For those who don’t know, I have a podcast with Devin Poore called Spirited Discourse, where creative people chat over drinks and we record the conversation. We had a bit of a gap in our episodes due to the intrusion of life and work, but as of yesterday we are back on track. Up right now is Episode 007 with writer Matthew Kressel. We talked about writing and critiquing, television, beer, Alice in Wonderland, and of course, with Matt, Blade Runner. It was a good time recording the episode (and drinking the applejack and beer) so please check it out if you have the chance. And if you haven’t heard the earlier episodes, please check them out as well. And if you like them, please leave us a review on iTunes (or wherever).

Here’s the iTunes link

Here’s the SoundCloud link

Hi, everyone. It’s been a while since I last updated here, but life has been a bit of a whirlwind. Since Raining Fire came out, I’ve been working on short stories after a long absence. I was laid off from my day job and started a new one. And, with my friend and fellow writer, Devin Poore, I started a podcast. It’s been something we’ve been talking about for years now, and inspired by Jennifer Udden, who co-hosts the Shipping & Handling Podcast, I decided to finally commit to it. We’re just starting out, and we’re still finding our legs, but two episodes are currently up on our website and iTunes and SoundCloud (both with horror writer, Grady Hendrix) and the third is imminent. The idea behind the podcast is simple — geeks talking over drinks. It’s an attempt to recreate in some ways the kinds of discussions that writers and other creative types have at conventions, in the bar, about topics they’re excited about. I hope you’ll check it out and add it to your podcast app of choice.

I found out this morning that my short story, “Doors”, which first appeared in GUD Issue 6, is now up, in podcast form, at PodCastle. This is now the second of my stories to appear there and I’m very happy to see it, and hear it, there. As much as I enjoy narrating for them, I enjoy having my stories up even more.

That being said, I have to say that I find it hard to listen to narrations of my stories. I have to listen to the narrations that I do – for editing purposes at the very least – but hearing someone else read my fiction produces a strange kind of dissonance. PodCastle always does a great job in selecting readers – this has nothing to do with that – I think it’s just hearing my own words which is the problem.

I am a little heartened, though, that this is something other people deal with. At a recent agency retreat I heard that other people have issues with it as well.

On the other side of the microphone, there are some other narration projects that I’m working on to hopefully announce soon.

I just realized that I’ve been remiss in mentioning another bit of writing news. However, now that I’ve signed the contract I can reliably state that my story, “Card Sharp”, from The Way of the Wizard anthology, is going to be narrated at Podcastle. I’ve done several narrations for the site before, but this will be the first of my own stories to receive that treatment. I’m looking forward to hearing it.

I’ll update when it goes live (I assume) later this year.

My reading of “The Narcomancer”, a very fine story from fellow Altered Fluid member, N. K. Jemisin, is currently up for your listening pleasure (hopefully) at Podcastle.

This one’s what they call a “giant”, so it’s longer than the usual stories they feature.

As usual, it was a pleasure reading it, except for the times when my cats decided to make noise in the background and I had to go back and edit. I hope I got all of those.

If you feel like it, please check it out.

PodCastle 85: The Narcomancer (Giant Episode)