HEY, EVERYBODY #024: Chris Brogan /  by J.C. Hutchins

In this episode of Hey, Everybody!, J.C. chats with blogger/new media ninja Chris Brogan about Trust Agents, the book Chris recently co-authored with Julien Smith (another new media badass). It's a terrific conversation, and in addition to sharing some terrific insights from the book, Chris more than proves his geek cred, as he makes nerd-pleasing pop culture references to icons such as...

  • Dungeons & Dragons
  • The Matrix
  • Soylent Green
  • The Lord of the Rings
  • Video gaming
  • And more, including a hat-tip to Limp Bizkit, just for shock and awe

In short, Chris Brogan is one of us, peeps. He speaks YOUR language. Enjoy the interview!

NOTE: As J.C. explains in the episode intro, the interview's audio quality is ... troubled. Hutch did the very best he could to remove as much distortion from his side of the conversation as possible.

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

HEY, EVERYBODY #023: Personal Effects swag winners! /  by J.C. Hutchins

Are you okay to go? J.C. is, and drops killer announcements in this episode. Fire up your MP3 players and take a good listen: Hutch announces the winners of the Personal Effects: Dark Art swag giveaway contests ... including the winner of the priceless Sword of Blood!

Winners: Expect an email in day or so. Hutch needs your snail mail address.

If Hutch didn't announce your name (but met the qualifications he mentions in the episode), email him. We'll hook you up with swag.

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

HEY, EVERYBODY #022: State of the Book #5 /  by J.C. Hutchins

Rock and roll. J.C. is (finally!) back with a final State of the Book address. In this ep, Hutch talks about his appearance on NPR's Weekend Edition, sales of Personal Effects: Dark Art, serves up some news about Personal Effects: Sword of Blood, declares war on "disbelief" and more.

  • Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
  • J.C. on NPR's Weekend Edition
  • J.C. in his hometown paper, the Courier-Journal

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

Blue Stahli gets it /  by J.C. Hutchins

If you know me, you know I'm a hardcore Celldweller fan, and a great supporter of Celldweller mastermind Klayton's work. For the past three years, I've used his killer music as the anthems for my podcasts, and I've talked him up something fierce, because I think he crafts music that is as brilliant as it is epic. Klayton runs a company called FiXT, which helps independent artists (often fellow electronica musicians) distribute their music to the masses. One of these artists is Blue Stahli, who is a stellar talent himself. His AntiSleep Vol. 1 album is packed with aggressive and awesome instrumental music, stuff I live to write by. Highly recommended.

Today, I purchased Blue Stahli's new single, ULTRAnumb ... and I was absolutely delighted by the email I received after I clicked the "buy" button:

Hi, this is bret from Blue Stahli.  Just wanted to thank you for throwing down your hard earned coin on my brand-spankin' new single ULTRAnumb.  i know there's much cooler stuff you could be spending your money on, like a feeder monkey, bedazzled cowboy hat, tub of whipped cream and a lifetime supply of rope licorice (but not for eating, if you catch my drift), so it's freakishly appreciated that you're supporting some music that you dig.  More comin' atcha soon...

This, of course, was an automated email -- but it was an unexpected gesture, which I appreciated. When was the last time U2 thanked you for purchasing their most recent album? When was the last time James Patterson gave you a hat-tip for picking up the most recent Alex Cross novel? Did Joss Whedon zip you a grateful email when you snagged that copy of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog?

Blue Stahli and the FiXT crew get it. This email exceeded my expectations, and -- if only for a moment -- piped me full of warm and fuzzies, because the artist himself wanted me to know that I made a tangible difference by supporting his work, and that he appreciated it. It was a step beyond the expected. That's killer customer service, and it's something a great many of us -- myself included -- could learn from.

What are you doing to exceed expectations, either in your art, business or personal life? How are you delighting the world by giving a little more than is required?

--J.C.

Report from the bunker: Aug. 19 /  by J.C. Hutchins

I haven't been in your earbuds lately, so I thought I'd drop quick update on my creative projects:

  • After a far-too-long hiatus due to promotion of Dark Art, writing finally resumed on my serialized podcast novella, Personal Effects: Sword of Blood. I'm happy to report that the second half of the novella is COMPLETE. I'm set to polish this rough draft, and post an episode this weekend. Thanks for your patience.
  • The final "State of the Book" address regarding Dark Art's sales will drop this week. Again, thanks for your patience.
  • A winner in the "Motherf***ing Sword of Blood" contest has been chosen. Expect an announcement later this week. Did I mention, "Thanks for your patience"?
  • Swag winners for the Dark Art "Phase Two" evangelism project have been chosen. These lucky folks will be announced in the same episode as the Sword of Blood winner.
  • I will soon begin work on 7 Days, an anthology of prequel short stories set in the 7th Son universe featuring our beloved Beta Clones, slated for release in September. These tales will be set one week before the events seen in Descent.
  • The "print edition" manuscript of 7th Son: Descent will see podcast release. Expect episodes in October. Brand-new recording of the book, with all the changes you'll see in the print edition. Hear it again for the first time.
  • This website will likely see a redesign, in preparation for Descent's bookstore release.
  • Big news for Personal Effects fans: I'm delighted to announce that Personal Effects: Dark Art will be released in serialized podcast novel form in early 2010.
  • Also coming in 2010: The 33. Because the world needs The 33.

End of line.

--J.C.

On trust, Chris Brogan and Julien Smith /  by J.C. Hutchins

Long before I met Chris Brogan, I felt like I knew the guy. I'd read his blog for years, and followed his tweetstream. I interviewed him for my podcast. At every turn, the man appeared genuinely enthusiastic about the wild, blossoming frontier of social media, and -- more important -- genuinely enthusiastic in hearing what others had to say about it. I finally met him at South By Southwest 2008, and the dude was as kindhearted and enthusiastic in person as he is online. I shook hands with a dozen-dozen social media "superstars" that weekend, and Chris was one of only three who treated me as more than another damned hand to shake. There's a difference between being confident and drinking your own Kool-Aid; Chris Brogan is a sterling example of the former.

Through his experience, ever-growing expertise (and willingness to share that expertise) and good humor, Chris Brogan earned my trust. What he says has value, and he made it clear to me and thousands more that what we say has value to him.

Trust -- more than the dollar, the yen, or the euro -- is the world's most important currency. Without it, productive relationships and transactions simply cannot happen. Without it, there is no valuable "signal" to what people say, or to the products they offer. There is only brain-wracking noise.

Chris wrote a book with Julien Smith. It's called Trust Agents. It was released in bookstores today. It's about using social networks to help businesses succeed ... though I'm certain its core principles of trust-building can be applied well beyond the cubicle. I haven't read a word of the book, but I've already purchased two copies (one for me, and one for my employer), and will likely buy more in the weeks ahead.

You may not know Chris and Julien's work, but you know and probably trust me ... and you know that I rarely share such earnest endorsements. I'm no sycophant; I'm a person who quests for rational, relevant, resonant information. For years, Chris and Julien have delivered, and I trust they have delivered in this book.

Purchase a copy of Trust Agents. Help support the work of Chris and Julien. You'll learn something about the priceless value of trust, from two people who have earned mine.

--J.C.

Welcome, "Weekend Edition" listeners! /  by J.C. Hutchins

I’m very proud to report that my debut supernatural thriller Personal Effects: Dark Art was covered in today's episode of National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Saturday, by reporter David Greene.

I'm a superfan of NPR, and a member of my local station (WLRN in Miami), so this an incredible honor. If you’re a first-time visitor to my site thanks to the story, welcome! Personal Effects: Dark Art has been praised as “a stellar first” by Publisher’s Weekly (starred review), called “cutting-edge experimental fiction … that may herald the future of modern fiction” by Library Journal, and was covered in The Washington Post. Permit me to give you a tour of the Personal Effects-related content here at JCHutchins.net:

  • More info on Personal Effects: Dark Art, and reviews from novelists and filmmakers such as Gore Verbinski, director of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Ring
  • Personal Effects: Sword of Blood, the free groundbreaking podcast-exclusive audionovella prequel to Dark Art
  • Commit Yourself To The Brink, a community-fueled art experiment where fans can become patients in the asylum seen in Personal Effects: Dark Art
  • The groundbreaking “vlurb” video blurb trailers, feauring video endorsements from celeb storytellers such as the creators of Friday the 13th, Final Destination and The Blair Witch Project

I hope you enjoy what you find here at the site. Keep checking back for more, or subscribe to the blog to receive timely announcements and free fiction. Thanks so much for your interest … and if you’d like to support this trailblazing new breed of storytelling, consider ordering a copy of the book.

Welcome to The Brink,

–J.C.

HEY, EVERYBODY #021: State of the Book #4 /  by J.C. Hutchins

Whoops! J.C. accidentally titled this episode 20. Fixed!

Sweet! J.C. delivers another State of the Book address! In this episode, Hutch hooks you up with an update on book sales, and the 4 for 400 for 4,000 campaign.

Highlights also include: J.C.'s explanation of how sales of Personal Effects not only benefits him (the selfish bastard!), but also other new media authors ... and you; the sing-songy delivery of a website address, and a reminder about the cool free shit (including THE Sword of Blood) that you can win by spreading the word!

  • Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
  • PHASE TWO: Madness In The Streets
  • The Sword of Motherf***ing Blood Giveaway (Scroll to the bottom of the page for all the details.)
  • Matt Wallace's website

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

HEY, EVERYBODY #020 /  by J.C. Hutchins

J.C. may have been MIA for the last two weeks, but this week he's delivered two -- count 'em, TWO -- Hey Everybody! interview episodes.

Here's the second, featuring social media maven and brilliant roustabout C.C. Chapman. In the podosphere, C.C. is perhaps best known for his indie music podcast Accident Hash and for his instrumental role in the creation of Mevio's Podsafe Music Network (now called "music alley"). But but like most ultracreative folk, C.C. has an ever-evolving lineup of killer content and roles in the social media space, such as his marketing podcast Managing the Gray and his role as partner at The Advance Guard.

In this conversation, J.C. and C.C. chat about the changing landscape of social media, communicating effectively in this wild frontier, and more. It's an illuminating discussion, and by its end, you'll likely agree with J.C.'s introductory comments when he calls C.C. "The Bruce Lee of social media."

And remember: We need emotional content.

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show!

HEY, EVERYBODY #019 /  by J.C. Hutchins

After a two-week absence from your earbuds, J.C. is back with a new episode of "Hey Everybody!" -- this one featuring a fantastic conversation with Thomas A. Freese.

Tom is the creator of the Question Based Selling sales methodology, the #1 sales training method in the United States. Tom chat about his first book, Secrets of Question Based Selling, and his latest offering, the particularly timely The Complete Guide to Selling Yourself In Today's Competitive Marketplace. At every turn, J.C. ensures the conversation delivers helpful insights and advice for listeners well beyond the sales profession. There's some extremely resonant stuff in this interview, folks.

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

J.C. on the Typical Mac User Podcast /  by J.C. Hutchins

I recently had the great pleasure to appear on Victor Cajiao's terrific program, the Typical Mac User Podcast, to chat about Personal Effects: Dark Art, new media, creativity, and how Apple products and software play mission-critical roles in my creative endeavors. Victor, TMUP contributor George Starcher and I had a blast.

Victor has generously provided me the audio from that interview, and I'm delighted to share it with you. I also heartily endorse Victor's world-class show, and hope that you -- regardless of if you're an Apple fanboy or a hard-core PC user -- check it out. And for the photographers in my audience, check out Victor's stellar Typical Shutterbug Podcast, too!

--J.C.

Behold, the SWORD OF BLOOD /  by J.C. Hutchins

J.C. Hutchins and award-winning horror/thriller writer Matt Wallace have teamed up to unleash the coolest promotion in the history of the mothereffin' multiverse. By evangelizing J.C.'s new novel Personal Effects: Dark Art, you have a shot at winning a unique, priceless sword ... THE Sword of Blood.

This is a BATTLE READY, real-deal, no-messing-around REAL sword, from Matt Wallace's private collection. It is a replica of the sword wielded by Charles V of Spain. In 1519, Charles V was crowned "Roman Emperor"; at that time, no other leader had ruled such an inmense kingdom in human history. The sword's blade is forged in high carbon stainless steel, and is 40 inches long. It was crafted by Marto, the same company that created swords for the Highlander television series.

But it gets so much cooler. J.C. and Matt will write a flash fiction story, focused on the Sword of Blood ... and that story will be written on the blade of the weapon. This story will not appear anywhere else on the planet; it is written for an audience of one -- the person who wins the Sword of Blood. And to make this a true Sword of Blood, both J.C. and Matt will sign their names upon the sword in their own blood.

This sword originally cost hundreds of dollars, and is now truly priceless. Only one will be worthy to wield it.

How can you win THE Sword of Blood? Simple.

  • You must have a copy of Personal Effects: Dark Art on hand. (Borrow one from a friend. Order a copy here. If you can't obtain a copy, play them the videos at my homepage.)
  • You must conduct a "show and tell" of the novel and its transmedia items (IDs, biz cards, documents, etc.) to several family members or co-workers.
  • Simply show off the book, and tell your pals about the novel and its "out of book" transmedia experience.
  • You must pass out copies of the Order Form PDF (found below) to each person you chat with.
  • You can do this in your home, at a friend's house, or at your workplace.
  • You must document this Show And Tell session with at least one photograph.
  • Email that photo to J.C. at 7thSonNovel.com by July 31.

One worthy participant will be selected at random, and will receive THE Sword of Blood, featuring a flash fiction story written upon its blade and signed by its authors in their blood. This sword ruled the Roman Empire. It is more than worthy of your effort. In fact, the real question is: Are you worthy to possess it?

The contest ends July 31, 2009, so there's no time to waste. Print out the Order Form PDF for your peeps (found below), and get showing and telling. Be sure to document your efforts, and send at least one photo to J.C. at 7thSonNovel@gmail.com.

HEY, EVERYBODY #018 /  by J.C. Hutchins

It's another terrific interview this week, featuring brilliant storyteller and musician Phil Rossi. The man chats with J.C. about the upcoming print release of his novel Crescent, his new transmedia podcast novel Harvey, the craft of writing, and much more. It's a red-hot episode!

  • Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
  • PHASE TWO: Madness In The Streets
  • The Sword of Motherf***ing Blood Giveaway (Scroll to the bottom of the page for all the details.)
  • Phil Rossi's website

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

HEY, EVERYBODY #017: State of the Book #3 /  by J.C. Hutchins

Hot damn! Personal Effects: Dark Art continues to chug along most mightily as J.C. serves up another State of the Book address. Highlights also include: J.C. going off on a 1980s G.I. Joe cartoon tangent, J.C. nearly choking to death on-air, the return of the invisible toasting glass, J.C. chatting about the Sword of Blood giveaway, and the new goal we have as Personal Effects fans -- the 4 for 400 for 4,000 campaign. Download this sonuvagun, like, now.

  • Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
  • PHASE TWO: Madness In The Streets
  • The Sword of Motherf***ing Blood Giveaway (Scroll to the bottom of the page for all the details.)
  • Matt Wallace's website

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!

HEY, EVERYBODY #016 /  by J.C. Hutchins

J.C. interviews writer/podcaster/vidcaster/dark god Matt Wallace in this epically-awesome conversation. You will not only be introduced to the badassery that is Mr. Wallace -- you will bear witness to history in the making as J.C. and Matt announce the most compelling, amazing and jaw-droppingly cool giveaway ever conceived, like, EVER. Get ready to say, "Oh, shit."

  • Purchase Personal Effects: Dark Art
  • PHASE TWO: Madness In The Streets
  • The Sword of Motherf***ing Blood Giveaway (Scroll to the bottom of the page for all the details.)
  • Matt Wallace's website
  • Jonathan Maberry's website

The anthem for Hey, Everybody! is "Chip Away" by Jane's Addition, distributed freely via BitTorrent and the Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction tour site, Ninja2009.com.

Like what you hear? Please leave a comment, and tell a friend about the show, and about Personal Effects: Dark Art!