BOOK ONE: Chapter 23

J.C. pimps the Infection/7th Son SHARE THE PAIN crossover contest, and finally reveals the Easter Egg from the first chapter. After this week, only four more episodes remain in Book One: Descent!

Synopsis: Kilroy2.0, Jack and Jonathan's search for NEPTH-charge victims sends them to a horrific CDC report that reveals another mystery. John finally meets Hugh Sheridan ... and the true nature of Project 7th Son is unveiled.

Promo: Sundown Lounge

Promo: All Axis Radio Canada

Promo: Barely Podcasting Podcast

"SHARE THE PAIN" contest hosted by Podcast Pickle.

An AWESOME review of 7th Son!

I always thought 7th Son was a spiffy story, but now I have proof! Australian listener Tim Byatt has critiqued 7S for his website/blog, Podcast Reviews ... and gave the podcast 8 out of 10 stars. You can't beat that with a stick! In his review, Tim complimented my reading and voice acting. (Oh, if only Tim -- and the rest of you -- could hear all my all-too-often flubs!) Most flattering, however, were his kind words about John and the other main characters:

"While the plot of the story is interesting and engaging, what makes this story for me is the character development within the story," Tim wrote. "The seven John Michael Smiths ... have all taken different paths in life and as such have quite distinct personalities. ... These characters and their development give rise to questions about nature versus nurture and the potential to mold people to a certain way of not just thinking, but actually being."

Wow! Thanks for the review, Tim! Everybody, be sure to check out Podcast Reviews for Tim's thoughts on other 'casts. Tim also has another website, Movie Reviews Plus, where he and a buddy review ... wait for it ... movies. Extremely cool stuff!

BOOK ONE: Chapters 21 & 22

J.C. thanks his listeners, encourages them to continue their 7th Son evangelism, and pimps "SHARE THE PAIN," the new Infection/7th Son crossover contest.

Synopsis: John travels into the depths of the 7th Son facility for a family reunion ... and encounters an unexpected, familiar face. Kilroy2.0, Jack and Jonathan slip into the CDC's secure intranet, searching for NEPTH-charge victims. In Russia, the Devlins finally begin their first -- and last -- mission together.

Promo: Fiddle and Burn

Promo: The House Down Cherry Tree Lane

Promo: Much To Do About Nothing

"SHARE THE PAIN" contest hosted by Podcast Pickle.

BOOK ONE: Chapters 19 & 20

Would someone tell that author to shut the hell up? In the epic-length intro, info abounds about "SHARE THE PAIN," the new Infection/7th Son crossover contest! Listen to both novels ... and win killer prizes! After the chapter, J.C. also chats about the Parsec Awards ... and a jaw-dropping 7th Son spoiler is revealed in the Clone Line (206-984-2566) segment. This one can't be missed!

Synopsis: At the 7th Son facility, John, Jack and Jonathan learn more about Kilroy2.0's world. A powerful benefactor lends a hand. In California, Michael, Dr. Mike and Fr. Thomas and the 7th Son soldiers invade the night club. They find Folie à Deux silent and empty. Or is it?

Promo: Jack Mangan's Deadpan

Promo: The Transcontinental Penguin Super Show

"SHARE THE PAIN" contest sponsored by Podcast Pickle.

7th Son street team ... any takers?

I've lately been toying with the idea of creating a 7th Son street team, in which 7th Son fans become evangelists by distributing 7S flyers in the "real world" -- on campuses, community bulletin boards, telephone poles, the works. I tapped my talented friend Jo to create a prototype flyer, and I'm thrilled with the end product. The goal of this flyer (and others, if this gets off the ground) is to evoke intrigue, and motivate folks to visit my website for more information. Here's a quick peek at Jo's image, a deliciously diabolical nod to 7th Son's prologue:

Right now, plans for a 7th Son street team are nebulous ... but that can quickly change with your feedback. Would you be interested in participating in a real-world viral marketing campaign such as this? Give me a holler at 7thsonnovel@gmail.com if you're willing to be a solider in the 7S street team.

Finally, if there are graphic designers out there who'd like to contribute to flyer creation, I'd also love to hear from you.

On tangibility, brilliant blogging, and Father Thomas' plight

Despite the fact that 7th Son isn't a published novel in the conventional sense -- a thing that one can put on a bookshelf -- the feedback that I receive from listeners brings a sense of "real-ness," tangibility, to the work. The novel seems to be making an impact, moving people to mention it to friends ... and I think that's the highest compliment any artist can receive.

Take this masterfully-written blog post by listener Michael. Michael has been moved to comment about the plight of 7th Son's Father Thomas. As fans know, Thomas' spiritual world has been rocked since he has discovered that he's a clone. He fears that he is a soulless, "manufactured thing." Quite a dilemma for a Catholic priest to have.

Michael will be exploring Thomas' woes -- and his own take on the clone/soul issue -- in a multi-part commentary on his blog, "Brother Osric's Scriptorium." Michael is a very intelligent, very gifted writer, and I can't wait to see what he has to say on the subject. If the spiritual subtext of 7th Son intrigues you, I heartily recommend checking out his blog.

Michael, thanks for sharing your views with your readers ... and for making 7th Son that much more "real" and tangible for me!

I can die a happy man

Being the curious geek that I am, I adore Wikipedia and its boundless supply of content. It's often my first stop when I'm jonesing to score a fix o' facts. Now, some people dream of fame and fortune. My dream? For my work to be worthy of a Wikipedia mention.

I'll be damned if dreams don't come true. Neither "J.C. Hutchins" nor "7th Son" has a wiki entry ... but that ubiquitous hacker we all know so well, Kilroy2.0, is mentioned in a wiki entry about Kilroy, the World War II myth:

It's a tiny mention, but I was tickled to see it there nonetheless. I don't know which 7th Son fan mentioned Kilroy2.0, but whoever you are, you rock!

BOOK ONE: Chapter 18

Astoundingly cool, new, exclusive content awaits at JCHutchins.net! Feast your peepers on shiny 7th Son web banners, fresh desktop wallpapers/screen savers ... and a spiffy "7th Son Technology" section, where you can find the 411 on NEPTH-charge, MemR/I and more. Plus, J.C. reveals his true name in the Clone Line segment!

Synopsis: Michael, Fr. Thomas, Dr. Mike and the 7th Son soldiers reach Los Angeles. Michael briefs his brothers on the plan of attack. After a tense ride through the streets of West Hollywood, they arrive at Folie à Deux. The mission to stop John Alpha -- and save Dania Sheridan -- begins.

Promo: Weekly Anime Review

Promo: Whole Lot of Nonsense Podcast

Promo: Skunk Smells Podcast

7th Son goes Hollywood? (No, but almost as cool...)

If you've listened to the most recent episode of 7th Son and heard the messages left on the Clone Line (206-984-2566), you might remember uber-fan Manata's voice mail. He was the guy who called in sick to work to listen to all 7th Son episodes in practically one sitting. As an author, I can tell you: I doesn't get much cooler than that. Or does it? Turns out Manata has a blog, and he's been praising 7th Son there. Better still, Manata let his imagination run wild, and did a virtual "casting call" of actors and actresses who'd appear in 7th Son, if it were made into a big-budget movie. Some highlights from Manata's who's who of actors include:

• Philip Baker Hall as A.U. Rookman, the corrupt oil tycoon seen in Chapter 17
• Clancy Brown or Colin McFarlane as Gen. Hill (I think Brown is a badass, but I prefer McFarlane, as Hill is African-American)
• Carrie-Ann Moss as John's girlfriend, Sarah
• And playing the Beta Clones (and John Alpha)? Either Thomas Arana or Mark Ruffalo

Awesome casting, Manata! Thanks for the inspired evangelism!

Personally, I'd love to see Ryan Reynolds in the role of the Betas. Since he's best known for his comedic roles, Reynolds may not be an obvious choice. But the man does have experience in a fat suit (perfect for Kilroy2.0), he's lean, and has that ripped muscle mojo going on (perfect for Michael the Marine).

I first thought of Reynolds when I watched Blade: Trinity. He was the best thing about the that flick. And if there's any doubt that Reynolds isn't one bad mamma-jamma, I present this production still from Trinity:

BOOK ONE: Chapter 17

A new month approacheth ... and a new challenge arises for 7th Son listeners! Can you pound the pavement and tell "podcast virgins" about 7th Son? Check out the intro for more info!

Synopsis: The story shifts to Houston, where billionaire oil tycoon A.U. Rookman conducts a videoconference with a business associate. Rookman's legacy of corruption and greed is revealed ... as are details of his ailing health.

Promo: The Manners Eti-Cast

Promo: Does My Geek Look Big In This?

Promo: Variant Frequencies

BOOK ONE: Chapter 16

More proof that 7th Son fans rock the hizzouse: Listeners Charles and Martin have created some awesome (and free!) goodies for fellow 7S fanatics. Check out the new "Fan-made goodies" section at jchutchins.net for more info!

Synopsis: Fr. Thomas and the Mikes head ever westward, to California. Meanwhile back at the 7th Son facility, Jonathan, Jack, Kilroy2.0 and John attempt to understand John Alpha's scheme. A valuable clue is discovered. Research is conducted. Kilroy2.0 finds a moment to shine.

Promo: The Powwowcast

Promo: The Bear's Grove Podcast

Promo: The Seven Scrolls of Scallose podiobook

UPDATE (10:58 pm): Yes, I know I'm a moron. In my haste to post the episode this morning before leaving town for the day, I forgot to include the MP3 in the podcast feed. Duh. All should be well now.

BOOK ONE: Chapters 14 & 15

This one's a long episode, folks. Hope you enjoy it! Be sure to stick around for some calls from the Clone Line (206-984-CLONE), including a listener question ... and a "cease and desist" order from TV's LOST Hanso Foundation! J.C. is apparently revealing confidential corporate secrets. Too cool for school!

Synopsis: The Beta clones finalize the plans for their cross-country trek. Gen. Hill explains the true power of Code Phantom security clearance. The clones call home, to chat with family and lovers. A secret is revealed in Jonathan's life. More mysteries surround Kilroy2.0. Fr. Thomas may be losing his mind.

No promos this week, sorry!

Evangelism, from podosphere to blogosphere

Folks are talking about 7th Son outside of the podcasting community. In the past week, a few bloggers have written about 7th Son on their sites -- which means that the message is probably reaching people who are have never listened to podcasts, or podiobooks. If these blog readers tune in, everybody wins: Podcasters get new listeners, and the listeners receive some nifty (and free!) entertainment.

Rick Jones said this about 7th Son in a recent entry on his LiveJournal:

"I am totally loving this book. ... It's a techno-thriller that's quite the ride and yet also does the wonderful thing that science fiction can do: make you do some hard 'what if' thinking while you're enjoying the roller coaster."

And SuperMoonMan posted this at his blog, Let's Move To the Moon:

"After listening to the first episode [of 7S]-->I am definitely going to listen to more. This is my first experience with a podiobook and I definitely enjoyed it."

Awesome. If you're a 7th Son listener who's also a blogger, I'd appreciate it if you mentioned 7S -- and any other podcasts you're enjoying -- in a future blog post. It's a great way to bring new listeners to podcasts, and it helps get the word out about 7th Son!

BOOK ONE: Chapter 13

Thanks for your recent support and encouragement at the Pickle! Stick around after the chapter for calls from the Clone Line -- 206-984-CLONE (2566) -- and a sorta-secret announcement from J.C. about Book Two in the 7th Son trilogy!

Synopsis: Back at the 7th Son facility, the Beta clones learn more about the mysterious night club in Los Angeles. Expecting the worst, they plan an attack. But not all of the Betas will be going....

Promo: King Bonk's Campfire

Promo: Zaldor's World

Promo: Bored Suburbia

Welcome, Everything2 readers!

Just want to give a quick nod of appreciation to any Everything2 readers who've stopped by, thanks to Robwicks' very flattering review of 7th Son on that extremely cool site. Robwicks had some nice things to say about 7th Son, including: "The story is one of madness, cloning, and government cover-ups. ... I have found the story completely gripping in a manner few books, written or spoken, have been. This is, so far, an impressive debut for a young author, and I look forward to many more hours of rapt listening (and hopefully, eventually, reading) to Hutchins' work."

I've already profusely thanked Robwicks for his kind comments -- but I want to thank you Everything2 readers for stopping by! Check out the episode archive and the site's exclusive special features. Email/IM/Skype me with any questions you may have. Thanks for joining the descent!

BOOK ONE: Chapter 12

Your Code Phantom orders: Make an impact! Make 7th Son a favorite at Podcast Pickle! (Click here for the sign up page, if you haven't joined the Pickle community!)

Synopsis: At a military base in the Russian wilderness, a former CIA agent named Doug Devlin reminisces about his past -- and his current alliance with a man the clones know very well. A much larger conspiracy is unveiled. The implications of John Alpha's plans become clearer.

Promo: Mark Forman's Getting a Leg Up

Promo: Josh in Japan

Promo: Comic Book Noise

Welcome, Josh In Japan listeners!

Hot damn! If you're here because of the transcendentally cool testimonial that Josh from the amazing Josh In Japan podcast gave in his most recent episode, all I can say is welcome ... and I hope 7th Son lives up to your expectations! Now I'm a fan of Josh's show, and I've always thought he was a cool guy. But he just hit "minor deity" status in my book after he said these wonderful things about 7S:

"I cannot stand podiobooks. I've tried listening to a couple, and they've bored me to death. I couldn't get past the first ten minutes. ... I tried out 7th Son. The first chapter just blew my friggin' mind. I've never been able to say that about a podiobook, let alone a podcast. ... This book is just amazing. Every chapter is a cliffhanger, I can't believe it. ... I listened to the first six chapters in one night. ... Some books start out really strong and die out quickly. This book just keeps on going and going. ... I don't vouch for many podcasts, but this is one you gotta check out."

I'm totally stoked by the cool feedback. Thanks a million, Josh! And new listeners: Thanks for stopping by. Poke around the site to check out archived episodes, and info on how to subscribe to the 'cast! And as Josh would say: Mata-ne!

Welcome, Podcast 411 and SiW listeners!

If you're stopping by my website because of my recent appearance on Rob W's Podcast 411 podcast, or Taylor's interview on Snark Infested Waters, welcome! These guys and I had some fantastic chats, and I was thrilled to be on their shows. Thanks, Rob and Taylor! And thank YOU for checking out 7th Son! Feel free to download archived chapters, and check out the exclusive special features section for a Character List, some fan-created content, and more!

Thanks again to Rob and Taylor for their interest and support. And long-time 7th Son fans, remember: Another episode goes live on Tuesday, and this one's gonna be a doozy!

BOOK ONE: Chapter 11

Welcome, DSC listeners ... and all other recent subscribers! There's plenty of space in the Common Room, so make yourselves comfortable. Get ready for a superb rendition of The Story So Far -- and a killer remix of the 7th Son promo by TWiG!

Synopsis: The clones continue to decipher the Morse Code clue. Dr. Mike takes charge. John Alpha's intentions become more clear. The second half of the clue is decoded.

Promo: The Twisted Pickle Show

Special Presentation: "Alpha" by TWiG of the Audio Pandemic Show

Download "Alpha," find other special features and contact the author at http://www.jchutchins.net!

BOOK ONE: Chapter 10

A new chapter, a new website... life is good!

Synopsis: Back at the 7th Son facility, the clones puzzle over the clue John Alpha had left at the scene of Dania Sheridan's abduction. The clones begin to work together for the first time. Gen. Hill reveals an unexpected hobby. A breakthrough is made.

Promo: Snark-Infested Waters

Promo: The Bizarro Show