The Astral Audio Experience has been proverbially dead in the water since our last episode in late 2011. The lack of production has given me time to think on it; reformat what is possible and push ahead. We are going to switch things over to a live broadcast format and then podcast the end results for those who can’t listen when the show airs. I’ve invested in apps to do this from the iPhone and have tested things. Check out this .ogg stream to hear our first live broadcast as I recorded it last week. I’m proud of what I did even with the sluggish responses of opperation at times. I enjoyed the experience and can’t wait to do the next one. I’ll post a link to our stream when I finalize time and dates for the show. Expect another post later in the week where I will go over how I worked my magic on making the iPhone broadcast possible. Isn’t it amazing what technology can do?

What has me motivated this week is the prospect of upgrading equipment for the shows themselves. I have my eyes set on a couple of mics and mixer that will give each program an interesting feel when heard. Also, the mics can be used with a USB interface when broadcasting from the laptop. Want to see what I’m very tempted to buy? Click here. If any of you reading this have any suggestions to which of the accessories I should purchase with the bundle, chime in as soon as possible after reading this post and checking out what they offer. I want to make this the most worthwhile investment with your help.

The other major thing that has me motivated is . It is a game like no other. I’ve been in brief discussions with the lead creator behind the project to help get the game as accessible as possible for when it is released. the link takes you to the Kickstarter page where they are trying to reach their goal of $50000.00. It is a project that has me intrigued since I have ideas for our app. Networking is always a good thing and paying attention to what others are doing, learning from them, and maybe working together opens the doors to new opportunities. I’ve backed the project myself and hope you will do the same. You know if J.C. Hutchins is involved, there is a chance that what is in store is something immersive and enjoyable.

While all of the written content from then has gone poof thanks to mishaps with upgrades, the memories and support still lingers. So this year is going to be about pushing out as much written content as possible. Some of it will be about the app in progress, some about writing in general, and others will be highlighting the work of people who have my attention in the creative space. Podcasts will be coming along when I can fit them in. Give the audio time; it will be coming. I’ll also fit in various reviews when possibe.

Here’s to a new year and all the experiences it will bring. Thanks for being a supporter of each project we have undertaken. And I hope to have you along for the ride in the coming months. and thanks to everyone who has wished me a happy birthday. You have kept me smiling and grateful for knowing each one of you.

Who is Starla Huchton? Starla Huchton released her first novel, The Dreamer’s Thread, as a full cast podcast production beginning in August 2009. Her first foray went on to become a double-nominee and finalist for the 2010 Parsec Awards. Since her debut, Starla’s voice has appeared in other podcasts including The Dunesteef Audio
Fiction Magazine, The Drabblecast, and Erotica a la Carte. She is also a voice talent for Darkfire Productions, and narrates several of their projects,
including The Emperor’s Edge series, This Path We Share, and others. Her writing has appeared in the Erotica a la Carte podcast, a short story for The
Gearheart, and an episode of the Tales from the Archives podcast (the companion to Tee Morris and Philippa Balantine’s Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series),
which garnered her a second finalist badge from the 2012 Parsec Awards. Her second novel, a Steampunk adventure entitled Master of Myth, was the first
place winner in the Fantasy/Science Fiction category of The Sandy Writing Contest held annually by the Crested Butte Writers Conference. Maven is her third
completed novel and the first in a planned series of four.

After completing her degree in Graphic Arts at Monterey Peninsula College, Starla opened up shop as a freelance graphic designer focusing on creating beautiful book covers for independent authors publishers. She currently lives in Virginia where she trains her three Minions and military husband.

“Yeah, there’s one or two of the guys you’ll want to avoid here, but…” Cordy stopped mid-sentence, staring at something over Lydia’s shoulder. “What is he doing here?”
Curious, Lydia rotated to see who she was talking about. She immediately regretted it. Daniel Brewer locked in on her like a homing beacon and strode across the room to her table. “Crap,” she muttered when she turned back.
“And he would be one of those.” Cordelia smirked. “Good luck.” She stood, lifting her tray of dishes. Lydia’s panic level rose. “You’re leaving?”
Cordelia shrugged. “Hate to abandon you, but I’ve got a call scheduled at 1845 I can’t miss. I expect a full report on this later, however.” She grinned and headed for the exit.
Lydia willed her hands to be still and her breathing calm. Her throat was scratchy and dry, but she didn’t trust she could pick up her glass of water without spilling it everywhere.
“You’re a difficult woman to track down,” Daniel said as he plopped down on the bench across from her.
Not difficult enough, she thought to herself. “It’s dinner time. People usually eat around now. Or are you skipping meals again?” She fought back a flinch, realizing what she gave away. 
His eyebrows lifted, but he didn’t comment on the remark. “I see you were talking with Ms. Orietti. Interesting choice in friends.”
She sniffed. “I hardly think you’re qualified to judge. My personal life aside, did you hunt me down for a reason?”
“I saw your request.”
Lydia feigned surprise. “The one I sent at 1700? I assumed you wouldn’t see that until whatever time it is you remember to go to work in the morning.”
He frowned. “Despite what you think, I actually work quite a bit. My regular hours extend until 1900, and then I’m on call until 0700. I take breaks for meals, of course, but I have several high level projects going on at any given time.”
“Of course.” She swallowed. Perhaps she had crossed the line a bit with that last one. “That was uncalled for. I apologize. What did you come to ask me, Mr. Brewer?”
“You can call me Daniel,” he said, his grin returning.
It was easy to see why he was so popular with women, but that he still thought that was going to work rankled her. She steeled herself. “Mr. Brewer,” she said, standing and lifting her tray. “It’s been a very long day, so if there’s a business matter you wanted to discuss…”
He kept pace with her as she crossed the room to dump her dishes. From her peripheral vision, she saw several heads turn to follow their progress. “Well, I thought we could discuss the specific project needs you have and do some outlining so I can show you my skills.” He winked at her.
The subtle emphasis he placed on the word caused her to miss a step. “I’m sorry, did you just…”
“What?” Daniel looked at her, the picture of innocence.
Lydia sighed and kept walking. “Nevermind. Mr. Brewer, I–”
“Daniel.”
She stopped outside the SAT station and punched the call button. “Mr. Brewer, if you refuse to conduct yourself in a manner appropriate for someone in your position, I will withdraw my request. I would prefer to have your expertise on this, but I will not tolerate immaturity.”
“Dr. Ashley, I assure you I can be nothing but professional–”
“Good,” she interrupted. “Then you can prove that at 0730 when you meet with me and my lab staff to discuss the necessary details.” The SAT car arrived, and she stepped inside. “My coworkers are crucial to the lab’s success and they will all have input in the needed software.” The door closed. The last thing she saw was Daniel’s stunned expression.

To find out more about Starla huchton, experience her official website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @riznphnx.

First, your location would be used more so in the sense of time (i.e. when you are playing the app). This is important because unlike an audio book where the narrator sets the stage by telling you when time passes, our ap would let you know via sound; both in the form of background sounds of the world and dialog of characters. this presents a challenge in the form of producing a story that is fluid as far as time goes; however, this will hopefully make you feel like you are more a part of the world rather than merely playing the app.

Second, your location would be used to influence the weather of the world which would be then communicated via audio in the ways discussed earlier. Again, I want you to be a part of this world and totally invested in the progress of how things happen.

Next, I want to briefly go over what I have in mind for the story itself. I have (so far) six plot threads to go through for the entire app. This means six different points of view for you to choose from. Some unlocked from the start while others are unlocked after a thread is completed. This will mean that app users can have different experiences from each other over time; also giving the app replay value. There may be more story threads thought of. Further more, some of these may be used as far as stretch goals when a run for funding starts for the app’s production. Each story thread links to the others in some way; forcing the app user to eventually go through all of them to get the entire picture of events and unlocking another story thread where things come to ahead. That is the plan at any rate.

Finally, I am going to give anyone who reads this an assignment of sorts; especially if you have a device that runs iOS. To have an idea of how the audio would work in the app as well as possible objective mechanics, I want you to play through Papa Sangre (iTunes link)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

1. Overall thoughts on the game itself after completing it.
2. What did you find most enjoyable about the experience?
3. What did you dislike most?
4. Which event (or events) resonated with you emotionally during the game?
5. How did the game keep you engaged?
6. how did the game disengage you from the game play?
7. How could you see this concept used in our app idea and what should we avoid?
8. How could we improve on their presentation?

Feel free to do multiple posts if necessary; one for each game. I know some of the responses may be redundant but this will also give me an idea of what people generally think and feel about the experiences they have had while playing both games. Also, speculation as to what we can do going forward in the audio and game mechanics arena for our app is highly encouraged.

Remember this app is our story and I want you to be a part of it. Share this post with anyone and everyone you know who would find the topics discussed here interesting. Thanks for participating and I look forward to reading your reactions to two games that have me eager to jump into the deep end.

The idea came when I started investigating video games for mobile platforms. I came across other apps that brought me closer to what I’ve envisioned for my type of interactive storytelling I’ve been wanting to do for years. (See The Inquisitor Adventure – Audiogame, papa Sangre, and The Dark Knight Rises Z+ for iPhone and iPod Touch for examples.)

What I’d like to do is get to work on an app for the iOS and Android platforms as a vehicle to releasing my audio fiction. It would be a project that could change how stories are presented and told. This post is a place for brainstorming and plotting out what could be amazing.

In short, the app would be a serialized story. Each chapter unlocked as a level. Time and weather activated ambiances. Certain events of the story happen at certain times of day (if possible). Push notifications sent to alert the user of events. The user is not the main character but is positioned as a character; able to move around each setting. Character must be in certain locations of the world for narrative or particular scene of the story to take place. I am not sure about the android version but the iOS version would be using the audio 3d engine discussed on the Papa Sangre website as part of the experience.

If you are a content creator, what would you want in an app like this? What parts do you think would enhance your product and which would detract from the story’s progression?

If you are a consumer, would you be interested in purchasing an interactive story like this? Furthermore, would you be interested to hear how it is being made as it is being made in podcast form?

Let’s do some brainstorming in the comments. There aren’t right or wrong answers here. I will say for the moment that if this gets traction, I may consider doing a funding campaign for it once some of the more technical aspects are sorted out.

The next phase is making sure the story being told is the right one. I’m looking for a few beta readers as well as one audio drama script writer to sharpen the dull edges. I want this story to cut deep. There has to be a clear focus amidst all the pros and violence.

Interested parties should leave a comment in this post stating which you’d like to be; beta reader or script writer. Time is important so you must be able to commit to this project. I am shooting for a mid May deadline for the final product which means we have a two month window to hammer out the finer details of the story. We will be doing edits over email; keeping everyone involved in the loop. Thanks to the beta readers will be given in the credits of the episodes and show notes with links to their websites (if appropriate). The script writer will receive the same treatment; however, the wording will be different in the credits.

I’m looking forward to being challenged, learning, and creating a work of art that will entertain listeners as well as fill us with pride. Are you in?

Update Jan 27: New deadline is Feb 10 which is a Sunday. Roles will be announced on the 17th. Good luck!

There is a story to tell, a difficult one. there will be pain. There will be loss. There will be small victories along the way. It won’t be easy. And yet, it is a story I want to tell; the journey of people facing conflicts both internal and external. It draws upon historical, personal, and other influences; all wrapped up in a science fiction, fantasy, horror mixture.

The first test is to lay out the starting place. All stories need a beginning. I want to hit the ground running by making a podcast novella of sorts. Think of it as a chance for listeners to be introduced to the world and provide feedback. If all goes as planned, I would release the end result in May of 2013 after a couple months of build up. This would be around the same time as when I launched the Astral Audio Experience Episode 5 event in 2008. If the feedback is generally positive, we will move forward and continue the story in more novellas and short stories.

Auditions

Plot Synopsis: Whispers speak of a tournament held ever so often between the best fighters from each of the eleven territories controled by The Hoard. They fight for glory, for honor, and the chance to be immortalized as one of The Hoards elite generals. The Bloodletting is the story of several of the people affected by the tournament and serves as the introduction to a larger world of deception, violence, great loss, and grand victories.

Guidelines:

All auditions should be sent to allen (at) astralaudio (dot) net with “character name audition – Your Name” in the subject. Files should be best quality possible and named “CharacterName_YourName” etc. Multiple takes per line is encouraged. (If auditioning for multiple roles, please send separate emails for each character since this will make the process easier on my part.) Deadline for auditions is February 10, 2013. Roles will be announced February 17, 2013.

Dawn Stardressed:

(Daughter of Lord Malcom Stardressed and Lady Adrienne Stardressed. An bubbly eleven-year-old who ends up being kidnapped by the Hoard.) Due to the sensitive nature of this role, I am asking for an adult for this part; someone that can play eleven convincingly.

Line 1: “Butterflies! So many butterflies!” … “They are so beautiful. Oh my goodness! Daddy, how did you know?”

Line 2: “Help me Daddy. They have taken me away. I want to go home. They are hurting me. Why are they doing this? Help me, Daddy. Please?”

Lord Malcom Stardressed:

(A disciplined man of his late thirties. Lover of nature, the arts, and his family. Lord of a small province who has struck a deal with the Hoard for their protection.)

Line 1: “Well, it’s about time Morning Dew. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to sleep the day away. Your mother already has tea served. Come sit while I plate up the breakfast cakes.”

Line 2: “Indeed darling. Preparation coupled with opportunity can make for a lucky outcome. I knew that the migration was nearly upon us. And I was right. Aren’t they spectacular Dawn? See what happens when you are both patient and observant?”

Lady Adrienne Stardressed:

(Wife of Lord Malcom and mother of Dawn. She is in her late twenties. Motherly and stern with a touch of whimsy.)

Line 1: Just the way you like it dewdrop; a touch of honey and a smidge of milk.” … “Hush child. Precious treasures come to those who are not only watchful but patient dear one.”

Line 2: “Quite right. Your father brought me to this spot several years ago while we were still courting.” … “It’s why I had the table put here in the first place. Relaxing and magical at the same time.”

Gareth Ravencroft:

(Man of his mid twenties who enters the tournament. Secretly sent by Malcom Stardressed to find out the whereabouts of his daughter ten years after her disappearance. And if found alive, charged by oath to protect her and to bring her home.)

Line 1: I’m due for a meditative journey; a nice break from all the training and combat. It has been a rewarding and an exhausting experience to be sure. I need time to let it all sink in.”

Line 2: “Regarding the place I want, I will use part of the time to mull over the finer details. I assume it will take me several weeks but when I’m ready, I’ll send word. I apologize for changing the plans as far as the builders though. But I have a sufficient number to replace them; finishing the place in half the time if we’re lucky and if the weather holds.”

Inner Circle Leader:

(Man of his late fifties with a commanding voice who acts as the announcer during the tournament.)

Line 1: [slow and steady build up before the final sentence] “Fight for glory, fight for honor, fight for everlasting life in the sacred, sanguine, sacrifice. Let The Bloodletting begin!”

Line 2: By the blood shed this day, so be it. He has earned high praise for his deeds and hence forth, shall be counted as one of The Hoard’s elite by virtue of his skills throughout the tournament.”

Maid:

(Attendant of the Stardressed family. Woman in her mid fifties or so.)

Line 1: “Rise and shine little lady. You’ve got places to be and faces to greet.”

Line 2: “Come now child. Your mum and dad are waitin’ on ya. No sense in being fussy with me this mornin’.”

Female Narrator:

(Narrates during the prologue of the novella.)

Line 1: “The day was bright and full of bird song everywhere she went. The ground felt soft beneath her bare feet as she jogged through the trees on the carpet of pine needles. She felt as though she could jump up into the air and fly. She felt happy, alive, and at peace. All was right with the world as she spied the all too familiar picnic table in the clearing just ahead of her.”

Line 2: “As the minutes seemed to stroll on by, unbidden tears blurred her vision. How many were there? She couldn’t tell. She was too scared to cry out or to struggle. But she had to fight. This was wrong; she knew it somewhere on some primal level that what they were doing violated the balance of good and evil; a permanent stain on her moral character she could never wash away on her own. They were just too big. How they had taken her from her room was a mystery. One minute she was asleep in her soft comfortable bed and the next, she was on the hard-packed ground minus her silk nightgown somewhere in the open. She just felt tired, cold, and utterly helpless. She felt like she was going to die. And what was worse, her father, (Lord Malcom Stardressed), wasn’t able to save her.”

Male Narrator:

(Narrates during the main chapters of the novella. Must be well versed in conveying action sequences.)

Line 1: “People from all across the territories were present to watch the last two fighters go through the brutal exercise of skill and strength. It was a motley mix of young and old, rich and poor united by the goal of celebrating the fighting spirit that dwelt within the combatants. They had watched each of the other matches with great interest ever since the tournament began just before sunrise. They were emotionally, (and in some cases financially), invested in the final outcome of the tournament. Wagers were far from uncommon. Bets were made regarding the number of unopposed strikes, how long a particular fighter would last, what kind of injuries would occur and by whom, where fighters were from, and so on. Minor clashes would break out occasionally in between matches but would die down once the fighters would resume combat. That was the natural order of things.”

Line 2: “Blade came into contact with blade as the warriors exchanged thrusts; the handles joined in as part of the deadly dance. The sounds of metal coming into contact with metal sliced through the general noise of the crowd. The match now seemed to be increasing in tempo and rhythm as each combatant sought to make the other suffer damage. Light from the ring of flames flashed brightly on the armor and weapons as the movements quickened, creating a strobe effect which entranced the ravenous audience. Aside from the cloaked warrior scoring the first two wounds moments earlier, both combatants appeared to be pretty equal with neither gaining the upper hand. Their skills with their particular tools of the trade were a thing of beauty to watch as they moved all over the arena. Only the most astute observers were aware that the cloaked warrior was playing offense while the Hoard native was still on the defensive.”

The Spark

The website is needing to be filled with content. So starting today, I will do my best to write often; about the works in progress, the ideas for the future, things that motivate and inspire me or capture my fancy, and how things are getting done. It is a schedule I have to keep; a way to hold myself acountible and lay out as many cards on the table as possible without showing you the entire hand. Expect these posts to happen several times a week.

The First Flames

The first of the new ventures is this: A podcast built around reviewing a multitude of things. Films, books, (these could be in audio form, written etc), and music. I want to have a core group of panelists to help me dissect and evaluate each medium in turn; all the while doing it with humor and a willingness to learn. I came up with the idea after watching a few films and getting the urge to review them like I used to when I was a part of Midnight Spookshow.

The core group should be of about three or four and leave room for a fifth guest panelist to keep things interesting. Or have it as a group of three with two slots open. I’m flexible on this point. The show would be podcasted once or twice a month with segments sent out as part of the promotional materials. Panelists would be encouraged to put a copy of the episode in their podcast feeds (if appropriate) or link to the episodes if they do not currently podcast.

If you would like to be considered as a panelist (either recurring or occasional guest), let me know in the comments. Please give a little info about what interests you and why. If you haven’t reviewed anything before, no problem; the willingness to experience something new is awesome in my book. However, someone who has taken the time to critique films, books etc will get more notice from me. Proof would be highly encouraged. I want to become known for producing a podcast that entertains, engages, and enlightens rather than be known for producing a show that simply fills up audio space with below average reviews and quality. We will shoot for a February launch date.

The Fire Grows Brighter

Speaking of shows, The Astral Audio Experience will eventually return with samples of the reviews mentioned earlier as well as other highlights of Astral Audio entertainment programming and written content making it live up to the “news, reviews, interviews” etc I used to have in the official promo. It is a more suted direction for what I have in mind and leaves no room for wandering off into strange territory. Think of it like an audio magazine bringing you updates of what is happening with Astral Audio entertainment itself and people we have worked with/interviewed.

I am looking for someone to be my co-host on this as well. If interested, do like mentioned earlier and leave a comment with your qualifications. A launch date for this will be sometime in January or February.

Stoking The Flames

There’s a lot more I have planned for Astral Audio entertainment and can’t do it alone. Things will take time to get them where I want them.
There’s a website to maintain. There are audio podcasts to produce. There are stories to write and edit. Safe to say, I have plenty of positions to be filled. These are all voluntary for the present. As seeds are planted, grow, and blossom, so to will the opportunities for positions to become paid assuming we do all we can in the coming months. I’ll go into more detail about these in the following days.

I’m confident that we can build this place back to where it was before and make it better; more like what it should be, a community of creative doers who turn dreams into realities. Do you want to join? Let me know in the comments and thanks for reading!