Now, before you turn away, knowing you’ve heard it all before, let me simply state, you have. You know that many of the authors releasing their books through podiobooks.com or through their own sites are aspiring to be published by large houses and are releasing their works as a way to become noticed and gain a following. You also know that many  of them release electronic versions of these same books through Amazon or Smashwords. Some of you, many of you, buy. I know the authors appreciate your purchasing any books they have self published.

Recently, many authors have decided that self publishing is more than the just “sloppy seconds” to be satisfied with while waiting for a publisher. With this realization, more effort is being put into creating e-books and paperbacks. I’ve seen fund raising efforts for covers and other printing costs. I’m happy to say  that  personally, I’ve yet to see one go unfunded.

As we near the holiday season (Merry Christmas!), if you have a bit extra, I encourage you to purchase a book, in whatever format, from your favorite podcasting author. Alternatively, you can donate through podiobooks.com, where as I’m sure you’ve heard, at least 70% of every donation goes straight to the authors or even go directly to the authors site and look for a tip jar (Decoder Ring Theatre accepts donations in this way).

Finally, I bring to your attention an author that I greatly enjoy that is currently raising funds for a project that I am greatly excited about. John Mierau is currently crowd funding Enemy Lines.  A book I greatly enjoyed and reviewed in the podcast reviews section of this blog. As an added bonus, John isn’t simply asking for your cash, he is providing levels of buy in with commensurate  swag! John drew great amounts of attention with this first novel, but has been delivering short stories through his Serving Worlds feed for quite some time. He has continued to provide content that is worth hearing, and I encourage you, if you haven’t become familiar with his works yet to do so.

Once again, I wish you all the happiest of holidays and encourage you to leave a bit of green under the tree for your favorite podcast authors.

(Post Script: Of course, buy those large house books too. Did you see?  Books and Braun’s Phoenix Rising is on sale for your Kindle and Nook for only $0.99!)

I am currently celebrating the one year anniversary of View from Valhalla. My, how quickly a year goes, and how much things change. When I first started this blog, I had no idea what I would be doing with it. I knew I had opinions (hence the tagline) and I knew I loved social media. I was also very new to Twitter (well, at least being involved to a large extent) and had no idea that one would help feed the other (strangely, the have helped each other).

Almost a full year ago, I wrote a post entitled Podcast Challenge, in which I challenged my few number of Twitter followers, and many fewer readers of this blog, to spread the word concerning their favorite podcasts. At the time, I was listening to Weather Child and I really wanted to get the word out on what a wonderful story it was and how much I was enjoying it. I was successful in my part of the challenge and got that podcast 5 new subscribers, but unfortunately, the challenge never bore the fruit I had hoped for, so as an anniversary event, I’ve decided to lay down the challenge again.

So, here it is:

Choose your favorite work of podcast fiction. It can be any genre, any style, any cast type. It really doesn’t matter. Pimp that podcast however you choose. Gain five new listeners for it. You can choose more than one podcast if you want, but then you need to gain it an ADDITIONAL five listeners. (Each podcast is independent, five total listeners for five separate podcasts doesn’t count.)

This year I am changing one rule: it can be ANY work of podcast fiction. Last year, I was asking people to choose something currently in production. In retrospect, this was probably a mistake. Choose any work you want. Burn a couple of eps on a CD. Go crazy with a DVD. USB thumb drives are incredibly cheap these days. Spread the word!

Accountability

Now, how do we know how we’re doing? Twitter! Let’s revive the hashtag #podcastchallenge. When you gain a new listener for your favorite podcast, simply post it on Twitter with the aforementioned hashtag. Example: 1 new subscriber for Some Other Scotland!! #podcastchallenge

Timeframe? Well, we can keep it going forever if you want, but i really would like to see who can get their five by the end of April.

Keep a running total letting us know how it is going. Are you an author? Pimp your own book! Spread the word! Don’t worry about giving credit to VFV, I’m really not worried about it. However, if you’re up for a little extra accountability (like me asking how you’re doing), feel free to leave a comment here stating which podcast(s) you’re going to be promoting.

Good luck!

Being myself, and always willing to state my opinions, I decided to write a comment showing a few inaccuracies in the report. Unfortunately, comments are not allowed.

So, I present said opinion to you here. I realize it is quite likely it will never be read by the intended audience, but I hope that someone will benefit from the facts that I provide here. And again, I say thank you to all of those that give so unselfishly.

“Interesting report. Not entirely accurate, but very interesting. Podiobooks is indeed a portal for books that were released in a serial fashion. And most of the books on the site have not yet, and never will be, picked up by a large publisher.

Some of the author’s on the site however, have been, and are currently published by large houses.

Tracy Hickman, author of many book – including the Dragonlance series – and published by Harper Collins and others is a Podiobook author. He released the immortals, a book also available in print form, for free on the site.

Scott Sigler, NYT best selling author of Infected and Contagious, released his books on Podiobooks first, and was picked up by Crown Publishers. Both of these books are available on Podiobooks.com as well.

J.C. Hutchins, author of the 7th Son trilogy, published by St. Martins Press has all three books available on Podiobooks.com.

Philippa Jane Ballantine has stated that releasing her novels in podcast form was instrumental in receiving a contract with Ace books.

Finally, Nathan Lowell, who is indeed one of the most popular authors on Podiobooks has recently received a contract from a small house publisher, Ridan Publishing, to publish all eight of his novels.

These are just a random sampling and I know I have missed some.

I agree. Not every novel on Podiobooks.com will see print. Nor should they. However, for some authors, it has been part of a strategy to get their works into the masses, which in turn has helped them achieve larger goals.

I hope the pile of books near your bed doesn’t topple and harm you before you’ve had a chance to hear some of these wonderful stories. I’ve read all of the titles in that stack that you mentioned. None of them are superior to the best Podiobooks.com has to offer.

Thank you for your time.”

What transpired was a really interesting conversation with fans, authors and me all chiming in (it’s my blog, I get to be my own group). There was a consensus from many that they wouldn’t be hurt if someone said they didn’t care for the authors work, as long as they could be constructive with it. A few didn’t care whether it was stated constructively or not. I thought it interesting (but a very good thing) that not a single author said “I’d rather not hear anything negative from a fan about my work”.

If any author’s out there read this,  I would like to say, I’d be happy to critique your work anytime you’re interested. I have no problems telling anyone what I like or dislike, and I think I am generally a pretty positive person, so you can count on not just getting trashed. Two items though: 1) I won’t do it on the general feed on Twitter. 2) I won’t do it here.

Why, you might ask? (Seriously, if you’re not curious you might as well skip the next two paragraphs.) Well, I won’t answer on Twitter, because what I might find great and/or annoying might be the opposite of someone else. That is fair, but if I’m offering you my perspective on your work, I don’t want to stir up controversy on Twitter. That isn’t why I’m on Twitter, and I know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t back down because I’m in a minority. In fact, that question was asked during the discussion. “If 99 people liked a story, would you be able to say you didn’t?” (paraphrased, i don’t remember the EXACT wording) Yes, yes I would.

I also won’t write about it here, because I have set up these reviews for a specific reason. Those reasons do not include becoming my rant/rave platform on random things that I love/hate. If that is what you want, there are lots of other blogs out there that can help. Good blogs. Blogs that I read weekly.

My reason for doing these reviews is with the hope of trying to help YOU my readers (however few you might be, LOL) find a story you can hopefully love. As I stated on Twitter, I’m not doing these for the author’s (although most seem to appreciate and a few seem to ignore) and I’m really not even doing it for me. I am trying to give a guide that will help people find content they want to give a shot. Now, when I review a podcast I love, I will tell you that, and will tell you why. When I review a podcast that didn’t do it for me, I will tell you that. And I will tell you why. BUT, it will STILL be in the vein of trying to help someone find that story that might like it. *SPOILER ALERT One of those is coming next week (oh no, something Odin didn’t like? Whatever could it be? hmmm… I wonder where you could find out?) And guess what? Yeah, I’m definitely one of the 1 out of 100 that didn’t care for it.

Does any of this make me an authority on anything? Yup. I am an authority on what I like, AND on what I’m trying to do here. I really only have three rules for stories that will be reviewed here. One, they have to be podio fiction. I don’t do magazines or compilations. Two, they have to be complete. Three, I won’t accept any kind of incentive or compensation.

Do I have to like them? Nope. Is that going to keep me from suggesting them? Nope, because I sincerely hope someone does. But I will be truthful in the reviews, as I always have.

For those of you that have commented in the past that you found something you liked? Well, let me thank you. You keep me looking for new podcasts to listen to, and yes, finish, whether I like them or not. LOL.

Thank you.

However, if either of those are true, you’ve also more than likely heard of the tragedy that has struck one of the founders of podio fiction.

Tee Morris, author of the Morevi and Billibub Baddings series, as well as the non fiction Podcasting for Dummies, Advanced Podcasting for Dummies, All a Twitter, and Teach Yourself Twitter in Ten Minutes lost his wife this week, leaving Tee to be the sole provider for his 5 year old daughter, affectionately known as Sonic Boom.

In an effort to alleviate some of the financial strain, the podcasting community has come together in an effort to not only take care of short term expenses but to set up a trust for Sonic Boom.

Tee never asked for a thing, and I would not at all be surprised if he had been asked before hand, he would have declined the help. Tee is just that kind of guy. Tee helps. I’ve never met a less selfish man.

WIthin 24 hours of the tragedy being known, Tee’s good friend and co-author, Philippa Ballantine created a Chip In option for people to donate to these expenses. The response has been extensive. Within the first 36 hours, the total had exceeded  10,000. That amount has continued to grow. An internet auction is now being setup to take place at the end of Feburary with the proceeds to be put in the trust being created for Sonic Boom.

All of the aforementioned information you probably seen before. 

I have been keeping up on the total being collected at the ChipIn site. I am very excited and overwhelmed by the love and support that has been being shown here, and I seriously hope it doesn’t end anytime soon. However, as I’ve repetitively clicked refresh, one thing has been interesting to notice.

Someone donated in the amount of $x.13. Thirteen cents? Why would anyone donate thirteen cents? 

This gave me pause for a bit, and it has been something that has been in the back of my mine since I noticed.

And this is what has come of that rumination.

No one donates thirteen cents that doesn’t have to. There is no reason to. Most would automatically give a dollar amount, and most of us would even give an even dollar amount ending in a 5 or a 10. So, for a person to donate $x.13, this person had to have been giving what they could, not just what they wanted to, but everything they could. 

When I thought of it this way, it choked me up. It is easy to take of our families and those that are near to us. It is also easy to make cyber-friends that you can “drop” or “unfollow”. What isn’t easy is to give what you can. 

I know there are other explanations. I’ve thought of others myself, in fact some might be more logical. But this isn’t a time for logic. This is a time to feel. To reach out your hand because you can.

I thank each one of you that have blogged, podcast, and donated to Tee and Sonic Boom this week. What I ask of you is simply this, don’t stop. Do what you can. 

Do you want to donate to the auction? Submit your proposal to donations@theboomeffect.org.

Want to view and bid on some of the items? http://theboomeffect.org.

Want to Chip In? http://teeandserena.chipin.com/tee-and-sonic-boom

The sense of community I’ve seen on Twitter this week puts to shame my local community, and I am proud to be a part of it. Thank you for all you are doing.

There. I’ve said it. Now, let me explain myself.

There have been several times in my life that I’ve been confused, hurt, and/or questioning. During these kinds of times, I think it is natural to ask those that care for you for their opinions.

Now, if you ask me for my opinion, I’m going to give it to you. BUT, I will (hopefully) try to do it in a way that doesn’t belittle you or demean you even if I disagree with you. If I agree with you I will, hopefully, likewise not be a cheerleader, but give the reasons I think your path is the correct one.

Alternatively, if you don’t ask for my opinion, but just need to talk, to be listened to, to have an empathatic listener, then why would my opinion be necessary?

Why did I choose to write this today? Because I’ve seen and been the target of too much judgement.

Who cares if someone did something different than you did? Who cares if you think they’re wrong? Who cares if you think someone is an idiot? Who made your opinion more important than theirs?

Now obviously there are a few caveats. You probably know that wrong is wrong. That isn’t what i’m talking about, so please understand.

So now, I am asking for your opinion? If I’m wrong, please let me know.

Eventually, I ended up opening my own dojang (Korean martial art school). It was small, and somewhat unconventional (in regard to marketing) compared with the larger schools in town, but it fit me.

One day, within the first year of our existence, we were asked if we would be interested in providing a demonstration at a local elementary school. Of course, I jumped at the chance. I asked several of my more advanced beginners if they would be willing to accompany myself and my assistant instructor and they graciously accepted.

Now I needed to decide what the demo would include.

A martial arts demo is, from the dojangs point of view, marketing in a thinly veiled disguise. It is important to be impressive. That’s what you’re there for.

One thing Korean martial arts are known for is their “breaking” demonstrations. (And yes, I have heard the jokes about being attacked by trees.) One theory as to the origin of this practice is that ancient warriors wore a type of wood laminate armor, and so warriors would practice striking through wood in order to be ready to defend themselves. Regardless of the history, the fact is that the ability to focus your strike to going through a type of material your brain is telling you you shouldn’t be going through is a very valid type training.

Now, there are many ways to make breaks look more impressive than they are. I’ve never understood why anyone would want to do this, but they do.

I have known martial artists that will saw partially through the wood, create air pockets inside ice sheets, use porous concrete, place large spacers between the layers of material to be broken. All of these techniques lessen the skill needed.

Knowing this, I wanted to make sure that we had a really good demo that noone could find fault with, while still keeping the hoped for “awe” factor high.

My assistant Marty and I discussed it for a while and decided that we would have the junior members of the team contribute a few minor breaks, and then I would end with something we were hoping would be spectacular.

For the breaking material I decided on paving brick. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is basically the long side of a cinder block. In previous attempts I had broken three stacked one on top of the other held up by two cinder blocks. However, I wanted to nail the break, and didn’t want to have to try more than once, so I decided to go with only two. I decided to go from a deep horse stance and use the classic “knife hand” strike.

I purchased some bricks and verified that it wasn’t going to be a problem, but Marty informed me that I was making it “look too easy”. What he meant was that to people that had never tried to break three inches of concrete with the edge of their hand, the fact that I was doing it without much “apparent” effort deminshed the technique.

We sat and thought about it for a while, and then one of us, I don’t remember which, stated, “You know, if the bricks were on fire, that would look cool!” To which the other immediately agreed.

So then we were left wondering, how do you make concrete burn? Neither of us had ever tried anything like this before. Well, after a bit of discussion, I told Marty to place the bricks in about an inch of gasoline and let them soak overnight and through the day the next day. After I finished at the day job, we’d go over to the dojang and give it a shot.

At this point, I would like to point out that I still consider Marty one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known, and while I might not be the smartest in the room, I don’t consider myself too much of a slouch. Which leads me to ask: what happens to grown men’s brains when fire is added to the equation?

The next day, I met Marty at the dojang several hours before the first class. I dressed in an old dobak (or gi, or simply a martial arts uniform, whatever you choose to call it) in order to make sure the sleeves could be rolled up to stay out if the flames.

We then set the stage for the break. We placed a blue plastic/canvas tarp under the cinder block stand because we didn’t know how long the (hopefully) broken pieces might burn after the break. We then retrieved the still soaking patio bricks on the cinder blocks and got ready to light them.

I set up in a deep horse stance and rolled up my right sleeve. I focused and placed my hand on the brick and envisioned my hand slicing through the two 1.5 inch concrete bricks. I then nodded and Marty flicked the wheel on a lighter and touched off the bricks. I needn’t have worried that the bricks wouldn’t burn. They must have soaked up enough gasoline to fuel a hybrid across the country. Although the flames were a bit higher than I had anticipated, I was in the zone and completed a beautiful technique if I do say so myself. My hand sliced through the bricks as the flames licked my forearm with a delightful warmth and the four pieces of the two bricks hit the tarp. And burned.

And burned.

And burned.

Now, in case you’ve never used gasoline as an accelerant, let me warn you that it burns with an abundance of thick, black, oily smoke.

After watching it burn for a few seconds, it became apparent to both Marty and myself that it wasn’t going to go out any time soon.

The smoke had filled the building and was roiling out the open windows and door. I told Marty to go grab the five gallon water jug off the water cooler.

Marty grabbed the bottle and ran back over and doused the flame. Well, that was the intention anyway. In reality what happened was it sputtered and washed some of the burning gasoline and a lot of suet off of the bricks and onto the tarp and floor.

Marty, thinking quickly, ran over to the wall and grabbed the recently charged fire extinguisher and had at it. Finally, the fire was out.

Black smoke continued to empty out of the building. Through the haze, we saw the burnt tarp, the black suet on the walls and floor and the puddles of water and white flame retardent.

“I guess we should probably cancel classes tonight, Marty.”

“Yeah, probably,”

The cleanup took quite awhile that night and ended up costing a bit too. But I have to admit, it probably would have gone quicker if occassionally the work hadn’t have been put on hold while Marty and I laughed our fool heads off. After all, it was just another day at the dojang.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering…. yes, I did do the flaming brick break at the demo. And it did go over very well.

After that first time, however, I figured out you only had to spray a bit of lighter fluid to the top surface immediately prior to the break. It burns off quickly and can be smothered easily. However kids, don’t try it at home, and probably not at the dojang either.

Today, that is precisely what I’m going to try to do.

Whenever summer break begins, I have an almost childlike longing to be free of concerns and responsibilities. I long to be able to pack up the family and head for trails unknown, never looking back and with no regrets.

Of course, summer ends. As school ramps back up, even though I have no scholastic duties, (per se) it feels like the walls are beginning to close in on me again. I am blessed beyond measure (I know, it is like my mantra). I have a wonderful wife and beautiful kids. I want to take them and run.

Would I feel different if I was actually content in what I was doing and the area where I live? I don’t know, but I think it would probably make a difference. Who knows?

This year will be an exciting year with many opportunities and adventures to be shared (and yes, I will be sharing), but today I can’t help but look back a bit.

This is where you come in. What have you done with your summer? Are you ready for it to end?

Last Wednesday, Bruno, our family chihuahua passed away. He had been with us six years. Not as long as he should have been with us, but long enough for him to have left an indelible mark on my soul. I miss him. He wasn’t a well behaved dog, but he really was a good friend.

Thursday started my family’s vacation. We have many activities planned. The first of which is a trip to see family in Pennsylvania. We left the house at 4:00 this morning to catch the early flight to Philly.

The plan was to catch the connecting flight in Houston. As we arrived, a thunderstorm closed down the airport for the next two hours.

This would have been bad enough, however, the airline had decided to sit us all separately. Luckily, I got them to move the little prince next to his mom, but my older boy and I are each sitting solo on an oversold 737. In fact, I’m sitting in seat B (yes, middle) between to large gentlemen who were unwilling to let a dad sit by his son. Dinks.

So, yes, although I have stolen the name of this post directly from Tee Morris, I truly do feel like a stranger today.