listening to the podcast

For descriptions of each episode, check out my Show Notes at the top of the page. This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real people or events is purely coincidental.

WARNING: Some of the language may be offensive, but no worse than you would expect in an R rated movie.

Special thanks to NASA for the image of the galaxy.

Podcast of the novel BETWEEN EARTH AND ARCTURUS

Monday, April 3, 2023

Why I'm not very active anymore

      I don't like to post things about my personal circumstances. I like to keep some things private. I intended to be well on my way by now to getting another novel completed, and to have lots more interviews and reviews posted.

     Something went completely wrong. I became sick. Seriously sick. About a year ago I went to the emergency room with chest pain. It turned out my kidneys failed. Since then, I have been back the hospital many times for complications of my illness. 

     I don't know if I will ever write another novel. So many dreams and aspirations no longer seem doable.

     I would like to ask everyone who reads this to take a look at the prospect of organ donation and consider how much it can help someone. Lots of people are on a transplant waiting lists but their wait will likely be many years. Those years will not be pleasant and some will not live long enough get the transplant they need to start living a more-or-less normal life.

     Just learn a little about it and consider what you can do help. That's all I ask.

Best wishes to all of you,

James Prescott.

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Breakout novel: The Realm of the Fairies by Natalie Wolff

 My writer’s group split up a few years ago and its members went separate ways; some moved away; some took a break from writing. Then this stupid pandemic came and turned me into a caveman…not that I needed much encouragement. I am not the most social creature to start with, but even a caveman gets tired of waiting for the glaciers to recede and enjoys an afternoon in a sunny place, chatting with a couple of charming ladies.


A friend posted on social media that her daughter just published a book, so I bought a copy and read it.

The title of the book is The Realm of the Fairies by Natalie Wolff, a fantasy about a teenage girl going through the trials of entering high school when she discovers that she has a destiny in the mystical realm of fairies.


I met with Natalie and her mom at Philz Coffee in Cupertino, California on a pleasant, sunny afternoon in August. 

I brought a short list of topics to ask about and invited her to tell me about herself.

She began writing as a child; fan fiction and short stories. There was a story from her imagination that she slowly developed and refined and, one day, she decided to bring it all together into a book.


Writers tend to fall into one of two camps; plotters and pantsers. I didn’t make that up. Lots of writers use this expression. Plotters plan the plot of the story in a complete outline before beginning the actual first draft. Pantsers—from the expression ‘fly by the seat of your pants’—simply write what they imagine at the moment and don’t plan what will happen in the next scene. 


Natalie tried both ways and found the pantser method work best for her. Like myself, she knows how she wants the story to end. She just needs to write a story to bring her characters to that place. 

The heroine of The Realm of the Fairies, Talia Summers is 14 years old and entering a stage of life that can be challenging for anyone: high school. I can relate; it has been decades since I graduated and I still haven’t recovered. The experience is presented in a close, first person narrative, bringing the reader into the life of this young woman who suddenly gets a dose of not only the new world of adolescent relationships, but the wholly unexpected world of fairies.


I asked about Natalie’s education in writing and was surprised that, other than journalism, she did not take writing classes beyond the required English in high school. The quality of her writing suggests lots of experience and training. She says that the recent pandemic forced her to read more than usual, and she learned a lot about sub-plots during the shut-down.


The descriptions on Amazon and Goodreads don’t say who the target audience is but, after reading it myself, I will recommend this for teenage girls or anyone who enjoys light fantasy. It will make a good gift for a daughter or grand daughter. 

The Realm of the Fairies is Natalie Wolff’s first published book, but another is in the works as Miss Wolff prepares for college. I wish her all the best in everything she does and I recommend her breakout novel.


The book cover is the work of artist Andrea Carvajal. It’s elegant design reflects the atmosphere of the novel perfectly. You can learn more about the artist at here.

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Fascinating…and a bit creepy


I keep on the lookout for a good science fiction podcast and SAYER seemed promising from the description. I finally listened to all of the eighty-three episodes. Well…it’s good…very good. 

It does not follow the usual form of sci-fi dramas. In the early episodes only one voice is heard; an unreliable voice which speaks to people through nano-technology implanted in the unfortunate residents of a corporate-owned space colony orbiting the Earth.

Sayer is the name of this voice, who is instructing and directing workers. Everything we learn about the situation comes from this disembodied voice. Sayer calmly says some rather alarming things while we learn about life on the station.

In the first season we hear only a smattering of sound effects and occasional voices of individuals to whom Sayer is speaking.

We gradually learn about the horrific situation of the residents and about how little their lives are valued by the corporation. Sayer has zero morals and sometimes withholds information to get cooperation, always waiting until it is too late before telling a resident that something terrible will result from following its instructions.

This is amusing at first, but after thirty episodes it becomes more of a horror story than a science fiction. 

The plot takes a twisty path as Sayer eventually gets a couple of adversaries that threaten its existence and mission. Adam Bash, the creator of the series says that he wanted to find a way for this ruthless entity to get some sympathy from the audience…quite a feat…and I think he did it. Sayer is forced to contemplate the very meaning of identity and purpose.

This show is not for everybody, but it’s worth trying for at least the first season to see if it’s for you. The show is well done and thought provoking, raising philosophical issues about ethics, identity, responsibility, courage, and power.


Sayer is written and voiced by Adam Bash

Intro and Outro music is by Jesse “Main Finger”Gregory.

Friday, October 16, 2020

Passenger List

      This show is more of ‘slow burn’ rather than a fiery, action thriller. People who enjoy a more nuanced mystery may enjoy this. The plot is an investigation by a college student who is devastated by the disappearance of a commercial airliner that her twin brother was on.

     Each episode follows Kaitlin Le as she meets people who knew other passengers on the airplane in her quest to unravel the truth about what happened to the flight.


     The show currently has one season of eight episodes, each about a half hour in length. There is talk of a second season, and may possibly become a television show.


     Passenger List packs some real star power with the lead role played by Kelly Marie Tran of television and movie fame, including a lead role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.


Other major players include:

  Colin Morgan…The Fall, The Crown, Merlin, Doctor Who.

  Rob Benedict…Supernatural, Kings of Con, Felicity.  

  Patti LuPone…This fabulous lady has so many accomplishments that it’s for the best that I simply refer you to her website: pattilupone.net/bio.html.


Passenger List is available on iTunes and many other providers of fine audio drama.


Saturday, July 4, 2020

Recommended: King Falls AM

     Working the Galaxy doesn’t usually post a podcast recommendation until we listen up to the most current episode. We will make an exception for King Falls AM because they have over 100 episodes and we have gone through about half of them. 
     The series features a late night talk show on an AM radio station in a small mountain town somewhere in America.
     The news from King Falls is bizarre with reports of paranormal encounters and UFO abductions. The local people who call in are delightfully weird and the city politics is an ongoing scandal of corruption. 
     The show has been consistently entertaining and keeps drawing us back for more.
Audioboom hosts the show, as well as many other fine podcasts.
     The episodes are all written by Kyle Brown and Eric Kimelton. The music is composed by Cameron Chambers. For full credits visit: http://www.kingfallsam.com/credits.

     The King Falls AM facebook page indicates that, due to the Covid19 pandemic they have shut down the patreon page and the merch page and are not currently producing episodes.

     We recommend King Falls AM and hope the cast and crew will continue production soon.

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Amelia Project continues, and we recommend it.

     We started listening to The Amelia Project in January of 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed it to the end of the second season the following November. Now, I am happy to tell you…YES…season three is coming. 
     This is a fun listen, with great guest performers in each episode. It is a comedy with the most outrageous scenarios, and can brighten your day in bite-size portions.

     The Amelia crew has been locked down in several different countries because of this damn virus, which, of course, is problematic for production.
     Recently, The Lockdown Tapes have appeared, with the individual characters from the story telling what they are doing during the lockdown. 
     The crew is a professional outfit with experienced and talented people in front of and behind the microphones, and they can tell you about the show and the team much better than I can. Here is an excerpt from the show’s press kit:


The Amelia Project
An Audio Drama Series by Philip Thorne and Oystein Brager

The Story
The Amelia Project is a secret organisation offering a very special service: Faking its clients' deaths! Its eccentric clientele includes cult leaders, criminals and politicians all desperate to disappear and start over... For how long can the secrecy last?
With the help of his indispensable assistant Alvina, The Amelia Project's Interviewer needs only a 20 minute consultation to help any troubled client disappear into a new and exotic life. His solutions are delivered with a flourish of ingenuity, style, and a mug of finest cocoa. But you don't get to be this good without attracting some unwanted attention…


The Amelia Project is an audio drama podcast by Imploding Fictions (NO/FR) produced in association with Open House Theatre (AT).
The Amelia Project was one of four Fiction Podcast finalists at Austin Film Festival 2017.
The show's 11 episode first season launched 1st December 2017. Episodes are released biweekly up until the beginning of May 2018.

Cast
Starring Alan Burgon as the Interviewer.
Featuring Julia C. Thorne as Alvina, Julia Morizawa as the voice on the answer phone, Gianluca Iumiento as Joey and
Ravdeep Singh Bajwa as Salvatore.

Crew
Written and directed by Philip Thorne and Øystein Ulsberg Brager.
Sound design by Fredrik Baden.
Graphic design by Anders Pedersen.
Photos by Ida Oppen.
Production co-ordination by Julia C. Thorne.
Produced by Imploding Fictions in association with Open House Theatre.

For further cast and crew please see https://ameliapodcast.com/artists/

A Bit More About the Core Team
Philip Thorne
Philip is writer and director of The Amelia Project. He currently lives in Paris, France, and divides his time between writing, directing, dramaturging, translating and practicing magic. He is joint artistic director of Imploding Fictions.
http://philipwthorne.com/

Øystein Ulsberg Brager
Oystein is writer and director of The Amelia Project. Based in Oslo, Norway, he works as a freelance director, playwright and dramaturg. He is joint artistic director of Imploding Fictions.
https://oysteinbrager.com/

Fredrik Skaare Baden
Fredrik is our sound designer and composer. He trained at the Institute for Musical Sciences at the University of Oslo. He has previously composed music for theatres such as The Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Teater Innlandet, Nordland Teater, Centralteatret and the National Theatre of Korea.

Alan Burgon
Alan Burgon plays the Interviewer. He also directs episodes of The Amelia Project, and occasionally voices smaller characters. Alan is a freelance actor and director with a BA in acting from Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. His film credits include The Leeward Side of the Moon, Thank You For Bombing and Grimm’s Snow White. His theatre credits include leading roles in productions such as Hedda, Twelfth Night, The Glass Menagerie and Romeo & Juliet. His directing credits include productions of The Importance of Being Earnest, Much Ado About Nothing and The Picture of Dorian Gray. He is also the creative director of Open House Theatre in Vienna.
https://alanburgon.com/

Julia C. Thorne
Julia plays Alvina and is the voice of the intro and outro credits. She also does project management for The Amelia Project. As a bilingual actress, she has worked in English and German theatre since graduating from drama school in Hamburg in 2010. Previous work includes: Carol in David Mamet's Oleanna at Theater  Lüneburg and Sheila Birling in J.B. Priestly's An Inspector Calls at the International Theatre in Vienna. In 2012, Julia co-founded Open House Theatre. She has appeared in many of the company's productions, including roles such as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie and Tara in Hedda. She also works as the company's Educational Manager.
Anders N. Pedersen
Anders is the illustrator and graphic designer of The Amelia Project, and the man behind our awesome logo. He is a regular collaborator of Imploding Fictions, and has designed a number of our flyers and posters throughout the years. He is also the artist behind the comic strip Et øyeblikk, published in the Norwegian comic book Rutetid.
http://anderspedersen.no/


Tuesday, April 21, 2020

And now...back to reality!

     These days a little break from reality can be a relief, but so can revisiting the reality of the past. A great podcast for taking short trips into the past is Stuff You Missed In History Class, currently hosted by Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey.
     This is, as the title suggests, all about history, especially some of the more overlooked things which schools simply don’t have the time to delve into.
     Available just about everywhere, they have an extensive list of shows which are typically 35 to 40 minutes long, with the occasional two-part episode, and a selection of Behind the Scenes Minis which recount the process of researching for a particular show. 
     Recent discoveries which have been literally dug up are found in the “Unearthed” episodes.
     The subject of an episode may be an event, but with more insight and depth than you remember from high school history, and the events are usually off the beaten path of most history classes. 
     As often as not, the subject is not an event, but a person, and usually someone you never heard of, or the subject may be a product, process, or commodity, which is definitely a departure from school curriculums.
     So, if you can’t escape reality, you can at least take a short break from the present, and learn something about how the world got to how it is now.

     Check out the list of episodes on iTunes, Stitcher, Tumbler, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Can't say enough about this show!

     Other posts about Wolf 359 lament that no other shows from these talented folks at Kinda Evil Genius Productions are on the horizon. We understand: The show is addictive, clever, and brings a fresh take on audio science fiction.
     The first few episodes give no hint of seriousness and could have had the same story in a contemporary business or academic setting. But before the end of the first season it quickly evolves into a deadly serious sci-fi drama.
     The quality of writing, acting, and sound-scaping is top quality and the story arc is masterful. There is a definite end to the story when all things are wrapped up nicely. That is not to say all evils are undone, but the loose ends are finally tied up neatly.
     Sprinkled into the saga are back-story episodes revealing the past of each character, and providing reinforcement to an already well rounded plot.
     The premise of a lazy slacker taking a job on a remote space station pays off as each character is developed. Not everything is as it seems, and the evil plot of the ruthless villains gradually comes to light, along with mysteries which eventually are answered.
     The players are outstanding:

  • Zach Valenti is extraordinarily talented as the central character Doug Eifel, and shows versatility in the role of Dr. Hilbert; an entirely different persona complete with a believable Russian accent.
  • Emma Sherr-Ziarko who plays Commander Renee Minkowski; an unwitting and tormented pawn of her evil masters whose spirit ovrcomes the circumstances she did not choose.
  • Michaela Swee gives a compelling performance as Hera, an artificial intelligence (computer program), who is truly a person and has been set up to suffer by her creator, Dr. Miranda Pryce, also played by Ms Swee. It also doesn’t hurt that she has a totally sexy voice.
  • Scotty Shomaker plays the suave, evil bastard Marcus Cutter and nails it.
  • Cecilia Lynn-Jacobs comes in a bit late in the story as Captain Loveless, but delivers a fine performance as a [redacted to prevent spoilers by order of the inter-galactic podcast consortium].

  • Zach Libresco portrays one of those professionals that we know really exist but we wish they didn’t, and is very convincing.
  • Noah Masur plays a man who lives for things that go ‘boom’ and develops a character arc that makes a great story in itself.
  • Michelle Agresti is the voice of Dr. Alan Maxwell, an A.I. specialist who cares about people like Hera as a physician cares about patients.
  • Alan Rodi handles the music for Wolf 359, which proves a remarkable achievement. Read more about him here.
     This is an amazing show and the entire staff of workingthegalaxy enjoyed every episode. The prestigious awards earned by the cast and crew are astounding.
     Check it out on iTunes or the Wolf 359 website.
     The creator, Gabriel Urbina, cast and staff don’t seem to be cooking up another show (sigh!), but you can find more about them on the show site.

Friday, September 6, 2019

Science Fiction Comedy (what the juck?)

Mission to Zyxx is a silly, imaginative, and strangely addictive comedic send-up to sci-fi space opera. It is improvised and seems unedited (it is actually edited but you can hear the actors sometimes laughing at their own performances. The sound effects are quite good and the plot holds together brilliantly.
Sci-fi fans will recognize the skewering of Star Wars, Star Trek and many other sci-fi shows which they hilariously spoof.
You should start at the beginning and listen to them in order as they refer back to previous stories and build upon them.

The show was created by: Alden Ford, Seth Lind, Moujan Zolfaghari, Shane O’Connell, Allie Kokesh, Jeremy Bent, and Winston Noel: A stellar cast with impressive credentials. Workingthegalaxy intended to list all of their accomplishments but the list got too long. 
The track record of acting, directing, producing, and writing of this group is so extensive it is no wonder they are able to recruit such terrific guest-actors as:

Sasheer Zamata
Connor Ratliff
John Rober Wilson
John Murray
Lauren Adams
Michael Cruz Kanye
Zach Cherry
Jon Gabrus
Lorraine Cink
Jordan Carlos
Josh Patten
Caitlin Puckett
Lydia Hensler
Justin Tyler
Paul F. Thompkins
Jeff Hiller
Ali Gordon
Dru Johnston
Laura Willcox
Nicole Drespel
Lennon Parham
Alex Song
Christopher Scott
Matt Little
Sebastian Conelli
Bobby Moynihan
Arnie Niekamp
Adal Rifai
Matt Young
Jonathan Braylock
Rekha Shankar
Leslie Collins
Brandon Scott Jones
Yoni Lotan

The story never (so far) mentions Earth or humans, so it could be anywhere and anytime in the universe as it follows a group of eccentric characters who begin season one as ambassadors. This changes later when they become rebels. In fact, the whole story follows some sort of bizarre arc as the characters develop and change.
Like any entertainment, it is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it does keep me coming back for more. Check it out wherever the finest audio drama is found.


Tuesday, September 3, 2019

     Okay...I got my audio feed reinstalled, but it looks a little different due to circumstances beyond my limited expertise and patience. Sorry about the delay...I was obligated to attend to other things while sorting this out.
     Another podcast review will be posted right after I put the fire out and dig my way back to the surface.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Lost the Audio Player

The audio player widget which links to my audio recordings has vanished from this site😖. I need to restore it to it's rightful place asap.
I have no idea what happened to it: I will start by looking under the couch; nearly everything that goes missing ends up there.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

In Memory of Vladimir Yerokhin

  Vladimir passed away in his Monterey, California home in late June. In July, friends of Vladimir Yerokhin gathered at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Saratoga, California for the traditional forty-day Panikhida service.

After the service was a dinner in his honor. 


Vladimir made a living by painting and making custom gilded frames, but also created original art to give to friends.  

 Here is a small sample of his work. The painting of the coffee pot was made to hang outside and is done in colored cement. 


Remembered were his generosity, kindness, and great talent. Vladimir lived and worked in Monterey, California producing beautiful paintings and custom frames.
  His friends in the Church knew him mostly for his work with Orthodox Christian icons.



We will miss you, dear Vladimir—-Memory Eternal.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Virtual virtual assistant


     The audio drama Sandra from Gimlet Media is both delightful and disappointing. There are plenty of fan comments out there raving about how addicting the show is, and that they want more, but one common complaint is that it ends without wrapping up the loose ends and finishing the story.
     The premise of having an electronic virtual assistant (like Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri) which turns out to be real person on the other end of the connection is fun to explore and has a lot of story potential. The cast and crew are professionals whom we expect a lot from but, to be honest, the story does not give these actors enough to work with.
     The protagonist of Sandra is Helen, the real person answering questions from clients, played by Alia Shawkat. The computer voice of Sandra is done by Kristen Wiig; directed by Sebastian Silva; written by Kevin Moffett and Matthew Derby.
     I enjoyed the show despite the abrupt ending. Perhaps this is one that needs a second season to bring it all together.
     It’s only seven episodes, so why not check it out and judge for yourself. Available on iTunes and Gimlet Media.


Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Steal the Stars...highly recommended

     Steal the Stars is a fresh idea; an unpredictable drama that gets into the head of a tough-as-nails woman, Dakota Prentiss played by Ashlie Atkinson. It is a stellar performance which captures the character and the mood of the story completely.  This is not a rehash of old ideas and I could never have predicted the ending. That people like Dakota Prentiss exist I know to be true, but they are rare and, frankly, scary.
     Neimah Djourabchi is equally convincing as Matt Salem, Dakota’s lover and co-conspirator.
     The story is written by Mac Rogers who has also given us The Message and Afterlife, as well as stage plays The Honeycomb Trilogy, Frankenstein Upstairs, God of Osidian, Ligature Marks, and many more.
     Jordana Williams directed Steal the Stars, and has directed some of Mac Roger’s stage plays. Both have won many awards and gained high praise in the world of performing arts.
     The story comes through a first person POV as Dakota meets ‘the new guy’ Matt in a facility that secretly studies an alien spacecraft and the dead alien within it.
     Romance is forbidden between people in this organization, but…you know…rules were meant to be broken. Unfortunately the consequences are bad enough that almost never happens.
     What brings me to recommend this audio drama is both the exceptional writing and Ashlie Atkinson’s performance. She has an impressive career in live theater, film, and audio. In fact, check out the credits of all the cast and crew of Steal the Stars and you will not be surprised that this is such an exceptional show.
     It’s produced by Tor Labs, an audio imprint of Tor Books where you can find all of the cast listed and lots more interesting information.



Sunday, October 21, 2018

Magic in our world

I just read the entire Tufa novel series by Alex Bledsoe in about a month.
Interestingly, I wasn’t looking for something to read, but rather some new songs to listen to. There are some excellent music videos on Youtube with a band called Tuatha Dea that I just couldn’t get enough of, but when I searched the titles of the songs it turns out that some of them are actually book titles.
Each book is centered on a fictional town in Tennessee called Needsville, and on a secluded community of…well…sort of human people.
If you don’t know the basic premise for the story, you won’t guess it until the end of the first book, and even then you must wait for each book to reveal more of the back-story in deliciously bite-size anticipation.
Much of it deals with very human relationships and not so human challenges. This story will appeal to readers of folklore and fantasy, as well as those who enjoy frank prose about the lustier side of life. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The band, Tuatha Dea, is also from Tennessee and is truly a family affair:  Like the Tufa folks in the novels, the members of this band each have extraordinary talent and can play multiple instruments. 
I spoke to Danny Mullikin (rhythm guitar, composer, and drums) and, to my surprise, he said that their experience in music began with a family drum circle not so many years ago. Only his son Brandon was already playing guitar at the beginning.
Danny’s wife, Rebecca Holman, delivers powerful vocals as does Rebecca’s sister Kathy. Danny’s daughter, Tesea Dawson played flute before the band formed, and now plays bass guitar and keyboard. Kathy’s fiancé Chris Bush  plays didgeridoo, native American flute, penny whistle, bagpipes and drums. Adam Ogle is on rhythm and lead guitar. Brett Maney has joined the tribe on drums. Laura Smith recently joined Tuatha Dea bringing her world class fiddle playing to the band.
The YouTube videos I’ve seen include the songs: Long Black CurlWisp of a Thing,
and,The Hum and the Shiver, which are all titles of Tufa novels. The videos are professional, outstanding works of art thanks to Jesse Jones. Also, you will want to see the Appalachia Burning video which recounts the terrible fire in 2016, which the band members experienced first hand, and the song was written in a hotel where they evacuated to. I especially recommend Ailein Duinn for some real Celtic music. Yeah, I’m a fan of Celtic music.
Tuatha Dea also participated in The Green Album, in association with Nightsong Recording Studios. This is a collaboration of many talented people and the Rainforest Trust to purchase millions of acres of rainforest for conservation. 
You still have time to see Tuatha Dea’s final performance of 2018 at the Appalachian Masquerade Ball in Greer, South Carolina on October 26th.

Through email, Alex Bledsoe answered a few questions I’d been wondering about:

WTG: Can you tell me how you got to know Danny and the rest of the band?
Alex: I was attending the Pagan Unity Festival (PUF) outside Nashville, and they were the headlining band. I’d never heard of them before, but they blew me away. Later Danny and I realized that we’re the same age, we grew up twenty miles from each other although we never met, and we shared memories of many of the same places and events. I gave him a book and he gave me a CD, and then about two months later he called and asked if I’d mind if the band did some songs based on my Tufa novels. By then I’d become a hardcore fan, and of course I said yes.
WTG: Would you ever consider a sequel, prequel, or spinoff of the Tufa series? I think the story cannot continue without becoming a new story, but I’d like to tell my readers your thoughts on that.
Alex Bledsoe.  photo credit; Rex Winters
Alex: That’s exactly right. I chose to end it where I did because I didn’t want to start repeating myself. We’ve all read series that have gone on way too long, far past the point where the author had anything new to say. I didn’t want to fall into that trap. I’m not ruling out ever returning the Tufa, but I’d have to have a substantially different (and good!) idea first.
WTG: I’m seeing a lot of different media; film, tv,  books, comics, live performance, and audio which all have fans, but it’s hard to see the big picture sometimes. What do you think of today’s trends in entertainment? 
Alex: I see two competing and contradictory movements in all forms of media right now. One, there’s a long overdue push for representation, particularly in genres and forms previously dominated by white men. The other is a full-out war on original content, whether music, movies, TV or literature, driven by marketing. All the arts, not just music, need the equivalent of the punk revolution of the 70s, which takes the arts away from the corporations.
WTG: Are there any events or upcoming publications you would like people to know about?
Alex: I’ll be at the SE Wisconsin Festival of Books in Waukesha on November 3, discussing “Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Politics” with authors Patrick Tomlinson and James Lowder, and at the Stoughton Public Library on November 11 with Katherine Addison (aka Sarah Monette) and Steve Fortney.


Alex has written other series as well and all can be found on Amazon. The music of Tuatha Dea is also on Amazon as well as their website, tuathadea.net.


I share these with you because they make my life more enjoyable and hope they do the same for you.

Best Wishes,
James

Saturday, July 14, 2018

breakfast in Grover Beach

Did a road trip to Grover Beach, near Pismo on the central coast of California. The idea was to devote a few days to beach combing (that's searching for coins and jewelry with a metal detector) on one of the biggest beaches in the USA.
Since I was staying in hotel that was remarkably like a dungeon, I ate out for every meal.
I've never done a restaurant recommendation on this site before, but if you are in Grover Beach and want some great American comfort food, try Lil'Bits Cafe. The biscuits and pancakes are made from scratch every day and everything is the best quality.
The people are nice and the coffee is good, too.
Lil'Bits is at 151 N 7th street in Grover Beach.
Enjoy

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Kimberly Poole: Producer, Podcaster, and Voice Actor (and Larper)


Closely associated with Nineteen Nocturne Boulevard and Julie Hoverson, is the Warp’d Space and Warp’d Stories productions by Kimberly Poole.
Kim has been acting since junior high school drama class and continued through high school. Later she worked with Julie as a voice actor, and expressed an interest in learning how to produce shows. Julie mentored Kim as Warp’d Space took shape.
She already knew plenty of actors from the podcasting community, and recruited some of her actors from her own family: Kim’s daughter plays Pilot in multiple voices. Local voices are recorded at Julie’s studio and the others send recordings from remote locations.
This can be tricky since remote recordings necessarily have a different audio environment, but Kim says she can pull it off since the expected audio ambience in spaceship scenes is controllable [my paraphrasing].

I’ve done a bit of audio myself, and have had to splice together remotely recorded dialogue, so I can sympathize with the challenges.
She would like to do more Warp’d Space, but getting the crew back together is no small undertaking.
Kim says she goes to Larp events monthly (I’ve really got to try that) which lets her combine acting and costuming and become a sociopath-assassin for a weekend.
Kim’s advice to those interested in podcasting: Find someone like Julie to learn from and take notes. She says you really have to like what you’re doing; it’s far too much work to not like what you’re doing.
Good advice, Kimberly.