Announcements

Guest blogging at Liz Strauss' "Successful Blog" /  by J.C. Hutchins

It's fun hosting a rambunctious blue-collar keg party -- heck, I do that every week here at JCH.net, welcoming listeners to my fictional worlds and UltraCreatives interviews -- but there's something even cooler and more flattering when you're invited to an elegant party, hosted by one of the classiest ladies in town. That's what happened to me this week. The sublime Liz Strauss recently invited me to write a guest post for her blog, Successful-Blog.com. This was a tremendous opportunity; Liz is renowned for her practical and thought-provoking advice about blogging and social media, and is an expert at building a dedicated, emotive audience. And so, this overall-wearin' Kentucky boy bought himself a tie, gave his shoes a spit-shine, and got to wordherding.

My contribution tells the tale of 7th Son's adventure from word processor to podcast to print, and why I chose to tune out the "no's" from publishing industry pros and share the trilogy for free. I also offer some brass-tacks advice about pursuing a creative endeavor, evangelizing your work and keeping the faith in yourself and your project.

This was my first-ever guest post for a blog, and Liz's amazing readers have posted some very positive comments about the work. That is flattering beyond measure.

So if you'd like to check out what I "sound" like when I'm a guest at the fancy party (and not the host of this raucous kegger), please subscribe to Successful-Blog.com and give my two posts a gander.

You may also find the posts here:

Many thanks to Liz for allowing me be a part of her remarkable community. It was an honor!

--J.C.

Open Invitations To Bloggers: I'm Your Billboard /  by J.C. Hutchins

While there are some notable exceptions to this rule, I've found that two camps of RSS-powered brethren -- dedicated bloggers and dedicated podcasters -- rarely intermingle. I don't know if bloggers perceive podcasters as RSS's red-headed, loud-mouthed stepchildren ... or if podcasters are so content to hear each other chatter that they can't be bothered to interact with bloggers. Perhaps it's both. Perhaps neither. But as I've watched the social media space more and more, the divide has become more and more clear to me. I don't like it. It doesn't make sense.

Here's my brass tacks reckoning about entertainment, and new media entertainment specifically: If you're dumping your heart, soul and precious time (and money) into a project that is designed to be consumed by an engaged audience, then you're damned-near obligated to evangelize your work. What good is a story or song (or blog or podcast) if there's no audience to experience it?

There's no shame in craving an audience, or growing one ... which brings me to promotion, and the aforementioned RSS divide. I perceive this to be a picket line of sorts: Will a podcaster betray his mic-friendly roots by connecting with a blogger? Will a high-profile blogger be perceived as "slumming it" if they promote their work to a podcaster?

If you're in one of these camps I'm discussing, honestly consider this: Have you ever considered reaching across that divide and promoting yourself to your RSS opposite?

There was a time when I didn't. I look back at the past two years of communicating (and promoting) with podcasters exclusively, and see two years' worth of wasted opportunity. The cross-pollination possibilities were -- and are -- endless.

It's boneheaded to stick with your respective RSS cult. It is wise to look to your RSS opposite and see them as a new media ally.

Podcasters: Reach out to bloggers for promotion. New media marketing cannot begin and end with a podcaster networking solely with fellow podcasters (or worse, networking only with podcasters who produce shows in similar genres). Podcasting, despite its growth, remains a niche within the social media entertainment space -- and when 'casters only communicate with 'casters of similar genres, they relegate themselves to something worse: ultra-niche obscurity.

Similarly, I encourage bloggers to connect with podcasters to promote their work. This is a currently-untapped marketing opportunity for bloggers. Podcast listeners are a captivated audience. Just like blog readers, they form relationships with show hosts, and look to them for more cool content. Podcasters play one-minute audio "promos" (gratis commercials) of other podcasts on their shows. These promos generate interest and new listeners. A great many successful podcasts -- including mine -- hinge on this marketing method.

I can shake my fist at podcasters and insist that they reach out to bloggers, and either they will, or they won't. But I can bridge this gap in my own content, and I'm doing just that.

Bloggers, this is your open invitation: Consider my show a billboard for your work.

If you want to promote your blog to thousands of engaged listeners, for free, here's your chance. Create a one-minute audio promo for your blog, and send it to me. I'll play it in an upcoming episode of my podcast. Boom, done-deal, no reciprocation required.

Don't wig. Creating an audio promo is easy: Write up the quick "elevator pitch" about what your blog covers, include your URL ... and that's it. Record it with a computer mic and email it to me: 7thSonNovel@gmail.com. If you don't have a computer mic, call this number and leave a voice mail: 206-984-0918. I guarantee I'll play your promo in a future episode of my show.

Aside from a few minutes of time investment, it's is a risk-free chance for you to promote your blog -- you know, that thing you believe in and want to grow -- to thousands of listeners. It doesn't get much simpler than that.

Are you in? It's doesn't make sense to say no. Remember what to do:

  • Write your pitch and include your URL.
  • Record it to MP3 an email it to me -- 7thSonNovel@gmail.com -- or call this number and record it: 206-984-0918.
  • That's it.

Bloggers, I hope to hear your promo soon -- and podcasters, I hope you'll reach out to bloggers to promote your show. To not market your work to new audiences is foolish. Be brave, look outside your comfort zone, and evangelize your content. I bet you'll grow your audience more quickly than you expect ... and sharing your work with new consumers is what, in my brass-tacks view of things, it's all about.

--J.C.

Killer Content: Free PDF of Scott Sigler's "INFECTED" /  by J.C. Hutchins

It's SCOTT SIGLER DAY here at JCHutchins.net! In addition to posting my UltraCreatives interview with The Cadaverous Antichrist, I am also proudly presenting the full PDF edition of INFECTED, which will debut in bookstores everywhere on April 1. Want an excerpt of this brilliant horror/sci-fi tale? You got it:

Perry awoke with a scream. His collarbone raged with pain, like he'd dragged a razor blade across the thin skin atop the bone, peeling back flesh like a cheese grater rubbed across some Cheddar. The fingers of his right hand felt cold, wet and sticky. A sunrise beam of light pierced his half-drawn curtains, lighting up the window frost crystallized on the pane. His room filled with the hazy glow of a winter morning.

In the dim light, Perry stared at his hands; they looked to be covered with chocolate syrup, thick and tacky-brown. He fumbled with the lamp on his night-stand. The bulb's glow lit up the room and his hands. It wasn't chocolate syrup.

It was blood.

Eyes widening in horror, Perry looked at his bed. Thin streaks of blood dotted the white sheets. Still blinking sleep-crust from his eyes, he ran to the bathroom and stared in the mirror....

Download the PDF below, or (if you're subscribed to this feed) enjoy it as it screams through the interwebtubes to your podcatcher. This is truly Killer Content, folks.

Pre-order Scott Sigler's INFECTED at Amazon.com today.

Learn more about Scott Sigler, INFECTED and his other works at ScottSigler.com.

Killer Content: "Fun Anymore" and "Unquiet Desperation" /  by J.C. Hutchins

"Killer Content" is J.C. Hutchins' unpredictably scheduled, ongoing series about cool creators in the online space. This post is partly prompted by a friendly online challenge by writer Chris Brogan, in which he asked his readers to suggest "hidden gems" in the blogosphere. Two men of many talents immediately sprang to mind, and they more than qualify as "Killer Content" creators.

Evo Terra and Chris Miller are gifted writers and communicators. They're also collaborators: Terra and Miller are largely responsible for keeping the site Podiobooks.com up and running smoothly. Podiobooks.com in itself is a hidden gem on the 'Net -- it provides free serialized audiobook hosting and distribution for DIY-spirited authors (such as myself) and their work. Podiobooks.com is a daring, disruptive service, and I'm confident that mainstream publishers will soon examine its model as -- like the recording industry -- it turns to digital distribution as the only true sustainable means of profit and survival.

But beyond Podiobooks.com, Evo Terra and Chris Miller are accomplished bloggers in their own right.

Evo Terra, a former podcaster and co-author of two "For Dummies" books about podcasting, is known for his intelligence, wit and snark. His blog, Fun Anymore, showcases an expert's perspective of social media far from the blogosphere's feel-good echo chamber. He chimes in on social media services, marketing and advertising. Shorter posts are often rabbit punches on well-known topics, while longer writings illustrate his practical views on new media and content quality.

To the uninitiated, Terra's tone may come off as curmudgeonly ... and that's probably fine by him ... but look beyond the barbed sarcasm, and you'll find many thought-provoking opinions. Recommended for social media types, especially those who appreciate a spike of zero-BS snark.

Chris Miller, in addition to being a podcaster and self-proclaimed "codeshaman" (and as someone who's worked with him on technical issues, the title ain't no lie), crafts a blog called Unquiet Desperation. Miller's interests are far-flung, as is his writing: he may blog about Cleveland weather one day, and coding the next. Topics also include science-fiction, religion/spirituality, podcasting and more.

What makes this personal potpourri so interesting and entertaining is Miller's writing itself. Thoughtful and carefully crafted, there is always a nugget of "bigger picture" truth to his posts. While I may not be able to fully understand his writing about coding, for instance, I always take away a personal insight into the man's life, or something that applies to my own. Recommended for codemonkeys of all stripes, fans of new media (mostly podcasting), and those craving glimmers of personal truth in each post.

Find Evo Terra's Fun Anymore here. Find Chris Miller's Unquiet Desperation here.

FREE e-copy of Jack Wakes Up to promote PALMS SUNDAY! /  by J.C. Hutchins

I'm helping spread the JACK WAKES UP print release meme for friend and fellow podnovelist Seth Harwood. I recently interviewed Seth on my UltraCreatives interview series, and can't wait to purchase a copy of his novel on March 16th -- aka "Palms Sunday." The book is a killer read, and well worth every nickel. But don't take my word for it: savvy Seth is giving away a free PDF edition of his novel! Download the file here, take a peek ... and if you like what you read, be sure to purchase a copy of the novel at Amazon.com on Sunday, March 16th.

Another friend -- Evo Terra, co-founder of Podiobooks.com -- gave Jack Wakes Up this awesome write-up over at PB.com blog. I couldn't have said it better myself:

"This is one more great chance for us ... to come together and let Big Publishing know that we’re here and we’re making waves. Not only is this a great chance to support Seth and his work, but if the message gets out that this crazy model of giving away a free audiobook version to promote the print-version actually works, then it’ll mean more more authors will try this model (read: more books for you to enjoy) ... and greater chances at cracking the publishing nut for all the writers you support."

So be sure to check out Seth's free PDF here, download it, and spread the word with family and friends. And be sure to join Seth's mission to make Jack Wakes Up a smash hit on Amazon.com by purchasing a print copy on 10AM PST, 1PM EST and 6PM GMT on Palm(s) Sunday, March 16th on Amazon.com!

--J.C.

J.C. Hutchins at SXSW -- Come meet me! /  by J.C. Hutchins

Thanks to the generous folks at my new day job, I'll be attending the uber-awesome South By Southwest festival in Austin this weekend, and part of next week. My primary role is to network with bloggers, podcasters, and other new/social media movers and shakers -- and also represent Myxer at the company's booth on the iF! Trade Show & Exhibition floor (Booth 219). I'm in the friend-makin' business, and if you're attending, I want to meet you! While I won't be presenting at the festival (maybe next year, heh), I will be attending panels, events and parties. I hope to see you there.

So how can we hook up at SXSW? Right now, my schedule's a little touch-and-go, but you can look for me at the Myxer booth (Booth 219) in the exhibition area. If I'm not there, don't worry: leave your business card and I'll be sure to contact you ASAP. You can also drop me a line on my cell: 954-531-7692. Let's meet, greet, and geek out!

--J.C.

Postscript: SXSW is just the first of several conferences I'll be attending this year. Watch for updates regarding BarCampOrlando, Balitcon, Dragon*Con ... and yes, the New Media Expo (or whatever the hell they're calling it this year) in Vegas. If we don't meet in Austin, by gum, we'll connect sometime this year!

7th Son: OBSIDIAN is coming... /  by J.C. Hutchins

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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":

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! /  by J.C. Hutchins

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.

Fan-created machinima movie recreates 7th Son battle /  by J.C. Hutchins

Dig this wicked cool machinima video created by Montie G, a dedicated 7th Son fan. This recreates the scrappy fight sequence between Father Thomas and a Devlin solider during the climactic events seen in 7th Son, Book Three: Destruction. Friends, it doesn't get any cooler than this. Thanks to Montie G for such an ass-kickin', creative contribution to the 7th Son experience!

J.C. Hutchins to attend BarCampOrlando, April 6 /  by J.C. Hutchins

It's official, 7th Son fans: I'll be attending BarCampOrlando's "Media Day" on April 6, and -- if there's interest -- will likely host a presentation on podcast fiction. I've been craving to attend a BarCamp since I became a podcaster, and am looking forward to the event.

What is BarCampOrlando? It is a community building event which happens twice a year to brings together people from different backgrounds to share and learn from each other. There will be people who know Java, .NET, Ruby, PHP, and other technologies coming together for Dev Day (April 5), and there will be people who know film, music, photography, graphic design, podcasting, and even other New Media coming together for Media Day (April 6).

If you want to learn more about BarCampOrlando -- or want to register to attend -- visit the event's site for more information. Hope to see you there!

--J.C.

J.C. Hutchins and Scott Sigler featured on the cover of Blogger & Podcaster magazine /  by J.C. Hutchins

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.

7th Son web widget goes LIVE! /  by J.C. Hutchins

Beloved 7th Son listeners: Do you have a blog, MySpace or Facebook page? Howzabout a Blogger, LiveJournal, Friendster or Freewebs site? If you do -- and I know you do -- feast your peepers on that lovely web widget on the right. While you're at it, click the audio "play" button. Heee! Instant 7th Son gratification! We all know that the trilogy has concluded, but that doesn't mean I'm not questing for new listeners ... especially since a new 7th Son fiction project will debut this May. That's right, folks. More 7S goodness is coming, and I need you to help prepare the uninitiated masses by getting them listening to the trilogy now.

Will you help? It's easy-peasy to lend a hand. Simply click the "share" button on the pretty little widget, pick your social media site of choice, and post! Alternately, you can paste the magic URL code into a blog entry or sidebar widget of your blogging platform (like I did). Heck, you can even e-mail it to a buddy! The fillout forms are teeny tiny right now, so if you're having a problem typing in your deets, let me know. I'll make the widget wider.

In the meantime, help me spread the 7th Son word far and wide -- and prepare yourself for May 2008, when I debut the new series titled, 7TH SON, BOOK...

Heh. Cliffhangered again.

Evangelize, my beautiful listeners! Evangelize!

The J.C.VidStream (The Y! Live Video Streaming Experiment) /  by J.C. Hutchins

Yahoo! recently launched Y! Live, a free broadcast service that makes it easy for webcam-empowered folks to create streaming video programming. Knowing full well that I have a face for radio, I've done the "early adopter" thing anyway and created a streaming video channel at Y! Live. The way this works: When I click a button on my laptop, I'll stream video/audio to my channel page. If you want to join the shenanigans live as I broadcast, you'll engage me on my Y! Live channel page. Stupid-simple to use.

Of course, my involvement hinges on your interest. Would you dig seeing me dabble in streaming video, and interact with 7th Son fans (including you) in real-time? Tell me in the comments here. If I snag enough interest, I'll roll out a pilot broadcast and see where it goes. Speak up and let me know!

--J.C.

Subscribing just got easier! Introducing "C2G" /  by J.C. Hutchins

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!

Sigler & Hutchins live video chat Feb. 19, to benefit disabled veterans /  by J.C. Hutchins

(Shamelessly lifted from Scott's blog and rewritten for a Hutch-centric audience. You can find his orginal post here.) On February 19, from 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm Eastern, Scott Sigler and I will be doing a fun video conference to discuss podcasting fiction (or whatever the heck else you want to talk about).

This event is sponsored by www.MyooVooDay.com to promote a new video chat tool called ooVoo. That's nice -- and Scott and I wish them well -- but the real point here is that ooVoo is donating $1,500 to the Disabled American Veterans.

This is Scott's preferred charity organization, and I'm all for it. As Scott said in his post: "The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced high numbers of wounded soldiers that need assistance. I don't give a rat's ass about politics here, all I care about is that some of our men and women deserve help."

Amen, brother.

So, how can you help (and share some face time with me and Sigler)? Go to the link below, download the ooVoo software, book one of the 15-minute chat slots, and we'll see you there. We'll be happy to chat about whatever you like, but the primary focus will be on podcasting your fiction. So head over to www.MyooVooDay.com and sign up.

Will you be there? Tell us by posting a comment!

--J.C.

Polls added to JCH.net /  by J.C. Hutchins

Since polling is all the rage these days, I've added a polls widget here at JCH.net. Our debut poll asks a question that's been on my mind lately, and I'd appreciate your feedback. Your votes are invaluable as I ponder the fate of older 7th Son content in the months ahead. You'll find the poll on the right.

This is the first of several polls I'll roll out in 2008, and I hope you'll participate. It's a quick-n-dirty way to sound off, and improve the 7th Son and JCH.net experiences. Thanks a bunch. Now head to the polls!

--J.C.

Hutchins and Sigler profiled in DEATH RAY magazine /  by J.C. Hutchins

Set your ray gun to "face-melting coolness," kids: fellow podcast novelist Scott Sigler and I were recently profiled in one of the coolest sci-fi magazines around, DEATH RAY. This slick U.K.-based publication showcased us and how our podiobooks -- and you amazing listeners -- are shaking up the publishing industry.

Click here to view a PDF of the article (masterfully written by Martyn Casserly) ... but more important, show Death Ray your support by heading to a bookstore and snagging a print copy, or subscribing to the magazine!

--J.C.

LOL7thSon winners announced! (kthxbai) /  by J.C. Hutchins

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Greetings, loyal Agents of the Ministry! Natasha, our fearless Voice of the MOP, has returned from a long Moscow vacation to announce the five winners of the most recent Ministry mission, Operation LOL7thSon! While all of the participants created brilliant 7S-inspired LOL images, these five Agents crafted pictures so witty, even the humorless Natasha gave a chuckle.

Behold the five winners ... and their artwork! (Winners will receive emails from Natasha very soon!)

  • Isaac for "Jon Come Hom Plz..."
  • The Doctor for "Dere Iz No Clonz"
  • JR Merlin for "Im In Your Ministry Propagandering..."
  • MartynDarkly for "Kittyroy 2.0, Meh Is Everwhere"
  • Fried Geek for "This Town Is Teh Suck"

Also included in the gallery above are the cool prizes these Agents have won! GeekLabel T-shirts, MOP mugs and license plate borders ... even John Alpha's "How To Take Over the World" journal!

A big SPASIBA to all who entered the contest! And keep your ears peeled, Agents: a new MOP mission ... with the coolest capitalist swag yet ... is coming soon!

--J.C.