What I've been up to since you last heard from me...

Is this: a science fiction magazine, in both e-text and audio forms. I'm throwing in an audio copy of one of the stories in the first issue, and if you're interested, you might mosey on over to FlyingIslandPress.com. I'm just sayin'.

And here's a sample ePub too - it lists all the stories, and includes the text of this promo audio story as well. It should work with iBooks, Stanza for iPod/iPhone/iPad, Nook, recent Sony readers, the Kobo reader, and anything else that will take ePub.

Enjoy!

Download FlagShipPromo1
(and a new episode is coming)

Promotion, Promotion, Promotion!

Someone on Twitter said something last night about some podcasts needing new promos. So then I looked at my last promo for GSG... and realized I had put it together in May of last year.

Ooops.

So, here's a new promo, starring my adorable daughter, Queso, and her Aunt.

Enjoy!

Download GSGPromo0210.mp3

GSG 2010.2 - Percy Jackson!

Kind of building off the Alien Hybrid episode, today we talk about surviving being a demigod of some sort. I mean, sure you've got at least one divine parent, but it's not like they're hanging out to read you bedtime stories. And they're always sending you on errands. Deadly errands! Today's ep talks about The Lightning Thief, a pretty good yarn. There are also shoutouts to Clash of the Titans, the Odyssey, and Jason and the Argonauts.

Next week, we talk Dragons! Specifically, His Majesty's Dragon, by Naomi Novik. Until then, hey, do a little reading, why doncha?

UPDATE: I got word pretty quickly that the audio levels weren't right. I've re-mixed and reloaded the file, but it may take a little while for Libsyn to reflect the changes. If you can't hear me over the music, first, I totally apologize. And second, give it about an hour, and libsyn should have a corrected file.

Thanks! and Enjoy!

Download GSG2_002.mp3

GSG 2010.1 - Zeppelins!

Because they're pretty much the defining characteristic of steampunk - well, that, gears, and a certain flair for fashion, and because I did this performance at Balticon last year, and as far as I know it was never released, here's the fabled Lost Steampunky Episode of GSG.

Oh - for those of you who were curious - Ben Sherwood. The statistics are (mostly) accurate when applied to airlines, and were pulled from his research.

And for the next episode in two weeks, Percy Jackson and the Mythological Survival Techniques! Or just the Lightning Thief. Either way.

Enjoy!

Download GSG2_01.mp3

Mad Poet Files is live!

Ayup, as I said in the last podcast, the first short story from me is now live at www.madpoetfiles.com.

If you'd like to subscribe to that feed, it's at http://feeds.feedburner.com/madpoetfiles. I'll update this with itunes and other information as it comes in, and I'll update this with a central "Zach's Big Hairy Feed" when that's live.

UPDATE: iTunes Link is right here.

Hope you enjoy the new podcast!

Next Topic: Steampunk, and the Avatar Bad Movie Bingo sheet

Had a couple of great e-mails and twitters today, with some good ideas.

First, someone suggested that if I'm going to be reading books in the future, I might consider putting an Amazon affiliate link to them here on the site. With two weeks between episodes, if I put a follow up on the site the next day, it should be plenty of time for someone who wanted to follow along / support the cast / etc. to order and get the book I'd be talking about. Of course, doing that is totally up to you. If you don't order with an affiliate link, or if you support your local Bricks & Mortar Bookseller, or even your Local Library, I'm totally okay with that. Heck, how will I know?

So, with that in mind, the next episode will be on surviving particular Steampunk scenarios. Good resources for that include Girl Genius, (available at the affiliate link, or to read for free at Phil and Kaja Foglio's site - www.girlgeniusonline.com, I read the whole thing over the last couple of months, and Queso is reading it now - really enjoying it). Also, a book I just finished - Cherie Priest's Boneshaker (a fun adventure novel, including rebellious teenagers, struggling mothers, dirigibles, mad science, and - of course - zombies).

And once I get down with what I'm currently reading, (hey, maybe you'll want to follow me on Goodreads) I'll probably see if I can get my hands on and get through Scott Westerfield's Leviathan before that ep drops.

And because there was a request for it, here's the PDF of the Avatar Bad Movie Bingo sheet I put together.
Enjoy!

GSG Special Episode: 2010 Kickoff!

Big plans. Big plans. Maybe a big head on me. Yikes.

Anyway, this isn't comedy - it's another of those "meta" episodes that turns up from time to time here, where we step out from behind the curtain and discuss where I see us headed over the next little bit. That bit being between now and April. Anyway, not everyone will enjoy this. If this isn't your bag, maybe you wanna try Phil Rossi's Eden?

Anyway, enjoy my rambling, self-absorbed, pretentious twaddle, if you care to try! Oh, and the cover art is the Bad Movie Bingo Sheet for Avatar. I think that'd be a bit harder to pull for Sherlock Holmes... but I could probably do it.

Download GSGSpecial2010Kickoff.mp3