Celldweller

Flash Fiction: "Ursa Minor" /  by J.C. Hutchins

Since it's Halloween, I thought I'd toss something unusual in the podcast feed. Check out this experimental piece of fiction I wrote and recorded back in Nov. 2008 titled Ursa Minor.

At the time, Celldweller's album Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head was brand new (it's a stellar album; pick up a copy), and I was smitten by its cinematic-style music. I was so inspired, I contacted Celldweller mastermind Klayton and asked if I could write at least one short story inspired by his music ... using his music in the story as a soundtrack.

The goal: To tell a complete tale using only the time allowed by the music, while timing plot points and action to specific moments in the music. The end result is Ursa Minor, using the song of the same name from the Celldweller album.

It's 1:44 minutes long. A fun creative challenge! I hope you enjoy the tale, as brief as it is. :)

Happy Halloween!

--J.C.

OBSIDIAN Episode 15 /  by J.C. Hutchins

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This week's must-listen OBSIDIAN short-short is by Dan Klass. This is a masterpiece of audio fiction, and J.C. considers it one of the crown jewels in the OBSIDIAN anthology.

Dan Klass is the host and creator of "The Bitterest Pill," an award-winning podcast in which he talks about his life on the outskirts of the entertainment industry while raising his kids under the flight path at LAX.  The show has been described by The New York Times as "intelligent," "endearing," and "sublime," and has been featured on NPR, NBC 4, Fox News and in USAToday.com and The Christian Science Monitor.  He is also the co-author of Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Audio and Video Podcasting.

Please subscribe to The Bitterest Pill -- and send Dan Klass a well-deserved appreciative email -- by visiting TheBitterestPill.com.

J.C. also unleashes gobs of timely news in his "talky-talk" intro and outro, including:

  • Parts One and Two of J.C.'s fun interview with Joe on the OnThePodcast podcast, featuring some delicious tidbits about J.C.'s next book, Personal Effects: Dark Art
  • An opportunity to lend a helping hand to 7th Son superfan Gemini and her family by making a donation at the Time Well Wasted blog
  • A mini-geekout update about Personal Effects: Dark Art, and its state of production
  • The 7th Son T-shirt store at Geeklabel.com is closing on Aug. 15. If you want to snag a shirt or two (at less than $15 a pop), get crackin'
  • The world premiere of a brand-new Celldweller song -- this one is the ultra-intense, incredible "Birthright (Birthwrong Remix by Blue Stahli)". The full song is available here in this episode; download the song for free at FixtOnline.com/FreeDownloads.html

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A very special "Voices From the Darkness" episode!

OBSIDIAN: Episode 2 /  by J.C. Hutchins

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Welcome to the second episode of 7th Son: OBSIDIAN -- and the second part of Tee Morris' excellent short story, Miles To Go Before I Sleep. In this episode, Miles To Go's hero, Ron, is more desperate than ever to head home ... but what awaits him when he gets there? If you enjoyed Tee's OBSIDIAN story, be sure to check out his work at TeeMorris.com, and send him an appreciative email.

J.C. Hutchins promotes several items of interest in the "talky-talk" intro and outro chatter for this episode, including:

  • An upcoming Ministry of Propaganda mission from Natasha
  • JOHN ALPHA FOR PRESIDENT! Visit JohnAlphaForPresident.com to receive your free bumper sticker, and support 7th Son with this fun viral marketing experiment
  • 7th Son fan Cactusnic's UK bike ride to benefit the Alzheimer's Society
  • Snag the full version of "Birthright" -- and 15 other songs -- for free at FixtOnline.com/FreeDownloads

Coming next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A story by Imperial Stormtrooper TD-0013, from the A Different Point Of View podcast. If only George Lucas could write such compelling 'trooper tales...

PROMOS:

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

OBSIDIAN: Episode 1 /  by J.C. Hutchins

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Welcome to the debut episode of J.C. Hutchins' 7th Son: OBSIDIAN, the world's first podcast short story anthology based in an existing fictional universe. The universe is, of course, Hutchins' 7th Son Podcast Novel Trilogy.

Nearly 100 people have contributed to the OBSIDIAN experience. Tales from bestselling novelists, A-List podcast storytellers and 7th Son fans from around the globe will be featured in this anthology over the next 10 weeks. At least three episodes of content will be released each week, so prepare for full immersion into the OBSIDIAN blackout experience.

In the weeks ahead, you'll hear stories from these podcast entertainers: Michael A. Stackpole, Scott Sigler, Mur Lafferty, Matt Wallace, Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff, Christiana Ellis, Evo Terra, Dan Klass, Wichita Rutherford, TD-0013, George Hrab, Soccergirl, and the cast of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd.

Today's episode features the first half of the short story Miles To Go Before I Sleep, written and narrated by Tee Morris. Learn more about Tee's work -- and send him an appreciative email! -- at TeeMorris.com.

There's huge news in J.C.'s "talky talk" intro and outro segments, including:

  • The big reveal about J.C.'s next novel, affectionately nicknamed CODE PHANTOM
  • The world premiere of Celldweller's instrumental version of "Birthright"
  • How you can download a full album of Celldweller songs -- including the full version of "Birthright" -- for free at FixtOnline.com/FreeDownloads
  • J.C.'s appearance on producer Shawn Bishop's podcast, Behind The Lines #14
  • The debut of J.C.'s text story, 7th Son: Runner, available as a mobile phone exclusive

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

"7th Son" Anthems: Revisited /  by J.C. Hutchins

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In the final episode of 7th Son, Book Three: Destruction, listeners were treated to a mixed audio montage of the anthems heard in the 7th Son trilogy. Fans of the series requested a stand-alone version of that experience, and now J.C. Hutchins can release it into the wild.

This audio was brilliantly mixed by Destruction's producer, Shawn Bishop, and features these songs:

  • "Afraid This Time" by Celldweller (Intro)
  • "Purple" by Ethic (Book One: Descent anthem)
  • "Switchback" by Celldweller (Book Two: Deceit anthem)
  • "Symbiont" by Celldweller (Book Three: Destruction anthem)

Enjoy!