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ISBW #316 – Confidence // Madeline Ashby Interview

[If you’re here from USAToday.com, welcome!]

This episode we discuss how I’ve been writing out of order, and how lack of confidence creates a bit of a roadblock. Then we talk to Madeline Ashby, the awesome SF writer. Check out her books vN and iD.


Books, Podcasts, Projects

Audiobook Recording

When I got back from Stonecoast, as I said, I jumped right into recording the audiobook. Despite my podcasting experience, I went to a professional studio locally and recorded. Because of my schedule (childcare after school, etc) I can only record for five hours, and I discovered that my voice pretty much gives out after five hours anyway. It’s grueling to be “on” for that long, hard on the voice and strangely exhausting. Because of the schedule, I had less than a week to get it done, and had to go in on the weekend.

I don’t do voices or accents, frankly I’m afraid of either a) forgetting a specific vocal trait of a character, or b) butchering an accent. I haven’t heard anyone complain about this yet, but now that I’m doing this on a “professional” basis, at least for my own books, I’m feeling a bit behind the curve of narration skill. If I work on another one book, I’ll likely see if I can work on some vocal tics to distinguish characters, if not outright accents.

But for an untrained person, a “slight Irish lilt” as this damnable author wrote, is something that could easily go down in flames.

There of course is the downside of a pro-grade audio setup catching every stomach gurgle, spit bubble pop, and the brush of clothing as I reach up to turn a page. Redoing a take because of those things is just maddening.

So yesterday I did all the requested edits, and hopefully am done now. I will be doing a podcast of this one, too, but unlike the first one, the print book will be coming out first, and the podcast a few months later. But you can purchase the print, the ebook, or just get the whole audiobook at once.

Tomorrow: events of the next 30 days!




Ghost Train to New Orleans – Out March 4

Family, Personal, Podcasts, Projects, Travel

Ronin Scientist’s Advent Calendar Day 20-22

So we are now without our computer that does that magic video thing. Scientist is on the run, and all we got is an iphone and a web browser. And it didn’t work! So the video is lost for the season. BUT we got pictures for Day 21. Only those failed too. it’s a Christmas curse. I think we need the Ronin to come home.

But our housesitter is in place and we’re in Buffalo NYC, and the Ronin Scientist is discovering something scary upon arrival. The ornaments on the tree are gone!

Despite our technical difficulties, we did manage to do a live hangout today with Grant and many other advent calendar openers, and that video DID get saved. Mainly because we weren’t involved. Check it out below!

Tomorrow we use Vine.