Become a victim of the OBSIDIAN blackout — and make history
April 9, 2008
Here’s your open invitation: I want you to tell a story set in the 7th Son universe.
In late May, a first-ever in podcasting will be unleashed upon the world: 7th Son: OBSIDIAN, a short story anthology set in universe of my 7th Son podcast novel trilogy. The biggest names in podcast fiction are contributing stories, including best-selling sci-fi authors Michael A. Stackpole and Scott Sigler. If you’d like to learn more about the anthology, click here.
Ahhh, but the “first-evers” don’t stop with these brilliant writers. I’m opening up the 7th Son universe to you, and your friends, and your family — and anyone else who wants to contribute killer content to the OBSIDIAN experience.
How can you play? You gotta believe in this conceit: On November 19, 2007, the U.S. suffered a coordinated terrorist attack, and was plunged into a nationwide blackout. The country devolved into chaos. Power and order were restored two weeks later.
You are invited to be a participant in that November 2007 blackout. I’m opening the gates and empowering you to create content that will appear in the OBSIDIAN podcast and YouTube experience. You can record video of yourself suffering through this mayhem. You can call a voice mail number and leave a panicked message, or a news report from the field. The blackout is real, and it’s happening now.
I’ve already invited dozens of 7th Son fans from around the world to create OBSIDIAN-inspired blackout content. Videos and audio recordings are already online, for your review:
- “Sneak peak” of OBSIDIAN videos at YouTube
- Audio: Shopkeeper
- Audio: “They came…”
- Audio: “Somebody help me…”
- Audio: “Do dark … help me…”
Are you interested in making history and contributing your creative mojo to a fiction project never before seen in podcasting (or perhaps even mainstream publishing)? Rock on. Read on.
What J.C. is looking for: Convincing “found recording” video and audio created by dedicated folks who will play along with the OBSIDIAN concept.
Video Guidelines
- Webcam footage is welcome, but I’m questing for manic night footage of life in America during the blackout. Is your backyard crawling with prowlers? Are there fistfights in the streets? Cannibals in the woods? Enlist friends, raise hell and get it all on tape.
- Videos can be up to 10 minutes long; video quality is not an issue.
- Your video should feel “authentic.” Oscar performances and Steadicam are out. Documentary-style is in.
- Email me via my Contact page and let me know you’re the next Coppola. I’ll tell you how to send me the footage.
Don’t have a vidcam? No sweat. If you’ve got a phone, you’re in.
Audio Guidelines
- Call this phone number: 206-222-9158. Listen to my intro. Leave your “victim of the blackout” voice mail message.
- If you’d rather send me an MP3, not a problem. Hit the Contact page and send it to me.
- I’m looking for more than just panicked victim stories. If you’d like to play a journalist reporting from a network or from the streets, I’m all for it.
- If you can fluently speak a language other than English, I’d love your contribution to be from the perspective of an international reporter, covering the U.S. blackout from afar. Your audio contribution should be “in language.”
- If you speak English in an international accent, your contribution can be one from a radio reporter covering the U.S. blackout from overseas.
- Again, you may email me MP3s. The Contact page can help you there.
Deadline
I’ll need quality time to work with your contributions, so please send me your video or audio by no later than April 30th.
Video that convincingly captures “life during the blackout” will be posted on the OBSIDIAN YouTube channel. The very best contributions will be released in the podcast feed as stand-alone vidcasts.
Audio that convincingly captures the blackout experience will be released in the podcast feed as “mini-casts.”
The not-so-fine print
Now for the low-key caveats. If you commit to the project, you’re granting me permission to use your video and audio for promotional purposes. While I will absolutely not sell your video or profit from it monetarily, you’re granting me permission to own and distribute the video you submit.
The final word
Now, you’re not an actor. You’re not a movie director. But you’re more than capable of creating creative, compelling, “authentic” content, because you are a creative, compelling, authentic individual. Be confident in your abilities. I have absolute trust and faith in you.
So, get ready to make history. Crack out your vidcams and get shooting, or dial 206-222-9158 and get talking. Email me with questions.
And remember: The blackout is here … the blackout is now … and it’s very, very dark out there.
–J.C.
7th Son: OBSIDIAN is coming…
March 5, 2008
What is 7th Son: OBSIDIAN?
7th Son: OBSIDIAN is another “first” in podcast fiction from J.C. Hutchins. 7th Son: OBSIDIAN enhances the 7th Son trilogy universe. 7th Son: OBSIDIAN brings together the best storytellers in podcasting for one project, with one mission — to tell tales that shock, move, and entertain you … and reveal moments in the 7th Son universe that were merely hinted at in the original trilogy.
7th Son: OBSIDIAN is an audio short story anthology that chronicles a crisis that took place in 7th Son, Book Three: Destruction. In that novel, the United States fell victim to a coordinated terrorist attack. Power stations across the country were destroyed, and the U.S. plummeted into a country-wide blackout. In the timeline of the trilogy, this blackout occurred in mid-November 2007.
While this blackout was described in the trilogy, the story never focused on its true victims: average Americans.
7th Son: OBSIDIAN does just that.
Author J.C. Hutchins has recruited the seven biggest names in podcast fiction to write seven short stories set during this national crisis. Podfic fans know these names:
- Scott Sigler (author of Infected, Earthcore, Ancestor, The Rookie)
- Michael A. Stackpole (New York Times bestselling author of Fortress Draconis)
- Tee Morris (author of MOREVI: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana, and Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword)
- Mur Lafferty (author of Playing For Keeps, and the acclaimed Heaven audionovella series)
- Matt Wallace (award-winning author of The Failed Cities Monologues, and Variant Frequencies stories)
- Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff (author of Shadow Falls, Number One With A Bullet, Diary of a Madman and Transistor Rodeo)
- Christiana Ellis (author of Nina Kimberly the Merciless and Space Casey)
In addition, Hutchins has tapped other trailblazing podcast entertainers to contribute shorter stories that also take place during this “time of darkness”:
- Evo Terra
- Dan Klass
- Wichita Rutherford
- TD-0013
- Soccergirl
- The cast of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd
- George Hrab
No podcast author has ever opened his universe in this way, for a true audiofiction anthology. And no author has ever assembled such an all-star cast.
Each storyteller will spin a unique tale that takes place during the blackout, featuring brand new characters far from the front lines seen in the 7th Son trilogy. These are stories of survival, action, betrayal and hope, all told from the perspective of average Americans whose lives were affected by the OBSIDIAN blackout.
The writers are brilliant. The concept is groundbreaking. The stories are unforgettable.
7th Son: OBSIDIAN is coming. May 2008.
I have a new job! Thanks, Twitter!
March 2, 2008
As many 7th Son fans know, I’m a Twitter evangelist. I use the soc.media tool in my everyday life, “tweeting” my moods, my wild ideas for new fiction … and especially, my wily experiments in new media marketing. From my forthcoming “Operation Grid Failure” viral video project to my feel-good pet Stweet Team concept, I try to bend the boundaries of Twitter as a means of self expression, and a way to build communities.
The Twitter karma gods have looked favorably on my constant use of their tool, and have granted me a boon.
In early December, I spotted an intruiging tweet from Twitter follower Jeffery Sass (@sass). It read: “I am hiring. Here’s my ’social media’ recruitment video.” There was a link to the video below. That was it.
Curious, I watched the vid. You should, too.
It’s an effective recruitment video, particularly when the rest of the country is in its December shivers. But for me, it resonated on another level. I recognized that pier. I recognized that beachfront skyline. Turns out Jeff’s company, Myxer, is based minutes away from my South Florida home. I immediately DM’ed Jeff (that’s “direct messaged” in tweetspeak), introduced myself, hinted about my involvement in podcasting and “zero budget” soc.media marketing, and left it at that. I suspected I’d have to later conduct the traditional “brainbreaking” exercise of educating him on podcasting and soc.media marketing.
No need, Jeff said in his reply. He was already a fan of my podcast fiction, and was well aware of my marketing and community-building techniques. That, friends, is a testament to social media, podcasting, and online marketing/networking.
And now, I’m proud to report that as of Tuesday, March 4, I will be working for Myxer as its Social Media Marketing Manager.
Myxer’s slogan is “Go with it,” a brilliant allusion to its service. A less-catchy alternative would be, “Never pay for a cellphone ringtone again.” Myxer is the world’s largest provider of user-generated ringtones and wallpapers … all of which are created by normal folks like you and me. It’s a savvy blend of MySpace-meets-content creation, where everyday people can create their own ringtones, download them to their phones, tell their friends, download others’ ringtones and wallpapers and more. The best part: the service is completely free, the ringtone-creation service is simple to use, and nearly all of the content on the site is free. (Creators can charge for their ringtones, if they wish.)
The site has more than 6 million users. They’ve downloaded nearly 60 million files of content. There are more than 330,000 ringtones and wallpapers in the Myxer catalog — 99 percent of which is free.
Free content, created by normal people. Longtime fans of my work know why this is a perfect philosophical match for me as an creator and Myxer employee. (The shorts-and-T-shirt dress policy doesn’t hurt, either.)
So what will I be doing as the Social Media Marketing Manager for Myxer? (Dig that job title acronym: SMMMM. Gotta love it.) I’ll be podcasting and blogging, and reaching out to content creators such as bands and podcasters — yes, podcasters — to create new, killer content for the Myxer site. I’ll also be creating marketing projects to attract brand new users to the site. In essence, I’ll be getting paid to do what I’ve been doing as a hobby for the past two years. I cannot begin to describe how excited I am to be part of the Myxer team.
Oh, and they’re sending me to South By Southwest next week. Wicked cool.
I owe much of this to Myxer peeps Jeff Sass and Steve Spiro, who saw a great opportunity for Myxer to benefit from my expertise. And I absolutely owe even more to the more than 36,000 worldwide fans of my podcast fiction (who have downloaded nearly 2 million episodes of my content).
But for now, I’ll give all the credit to Twitter … and to the wise Twitter gods, who permitted a wonderful moment of serendipity in which I was online, reading tweets, at the moment that Jeff broadcasted his recruitment video. If Jeff had tweeted five minutes later, I never would have seen his video — and wouldn’t be getting paid to play in the soc.media space.
Tuesday can’t come soon enough.
–J.C.
J.C. Hutchins and Scott Sigler featured on the cover of Blogger & Podcaster magazine
February 19, 2008
I am honored to report that podcast novelist Scott Sigler and I are the subjects of the February/March cover story for Podcaster & Blogger magazine. The article, titled “Fiction 2.0,” was written by Dan Klass of “The Bitterest Pill” fame. Podcast novelist Mur Lafferty was also featured in the story. You can read it at the magazine’s website.
I have never read a journalistic article that so brilliantly and eloquently captures the “vision” that podcast novelists share, why we do what we do, and the passion we have for our work, the podcasting medium, and our audiences. Klass’ reporting is world-class, and his writing matches — and in many cases, trumps — any magazine cover feature you’d find on newsstands today. I am flattered by the coverage, and am honored to be recognized as a vanguard in this blossoming genre of podcasting.
If you’ve read the article and are visiting JCH.net for the first time, thank you for your interest in my work. Feel free to explore the site, and experience the 100+ images, desktop wallpapers, photographs, music, and more … all inspired by 7th Son, all created by fans. Please visit my Podcasting Primer page to easily subscribe to the 7th Son audiobook trilogy.
For existing fans of 7S, you’ll be delighted to know that the Blogger & Podcaster article reveals the details of my next podfiction project — titled 7th Son: Obisidan — which will debut in May. I’ll give more details on Obsidian in a future blog post.
My thanks go out to writer Dan Klass, editor Shelly Brisbin and the Blogger & Podcaster team for covering podcast fiction, and for so superbly capturing my love for my craft, and my listeners.
Subscribing just got easier! Introducing “C2G”
February 8, 2008
The greatest barrier between podcasting and the average computer user is ignorance. Most folks don’t understand how podcasting works, so they believe they can’t participate. I want to change that.
Subscribing to the 7th Son trilogy is simple using Apple’s iTunes software, so I’ve whipped up a video (and snazzy tagline) to tell that story. The method is called C2G: click, click, get. With two clicks of a mouse button, uninitiated users will be on the podcasting fast track.
The C2G video is on permanent display at my Podcasting Primer page, but I’ve included it below so you can see what it’s all about. If you’re a podcaster (or use RSS to distribute your content), feel free to use the C2G logo or tagline on your own website. The more we inform, the more we benefit.
So do you have a tech-leery pal who insists he (or she) “just isn’t ready” for podcasting? Send them the link to my Podcasting Primer page and encourage them to watch the video … or use the C2G logo/tagline on your own site. Remember the new mantra to educate the masses — C2G: click, click, get!
The J.C. Hutchins Fan Community is LIVE!
January 13, 2008
A message from J.C. Hutchins:
For two years, I’ve directly interacted with 7th Son fans via email, instant messages and more. But I’ve craved for a way for dialogue to transcend this limiting “two way” street. I’ve wanted 7S listeners to interact with each other. And now, the wait for me — and you — is over. Bebop over to the Community page to join the J.C. Hutchins fan community!
The site and sign-up is completely free; all you need to do is provide a valid email address and answer a few marketing-ish questions (so I can learn a little more about my listeners; your information is private and will never be sold to a third party), and you’re off to the races! You’ll be armed to the teeth with access to the Community, and are blessed with your own profile page, where you can customize your page theme, post blog entries, add music, photos, videos and more! You can even make it your new Web presence! Who needs MySpace? You’ve got HutchSpace now. 
In addition to having your own personalized webspace, you can create Groups and Forums in this new Community space, upload your pics for the world to see, and get gobs of conversations flowing about 7th Son, me, other podcasts — it’s your community, so it’s your call! Consider it your home away from home. Enjoy!
7th Son scheduled for 2009 print release
November 13, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: J.C. Hutchins, 7thSonNovel@gmail.com
J.C. Hutchins, author of the successful “7th Son” podcast novel trilogy, has accepted a book deal to publish “7th Son: Descent,” the series’ debut novel. The thriller is scheduled for a 2009 U.S. spring/summer release by St. Martin’s Press.
“7th Son” is the story of seven strangers who have been brought together after the recent assassination of the U.S. president. The men discover that they are human clones, with identical childhood memories. These “John Michael Smiths” have been assembled to catch the man who murdered the president. Their target? Their progenitor, the original John Michael Smith, code-named “John Alpha.”
Hutchins is widely-known as one of the vanguard authors in a growing genre of free online audiobooks — also called “podcast novels ” or “podiobooks.” These novels are often read and recorded by the author, and are promoted online in podcasts and web blogs. “Podnovelists” like Hutchins leverage these new technologies — and the ubiquity of iPods and other portable devices — to find audiences for their work.
Hutchins, a South Florida resident, launched the audio version of “7th Son” in early 2006. Since then, “7th Son” has become the most successful podcast novel series in history. The trilogy has more than 30,000 listeners worldwide, and features cameos from sci-fi/horror icons Nathan Fillion, George Romero, Kevin J. Anderson, and others. In February 2007, the trilogy was featured in The New York Times.
“I’m thrilled to work with St. Martin’s Press in bringing ‘7th Son’ into the ‘real world,’ in real bookstores,” Hutchins said. “For the past two years, I’ve released the online audio version of ‘7th Son’ to an ever-growing, very enthusiastic fan base. I don’t know who’s going to be more excited to see it on bookshelves — my amazing, supportive listeners, or me.”
The online success of “7th Son” has brought Hutchins more than a worldwide audience. Hutchins is currently co-writing the debut novel in a new thriller series, which is slated for a 2009 release, also by St. Martin’s Press. Opportunities for “7th Son” are emerging in other media, as well.
Hutchins, who is affectionately chastised by his listeners for his cliffhanger-style chapter endings, remains coy about the other projects.
“There’s lots to talk about,” Hutchins said, smiling. “But as in ‘7th Son,’ timing and pacing is everything. I guess folks will have to keep listening to learn more.”
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7th Son Media Kit: Summer 2007
August 15, 2007
Please evangelize the 7th Son trilogy by downloading and distributing this media kit via email, blog, podcast, RSS, etc. And hey: If you know any media/publishing/entertainment professionals, feel free to send it their way. Thanks!
Author featured in NYTimes article
February 28, 2007
J.C. Hutchins was recently interviewed by The New York Times reporter Andrew Adam Newman about podcast fiction — and the story is now live at the paper’s website. (Update: You can find a PDF of the story here.)
For Times readers who are visiting JCHutchins.net for the first time, welcome! If you’d like to download the free audiobooks 7th Son, Book One: Descent or Book Two: Deceit, please visit this page to learn more. Also included is a primer on this newfangled trend called “podcasting.”
Also mentioned in the feature are fellow podnovelists Scott Sigler, Mark Jeffrey and Tee Morris. Evo Terra, founder of Podiobooks.com, is also quoted in the story.
A quick message to the 20,000+ listeners of 7th Son: Thank you. You have been cheering J.C. on for more than a year. He appreciates the support and evangelism more than you’ll ever know. Let’s see if this takes the trilogy one step closer to publication!
Serialized audiobook to conclude with plot twists, celebrity cameos
February 10, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 10, 2007
CONTACT: J.C. Hutchins, 7thSonNovel@gmail.com
Download PDF version of release here.
To celebrate the conclusion of one of the most popular serialized audiobooks on the Internet, celebrities from science-fiction publishing and television will appear as special guest readers in author J.C. Hutchins’ novel, “7th Son: Deceit.”
“Deceit” is the second book in Hutchins’ acclaimed 7th Son “podcast novel” trilogy. Released as free weekly audio downloads to about 20,000 listeners worldwide, 7th Son is a technothriller about human cloning, the recording of human memories, and a conspiracy sparked by the assassination of the U.S. president.
As “Deceit” enters its final episodes, listeners will be treated to celebrity cameos at the beginning of each chapter. The celebrities are recapping the novel’s previous events, bringing the audience up to date on the story.
Special guest readers in January through March include:
Nick Sagan, author of the science fiction novels “Idlewild,” “Edenborn” and “Everfree.” Sagan has also written episodes for “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Voyager.” Son of astronomer Carl Sagan, it is Nick’s “Hello from the children of Earth” greeting that was recorded and placed on the Voyager space probes’ golden records. “Everfree” will be available in paperback this April.
Ron Glass, Emmy-nominated actor best known as the charming Detective Ron Harris in the TV series “Barney Miller,” and for his compelling role in the cult sci-fi series “Firefly” as Derrial Book, a preacher with a mysterious past.
Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author renowned for his novels set in the “Star Wars” universe, and co-author of the acclaimed “Dune” prequel series. His works also include the “Saga of the Seven Suns” series, and the Nebula Award-nominated “Assemblers of Infinity.”
Alan Dean Foster, writer of the upcoming “Transformers” movie tie-in novel, and author of more than 40 science-fiction and fantasy novels including “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” tie-ins, and fan-favorite originals such as the “Commonwealth” series and the “Dinotopia” series.
Cory Doctorow, John W. Campbell Award-winning author of the new short story collection “Overclocked;” co-editor for the popular culture blog, BoingBoing.net; author of the novels “Down and Out In the Magic Kingdom,” “Eastern Standard Tribe” and others.
Gigi Edgley, actress acclaimed for her role as Chiana on the Sci Fi Channel series “Farscape.” Edgley was nominated in 2006 for Best Actress in a Motion Picture by the Film Critics Circle of Australia for her performance in “Last Train to Freo.”
Robin Furth, author of “The Dark Tower: A Complete Concordance,” the official encyclopedic resource for Stephen King’s acclaimed epic “Dark Tower” fantasy series. Furth is currently plotting the new “Dark Tower” comic book series from Marvel Entertainment.
Helen Keier, co-author of the “Star Wars New Essential Guide to Alien Species.” She is also a blogger at StarWars.com, and a freelance editorial consultant for Lucasfilm Publishing.
“It is an honor to invite so many talented, creative stars in the science-fiction community to appear on the podcast,” author J.C. Hutchins said. “This is another first in podcasting. The ending of ‘Deceit’ won’t be remembered for just the story’s action and plot twists. The caliber of these entertainers enhances the listening experience.”
Anderson, Foster, Doctorow and the other guests are the latest in a series of 7th Son cameos from veteran science-fiction entertainers. Past celebrity readers have included actor Nathan Fillion (star of the TV series “Firefly” and recent guest star on ABC’s “LOST”), Jeph Loeb (writer/producer of NBC’s “Heroes”) and award-winning sci-fi/fantasy novelists Robert J. Sawyer, Mike Resnick, Tracy R. Hickman and others. Patrick Lussier, editor of film thrillers “Red Eye” and the “Scream” trilogy appeared in the novel, as has director George Romero and sci-fi/horror novelist Scott Sigler.
This event is the author’s most recent innovation in podcast fiction. To mark the debut of “Deceit” in September 2006, Hutchins hosted a launch party for the novel in the popular online community Second Life. This was the first event of its kind for any novel. Hutchins’ website features artwork, music, fiction, videos and “virtual reality” tours based on scenes in the books — all created by fans.
7th Son, a free weekly podcast, is the most popular “podiobook” series in history. 7th Son is the #1 most-popular program at the podcast directory PodcastPickle.com, and is listed as a Top 20 podcast in iTunes’ Literature category. The first novel in the series — titled “Descent” — was nominated for two podcast fiction awards. The novel has been featured on such popular blogs as BoingBoing.net and MissSnark.com.
“7th Son, Book Two: Deceit” and “Book One: Descent” can be found at www.JCHutchins.net and at www.Podiobooks.com.
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About the novel:
7th Son is the story of seven strangers who have been brought together after the recent assassination of the U.S. president. These men quickly discover they all appear to be the same man … with identical childhood memories.
Unwitting participants in a human cloning experiment, these “John Michael Smiths” have been assembled to catch the man who murdered the president. Their target? The man they were cloned from; the original John Michael Smith, code-named “John Alpha.”
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