All Posts

Killer Content: CokeTag FB application /  by J.C. Hutchins

In my grand vision of the Internet and how I interact with folks in the online space, I see this website, JCHutchins.net, as my "fort" -- a base of operations from where most of my content hails, and where I want most folks engaging with me and my art. However, I perceive social media networks beyond my site as "beachheads," and have presences on services like Facebook and Myspace because I know that's where people congregate. My perceptions of these beachheads have changed throughout the years. My opinion of them has improved, mostly because of the cool tools and applications folks are now creating that transcend the one-dimensional "Bite A Friend" games. I crave something useful in my social media apps, something that can not only help evangelize my work, but organize my thoughts and share some fun personal details with my audience. Of course, being an indie content creator, I want to do all this on my terms.

Imagine my surprise when this scrappy, indie writer learned how uberbrand Coca-Cola could help me do just that.

The folks at Coke have concocted something very clever with their "CokeTag" Facebook Application. (You can see my personal CokeTag at my FB Profile.) Here's an elegant app that allows you to share information about yourself, spread the word about worthy causes, or promote your friends and the great things (or nonsense) they're up to. The app is robust and flexible enough for folks like me (who like to control nearly every aspect of the information piping through the thing), yet intuitive enough to get users rolling in seconds.

The app gives you five "categories" with which to fill with content. As I configured my app, I selected a category called "Music That I Like" and simply typed the names of my favorite bands. Here's the groovy part: the CokeTag app cross-referenced my hand-typed content with Amazon's Alexa web search engine and automatically inserted the URLs of those bands' sites into the app. There was zero fuss or management on my end, and nearly all of the auto-results were accurate. Very cool.

I appreciated that I could override those auto-results with better URLs when needed.

You may choose from a list of pre-created content categories, or create your own. I chose to create a "Podcasts I Dig" category to give my audience a peek into what shows I enjoy ... and also help promote my podcolleages. (Every link helps.) This homebrew feature has great promise. I can easily create a Cool Stuff category, which I can update with the interesting links I discover as I bebop around the Web. BoingBoing lite.

There is a low-key "viral" element to the app -- you can post your friends' CokeTag apps within your Profile, and there's some business about tracking clicks to your CokeTag (which calculates how "influential" you are) -- but its truly spiffy evangelical element is the ability to share the app in Facebook messages, or on a friend's Wall. Suddenly, I'm armed with an easily-sharable portal into my personal interests, and a sly way to spread the word about killer content.

The app is fun to use out of the box, and has enough customization features to please scrappy DIYers like myself. Highly recommended.

--J.C.

OBSIDIAN Episode 10 /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

This week's OBSIDIAN showcase short story, titled A Rose By Any Other Name, is written and narrated by award-winning author and podcaster Mur Lafferty. Ride shotgun with young heroine Rose, as she learns a secret about her name ... and must face unfathomable odds during the OBSIDIAN blackout. If you enjoy Mur's tale, please send a few gracious words her way. Her contact information can be found at her website, Murverse.com.

J.C. covers some fun, if familiar, ground in his "talky talk" segments, including:

  • The popular John Alpha for President election campaign
  • 7th Son: Runner, J.C.'s new serialized mobile phone text story, which is rolling out now. Find details here and here.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A priceless video short-short by Soccergirl. A new UltraCreatives interview with J.R. Blackwell will drop after that, and we'll close out the week with more audio and video "Voices From the Darkness" OBSIDIAN episodes!

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).

BONUS: "Tea and Chat" interview with J.C. Hutchins /  by J.C. Hutchins

I rarely post interviews of myself in my own podcast feed -- I always fear that the act is a little smug and self-congratulatory -- but I simply could not not showcase this recent conversation with brilliant interviewer Stephen Kilbride from the "Tea and Chat" podcast.

What makes Stephen's interview so special? While it is perhaps the longest interview I've ever done in podcasting ... and I've done well over 100 in the past two years ... it's also one of the most exhaustive and authoritative in its scope and depth. While longtime 7th Son fans will know the trilogy's plot "elevator pitch" all too well -- and several other anecdotes found here -- this conversation explores my perspectives on podcasting, publishing and writing ... and how I think projects like 7th Son: OBSIDIAN can permanently (and positively) change the landscape of storytelling.

I believe no other interview I've done to date better encapsulates my thoughts on new media, free content, and where I think fiction can go, when authors empower their audiences to participate in the creative process. The lines between creator and spectator are blurring, and I think that's an exciting thing indeed.

You'll also hear me chat about topics other than 7th Son and OBSIDIAN. We touch on the UltraCreatives Interview Series (and why it may not return after OBSIDIAN's conclusion), my advice for new writers, creative inspirations for my characters, the roots of my undying gratitude for 7th Son fans, and a lot more.

I hope you enjoy this very long interview, and -- more important -- I hope you check out Stephen's incredible "Tea and Chat" podcast, in which he interviews other authors in the podcasting space. It's must-listen content, and I'm grateful to Stephen for making so much time to chat with me for his show.

--J.C.

Cellphone-centric story "7th Son: Runner" is live! /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_runner_200x200.jpg

The first installment of J.C. Hutchins' serialized "cellphone-centric" text story 7th Son: Runner is now available for download! Runner is the first story of its kind from a podcast novelist: the tale isn't available in print or audio ... but is available for reading on your mobile phone. (Folks who do not have a mobile phone -- or have one, with no data plan -- fret not: the story is available for you, as well. More on this in a moment.) As with all stories in the 7th Son experience, you can enjoy Runner for free.

7th Son: Runner chronicles the story of James DeFalco, assistant director of the 7th Son facility. DeFalco was a small supporting character in 7th Son, Book One: Descent -- but here, he takes center stage. Astute 7th Son fans may recall DeFalco, and Book One's facility-wide evacuation that sent all "nonessential" 7th Son personnel topside until the John Alpha crisis had passed. DeFalco was one such employee, and Runner reveals much more about this nigh-anonymous doctor ... and the 7th Son legacy ... than you could have ever imagined.

This is the first time anyone, anywhere, can actually read J.C. Hutchins' fiction.

Runner was written for, and is intended to be read on, cell phone screens. Users must have mobile Web access to download and read the Runner .txt files as they are released. But that doesn't mean folks who don't have a data plan (or a cell phone, for that matter) can't enjoy the story. J.C. has made certain that anyone with Internet access can download this serialized text.

Visit this page to learn how to sign up to receive SMS "text blast" announcements when future Runner installments are released. If you're just now learning about Runner, you won't be able to receive the FIRST text blast -- that's already been sent into the wild -- but you can receive the next blast by signing up today.

All readers -- including those who sign up now, folks who do not have a data plan, or folks who are have a mobile carrier not supported by Myxer (the service J.C. is using to release this story), don't worry: you can find the URLs linking to Runner's episodes in the "cell phone" graphic found at J.C.'s Myxer Artist page.

The story's just started, so sign up -- and get ready to run. By the time Runner concludes, the 7th Son universe will never be the same ...

Cool feedback from a REAL blackout... /  by J.C. Hutchins

The kindest comment an artist can receive is when he's told that the value of his work transcends the media in which his art is being shared. That's a fancy way of saying, "It's really frickin' cool when people think about your stuff long after they listen to it." Take this email I received today from Lorin in Pheonixville, Pennsylvania:

After listening to your "Voices from the Darkness" podcast at work, it really freaked me out when the lights suddenly went out in my apartment later that day. ... The storm that followed was a mighty one -- the wind was blowing, and my husband and I quickly jumped up in search of our flashlights.

After we resettled into seats at our kitchen table, I looked my husband and said I felt like I had steeped into "Voices from the Darkness." He asked what I was talking about, and together we listened to the podcast as police sirens were heard in the distance and someone was cursing up a storm outside. It was really creepy! Too real for us! What a great way to listen to the podcast.

After listening, we sat in the darkness in the quiet, and I wondered what it would be like to live like that for several weeks, or even years! Blackouts never used to make me think about what it might like to be in one for longer than a day or so, until I started listening to the stories told throughout your podcasts. ... Here's hoping that we do not have a nationwide blackout anytime soon, because you are right -- when the lights go out, chaos does reign!

For a guy like me, emails don't get much better than that. According to Lorin, she's in good hands when the lights go out: her husband is a former Eagle Scout, and is prepared for nearly any problem. Dig the photo: hubby whipped up a head-mounted flashlight solution later that evening so they could play Scrabble. How cool!

Thanks for the awesome email, Lorin ... and thanks for reminding me that the best feedback an entertainer can receive is when he's told that his work is being appreciated long after it's been experienced.

--J.C.

John Alpha campaign takes to the blogosphere! /  by J.C. Hutchins

Yes! It appears that the bona-fide's presidential campaign transcends mere bumper stickers. Behold, an excerpt from Robert Romero's blog, in which he proclaims his loyalty to John Alpha in the upcoming U.S. election: John Alpha:  A fitting name for a new beginning that is desperately needed in our country.  John Alpha is a visionary with a grand outlook for our country.  He feels that he can truly bring the United States to a place of respectability and honor.  He is a man of many skills, traits, and dare I say, personalities.  His personality is so powerful that it seems like he is more than one person at the same time.

Rock on! Read the full text of Robert's blog post here. And if YOU want to evangelize Alpha's cause, either visit JohnAlphaForPresident.com to get your free bumper sticker, or just as cool, post a message of loyalty yourself on your blog, Twitter stream, Facebook or Myspace profiles! Be sure to email me your proclamation; I'll be sure to spread the word.

Thanks, Robert, for casting your vote for Alpha. "A" is for America!

--J.C.

OBSIDIAN: Episode 9 "Voices From the Darkness" VIDEO /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

It's the second video "Voices From the Darkness" episode, and this one's terrific. All contributions seen in this vidcast were created by 7th Son fans from across the globe.

Behold the 7th Son universe during the blackout, as witnessed by its victims ... and captured for all the world to see.

Contributions by:

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A brief Clone Line episode, and then a short story by novelist Mur Lafferty.

OBSIDIAN: Episode 8 "Voices From the Darkness" /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

Welcome to the second audio episode of "Voices From the Darkness." This week's presentation features only one recording, but it's a chiller. It's the OBSIDIAN blackout, as seen through the eyes of ham radio operators across the nation. Sometimes it's not the news you see that's horrifying ... it's the news you hear. This week's masterpiece of audio, complete with authentic slang, created by 7th Son fan Mark Smith.

If you want to contribute to future episodes of “Voices from the Darkness,” time is growing short. You have until July 7, 2008 to call the National Blackout Emergency Hotline at 206-222-9158 and leave a message as if you are a victim in this blackout. Remember: J.C. is not looking for traditional short stories — your call must adhere to the conceit that the blackout is real, and you are experiencing it now.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: The second episode of the video installment of "Voices From the Darkness."

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).

John Alpha '08 VIDEO /  by J.C. Hutchins

Only one man is brilliant and determined enough to uproot the current political system. Only one man can transform this great nation into an even greater one. John Alpha is that man. Support him. Now.

Grassroots support is growing for the bona-fide, as seen in this news report. You, too, can evangelize Alpha's cause. To receive a free "John Alpha ‘08" bumper sticker, visit his campaign website at JohnAlphaForPresident.com.

(Special thanks to News3Online.com, and 7th Son fan John for telling me about the site!)

So long, Stan. /  by J.C. Hutchins

Stan Winston died yesterday, after a seven-year battle with cancer. He was 62. There are few folks in the entertainment business who I truly, madly, deep-geek over. Stan Winston is one of them. He was the genius who brought Aliens and Terminators out of James Cameron's mind and into the real world, on movie soundstages. He resurrected long-extinct full-size Tyrannosaurus Rexes for Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" films. His Predator did more than kick Schwarzenegger's ass -- it scared me out of my mind. I still weep when I watch "Edward Scissorhands" ... and while much of that can be credited to Johnny Depp's performance (and Danny Elfman's swirling score), that performance was informed by the Scissorhands costume, which Winston helped create.

Stan Winston was a collaborator -- he made that clear in nearly every interview I've watched -- and he wasn't a one-man band: hundreds of brilliant creature creators and puppeteers worked at (or for) his Stan Winston Studio. I had the good fortune to interview one such employee back when Spielberg's "A.I." was in theaters. We spoke at length about the robotic teddy bear Winston's team designed for that film, and we chatted briefly about Stan himself. In the end, this fellow told me Winston's mission was to make the creatures look, act and feel as real as possible. Part of that hailed from performance and puppetry; the rest came from the design of the creatures, at which Stan Winston excelled.

Even long after preposterous computer-generated fakery stole the spotlight from practical creations such as Winston's, he continued to be a player in the business. Most say the best in the business, and I'd be hard-pressed to disagree.

And why? Because Winston's monsters (and sentient robots and dinosaurs and aliens) were real, real, tangible things that actors (and audiences) could see. We could sense these things actually occupied space, and had weight and depth. I'll take a man in a rubber suit over a mess of animated pixels any day, because I can appreciate the craft, the sensibility, the reality inside the fantasy I'm witnessing. That's something Stan Winston probably knew in his heart of hearts. Even in the great creative con that is storytelling and moviemaking, nothing beats the real.

It was this ultra-commitment to detail and a zealous drive for reality that always impressed me most about Winston's work. Stan Winston convinced me that metal skeletons were terrifying, that hand-puppet-powered chestbursters were the ultimate in terror, and that, were I ever pitted against a velociraptor, I would lose. Badly.

Stan Winston made me believe -- and that means he did his job. He was goddamned good at his job.

I wish you were still with us, Stan. I wish you could still wow us with new work for another decade, or two decades. But I've got a shelf of DVDs that will remind me of what you gave us -- what you gave me -- while you were here. It was all an illusion, as all filmmaking is, but you were one of the best illusionists in the world.

--J.C.

Tags:

Mur Lafferty is writing for Suicide Girls! /  by J.C. Hutchins

Fellow geeks, behold the ascent of one of our own -- the incomparable Mur Lafferty -- as she attains the ultimate status in both geekdom and uber-coolness: she's now writing for SuicideGirls.com! This is huge news because Suicide Girls is a huge site, with ferociously cool content ... and an even cooler audience. And while I have a paid subscription to the more, ahem, purremium features of SG.com**, Mur's column -- which debuted today -- is free to access and read. Check out her blissfully geeky inaugural SG article here, in which she marks the milestones of her life by the numerous releases of Mario Kart video games. It's funny as hell, and it's pure Mur, a geek essayist at her finest.

So check out her column, and be sure to leave a comment on the Suicide Girls site, or contact the editors of SG and tell them that their money is well-spent on our favorite podcasting geek diva!

--J.C.

** Yes, the site is for grown-ups. No, I won't give you my l / p. Nyah.

OBSIDIAN: Episode 7 /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

This week's 7th Son: OBSIDIAN short-short is by Evo Terra, an innovator in the podcasting community. While some know him for his former co-host duties on such shows as "Dragon Page Cover to Cover" and "Wingin' It," Evo is best-known for one of the most significant and innovative creations in podcasting, Podiobooks.com. Evo is the man who coined the term "podiobooks," and was instrumental in assembling the team of founders for the Podiobooks.com service. He is also the co-author of Podcasting for Dummies and Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies, and blogs at his site, FunAnymore.com.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: Another amazing "Voices From the Darkness" audio episode, in which we learn all about the world of the blackout ... from a ham radio operator's perspective.

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 6 /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

Week Two of 7th Son: OBSIDIAN content begins in earnest with He Sees In Shadows, a short story written by New York Times bestselling novelist Michael A. Stackpole. The OBSIDIAN blackout is in full swing in this episode, and a special breed of madman is on the loose, out there, in the darkness. But who is more insane: the hunter ... or the man hunting him? If you enjoyed Mike's story, be sure to check out his other work -- and send him an email -- at StormWolf.com.

J.C. covers some important announcements in this episode's "talky talk" intro and outro, including:

  • An update on John Alpha's presidential campaign
  • Information about the OBSIDIAN "Voices From the Darkness" episodes, and how you can contribute. Call 206-222-9158 to leave your audio mark in the 7th Son universe, or record video footage and email it to J.C. Click here for submission guidelines. Deadline for this content is July 7, 2008.
  • Find "sneak peek" video footage from "Voices From the Darkness" contributors at J.C.'s YouTube channel. (More will be released soon!)
  • Information about 7th Son: Runner, J.C.'s serialized "cell phone-centric" text story that will debut next week. Click here to learn how to obtain this OBSIDIAN text-only story!

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: a short-short story by Evo Terra. After that, more "Voices From The Darkness" episodes, quite possibly a brief Clone Line episode, and next week's short story, written by Mur Lafferty...

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).

John Alpha supporter spotted in Kentucky -- and it's kin! /  by J.C. Hutchins

Jeepers, all right, I get it! I need to make a gallery for JOHN ALPHA '08 bumper sticker photos! :)

Behold, another John Alpha supporter -- this one is an "Alpha Female," and a very special one at that. This sticker is on my sister's car! She lives in my home state of Kentucky -- a hilly, lush, wonderful place that I miss somethin' fierce.

Recently, Alpha Sis (as we'll call her) upgraded her Internet connection to broadband, and -- after more than two years of hearing about 7th Son (but not hearing the actual podcast) -- has become a 7S geek of the highest order. This is unbelievably awesome for me, as Alpha Sis, in a great many ways, was the inspiration for the book's character binary_fairy. She's one of the most intelligent and driven people I know.

And so, here's the third photo from the field of a JOHN ALPHA '08 public supporter! Rock on, sis! And if you want a free bumper sticker to show your Alpha affinity, visit the bona-fide's campaign website!

(And I should probably start cooking up that photo gallery already...)

--J.C.

Yet another ALPHA '08 sticker spotted! /  by J.C. Hutchins

Methinks I should create a gallery in the "Fan-Created Content" section for these photos, should I receive a few more. Behold: more support for John Alpha's villainous presidential campaign...

This image was provided by David van Sunder, from the terrific "Millionaire Or Bust" podcast. David slapped this bad boy onto his 12" G4 Powerbook (a thing of beauty ... I always wanted one of those), and now proudly finds himself among the psyjacked ranks of the Alpha Males (and Females)!

The sticker, of course, was free -- thanks to John Alpha's wicked campaign website. Do you want to show your support for the bona-fide? Bebop over there today, toss a self-addressed stamped envelope into the mail, and days later, you'll receive your free JOHN ALPHA '08 bumper sticker!

This election, make a nuclear impact with your vote! A Is For America! Vote Alpha!

--J.C.

OBSIDIAN: Episode 5 "Voices From the Darkness" VIDEO /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

This episode marks the debut of the video series of "Voices From the Darkness." All contributions seen in this and future video "Voices" episodes were created by 7th Son fans from across the globe. What you'll see in the weeks ahead are brief glimpses into what the world of the 7th Son trilogy became during the blackout. This is first project of its kind in podcast fiction.

Witness the OBSIDIAN blackout victims' stories ... captured for all the world to see.

Contributions by:

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A blood-chilling short story by New York Times bestselling novelist Michael A. Stackpole.

JOHN ALPHA '08 sticker spotted in the wild! /  by J.C. Hutchins

As mentioned in a recent 7th Son: OBSIDIAN episode, the villainous John Alpha is apparently alive and well, and is a player in this year's U.S. presidential election! The bona-fide already has a campaign website, and is offering FREE promotional bumper stickers to faithful followers. One such sticker was spotted in the wild today: Alpha acolyte DanTheFan (from of the killer Fanboy Hell and Otaku Generation podcasts) sent me this photo of his Macbook. Behold, the Alpha Male loyalty! (And try to ignore that reference to Ssssssigler in the upper right-hand corner of the image). Many thanks to DanTheFan for this contribution.

So how can you get your own free JOHN ALPHA '08 bumper sticker? Easy, friends -- visit JohnAlphaForPresident.com!

UltraCreatives Interview #13: Chris Miller /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

While the power's been out (and chaos has reigned) in the first week of the 7th Son: OBSIDIAN short story anthology, things are fine in UltraCreatives Land! Welcome to the thirteenth episode of the UltraCreatives Interview Series. This week, J.C. chats with the insanely awesome codeshaman, Chris Miller.

Chris Miller is the co-founder of Podiobooks.com, a lead developer at Mahalo.com, a writer, podcaster and a personal friend. J.C. considers Chris Miller one of the kindest and smartest people he's ever had the privilege to meet. This interview conversation covers the gamut: topics include Chris' writing and podcasting, but the centerpiece of this conversation focuses on programming. You're going to enjoy the twists and turns this conversation takes.

Find Chris Miller on the World Wide Everywhere:

In the intro to this episode, J.C. explains why he won't be on Twitter for a while, and suggests that you reach him here via blog comment, email or by calling the Clone Line at 206-984-2566.

PROMOS:

OBSIDIAN: Episode 4 “Voices From the Darkness” /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

Welcome to the debut of "Voices From the Darkness," a series of very special 7th Son: OBSIDIAN episodes created by 7th Son fans across the world. In this weekly series, you'll hear recordings from victims of the nationwide blackout described in OBSIDIAN ... created by people just like you. This is a first-ever in podcast fiction, and J.C. is thrilled to have such brilliant contributions to roll out in these episodes.

Turn out the lights and listen to what your friends and fellow fans have created. America has become a very dangerous place indeed.

FANS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

Your orders for today: Check out the amazing "The Command Line" podcast by Thomas "Command Line" Gideon, and give a shoutout of appreciation to OBSIDIAN producer Shawn Bishop!

Do you want to contribute to future episodes of "Voices from the Darkness?" J.C. would love to have you play in his world. Call the National Blackout Emergency Hotline at 206-222-9158 and leave a message for him as if you are a victim in this blackout. J.C. isn't looking for traditional short stories -- your call must adhere to the conceit that the blackout is real, and you are experiencing it now.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: The first episode of the video installment of "Voices From the Darkness!"

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 3 /  by J.C. Hutchins

7S_obsidian2.jpg

The third episode of J.C. Hutchins' 7th Son: OBSIDIAN features a universe-blurring tale of violence and hope by Imperial stormtrooper TD-0013, from the "A Different Point of View" podcast. How can a Star Wars stormtrooper appear in the 7th Son saga? Listen to find out...

TD-0013's "A Different Point of View" is a must-listen collection of essays told from a loyal stormtrooper's perspective. Learn more about TD's work -- and send him an appreciative email -- at www.ADPOV.net. This November, TD is participating in a walk across the Arizona desert to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research. Click the banner below to learn more!

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: The debut of "Voices from the Darkness," collections of fan-created audio content that chronicle the OBSIDIAN blackout as seen by its victims!

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).