday. But I know C.C. well enough to know Seuss’s story Oh, the Places You Will Go! has made a big impact on him. With C.C. still in the early days of his success, it seems fitting to walk off with a snippet of that story:

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Hey. If you know C.C. — or if you don’t — send him an appreciative tweet. Remind him of the positive impact he makes.

Thank you for all you do, C.C.

Your Friend,

–J.C.

And so are Keith and Chemda, in this interview. You’ll learn about their podcast, the book and a little about their own relationship. What Do We Do Now? is a terrific read: It’s an R-rated, utterly honest Q&A book culled from the best and funniest questions posed by Keith and The Girl devotees — perfect for everyone tired of boring and tried-and-not-so-true relationship advice.

• Listen to Keith and the Girl
• Read a chapter for free at KATG’s website
• Buy, buy, buy BUY the frickin’ book, for it is effing awesome

Dig what you hear in this podcast? Tell a friend! Use the “Share This” feature found at the end of this post!

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

I’ve been sitting on this news for a few days, pondering how to best present it to you — you very cool, very gracious people. I realized that my breed of pondering is often an excuse for procrastination, so I’ll get on with it and articulate this as clearly and constructively as I can.

St. Martin’s Griffin, the publisher of 7th Son: Descent, has chosen to not publish the 7th Son sequels. As with every aspect of our relationship, St. Martin’s was kind, clear and up-front with me about this. This honesty has been something I’ve treasured since I signed with the company in 2007. I consider the team with whom I worked at St. Martin’s to be absolute professionals, genuinely interested in my talents, my ideas and my work.

Brass tacks: 7th Son: Descent’s sales performance has not made a compelling business case for its sequels. Given the heroic outreach I and St. Martin’s marketing/publicity teams put forth to effectively promote Descent, and the ultimate sales results of that outreach, the publisher believed releasing a sequel would not make good business sense. Despite my disappointment as 7th Son’s creator, I am able to see the wisdom of St. Martin’s decision.

I will not attempt to find another publisher for 7th Son’s sequels.

I am not angry about these circumstances. Publishing is a business. Authors who earn a place at a publisher’s table must justify the monetary resources required to feed them. St. Martin’s took a chance with 7th Son: Descent, and that risk has not yet paid off. I fully understand this, and so should you. I remain head-over-heels for the folks at St. Martin’s. We’re all still friends. My editor there is very keen to see the next J.C. Hutchins project.

Typically, I’d present a cheerful, rousing plot twist at this point — a cheeky Hey, everybody!-style rallying cry for which I’m so well known. This time, I cannot.

It became very clear to me very quickly that 7th Son: Descent was not performing as expected. I dare not assign responsibility to anyone but myself for this. Examining the lead up to, and release of, the novel, I cannot see how I could have promoted it any better than I did. I literally went broke promoting this book and Personal Effects: Dark Art (another novel that will not have a sequel; it also underperformed). I conceived numerous brand-new online marketing campaigns that dazzled you and others. I asked you to purchase the novel, and many of you did. I asked my professional allies and friends to assist me in spreading the word, and they did. Those fans and conspicuous colleagues who did not lend a hand undoubtedly had their reasons, which I accept.

7th Son: Descent made history in the way it was promoted: It was the first mainstream novel to be simultaneously released in free serialized audiobook, PDF and in text format (at BoingBoing.net). It was the first book to use serialized prequel audio short stories as part of its release promotion. It was the first novel to have an accompanying music album (the Anyman EP) sung by a character from the book, timed to its release. I am very proud of these groundbreaking accomplishments.

I am also very proud of the long hours I spent re-recording the 7th Son: Descent serialized audiobook to celebrate its print release, and the effort producer Shawn Bishop put forth in creating an excellent product. I also stand by the time investment required to participate in nearly 30 guest posts/interviews for blogs willing to promote the book (for which I am extremely grateful), and more than 40 podcast interviews (for which I’m equally grateful). I do not regret spending thousands of dollars to personally finance additional promotion for Personal Effects and 7th Son. When you’re up at bat, you swing for the wall.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to make a living wage telling stories. That day has not yet come, and I fear that it won’t, unless some serious decisions are made. I’ve made these decisions, and I apologize for how this will affect you.

Creating podcast fiction does does not generate direct revenue for me. Based on anecdotal and statistical data, very few people are willing to pay for general podcast content, much less podcast fiction. Since my goal is to make a living wage with my words, the current monetization models — including in-show advertisements — will not deliver this. Dedicating time and effort to my non-fiction podcast projects will deliver equally underwhelming monetary results.

It is also apparent to me that using the Free model to promote a tangible product, such as I did with 7th Son: Descent and Personal Effects: Dark Art, does not deliver sustainable sales results. I have friends — some of whom are my best friends, the most talented people I’ve had the privilege to know and work with –  who have absolute faith in this model. I treasure their trailblazing efforts and enthusiasm. My faith, however, has been fundamentally rattled.

Put simply: The new media model viably supports only the most blessed and talented of authors. The time, effort and money I invest in entertaining you for free pulls my attention and talent away from projects that can generate revenue. While podcasting, podcast fiction, and — most importantly — your support and evangelism has positively impacted my life and career in ways I’ll never be able to fully express, I cannot continue to release free audiofiction if I wish to make a living wage with my words.

My plans to release a serialized audiobook of Personal Effects: Dark Art are now aborted. My plans to release The 33 as free audiofiction are on hold. I’m particularly heartbroken about The 33, as I’m very proud of the world and characters I’ve created so far. Unless I experience a financial windfall, or conceive a monetized podcast approach that provides equitable compensation for the effort I invest in writing, recording and editing those stories, I cannot dedicate the resources to freely release The 33.

While these decisions were not made in haste, you are well within your right to feel disappointed or betrayed. My soul aches, for I truly feel that I am letting you down. I do pray you’ll look back at the four years of entertainment I’ve provided, and cherish those stories and memories. I certainly do. Rest well knowing that I owe you far more than you owe me. You made my dream come true. How many people can claim such a miraculous thing?

For the past two years, I’ve nigh-obsessively wondered about the viability of podcast fiction, and if this distribution method is as powerful and disruptive as it was during its scrappy, eye-opening 2005 and 2006 roots. It’s far too early to say. Its days of newness are certainly gone … but new creators are coming on the scene every day, with new stories to share. I wish them stratospheric success in on- and offline marketplaces.

It’s also far too early to say if this model will deliver the kind of mainstream publisher attention it did for creators such as Scott Sigler, Seth Harwood, myself, and others. Blessedly, several additional podcast novelists have secured deals with mainstream publishers; their works will debut in bookstores in the upcoming months. I hope the Free promotional model continues to serve them well, and that the listener and creator communities enthusiastically support them.

I pray this model becomes a viable, sustainable business-driven movement — and not the fleeting moment I fear it may be.

Regardless of its fate, I cannot currently contribute to it, if I wish to make a living wage with my words. Aside from the sporadic release of nonfiction audio interviews, my podcast feed is going dark. I’ve spent years “feeding the feed” — my podcast feed, that is — and the real-world results of that effort have put in me the red emotionally, creatively and financially.

Some of you amazing people — you very cool, very gracious people — are owed far more than an apology. I have made sincere obligations to you, and will deliver on these promises. Fans who are owed Personal Effects “swag bags” and 7th Son “Beta Clone Army Rewards” prizes will receive them. You monetarily supported my work in good faith — faith in the novel, faith in me — and I will absolutely honor these obligations. I beg for your patience as I right myself financially, so I can smartly dedicate the monetary resources to making these promises a reality.

For those who bought 7th Son: Descent and Personal Effects: Dark Art, know that I owe you my undying respect and thanks. For those who experienced the audio and text content for free and were not persuaded to monetarily support my work, I appreciate your time, and hope you were entertained.

For the hundreds of fans, friends, and colleagues who went the extra mile in generously sharing the news about 7th Son and Personal Effects with others: I treasure your support above all.

When folks ask me for writerly advice, I usually reply with two words: Writers write. What I rarely say, but absolutely believe, is that writers should be paid for what they write. It’s time for me to write. To write my ass off, to tell stories that can be sold in many media, so I can continue to entertain you, and achieve my career goals. I am honored by your friendship, and hope I have clearly explained the circumstances that led me to these difficult decisions.

A final word regarding the 7th Son sequels: I may self-publish Deceit and Destruction later this year. If I do, I’ll let you know. It seems like a shame to keep the series’ “mad hacker” in a drawer for too long. Kilroy2.0 needs to be everywhere.

Thank you for your love and support in the past, the now, and the to-be.

With endless affection and appreciation,

–J.C.

Both Ami and Pablo hail from the publishing biz, and know their stuff. Their perspectives are influenced by their involvement in digital content creation, marketing and publicity … as well as years of exposure to the traditional publishing model. If you’re looking for a respectful and progressive exploration of the state of publishing and where it’s going, this interview is a must-listen.

• Find the blog at TheNewSleekness.com
• Learn more about Ami’s work at GetGlue.com
• Learn more about Pablo’s work at Tor.com
• Promo: Basil’s Alaska Weekly News Review
• Promo: ShadowCast Audio Books
• Promo: PodioRacket Presents: Visionaries

Dig what you hear in this podcast? Tell a friend! Use the “Share This” feature found at the end of this post!

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

With the help of some super-savvy iPhone app developers, I’ll soon unleash a cool Kilroy-themed app for the iPhone and iPod touch. We’re cramming lots of goodies inside, but the show-stopping main feature will be a sassy, talking Kilroy2.0!

The gist: When you give your phone a solid “shake,” the mad hacker Kilroy2.0 himself will spout one of dozens of random quotes. He’ll be a delightful, giggling mess, saying such things as “Shake, shake, shake your Kilroy” and “I just rooted your iPhone” … and of course, “Kilroy2.0 is evvvvrywhere.”

The twist: We’ve got an aggressive deadline for this project, so I need YOUR help to write dozens of funny Kilroy quotes for the app, which I’ll record and port into the program. Are you up for “becoming” Kilroy and putting words in my most famous character’s mouth? If so, keep reading!

Participating in this fun, creative crowdsource project is easy-peasy:

• Simply think of as many fun (and funny!) one-liners that you think Kilroy would say, and post them in the comments.
• You can include many quote ideas in a single comment.
• The best user-created quotes will make it into the app!
• Be sure to include your name in your blog comment … we’ll include your name in the app’s credits!

And that’s it! If you wanna participate, you gotta do so at Hutch-speed — and I move fast. The deadline for your Kilroy2.0 one-liners is this Wednesday, Feb. 3. So channel your inner Kilroy, cook up some fun one-liners and post them in the comments!

–J.C.

Two days ago, the wife of podcaster and author Tee Morris died unexpectedly. In addition to the devastating loss, Tee now faces the challenge of raising his daughter as a single dad.

I spoke to Tee on the evening of his wife’s death. Despite the incalculable loss, the eternal optimism Tee is known for was still there, in his voice. He was deeply moved by the support the community had shown for him, and appreciative.

We cannot change yesterday, but we can help ensure Tee and his daughter have a brighter tomorrow. Please help them by contributing to a fund that will help cover funeral costs, and create a trust for his daughter. Give generously, if you can.

–J.C.

With cooperation from writer/director James Cameron himself, author Rebecca Keegan has written a truly terrific and insightful biography. Learn how Keegan connected with Cameron, and what she discovered about this amazing storyteller during the creation of the book.

Expertly reported and masterfully written — and featuring an exclusive chapter about Cameron’s new film Avatar — The Futurist is a must-read for admirers of Cameron’s work and beyond.

• Learn more about The Futurist
• Purchase The Futurist

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

I’m a geezer in the podcast fiction game. I’ve been a podfic creator for four years, and a podcast listener since February 2005. I was there for the debut episodes of Scott Sigler’s Earthcore, Stephen Eley’s Escape Pod and other fiction projects — and I was dazzled by those scrappy creators’ ingenuity and the quality of their work. Podcast fiction was a curious storytelling anomaly back then, but soon became legitimized as dozens — and then hundreds — of authors embraced the distribution model. These days, I receive an email a week from a determined creator who’s hungry to launch her or his own podcast novel. That’s pretty cool.

I’ve watched the space grow, and — as I did in 2005, when I considered releasing 7th Son as a podcast novel — still study the most successful storytellers to understand why they are successful, and what they do that impresses their audiences. They lead by example, and I feverishly take notes on what seems to work best. (Speaking selfishly for a moment, I’m honored that these storytellers and others now study what I’m doing in the space. Some of us even collude, scheme together, and shamelessly steal from each other. It’s a hoot.)

I’m stating the obvious here, but the very best podcast fiction shows fall into two categories: Short Form and Long Form. Both are amazing ways to tell stories. Both have strengths…

• Short Form: Most short form fiction appears in “magazine-style” programs such as Escape Pod and Variant Frequencies. Nearly all of these stories are one-shots — they economically build universes, narratives and characters. They are easily digestible, short and resonant. They stand on their own; there are no “previously ons,” no need to hear prior stories in the podcast feed. Low barrier of entry for newcomers.
• Long Form: Novel-length stories dedicate far more time to building rich characters, plots and subplots. In addition to the richness creators can add to the universes and narratives, listening to a serialized audio novel week-to-week is an experience like no other. Cliffhangers abound, and opportunities exist for fans to converge and discuss where the story’s going. If you’ve listened to my stuff, you’ve been there. I’ve been there too.

And both also have weaknesses…

• Short Form: Audiences craving an in-depth look into a short story’s universe and characters may come away wanting more.
• Long Form: Latecomers to serialized Long Form fiction have to start wayyyyy back at Episode One. (Or in some cases, Book One.) That’s a huge time investment, and a high barrier of entry for newcomers.

I’ve thought long and hard about that high barrier of entry. I suspect I’ve lost listener-to-be’s simply because they realized they’d have to listen to hundreds of hours of content to catch up with my unfolding stories. Since 2006, I’ve quested to make my content easy to obtain from a technical perspective and a narrative one. My recent Personal Effects: Sword of Blood and 7th Son: 7 Days prequels were specifically designed for newcomers — they’re both low-impact ways to introduce new fans to the Personal Effects and 7th Son universes.

As I schemed on a new podcast fiction project in late 2008, I realized I wanted a model that both celebrated the low barrier of entry of Short Form fiction, and the rich creative opportunities Long Form presents. I pondered this long before I considered the project’s storyline or characters. I looked at other media for inspiration. The answer came pretty quickly, once I stopped thinking like a podcaster.

The 33 is episodic TV for your ears.

Like the best episodic TV, episodes of The 33 will have consistent lengths (45 minutes). Most episodes will be one-shots — “monster of the week” stories (ala Buffy, Supernatural, etc.) so newcomers can hop aboard with any episode, quickly grok the characters and setting, and have a blast. Also like the best episodic TV, there will be season-length story arcs — think of the Cancer Man eps in The X-Files — that will unfold in some episodes. It’s the best of both worlds.

Like the best episodic TV, there will be core cast members. Three of them, to be exact: Napoleon Black John Swords, Bliss and Knack. They’ll be accompanied by lots of guest characters called Shifters — folks recruited for specific missions because of their unique skills. (Some Shifters slated to appear include Mad Anna, Arachnarcana, Bada Boom and Kill Screen. Expect nothing less from a dude who grew up watching The A-Team and playing with G.I. Joe dolls. Codenames rock.)

And like episodic TV, there will likely be commercials. And like episodic TV, it might even be recorded in front of a live audience. And there may be spinoffs.

The format is very familiar but, to my knowledge, has not yet been executed in podcast fiction form. I’m having a blast concocting The 33 universe, episode plots and characters … and I can’t wait to unleash it later this year. (That’s as specific as I’m going to be about its release. Check this recent post to learn why.)

So that’s the creative philosophy fueling The 33. I’ll share more in a few weeks. In the meantime, I’m heading back to my brainstorming.

Because the world needs The 33.

–J.C.

–J.C.

Baby I’m ready to go … I’m back and ready to go … From the rooftops, shout it out. Shout it out. (Listen to the song here.)

Goodness, yes. A thousand hell yeses. From the rooftops, shout it out. With the new year here, are you ready to go? Ready to roll up your sleeves, put on a playful self-confident sneer, and get your hands dirty with some go?

I am. 2009 was an epic year. Personal Effects: Dark Art. 7th Son: Descent. Both on bookstore bookshelves, a dream come true. I conceived and personally executed several ambitious never-before-seen online promotions — Commit Yourself To The Brink, groundbreaking “vlurb” book trailers, multi-site cross-promotional projects (including a 10-chapter 7th Son excerpt distributed across more than 20 websites, and the recent “In the Nick of Time!” holiday sampler). More than 30 promotional blog guest posts. More than 70 podcast and radio interviews. Lots of first-evers and more-thans and many-mores.

I spent most of 2009 running on three or four hours of sleep each day. I went broke promoting the books. (This is not an exaggeration. Flat-ass, overdrawn-bank-account broke. My finances still haven’t recovered.) The result was stellar “Week One” debuts for both novels, followed by weeks of better-than-average sales. The publishing business is brutal and hyper-competitive, people. Standing out requires a lot of creative thought and effort (which I had) and money (which I didn’t, and wasn’t provided).

I also released two podcast-exclusive fiction projects in ‘09, both prequels: Personal Effects: Sword of Blood, and 7th Son: 7 Days. Both were written in the midst of actively promoting the novels, and I’m pretty proud of how they turned out. This brings me to 2010.

I love the crazy-cool creative challenge of podcasting and promoting my stuff. For the past four years, I’ve lived to entertain you with my stories, and dazzle you with unconventional, fun promotions. I’ve made deliberate, informed decisions on how to spend my time, money and creative energy. Since 2006, most of my free time has been funneled into projects designed for you to consume and enjoy, for free.

Businesspeople talk about ROI: return on investment. I realized long ago that it would be impossible to receive an equitable ROI on the time, energy and monetary investment I’ve made in being an active creator in the social media space … so I stopped thinking about that. Instead, I bit into new media and social media with the same abandon I have when chomping into a nectarine — and you rewarded me with amazing feedback and unrivaled devotion, and helped make my lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist come true. My wallet may be a burnt cinder, but my soul lives in a palatial emotional mansion thanks to your generosity and kindness. I am forever grateful for that.

But baby, I’m ready to go.

Here are some not-so-secret secrets about most social media creators: We obsess about statistics. We keenly watch our blog subscriber numbers, our downloads, our website traffic, retweets and more. We crow about consistency, and how a steady output of content ensures the sustained interest of longtime readers (or listeners), and attracts newcomers. We relentlessly “feed the feed,” as I call it — we pipe out stuff of varying quality in our blog/podcast feeds to keep you coming back for more. Some of us do this successfully, and turn a profit. Some of us do this successfully, and don’t turn a profit. Still others feel beholden to these rules and produce content, even when they don’t want to. Burnout. A lack of perceived value from the audience. Real world obligations. It goes on.

I’ve been obsessing and red-lining it for so long, I’ve forgotten what a normal life feels like. I need to know what a normal life feels like. What eight hours of sleep feels like. What writing fiction feels like.

That last part — writing fiction — is critically important, peeps. This year, I felt my most alive when I was writing Sword of Blood and 7 Days, and brainstorming new projects. I took great pride in creating stories around my promotions (World War 7 is a recent fictional scenario that was a blast to concoct and execute), but when just it’s me and the page and the words … oh baby-baby, that’s the primo stuff. I live to tell tall tales, my friends. I’ve missed telling tall tales.

And so it’s time to go.

Time to roll up my sleeves, put on a playful self-confident sneer, and get my hands dirty with some go, that is. You didn’t think I was abandoning this site, and you, and several thousand other awesome peeps, didja? Heavens no. The party’s just getting started. I may not be the ever-present host I was in 2009 and years past, but I’ll certainly be here to entertain you in 2010.

There’s lots to give you. The Personal Effects: Dark Art serialized audiobook. My new podcast fiction project, The 33. I’ll still interview people who amaze me — the people I call UltraCreatives — and I’ll post written and podcast updates on my life, creative projects and other sundries. (I know most of you care less about my non-fiction content than my fiction. That’s okay. But these non-fiction projects are important to me, and I will continue to pursue them.)

So yes. Content shall abound in this blog/podcast feed in 2010. But I need to make something clear, in the kindest and most constructive way possible: this content will be released when my schedule permits. In addition to the Dark Art audiobook (which will debut by Spring 2010) and The 33 (which will debut not long after), I have other creative projects to pursue. There are movie treatments I owe my film agent — original story ideas we want to sell to Hollywood for big bucks. There are other novels to write, which I want to sell to publishers for big bucks. God willing, there will be 7th Son books Two and Three to edit for print release. And I want to pursue ways of telling stories you’ve never seen before; stuff that’s as wide-eyed and untested as a newborn.

Jeepers, all the stories. All the stories I need to tell.

If you choose to abandon my blog/podcast feed because I won’t be delivering free audio content on a weekly basis in 2010, I understand. I do hope, however, that you have an equal understanding and respect for my decision. Of course, I also hope you’ll stick around. There’s a great deal of fun and adventure in what I do … and you can’t beat the price with a stick.

2010 is my year of go. Go beyond podcasting, beyond 7th Son and Personal Effects, and Twitter and Facebook, and my always-shameless, sometimes-crass ass-shaking. It’s time to take down the megaphones. It’s time to start building more worlds. New worlds. Go worlds.

Wanna come along? Just take my hand. There’ll be weeks when I’m loud and sassy, and weeks when you may never hear a peep. But we’ll be running toward the horizon together, grinning at the sun. Running together, adventurers.

Come with me. Baby, I’m ready to go.

–J.C.

GOALS! What are some of YOUR goals for 2010? Zip me one.

Here’s what you said. Lots of creativity and ambition here — and yet, all are attainable…

• Buying a 50 inch plasma!
• my goal is to double the reach of my podcast
• To finish ‘Outcast’ by end of January, and its sequel by August.
• i want to make significant progress on one if not more then one, of my books if not finish them.
• Get first novel complete and subsequent audio drama started.
• Same as my one word mantra: DO!
• To get an article or story published in something with a pricetag, ISBN or ISSN on it.
• Graduate law school!
• to podcast on a more regular basis…
• Finish writing my book.
• Doubling my clients from 2009. Need 140 new clients for 2010 to do that.
• Write more words, eat more bacon, make more friends. I figure if I walk around with a plate of fresh bacon…
• my biggest goal is to get my comics and photography financially independant from me.
• On a more practical note: To reduce my debt to just my mortgage, and then pay that off within 10 years or less!
• To write, produce, and release the first Adventures of the Snarky Avenger Audio Drama.
• Finish jobs needing to be done.
• Shooting MB’s Famous in early 2010.
• To be fearless in anything related to my writing.
• finish writing, editing and recording first novel and start 2nd that’s already chomping at the bit to start already
• love more, save money, write daily are my goals
• Test for my green belt in Kenpo
• my goal in 2010 is to star in the 7th Son movies
• get “Closet Treats” published. Finish writing “Garaaga’s Children” series and podcast it all.
• Goals for 2010: Finish 2nd draft of my novel and find beta readers; organize and name all my digital photos
• get back into shape after surgery on the 30th of this month
• 2010 goal: Serialize my first novel
• my biggest goal is to be a better father
• To do more volunteer work for a cause about which I am passionate.
• my plan is to read more. but i need quantifiable goals. so, read one book a week. and not just yours, over and over.
• write 500 words a day. Submit one story for publication.
• to write something polished enough to podcast… And then podcast
• From 70% autonomous to 100%.
• Making time & $ to attend a con – preferably one that you’re at, so I can thank you in person!
• 2010 goals: Start re-writing Mallville, and start podcasting it. Try to write some more short stories.
• goal- finish novels #2&3 and get podcast author career off the ground. Been a groupie long enough.
• goal for 2010 = write something publishable

More will likely flow in (which I can’t add to the list here), but these 2010 goals are remarkable, brimming with drive and passion. Let’s all exhibit some Pure Badassery™ and make good on these goals next year.

What’s YOUR goal for 2010?

–J.C.

I’m delighted by this project, which I coordinated — and am honored to have worked with the amazing authors who participated…

Books make terrific holiday gifts, but finding perfect books for friends and family can be a time-consuming challenge. If only if the bookstore could come to us.

That’s the idea behind this In the Nick of Time! holiday sampler PDF. Inside are excerpts from a dozen new novels and nonfiction books by these New York Times bestselling authors, successful entrepreneurs, and wickedly talented storytellers:

• Laurell K. Hamilton — Divine Misdemeanors
• Seth Godin — Tribes and an exclusive excerpt of Linchpin, out next year
• Joseph Finder — Vanished
• Cory Doctorow — Makers
• Chris Brogan & Julien Smith — Trust Agents
• Robert J. Sawyer — Wake
• Mitch Joel – Six Pixels of Separation
• Cherie Priest — Boneshaker
• Tara Hunt — The Whuffie Factor
• Scott Sigler — The Rookie
• Seth Harwood — Jack Wakes Up
• J.C. Hutchins — 7th Son: Descent

DOWNLOAD THE IN THE NICK OF TIME! HOLIDAY SAMPLER

Spot a great gift opportunity? Order from online retailers directly from the PDF, or print the order form at the end of the document and present it to your local bookseller. Helpful staff will find what you’re looking for.

From high adventure to savvy business advice, you’ll find something special for the special someones on your holiday list — including you. You’re also welcome to share this free sampler with friends and family. Refer them to this web page to download In the Nick of Time! — http://JCHutchins.net/holiday .

Click here to download the In The Nick of Time! holiday sampler — and have the happiest of holidays!

It’s not every day that the world’s most popular marketing blogger asks you collaborate on a project designed to get folks thinking about their lives, the world, and positive ways to improve them. So when bestselling writer Seth Godin invited me to participate in What Matters Now, I dove right in.

As Seth wrote in his post announcing What Matters Now, this eBook “encourages people to focus and use their energy to turn the game around,” providing big thoughts and small actions to make a difference in the world. More than 70 authors contributed to the project, including big thinkers I’ve followed and respected for years: furturist Kevin Kelly, publisher Tim O’Reilly, writer and programmer Gina Trapani, artist Hugh Macleod, brilliant writers and entrepreneurs such as Merlin Mann, Derek Sivers, Chris Anderson, Guy Kawasaki, Paco Underhill … the who’s who list goes on and on.

I’m honored to be in such ultra-creative, ultra-talented company. My contribution, titled “Gumption,” can be found at the end of the eBook.

Each contribution is well worth your time, and may provide a nugget of resonance — or encouragement — for you as we enter the new year. If you find value within its pages, please share What Matters Now with your friends and coworkers.

–J.C.

Click to download the PDF

When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 1 pm
Where: Urban Think! Bookstore ~ 625 East Central Blvd. ~ Orlando, FL 32801
What’s up: I’ll be reading and signing at this fantastic indie bookstore. Come out and see me!
More information: urbanthinkorlando.com

I hope to meet some of you awesome peeps at the event!

–J.C.

He and brilliant musician (and businessman) Geoff Smith have combined forces to create an innovative new series and way to distribute it! Check this tweaked excerpt from a recent press release Steve circulated:

From science fiction and fantasy, to action and comedy, there is a genre for anyone’s taste. Steve Saylor started writing “The Caffeine Collection” after the launch of his podcast novel “Black Shadow” in December of 2007. He wrote most of the collection at his local Starbucks during the summer of 2009 — which inspired its title.

What’s equally noteworthy is how Saylor is using Smith’s “RingtoneFeeder” platform to sell and distribute the series.

RingtoneFeeder is an innovative approach to distributing digital content, such as ringtones. The service offers a paid subscription model which automatically installs original ringtones to an iPhone via iTunes. Saylor’s The Caffeine Collection uses this proven delivery method and model to distribute stories to paid subscribers.

“I am super excited to be the first to distribute a short story collection in the same way,” Saylor said. “This is an experiment which could revolutionize the way authors can publish their work.”

I’m pretty excited about it too — and will be closely watching Steve’s success. In the meantime, you should learn more about Steve’s work, and bebop over to The Caffeine Collection RingtoneFeeder page to experience more risk-free fiction before deciding to support his work. And of course, check out the below link to the free short story Steve’s given us: The 39. Enjoy!

–J.C.

That’s why I was absolutely dazzled by this interview recorded by the brilliant Wichita Rutherford. Wichita came up in podcasting — he remains one of my favorite podcasters of all time; he’s so precious — and now hosts “The Grand Old Time Machine” Sirius/XM show. He recently spent some quality time with bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs … and the interview is nothing short of awesome.

You’ve gotta check out this interview, even if you don’t know much about bluegrass music. You’ll hear an intimate take on Ricky’s life story and family, and his journey into the musical life — and learn a lot about bluegrass along the way. You won’t regret it.

But you gotta move fast; Wichita says the MP3 will be available for a few days.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

–J.C.

What is Mission 777?

As you may know, my novel 7th Son: Descent was released on Oct. 27.  On that day, UK resident John Merlin participated in the Beta Clone Army Rewards Program, and wrangled the purchase of 100 copies (!!!) of 7th Son: Descent. In addition to his new status as an ultra-elite 7th Son fan, he also snags gobs of prizes — and I’m flying to his England town to hang with him for a day. (!!!)

Would you like me to come to YOUR city and hang with YOU for a day? I know I do, and I want to give you the tools to make it happen. The best part: All proceeds go to a great cause.

Mission 777 requires seven brave Beta Clone Army volunteers. Like John Merlin, you’ll be the ultra-elite, official 7th Son Ambassadors for a 7-city book tour, funded by me. People in your community — or beyond — will sponsor my tour stop by purchasing copies of 7th Son: Descent in your name. If you hit 100 copies, I’m flying to your city, wherever you are, and hanging with you and other local loyal Beta Clones.

Plus, for every copy sold, I’ll donate $1 (the money I make on each book) to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity, which supports breast cancer awareness and research.

I’ll do nearly all of the lifting: I’ll create a website with the profiles of the seven volunteers (aka the Chosen 7), promote it, and manage the site and sponsorship purchases by you, your friends or others. Anyone in the world can sponsor one of the Chosen 7 with book purchases, which will add to their goal of 100. (Sadly, past purchases of 7th Son: Descent cannot count toward the Mission 777 initiative.)

You’ll do your part by providing a face to the cause, and — if you’re up for it — asking your community to help. I’m not seeing a nickel of profit from Mission 777; all money goes to charity. It’s a fun way to get me to your town to meet you and your friends … and sign a lot of books!

Will You Become One of the Chosen 7?

Right now, Mission 777 is just a dream; I won’t pursue it unless I get seven hard-core dedicated fans who want me in their town, and are willing to put forth some effort to talk up Mission 777 in their local or online communities. I’ll do my part by promoting Mission 777 and keeping the Beta Clone Army updated on your progress toward the 100 milestones. If you hit 100 copies purchased in your name, I’m coming to your town. No matter what, all cash goes to charity.

Does this idea work for you? Would you be willing to participate, either as one of the Chosen 7, or as a sponsor by purchasing Mission 777 copies of 7th Son: Descent? I won’t know until you tell me.

Give me a shout in the comments. I would love to see the interest level for this, and make it happen if people dig it.

–J.C.

When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 am – noon
Where: Barnes & Noble, The Shoppes at Wiregrass ~ 28152 Paseo Dr Suite 100 ~ Wesley Chapel, FL 33543
What’s up: I’ll be chatting with the Wesley Chapel chapter of the Florida Writers Association (the city is near Tampa) about my writing, and how I use the web and social media to promote my work. It should be a fun time, with some writerly chit-chat. Books will be available for purchase, and signing.
More information: Call the B&N at 813-907-7739

VIVA LA 7TH SONSHINE STATE!

–J.C.

Further evidence of the man’s cleverness, creativity and marketing savvy? The video posted below. Dig this: bret wanted to announce his remix contest in an interesting way (and, as he told me, “have an excuse to play with video stuff”). Behold what he created on a budget of $5, using an old jailbroken iPhone. He did all the editing, sound effects and musical score.

Truly badass stuff. Check it, and check the remix contest for his awesome song UltraNumb, which launches in mere days.

Just a reminder, Florida-based peeps: You can meet me in real life tomorrow night at my 7th Son: Descent book launch party! Check the deets below, and hope to see you there!

When: Friday, Oct. 30, 5 – 8 pm
Where: Fresh Aroma Coffee Bar ~ 3656-G W Hillsboro Blvd. ~ Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
What’s up: It’s the caffeine-fueled celebration for 7th Son: Descent’s print debut! Meet me at Fresh Aroma Coffee Bar, hang out, and make new friends. Bring your copy of Descent to be signed, or purchase a copy (cash only, limited copies available). Each person who gets their book signed scores a free drink at the coffee bar!
More information: myspace.com/fresharomabistro

VIVA LA 7TH SONSHINE STATE!

BUY THE BOOK.

Okay, now let’s really get cookin’. Posts from earlier in the day are “lower” on this blog post. Scroll down to catch up with today’s adventures!

3:00 AM

It’s been a helluva awesome day. Words fail me … but I’ll craft a post in the next day or so. In short: You did it, and exceeded my wildest expectations. Thank you.

I must go to sleep. I must. But here’s the final report from the field. Understand this: These are the highest positions we’ve acheived all day. We have not peaked. Repeat: WE HAVE NOT PEAKED. Astounding.

Amazon report:

• 188 overall, up from 209 at 11:55 pm (we started yesterday at 3,711)
• 31 in Science Fiction/Fantasy (up from 34)
• 11 in Science Fiction (up from 12)
• 3 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech
• 55 in Mystery & Thrillers (holding steady)
• 36 in Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers (holding steady)
• 14 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) (up from 16)
• 3 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction) (up from 4)
• 39 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers) (holding steady)
• 26 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers > Thrillers) (holding steady)
• 6 in Movers and Shakers (down from 5)

Note: Since some books in the Amazon charts are free Kindle titles, I’ve adjusted the list below to reflect what positions we “earned.” When these free titles are removed…

• 20 in Science Fiction/Fantasy — 11 free titles were removed
• 5 in Science Fiction — 6 free titles were removed
• 1 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech — 2 free titles were removed
  
• 50 in Mystery & Thrillers — 5 free titles were removed
• 2 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction) — 1 free title was removed
• 38 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers) — 1 free title was removed

Check the charts! And thank you. A thousand-thousand thank yous.

11:55 PM

HIGHER! HIGHER! JETPACK ON!!! Here’s the latest from the field:

Amazon report:

• 209 overall, up from 227 at 10:40 pm (we started the day at 2,484)
• 34 in Science Fiction/Fantasy (up from 35)
• 12 in Science Fiction (up from 13)
• 3 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech
• 55 in Mystery & Thrillers (up from 58)
• 36 in Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers (up from 39)
• 16 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) (remaining steady)
• 4 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction) (remaining steady)
• 39 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers) (up from 42)
• 26 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers > Thrillers) (up from 29)
• 5 in Movers and Shakers (remaining steady)

Check the charts!

10:40 PM

HOLY CRAP!!! 7th Son ASCENDS! Here’s the latest from the field:

Amazon report:

• 227 overall, up from 310 at 7:55 pm
• 35 in Science Fiction/Fantasy (up from 44)
• 13 in Science Fiction (up from 17)
• 3 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech
• 58 in Mystery & Thrillers (up from 64)
• 39 in Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers (up from 42)
• 16 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) (up from 19)
• 4 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction) (remaining steady)
• 42 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers) (up from 44)
• 29 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers > Thrillers) (up from 31)
• 5 in Movers and Shakers (down from 4)

Check the charts!

More Clone Line calls have rolled in! Give me a shout; I’ll post it here at the site: (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)…

7:55 PM

Here’s the latest from the field, and it’s a frickin’ doozy:

Amazon report:

• 310 overall, up from 316 at 5:55 pm
• 44 in Science Fiction/Fantasy (up from 47)
• 17 in Science Fiction (up from 18)
• 3 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech
• 64 in Mystery & Thrillers (up from 65)
• 42 in Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers (remains steady)
• 19 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) (up from 20)
• 4 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction) (up from 5)
• 44 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers) (remains steady)
• 31 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers > Thrillers) (remains steady)
• 4 in Movers and Shakers
• Kindle Edition: 24 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction)

Check the charts!

More Clone Line calls have rolled in! Give me a shout; I’ll post it here at the site: (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)…

5:55 PM

Here’s the latest from the field:

Amazon report:

• 316 overall, slipped from 315 at 3:56 pm
• 47 in Science Fiction/Fantasy (slipped from 46)
• 18 in Science Fiction (up from 20)
• 3 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech
• 65 in Mystery & Thrillers (up from 66)
• 42 in Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers (up from 43)
• 20 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) (slipped from 19)
• 5 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction) (up from 6)
• 44 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers) (remaining steady)
• 31 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers > Thrillers) (remaining steady)

Momentum is slowing, and the competition’s getting tough. Can we bring it? Check the charts! And please, email a friend about 7th Son!

More Clone Line calls have rolled in! Give me a shout; I’ll post it here at the site: (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)…

3:56 PM

It’s the latest Amazon update. Back in June, Personal Effects: Dark Art hit 280 overall at Amazon, on “Day One.” How are we doing so far with 7th Son: Descent?

Amazon report:

• 315 overall, up from 342 at 1:50 pm
• 46 in Science Fiction/Fantasy (up from 48)
• 20 in Science Fiction (remains steady)
• 3 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech
• 66 in Mystery & Thrillers (up from 70)
• 43 in Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers (up from 45)
• 19 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) (up from 20)
• 6 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction) (remains steady)
• 44 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers) (up from 46)
• 31 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers > Thrillers) (up from 32)

Momentum is slowing, and the competition’s getting tough. Can we bring it? Check the charts! And please, email a friend about 7th Son!

More Clone Line calls have rolled in! Give me a shout; I’ll post it here at the site: (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)…

1:50 PM

Another Amazon report, peeps — you’re KILLING IT!

Amazon report:

• 342 overall, up from 482 at 11:58 am
• 48 in Science Fiction/Fantasy (up from 76)
• 20 in Science Fiction (up from 25)
• 3 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech
• 70 in Mystery & Thrillers (up from 99)
• 45 in Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers (up from 66)
• 20 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) (up from 31)
• 6 in Hot New Releases (Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction) (up from 8 )
• 46 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers) (up from 56)
• 32 in Hot New Releases (Mystery/Thrillers > Thrillers) (up from 39)

ASTOUNDING! Check the charts! And please, spread the word!

Time for more Clone Line calls, too! I think the murderous Jesse Fowler himself is on the phone! Give me a ring: (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)…

11:58 AM

It’s an Amazon report with a HUGE jump in the charts, and more Clone Line calls! Sounds like Kilroy2.0 himself HACKED into the Clone Line!

Amazon report:

• 482 overall, up from 1,211 at 9:55 am
• 25 in Science Fiction (up from 44)
• 3 in Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > High Tech
• 31 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) (up from 67)
• 66 in Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

This is STELLAR news! Check the charts!

On to the Clone Line calls! Give me a ring of support, especially if you’ve snagged your copy! (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)….

10:06 AM

More Clone Line goodness! Give me a ring of support, especially if you’ve snagged your copy! (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)….

9:55 AM

Amazon report:

• 1,211 overall, up from 1,896 at 9:30 am
• 44 in Science Fiction
• 3 in Science Fiction > High Tech
• 67 in Hot New Releases (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)

You’re making it happen! Check the charts!

9:45 AM

More calls from the Clone Line! Chime in! Make it on the site! (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)….

9:30 AM

Amazon report: Currently: 1,896 overall, up from 2,484 at 8:30 am. You’re bringing it! Keep it coming!

8:35 AM

Yes, Twitter was down. Yes, this made me a mite … fussy. But we’re back!

7:00 AM

Let’s start with some Clone Line calls from YOU! (Adult language ABOUNDS. Some of these calls are NSFW. You’ve been warned!)

Call the Clone Line! Make it on the site! (435) 55-HUTCH … (that’s 435-554-8824)….

To celebrate the print release of 7th Son: Descent, I’ve whipped up a spiffy long-form PDF excerpt of the novel for your consumption. If you’re a newcomer to 7th Son and my work, this is a easy — and free — way to dive into my fiction, give it a test drive, and see if it’s up your alley. For longtime fans, here’s a chance to see what the “insides” of the book are like, and share the PDF with friends.

This Special Edition PDF features the novel’s first ten chapters, a note from me, and a printable book order form that you can present in your favorite bookstore today. It also features links to online stores, if you prefer to point, click and purchase. There are links to more information about 7th Son, and ways to share the PDF with family and friends too.

I encourage you to freely distribute this PDF on your blogs, sites, Facebook and MySpace pages, via Twitter or email … any way you wish. This is a grassroots movement, and YOU can play a mission-critical role in spreading the word.

This PDF is being released on multiple websites today. As a thank you for these sites’ help, I’ve created and inserted full-page ads for their content within this PDF. All of these content creators are worthy of your attention. They include:

• Boing Boing
• Suicide Girls
• Chris Brogan
• C.C. Chapman
• Scott Sigler
• Mur Lafferty
• Matt Wallace
• Mignon Fogarty (aka Grammar Girl)
• Tor.com
• Jason Falls
• Chris Abraham
• Beth Dunn
• Lauren Vargas
• Justin Levy
• Doug Haslam
• Steve Garfield
• Christopher S. Penn

Thank you for supporting my work in the past, and now, when 7th Son: Descent needs it the most.

Let’s make Kilroy2.0 be here and everywhere…

–J.C.

Here’s the deets:

OPERATION: PHOTO FUN WITH 7TH SON

• Obtain your print copy of 7th Son: Descent.
• Snap a photo of you with your copy (or copies!).
• Make sure the photo is either fun or funny!
• Email J.C. your photo (his email address: 7thSonNovel@gmail.com).
• Complete this mission by Friday, OCT. 30 and get mentioned on the Agents of the Ministry page and be in the running for a signed ULTRA RARE hand-crafted “Project 7th Son Dossier”
• Mission completion after Oct. 30 still earns you a place on the Agents page
• Photos will be posted on J.C.’s site!

This has been a dispatch from the 7th Son Ministry of Propaganda.

~ Domination Through Replication ~

Transmission ends.

Grammar Girl’s podcast is one of the most popular indie ‘casts in the Milky Way galaxy, and for good reason: Each week, she provides invaluable advice on how to become a better writer. She tackles such pesky issues as “affect vs. effect,” “who vs. whom,” the particularly stymieing “that vs. which” and so much more. Regardless of your professional field, her show will improve your communication skills.

She’s also the brains behind the Quick and Dirty Tips network, a website thriving with other podcasts filled with equally awesome advice. Plus, she’s a New York Times bestselling writer; her Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing book was released to stellar acclaim last year, and still dominates several writing-related catagories at Amazon.com.

The best part? Mignon is back with a NEW book, which promises to deliver some killer advice: The Grammar Devotional. What I’ve read of this book is stellar, packed with resonant, practical advice for writers of all skill levels. If you’re keen to polish your wordherding skills, this is a must-buy. In fact, here’s the book’s Amazon page. Go get ‘em, tiger.

Want to give some of Mignon’s daily tips a test drive before you buy? I’ve gotcha covered. Dig the link to the PDF below; there, you can download a month’s worth of the books daily tips, for free. If you find it as helpful as I did, you’ll click that Amazon link and snag a copy.

There are few authors I endorse without hesitation. Mignon Fogarty is one of them. Check out The Grammar Devotional, support her work, and become a better writer in the process! Everybody wins!

–J.C.

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Trust me, peeps: the site is 100% legit and free — it’s not a scummy subscription service and there are no monthly fees. (To get the content on your phone, message and data rates may apply, though.) Myxer is compatible with most carriers including AT&T, Cellular One, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile and TMobile.

So whatcha waitin’ for? Visit John’s Myxer artist page for more information, or give the widgets below a spin! You can be ringin’ and rockin’ with John Smith in no time!

More from John Smith at Myxer

More from John Smith at Myxer

More from John Smith at Myxer

More from John Smith at Myxer

More from John Smith at Myxer

Welcome to the second Beta Clone Army Update episode! J.C. delivers timely updates on the ascent of 7th Son: Descent, supercool Ministry Of Propaganda street team missions from Natasha, and your Clone Line calls. It’s fan-fueled goodness!

In this debut episode, J.C. chats about:

• The ascent of 7th Son: Descent!
• The individually-numbered Beta Clone T-shirts are back!
• Meet J.C. in November at some in-person events
• Podioracket LIVE call-in book launch party on Oct. 27!
• Get your blog, Facebook or Twitter “hacked” by Kilroy2.0!
• The Beta Clone Army Rewards Program for multi-book purchases
• Call the Clone Line and get on the show: 435-55-HUTCH (435-554-8824)
• J.C.’s availability for podcast/blog interviews

NATASHA’S MINISTRY MISSION FOR THIS WEEK:

• OPERATION: PHOTO FUN WITH 7TH SON
• Acquire your copy of 7th Son: Descent on Oct. 27.
• Snap a photo of you holding your copy of the book.
• Make sure the photo is either fun or funny!
• Email J.C. your photo (his email address: 7thSonNovel@gmail.com).
• Complete this mission by Friday, OCT. 30 and get mentioned on the Agents of the Ministry page and a signed ULTRA RARE hand-crafted “Project 7th Son Dossier”
• Mission completion after Oct. 30 still earns you a place on the Agents page
• Photos will be posted on J.C.’s site!

Shout-Outs to Natasha’s Lastest Agents of the Ministry (239 Strong!):

• Amanda Tikkanen
• Tony Miller
• Michael Ward
• David Perry
• Tara Fairchild
• Les Zaldor
• Scott Roche
• Benjamin Clifford
• Brandon
• Erik Ackerman
• Brian Webber
• Doug Rapson
• Buddy Brannan
• David Archambault
• Robert
• Terry Davis
• Josh Rosenfield
• Richard D. Asplund Jr.
• Nick Walter
• Frank Jones
• Edward Pappa
• Thomas Heading
• Zach Ricks
• Melissa Hutchins
• Ben Hembree
• Matthew Schnaare
• Jen Marshal
• R Barnes
• Randy Hinckley
• Joel Gerhold
• Anna Caroline Schweitzer

Shout-Outs to the Shout-Outers:

• Mike
• Kevin Cummings
• Michelle Bekemeyer
• Rick Stringer
• Taylor Kent, the Snarky Avenger
• Tim Crawford
• Joey Smith
• Michael Kaufman
• Chris Hvidsten
• Ryan Wolf
• Lucas Qualls
• Gryphon
• Phil Rossi
• Skyler Willett
• NT7S
• Wichita Rutherford
• Comic Geek Speek
• Brian Webber
• Middle Raged Punk
• James Melzer
• Lynette Radio
• Podioracket
• Technorama
• Joanna Penn
• VG Ford
• Wired Pig
• Robert Thompson; Fantasy Book Critic
• Starlog
• Penguin Poet
• Jeremiah McCoy
• TechNoir
• Chris Hornberger
• Robert Gasperson
• Eric
• P.G. Holyfield
• ARG Netcast
• Brimmers67
• Kevin
• Deb Walker and the Evo at 11 crew
• Jay Hathaway
• AND OTHERS … Please contact me if I overlooked your shout-out!

The Beta Clone Army Update anthem is “Birthright: Birthwrong Remix” by Celldweller and Blue Stahli. Learn more about the artists at Celldweller.com and BlueStahli.com.

The “Ascent of Descent” anthem is “Switchback (Klayton Revision)” by Celldweller. Learn more about the band at Celldweller.com.

The Ministry of Propaganda anthem is “Korobeiniki” by Ozma. Learn more about the band at OzmaOnline.com.

Like what you hear? Tell a friend, and give a shout in the comments!

I’ve cooked up a fun “fiction meets reality” stunt to celebrate the release of 7th Son: Descent, and would love your help in making it happen. On Oct. 27, the day 7th Son hits bookstore bookshelves, you can have the novel’s mad hacker Kilroy2.0 HACK YOUR BLOG. (Or Facebook. Or Twitter.)

If you choose to participate, you won’t be alone: More than 130 superfans like you have already volunteered for this hack-a-thon! Of course, there will be no real hacking happening here. You’ll be copying and pasting some text (that I’m providing) into your blog / FB / Twitter feeds. It’s all perfectly safe … but it should be a fun way to show your support for 7th Son’s release!

Check this .zip file. (It’s virus-free, I promise.)  In this .zip archive are two text files. These explain how Kilroy can hack your blog / Facebook / Twitter feeds on Oct. 27. An image file is also provided, which you can use in your blog / FB posts, or as an avatar on Twitter, etc.

I’d love for you to participate! You should find the instructions straightforward and easy to implement. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a line.

Thanks again for your generous support of 7th Son … and for having your online content “hacked” by Kilroy2.0 on Tuesday, Oct. 27. So whatcha waiting for? Download the .zip file, and get hackin’!

He’s here, he’s everywhere,

–J.C.

This exclusive program, which will run from October to January 1, 2010, is the only way you can obtain these exclusive rewards during this time. Folks (and their friends) can team up to bring supersales and ensure 7th Son: Descent’s success … and secure the rest of the 7th Son trilogy in print.

One superfan, John Merlin, wrangled 9 friends to purchase 100 copies! Making good on his Rewards Program promise, J.C. will fly to England to personally thank and hang with John. He’ll fly to YOUR locale if you do the same!

To be eligible for these rewards, you must buy the book and email J.C. a photo, scan or screen cap of your purchase receipt. In exchange for your support when 7th Son: Descent needs it the most, you’ll receive:

Beta Clone Army Lieutenant: 3 Copies

• A personally signed and numbered Limited Edition 7th Son: Descent postcard for each copy purchased

Beta Clone Army Captain: 5 Copies

• Signed/numbered Descent postcards
• Laminated “Code Phantom Clearance” badge customized with your name

Beta Clone Army Major: 10 Copies

• “Beta Clone Captain” rewards, plus:
• Beta Clone test tube, with “blood sample”
• Custom-signed PDF of 7th Son: 7 Days prequel anthology

Beta Clone Colonel: 15 Copies

• “Beta Clone Major” rewards, plus:
• “Michael Smith” USMC dog tags

John: 20 Copies

• “Beta Clone Colonel” rewards, plus:
• Signed Limited Edition Anyman CD (with 2 CD-exclusive bonus songs)

Kilroy2.0: 50 Copies

• “John” rewards, plus:
• Numbered “Beta Clone: Elite Forces” T-shirt
• Signed Ultra-Limited Ed. 7th Son: 7 Days PRINT book
• 30 minutes on the phone with J.C. to talk writing, social media, whatever you like

Beta Clone General (Gen. Hill): 77 Copies

• “Kilroy2.0″ rewards, plus:
• Signed ultra-limited 20-page “Code Phantom Dossier” report on Project 7th Son, with photos, handmade by J.C.
• 60 minutes on the phone with J.C. to talk writing, social media, etc.

Code Phantom Clearance: 100 Copies

• “Beta Clone General” rewards, plus:
• J.C. will fly to your location and hang for the day (dinner’s on him)

John Alpha Supervillain Status: 200 Copies

• “Code Phantom” rewards, plus:
• J.C. will fly to your location and spend an additional full day with you and friends, consult with your company, present at school, etc.

So show your superfan support for 7th Son: Descent! Purchase multiple copies! Score exclusive swag! If you need to, hit J.C. with questions about the Beta Clone Army Rewards program by sending him an email.

Onward, into battle!

Huge

The deets are over at this page, but here are the highlights: Stating at 9 pm EST on Oct. 27, I’ll participate in Podioracket’s LIVE call-in show. Expect some questions from Podioracket’s lovely co-host Rhonda Carpenter … and then we’re opening up the show for YOU to call in, chat with me, and ask questions! Where will the conversation take us? That depends on YOU!

It’s gonna be a big day for Descent, and I can’t think of a better way to end it than appearing on Podioracket and connecting with the Beta Clone Army! Plus, I’ll give away some signed books and other swag.

Get the full skinny here, and be sure to subscribe to the Podioracket podcast!

–J.C.

In 2007, more than 250 people proudly purchased their one-of-kind Beta Clone shirts to show their support for the original 7th Son podcast trilogy. The shirts were then put on “permanent hiatus.” But now, for a limited time, you can acquire your own Beta Clone shirt!

From now until the end of 2009, Geeklabel is resuming production on these truly unique shirts. (Each shirt is individually numbered; no two are alike!) Perhaps the best part: they’re selling for less than $18 a pop! You can’t beat that with a stick, peeps.

Whatcha waitin’ for, a kick in the pants? Head over to Geeklabel.com now and order your shirt. And when you do, be sure to send J.C. a pic of you wearing it, so he can post your photo at the Beta Clone Army gallery page!

In this debut episode, J.C. chats about:

• “The stakes” we’re facing with 7th Son’s release
• The new Beta Clone Army Rewards Program for multi-book purchases
• A quick report on buzz/sales, based on Amazon rankings (It’s good news!)
• The new 7th Son audio promo, and his availability for podcast/blog interviews

NATASHA’S MINISTRY MISSION FOR THE WEEK:

• Email 10 friends. Talk up the release of 7th Son: Descent.
• Send them the first serialized PDF of Descent either as an attachment, or URL link.
• The URL to click and share is: http://bit.ly/descentpdf1
• CC J.C. on your email (his email address: 7thSonNovel@gmail.com)
• Contact 10 friends by OCT 23 and get mentioned on the Agents of the Ministry page and be in the running for a free signed copy of Descent
• Mission completion after Oct. 23 still earns you a place on the Agents page

The Beta Clone Army Update anthem is “Birthright: Birthwrong Remix” by Celldweller and Blue Stahli. Learn more about the artists at Celldweller.com and BlueStahli.com.

The Ministry of Propaganda anthem is “Korobeiniki” by Ozma. Learn more about the band at OzmaOnline.com.

Like what you hear? Tell a friend, and give a shout in the comments!

Meme it.

7th Son: Descent is available for purchase now. Learn how you can support the novel’s print release at this page.

The promo’s anthem is “Scrape” by Blue Stahli. Learn more about the artist at BlueStahli.com.

Like what you hear? Tell a friend, and give a shout in the comments!

—

7th Son: Descent J.C. Hutchins. St. Martin’s Griffin, $14.99 paper (352p) ISBN 978-0-312-38437-1
Hutchins’s debut SF thriller, the first in a trilogy, has the unusual distinction of starting life as a popular podcast. The fast pace set from the beginning serves the story well in audio or print, especially considering that most of the characters are clones of the same man. They’re sent to find their “Alpha” after he rigs a proxy assassination of the president of the United States through stolen government technology capable of unleashing chaos everywhere. Hutchins successfully fleshes out each clone as a separate personality, from happy everyman John Smith to the priest who fears that, as a clone, he has no soul. Though there’s not a lot for the hard SF crowd, thriller readers seeking edge-of-your-seat action flavored with conspiracy and futuristic tech will love every page. (Nov.)

—

I’m proud of my little book, and am absolutely thrilled PW dug it, too. And let’s not forget why PW was able to review the novel in the first place: YOU.

For more than three years, you’ve cheered and challenged me creatively. I haven’t the words to fully express my gratitude for all the love and support you’ve shown me … but know that it is reciprocated a hundred-fold. You inspire me.

–J.C.

Much like real music bands, these creators earn their audiences’ trust by producing quality content. The audiences opt-in, and — if they like what they’re experiencing — choose to support the creator by consuming the content. If the work is particularly resonant, they evangelize it, and support it in other ways.

The line between “band” and “audience” is becoming increasingly blurry. Audience members are often producing their own content (blog posts, Flickr photos, online videos and the like), and band members often find themselves in audiences, consuming what’s being created by others.

It’s a groovy system in which anyone can play, and everyone can listen. There are countless performance venues — blogs, Twitter, Facebook — and as many bands and audiences to fill them. This is a great thing.

But damnation, howzabout all those frickin’ douchebags?

I could write a book — a phonebook-sized tome, a What Not To Wear for netsetters — that would plainly illustrate the douchebaggery infesting the social media space. Spend a week on a social network, and you come away slimy-slick from the stuff: spammy tweets and blog comments, bigotry and hatred, mindless chest-thumping punditry, etc.  I’ve periodically dropped my Twitter use completely because of all the goddamned noise.

I no longer worry about such obvious trash. It’s the “stealth mode” douchebaggery that’s really bugging me.

Spotting stealth mode douchebaggery requires initiation. It nearly always requires being “in the band” (though this is not required) — and being in the band long enough to insightfully observe other bands doing what they do. Initiated band members have a different perspective of their peers. They often have a greater appreciation for killer content (because they know how challenging the creative process can be), and are often cheering more loudly than others because of this insider knowledge.

They can also more easily see the shoddy rigging of the show lights, hear misplayed keys, and know when a performance is being phoned in … or outright phony.

I’ve been in the band long enough to spot insincere motivations or unsavory behavior in other bands. I’ve witnessed enough bullshit first-hand — high school-esque gossip, fake smiles, fair-weather friendships, lots of taking and no giving — to know that a great many people are being duped by a great many online carnies. These days, it doesn’t take me very long to discern an enthusiastic creator from a leeching user. I embrace and try to help the genuine folk when I can, and keep my distance from the poison.

I do my very best to be genuine, and not poisonous. I have succeeded and failed spectacularly at this. I have made very good decisions, and very bad ones. A plus: The longer I’m in this game, the fewer bad decisions I make.

To avoid douchebaggery, let’s stick with me for a moment, and then we’ll return to being in the band. I am a tenaciously ambitious creator. I am ethically obligated to see my work succeed. I trumpet my work so loudly, I give those Old Testament Jericho dudes a run for their money. I make no secret as to why I make so much noise (and ask my peeps to do the same): I want to grow my community, and sell books. Achieving both ensures that more books will be written, which benefits me and my community. My audience knows this, because I’ve told them all about it. I’ve initiated them, provided the battle plan. My peeps seem just fine with this. If anyone’s complaining, they’re not telling me.

But back to stealth mode douchebaggery. I’m in the band. I see other bands play. By my reckoning, some of the best-playing bands have completely hoodwinked their audiences. They do not provide best practices, or keen insights or whatever they promise to deliver. They’re usually parroting others (credit optional), or outright stealing ideas or business models, and passing them off as their own. They do not innovate. They often talk a big game, but do very little heavy lifting. Coattail-riding, jealousy and back channel shit-talk are specialties.

Equally sinful, they don’t appreciate their colleagues; they perceive them as stepping stones, not long-term allies. They treat their peers, and their peers’ fans, with disrespect. Their selfish back channel behavior can be likened to the proverbial bull in the china shop: they’re disrupting harmonious professional standards, and destroying their credibility along the way. Reciprocity isn’t part of the picture here. They — just like me — probably think they’re doing it “right.” What they’re doing is burning bridges within the insider community they fought so hard to become a part of.

Professionals don’t talk shit about other professionals in public, so the true personalities and reputations of these stealth mode douchebags are rarely exposed. This is one of social media’s dirty secrets. There are people who hate each other in this space, but publicly chatter back and forth as if they’re pals, to maintain the facade that all bands are happy bands. After all, we live to serve our audiences. The show must go on.

(If you think I’m going to be the guy to “out” the douchebags by name here or anywhere else, think again. I’m not rich or rude enough for such career-wrecking foolishness. I’m part of the problem.)

Cracks publicly appear in this model, but they often quickly fade; with so many lifestreams whizzing by on our screens, there’s only so many braincycles one can dedicate to (for instance) a fussy blog comment exchange before that person is swept back into the ever-unfolding now. It’s like TV: there’s always something on.

Far beyond the stage, the audience rarely sees this credibility-smashing commotion. They’re busy being dazzled by the band. And that’s kosher, to a point. Being dazzled is good. Being bamboozled is not.

I mentioned my thoughts about “being in the band” during a recent interview with Trust Agents co-author Chris Brogan. I presented a much shorter version of my premise, and asked him two questions.

The first: If you’re in the band, and witnessing unsavory practices or messages hailing from another band, what can you do?

Brogan’s answer, in essence: Productively use back channels to form equally productive alliances with like-minded creators. Forge a creative or ethical philosophy. Beat that drum loudly, and use it to beat away the douchebags.

There is wisdom there, and validation. I’ve been doing that for some time, and have forged lifelong friendships and alliances from it.

My second question: If you’re in the audience, how can you spot “talented” bands from untalented ones — even when the douchebags are putting on a killer show?

Brogan’s answer: Look at the company these bands are keeping. Who are their allies? How do their allies behave? What content are they all creating? Use that as a barometer of quality and sincerity.

I can’t rightly add much more to that; Brogan’s replies were succinct and elegant. I do implore audiences — and bands — to understand that this abuse of trust, community and relationships exists. Also understand that it transcends the obvious crassness and douchebaggery you’ll encounter in the public streamspace. This stuff requires peripheral vision. It sounds like a conspiracy theory. It isn’t.

We get what we give. Our returns in this space hinge directly on how we treat others publicly and privately. Those who engage in dodgy behavior might risk the eventual ire of their audience … but their credibility and professionalism will certainly be judged by other bands, and far more swiftly. Word spreads, both online and off.

Watch the bands. Watch how they treat their audiences, and their peers. Perhaps you’ll never witness such stealth mode douchebaggery. But perhaps you will spot those cracks. And perhaps you’ll discover that some bands are playing for a far smaller audience than you initially surmised: themselves.

They were never playing for you at all.

Question: When you buy books, are you MOSTLY a “clicker” (meaning shop online), or a “bricker” (shop in brick-and-mortar stores)?

I tallied results for three hours. The results of the poll rocked my little noggin.

Why I Asked
Since the June release of my debut novel Personal Effects: Dark Art, I’ve been keen to learn more about the buying habits of shoppers. But not just any shoppers — “my” shoppers, my peeps, the folks who’ve supported my free podcast fiction for years. I wanted data, so I could see where and why my peeps shop where they shop, so I could strategize my upcoming outreach efforts for my technothriller 7th Son: Descent, which will be released in late October.

Based on three and a half years of anecdotal data (culled from thousands of emails), some statistical knowledge of the space (culled from white papers on podcasting, mostly) and some first-hand statistical data (culled from my mailing list), I already knew some things about my peeps:

• Most have a college degree; many have post-graduate degrees
• Most have disposable income (though it may be ever-dwindling in this shithole economy)
• They are overwhelmingly male
• Most are between the ages of 36-45, though my work is popular with the 26-35 and 46-and-over markets
• They have online tech savvy (I use the inconvenient task of subscribing to a podcast as an unofficial barometer of this; subscribing to podcasts is still a pain)
• They are social media savvy (The fact that they were on Twitter and could “@” reply was the barometer here, as well as my experiences with them in other communities, including my own)

I fully understood that this poll was unscientific. I didn’t care about science, and honestly believe that Objectivity is a myth. (From my experiences as a newspaperman, I concluded long ago that nearly any thing that is observed alters its behavior because it knows it’s being observed, thus altering the foundation for accurate reporting. Further, no journalist is Objective; it’s an emotional impossibility.) I was questing for anecdotal data — real-world, from-the-gut results provided by what I perceived as my core fan base.

What I Expected
My expectations, before I asked the question, were practically chiseled in my brain. I firmly believed that the Twitter crowd (who represented my “base,” in this unscientific endeavor) would overwhelmingly choose “clicker” over “bricker” — a clear preference for online shopping. This was a natural assumption based on a few things:

• They’re likely online far more than the “average” consumer (Hell, they were tweeting during business hours!)
• This online familiarity implied confidence and familiarity with online retailers such as Amazon.com
• Based on observations from book launches during the past two years (including recent launches of Personal Effects and Trust Agents), Amazon was swarming with Day One purchases, implying further familiarity
• I totally projected my own shopping behavior onto my fans. I’m a clicker, nearly exclusively.

How I Collated the Data
I received so many responses to my informal poll, I could barely keep up. Many thanks to all my friends who “re-tweeted” my question, which made it reach more respondents that I could have on my own.

I collected responses into four groups:

1. Folks who were “clickers,” mostly online shoppers
2. Folks who were “brickers,” mostly in-store shoppers
3. Folks who said they did both equally (“50/50″)
4. Folks whose answers didn’t express a clear preference

I tallied up the “clicker” and “bricker” responses, and then took the “50/50″ responses, and — since these shoppers were equally inclined to shop online and in-store — added a point to both the “clicker” and “bricker” tallies for each response. I did not add the unclear responses to the tallies.

The Results
Here ya go:

Clicker
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Bricker
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Clicker: 118
Bricker: 117

This is quite different than what I expected.

What Does It Mean? (Part One)
The most illuminating take-away for me was that the people whom I perceive to be my core fan base — tech-savvy social media users (or outright geeks) — love to shop in brick-and-mortar bookstores. Yes, yes, they obviously love shopping online … but these results clearly indicate that new media authors like me, who forge their reputations online, cannot ignore the allure and power of brick-and-mortar stores. New media authors simply cannot expect fans to head to Amazon — which is the easy (and perhaps wrongheaded) thing to assume, as several comments below suggest.

Some Comments
Here are a several interesting responses from Twitter users. (Some comments edited for spelling/clarity)

If I know what I want, I buy it online. I’m more likely to buy a book at random from the store, though. (writeingthings)

I like buying in stores. There’s something special about buying books in an actual store. (TheCharmQuark)

I’m about 50% split. If I KNOW what book I want, I’ll buy it online, but if I’m at a bookstore, I’ll browse and buy. (basest)

I am a clicker to research, but a bricker to buy. I gotta feel the book. *rubs fingers together* (greenglam)

I guess I’m a “bricker.” Prefer holding it in my hands, and the immediate gratification of taking it home right then and there. (nickhinton)

Mostly a clicker, b/c of price. Also b/c many authors are selling signed copies directly. (chrisbowsman)

Amazon.com is the only way I buy books, 99.99% of the time. Free shipping and awesome deals rocks. (unixtudotnet)

I’m both. I buy paper, I buy Kindle, I buy audiobooks. Different book form factors for different purposes. (cspenn)

What Does It Mean? (Part Two)
What does this imply for my pre-release outreach strategies for 7th Son: Descent? I don’t rightly know yet. It certainly suggests that reminding fans to pre-order and purchase in-store is mission-critical for new media authors. Buying in-store represents natural shopping behavior, but it’s less convenient than shopping online. Since the bookstore is a “destination” (drive drive drive to the store, etc.), busy folks must be politely reminded that it’s totally cool to buy in-store — but for the love of Pete, don’t forget to buy! New media authors cannot assume Amazon is the magic bullet answer.

What else does it mean? I’m digesting this anecdotal data now, and hope to come to some conclusions that will help me effectively promote 7th Son: Descent — and effectively direct fans to their ideal shopping options during the first two critical weeks the book is available for purchase. Sustained sales are the secret to a great-performing book … but nothing beats a good, hot-damn grand opening.

What do you think? Am I making wrongheaded assumptions about this anecdotal data? Are my findings elementary? What conclusions or insights can you share?

• Dungeons & Dragons
• The Matrix
• Soylent Green
• The Lord of the Rings
• Video gaming
• And more, including a hat-tip to Limp Bizkit, just for shock and awe

In short, Chris Brogan is one of us, peeps. He speaks YOUR language. Enjoy the interview!

NOTE: As J.C. explains in the episode intro, the interview’s audio quality is … troubled. Hutch did the very best he could to remove as much distortion from his side of the conversation as possible.

• Visit the Trust Agents Facebook Group page
• Purchase Trust Agents
• Chris Brogan’s website
• Julien Smith’s website
• J.C.’s 2008 interview with Chris Brogan for the Ultracreatives Interview Series
• J.C.’s recent endorsement of Trust Agents

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

• Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
• Matt Wallace’s website: Matt-Wallace.com

Winners: Expect an email in day or so. Hutch needs your snail mail address.

If Hutch didn’t announce your name (but met the qualifications he mentions in the episode), email him. We’ll hook you up with swag.

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

• Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
• J.C. on NPR’s Weekend Edition
• J.C. in his hometown paper, the Courier-Journal

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

• After a far-too-long hiatus due to promotion of Dark Art, writing finally resumed on my serialized podcast novella, Personal Effects: Sword of Blood. I’m happy to report that the second half of the novella is COMPLETE. I’m set to polish this rough draft, and post an episode this weekend. Thanks for your patience.
• The final “State of the Book” address regarding Dark Art’s sales will drop this week. Again, thanks for your patience.
• A winner in the “Motherf***ing Sword of Blood” contest has been chosen. Expect an announcement later this week. Did I mention, “Thanks for your patience”?
• Swag winners for the Dark Art “Phase Two” evangelism project have been chosen. These lucky folks will be announced in the same episode as the Sword of Blood winner.
• I will soon begin work on 7 Days, an anthology of prequel short stories set in the 7th Son universe featuring our beloved Beta Clones, slated for release in September. These tales will be set one week before the events seen in Descent.
• The “print edition” manuscript of 7th Son: Descent will see podcast release. Expect episodes in October. Brand-new recording of the book, with all the changes you’ll see in the print edition. Hear it again for the first time.
• This website will likely see a redesign, in preparation for Descent’s bookstore release.
• Big news for Personal Effects fans: I’m delighted to announce that Personal Effects: Dark Art will be released in serialized podcast novel form in early 2010.
• Also coming in 2010: The 33. Because the world needs The 33.

End of line.

–J.C.

I finally met him at South By Southwest 2008, and the dude was as kindhearted and enthusiastic in person as he is online. I shook hands with a dozen-dozen social media “superstars” that weekend, and Chris was one of only three who treated me as more than another damned hand to shake. There’s a difference between being confident and drinking your own Kool-Aid; Chris Brogan is a sterling example of the former.

Through his experience, ever-growing expertise (and willingness to share that expertise) and good humor, Chris Brogan earned my trust. What he says has value, and he made it clear to me and thousands more that what we say has value to him.

Trust — more than the dollar, the yen, or the euro — is the world’s most important currency. Without it, productive relationships and transactions simply cannot happen. Without it, there is no valuable “signal” to what people say, or to the products they offer. There is only brain-wracking noise.

Chris wrote a book with Julien Smith. It’s called Trust Agents. It was released in bookstores today. It’s about using social networks to help businesses succeed … though I’m certain its core principles of trust-building can be applied well beyond the cubicle. I haven’t read a word of the book, but I’ve already purchased two copies (one for me, and one for my employer), and will likely buy more in the weeks ahead.

You may not know Chris and Julien’s work, but you know and probably trust me … and you know that I rarely share such earnest endorsements. I’m no sycophant; I’m a person who quests for rational, relevant, resonant information. For years, Chris and Julien have delivered, and I trust they have delivered in this book.

Purchase a copy of Trust Agents. Help support the work of Chris and Julien. You’ll learn something about the priceless value of trust, from two people who have earned mine.

–J.C.

If you’re a first-time visitor to my site thanks to the story, welcome! Personal Effects: Dark Art has been praised as “a stellar first” by Publisher’s Weekly (starred review), called “cutting-edge experimental fiction … that may herald the future of modern fiction” by Library Journal, and was covered in The Washington Post. Permit me to give you a tour of the Personal Effects-related content here at JCHutchins.net:

• More info on Personal Effects: Dark Art, and reviews from novelists and filmmakers such as Gore Verbinski, director of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Ring
• Personal Effects: Sword of Blood, the free groundbreaking podcast-exclusive audionovella prequel to Dark Art
• Commit Yourself To The Brink, a community-fueled art experiment where fans can become patients in the asylum seen in Personal Effects: Dark Art
• The groundbreaking “vlurb” video blurb trailers, feauring video endorsements from celeb storytellers such as the creators of Friday the 13th, Final Destination and The Blair Witch Project

I hope you enjoy what you find here at the site. Keep checking back for more, or subscribe to the blog to receive timely announcements and free fiction. Thanks so much for your interest … and if you’d like to support this trailblazing new breed of storytelling, consider ordering a copy of the book.

Welcome to The Brink,

–J.C.

Sweet! J.C. delivers another State of the Book address! In this episode, Hutch hooks you up with an update on book sales, and the 4 for 400 for 4,000 campaign.

Highlights also include: J.C.’s explanation of how sales of Personal Effects not only benefits him (the selfish bastard!), but also other new media authors … and you; the sing-songy delivery of a website address, and a reminder about the cool free shit (including THE Sword of Blood) that you can win by spreading the word!

• Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
• PHASE TWO: Madness In The Streets
• The Sword of Motherf***ing Blood Giveaway (Scroll to the bottom of the page for all the details.)
• Matt Wallace’s website

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

In the podosphere, C.C. is perhaps best known for his indie music podcast Accident Hash and for his instrumental role in the creation of Mevio’s Podsafe Music Network (now called “music alley”). But but like most ultracreative folk, C.C. has an ever-evolving lineup of killer content and roles in the social media space, such as his marketing podcast Managing the Gray and his role as partner at The Advance Guard.

In this conversation, J.C. and C.C. chat about the changing landscape of social media, communicating effectively in this wild frontier, and more. It’s an illuminating discussion, and by its end, you’ll likely agree with J.C.’s introductory comments when he calls C.C. “The Bruce Lee of social media.”

And remember: We need emotional content.

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show!

Tom chat about his first book, Secrets of Question Based Selling, and his latest offering, the particularly timely The Complete Guide to Selling Yourself In Today’s Competitive Marketplace. At every turn, J.C. ensures the conversation delivers helpful insights and advice for listeners well beyond the sales profession. There’s some extremely resonant stuff in this interview, folks.

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

Today, I received yet another mysterious package in the mail … and it might be the coolest one yet. Check out the video for all the details, and be sure to visit FrenziedWaters.com to follow up on the mystery.

This is a must-see, folks. It’s so awesome.

–J.C.

Victor has generously provided me the audio from that interview, and I’m delighted to share it with you. I also heartily endorse Victor’s world-class show, and hope that you — regardless of if you’re an Apple fanboy or a hard-core PC user — check it out. And for the photographers in my audience, check out Victor’s stellar Typical Shutterbug Podcast, too!

–J.C.

J.C. Hutchins and award-winning horror/thriller writer Matt Wallace have teamed up to unleash the coolest promotion in the history of the mothereffin’ multiverse. By evangelizing J.C.’s new novel Personal Effects: Dark Art, you have a shot at winning a unique, priceless sword … THE Sword of Blood.

This is a BATTLE READY, real-deal, no-messing-around REAL sword, from Matt Wallace’s private collection. It is a replica of the sword wielded by Charles V of Spain. In 1519, Charles V was crowned “Roman Emperor”; at that time, no other leader had ruled such an inmense kingdom in human history. The sword’s blade is forged in high carbon stainless steel, and is 40 inches long. It was crafted by Marto, the same company that created swords for the Highlander television series.

But it gets so much cooler. J.C. and Matt will write a flash fiction story, focused on the Sword of Blood … and that story will be written on the blade of the weapon. This story will not appear anywhere else on the planet; it is written for an audience of one — the person who wins the Sword of Blood. And to make this a true Sword of Blood, both J.C. and Matt will sign their names upon the sword in their own blood.

This sword originally cost hundreds of dollars, and is now truly priceless. Only one will be worthy to wield it.

How can you win THE Sword of Blood? Simple.

• You must have a copy of Personal Effects: Dark Art on hand. (Borrow one from a friend. Order a copy here. If you can’t obtain a copy, play them the videos at my homepage.)
  
• You must conduct a “show and tell” of the novel and its transmedia items (IDs, biz cards, documents, etc.) to several family members or co-workers.
• Simply show off the book, and tell your pals about the novel and its “out of book” transmedia experience.
• You must pass out copies of the Order Form PDF (found below) to each person you chat with.
• You can do this in your home, at a friend’s house, or at your workplace.
• You must document this Show And Tell session with at least one photograph.
• Email that photo to J.C. at 7thSonNovel.com by July 31.

One worthy participant will be selected at random, and will receive THE Sword of Blood, featuring a flash fiction story written upon its blade and signed by its authors in their blood. This sword ruled the Roman Empire. It is more than worthy of your effort. In fact, the real question is: Are you worthy to possess it?

The contest ends July 31, 2009, so there’s no time to waste. Print out the Order Form PDF for your peeps (found below), and get showing and telling. Be sure to document your efforts, and send at least one photo to J.C. at 7thSonNovel@gmail.com.

• Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
• PHASE TWO: Madness In The Streets
• The Sword of Motherf***ing Blood Giveaway (Scroll to the bottom of the page for all the details.)
• Phil Rossi’s website

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

Download this sonuvagun, like, now.

• Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
• PHASE TWO: Madness In The Streets
• The Sword of Motherf***ing Blood Giveaway (Scroll to the bottom of the page for all the details.)
• Matt Wallace’s website

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

Get ready to say, “Oh, shit.”

• Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
• PHASE TWO: Madness In The Streets
• The Sword of Motherf***ing Blood Giveaway (Scroll to the bottom of the page for all the details.)
• Matt Wallace’s website
• Jonathan Maberry’s website

Click to download the PDF

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is “Chip Away” by Jane’s Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!