Slowwww downloads / October 25, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Hey faithful 7th Son listeners ... a lot of you have been contacting me about troubles with the RSS feed, super-slow downloads, etc. I've looked at settings on my end, and all seems well. It appears as if Libsyn, my media hosting company, has been experiencing some issues. From the company's support site:

Media Delivery Wed, 25 October 2006 Slow Downloads

Hello. We received some emails reporting slow downloads. We've noticed some congestion on one of our servers and are looking into the problem as this post is being written. We hope to have it cleared up soon. Thanks for your patience.

So there you have it, guys. Thanks for your concern, and your patience!

BOOK TWO: Chapter 7 / October 24, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

J.C. teases listeners with amazing news about a "Story So Far" recap reader, brags about some amazing listener-created artwork -- and more!

EPISODE INTRO BY: Bryan Clauser (SHARE THE PAIN winner)

THE STORY SO FAR BY: Les, Kevin, Kari and Miranda (The Signal podcast)

SYNOPSIS: Dania and Dr. Mike chat. Jonathan tells a story. The clones make a major breakthrough. Alpha's trinity is revealed.

J.C. has recently appeared/will appear on these awesome podcasts:

Promo: The Dead Light District

Promo: Eclectic Mix podcast

Promo: Filling the Page

Promo: Pickle Tales: Battle of the Podcast Stars!

Next stop, vaporwear! / October 19, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

More technology news that falls into the realm of 7th Son. Check out this story in USA TODAY, which describes a material that "cloaks" objects, making them invisible to microwaves. Now microwaves are a tiny segment of the electromagnetic spectrum ... but who's to say that visible light/colors won't someday be similarly cloaked? Is this the beginning of Vaporwear? Link to Duke University video showcasing the technology. (RealPlayer required.)

BOOK TWO: Chapters 5 & 6 / October 17, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

The winners of the Infection/7th Son "Share the Pain" contest are announced! J.C. gives Scott Sigler a smack-down. The new "Photos" page is live. And the mysterious "LOST" caller is back on the Clone Line (206-984-2566)!

EPISODE INTRO BY: George Pérez (Unofficial wesbite. Wikipedia entry)

THE STORY SO FAR BY: Mick Bradley, Chris Miller and KJ Johnson (The Round Table/House of the Harping Monkey)

SYNOPSIS: Father Thomas, Dr. Mike and Dania Sheridan return to the 7th Son facility. The reunion is cut short. In Texas, A.U. Rookman receives a very special delivery.

Promo: Silent Universe

Promo: Quick Hitts Podcast

Promo: Pickle Tales: Battle of the Podcast Stars

More cool artwork inspired by 7th Son! / October 12, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Listener Michael Bekemeyer recently sent me this cool image. To hear Michael tell the tale, creative inspiration struck while he should've been working on his own podcast. Thanks for the picture, man! I hope it didn't put you too far behind on your own work!

BOOK TWO: Chapter 4 / October 10, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

J.C. updates listeners about the "Share the Pain" contest, and directs folks to a special page on his website to view the "dog tag glyph." Lots of awesome fan-created audio content in this episode!

EPISODE INTRO BY: George Takei

THE STORY SO FAR BY: Patrick Lussier

SYNOPSIS: The clones are baffled by the ten encrypted messages left by John Alpha's minions. A cipher is found. Hugh Sheridan reveals a secret. Jonathan refuses to help.

Promo: solipsistic NATION

Promo: The Scapecast

BOOK TWO: 7th Son: Bonus Episode #4 / October 6, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

J.C. Hutchins more than makes up for his absence during the hiatus between Descent and Deceit with this Bonus Episode! J.C. chats about what he did during his "summer vacation," plays gobs of calls from the Clone Line (206-984-2566), shows even more undying gratitude to his fans (will he ever shut up?), and even plays some music. There's no story in this episode, but if you're looking for an update about J.C., his work and recent events in his life, here ya go.

EPISODE INTRO BY: Sam from the Bear's Grove podcast

J.C. has recently appeared (or will appear) on these cool podcasts:

J.C. shows muchly love to:

If you think DNACs were fiction.... / October 3, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

...you're wrong. Dig this link to learn more about DNA computers ... and how they're being used to -- ah -- play Tic-Tac-Toe. Global domination is just around the corner, kids. Thanks to Christiana for the link!

BOOK TWO: Chapter 3 / October 3, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

J.C. Hutchins shows some love to 7th Son fans, and plays a few calls from the Clone Line (206-984-2566). Since there's gobs of 7th Son news to talk about, J.C. promises another Bonus Episode later this week.

EPISODE INTRO BY: Tony Todd

THE STORY SO FAR BY: Keith and the Girl

SYNOPSIS: The story shifts to the 7th Son facility. Hugh Sheridan and John explain Psyjack technology to Kilroy2.0, Jack and Jonathan. Dr. Mike makes a call to the facility. The clones, Sheridan, Gen. Hill and Dr. Kleinman discover the scope of John Alpha's recent NEPTH-charge activity. Another secret technology is revealed.

Promo: The Plitone Revisionist podiobook

Promo: Singularity podiobook

Promo: The Time Traveler Show

BOOK TWO: Recap, Chapters 1 & 2 / September 27, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

After a brief vacation, the 7th Son trilogy is back! Thanks for all the support and encouragement during the hiatus. No author chatter this week -- Hutch is pooped!

EPISODE INTRO BY: George Romero

SYNOPSIS: John Alpha -- who lives on inside the mind of Vice President Charles Caine -- contacts his other "selves," updating them on his ongoing conspiracy. Father Thomas and Dr. Mike do some soul searching. Dania Sheridan explains the secrets of Psyjack technology.

Meet the authors who generously gave their time to contribute to the Book One recap!

Promo: Keith and the Girl

Promo: The Rookie

BOOK TWO: 7th Son: Bonus Episode #3 / September 24, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Less than a day after the historic 7th Son: Book Two launch party in Second Life, Chris Miller of Podiobooks.com and The Round Table podcast chatted with author J.C. Hutchins about the event, and the opportunities for innovative promotion of fiction (and other art forms) in Second Life. Enjoy!

Welcome, BoingBoing and In The Grid readers! / September 21, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Here's a big hiya to anyone who's checking out 7th Son, thanks to the recent 7S-related posts made at the Second Life culture blog In The Grid and at BoingBoing! I’m hope you'll not only attend the Second Life launch party for the forthcoming 7th Son, Book Two: Deceit podiobook, but also take a listen to Book One: Descent.

Please visit my Subscribe page to learn more about how you can receive the entire first novel in audio form for free. The novel is available here, and at the exceptional Podiobooks.com site.

And feel free to explore this site to learn more about the novel, manually download episodes from the archive (found here on the home page), or download exclusive 7th Son fan-created content such as wallpapers, screen savers and more. And don't hesitate to contact me with questions or feedback.

In addition to the cool preview pictures in the In The Grid article, here’s a sneak peek of the 7th Son “Beta clone” avatars that you’ll see (and become!) at the launch party in Second Life!

Welcome to the world of 7th Son! Book Two: Deceit will debut next Tuesday, Sept. 26!

First In the Grid and BoingBoing. Now....? / September 9, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

If you're a new visitor to JCHutchins.net thanks to recent coverage in Second Life Insider and Compatible World, welcome! I hope you’ll make the time to visit the Second Life launch party for part two in the 7th Son podcast novel trilogy, Deceit. The official debut of the novel is next Tuesday, Sept. 26. If you want to partake in the week-by-week release of Book Two (and not feel lost in the story), please download the first 7th Son novel, Descent. It's available for free here at this site and at Podiobooks.com. Visit this page for more information.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you enjoy the plethora of freebies here -- and I hope you enjoy the story!

Big trouble ... averted / September 9, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Hey kids ... can't blog for long. Just wanted to apologize for being incommunicado for the past week. My computer went the way of the dodo late last week, and I'm just now clawing my way back into the digital age. I'm not sure how this setback will affect the release date of Book Two. I'm going to do my best to stick to the Sept. 26 release schedule. Cross your fingers!

More to come, 7th Son fans....

--J.C.

Another 7th Son superfan! / August 24, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Need further evidence that 7th Son listeners are the coolest, most generous folk around? Take Brian, a listener in Kansas. Brian enjoyed the special "7th Son/Getting A Leg Up" collaboration podcast so much that he got creative ... and wanted to share the fruits of his labor with me (and you!). Brian took the single MP3 file of 7S/GLU and chopped it up, allowing each song (and corresponding intro) to have its own track. The end result is a CD- (and MP3 playlist-) friendly presentation. Extremely generous of Brian ... and extremely cool. Thanks, Brian!

You'll find a link to this hefty download at this new "7th Son Download Center" web page.

And while you're enjoying this new presentation of the 7S/GLU episode, be sure to visit the JCHutchins.net wallpapers page, where you can download cover art (and a track listing) created by uberfan Michael.

7th Son fans RAWK!

An update ... and a cool article / August 24, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Hey guys. I'm still alive ... and I'm working on a brief "hiatus 'cast," which I hope to release into the wild sometime this weekend. In the meantime, dig this story at CNET's News.com:

Headline: Scientists erase rat's memory

"Scientists at MIT have managed to erase the long-term memories of rats, in a first-ever experiment that could lead to medical treatments for humans, according to a report from the New Scientist.

"In the experiment, neuroscientists from MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory targeted the hippocampus, an area of the brain that's key to forming and maintaining memory. They manipulated synapses in the rat's hippocampus in order to erase long-term memories..."

Yeesh. NEPTH-charge, anyone?

He really IS everywhere.... / August 24, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Faithful listener Alain recently visited Bermuda, spotted this item, and had to snap a photo for fellow 7th Son fans. I'm telling ya, that Kilroy2.0 gets around! Alain, thanks for sharing the photo!

Can you find the Chris Alpha? / August 24, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

Looks like I'm not the only person out there who wants to clone himself so's I can make the day job easier. Chris from the Answers for Freelancers podcast sent me this fantastic image. According to this org chart at ESPN, Chris is -- among other things -- the Multimedia Director, the Manager of Video Services, the Manager User Interface ... even a Flash Developer! Now that's what I call putting yourself to work. Thanks, Chris, for the image!

BOOK ONE: 7th Son: Q&A / Thank You Bonus Episode #2 / August 3, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

It's the last episode in 7th Son, Book One: Descent! J.C. answers questions from listeners ... and thanks darned-near everybody for their support and encouragement.

BOOK ONE: Chapter 27 / August 1, 2006 by J.C. Hutchins

It's the last chapter in 7th Son, Book One: Descent!

Synopsis: Hugh Sheridan reveals a final secret to John. The clones at the 7th Son facility discover the fate of the rescue mission in California. The Beta clones' mission concludes ... or does it?

Promo: Answers For Freelancers podcast

Promo: Shadowmagic podiobook

Promo: Smartbomb Radio

Special song by the brilliant Jonathan Coulton!

"SHARE THE PAIN" contest hosted by Podcast Pickle.

Become one of the 7th Son fan elite! Join the "7th Ave. Street Team!"

Discuss 7th Son and make friends at The Beta Clone Army MySpace group!