Audio Fiction and Alex Dolan’s Patron Saint of Suicide #AmWriting #IWSG @TheIWSG

It’s the 1st Wednesday of the month. Time for science fiction writer, Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. If you want to join click this link – https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

April 6 question – Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?
The awesome co-hosts for the April 6 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Jemima Pett, Patricia Josephine, Louise – Fundy Blue, and Kim Lajevardi!

I don’t have audio versions of my books, but I do have podcast episodes of a few horror shorts. Below is an episode I shared with co-host/writer, Keri Schroeder.

Link –

https://ghoulsjustwannahavefun.podbean.com/e/episode-11-happy-horror-holidays/

While I’m an unapologetic bibliophile, I love my audio stories! If Hulu’s major hit streaming comedy/mystery series on the popularity of podcasts is any testament, the rest of our device loving world does too.

Enter writer, Alex Dolan and his binge worthy Patron Saint of Suicide! He was generous enough to give me a brief Q&A located below the link and description of the series. Thank you, Alex!

https://www.suicidesaints.com/#:~:text=Created%20by%20author%20Alex%20Dolan,podcast%20thriller%20%26%20mystery%20audio%20drama.&text=Haven%20Otomo%20spends%20her%20spare%20time%20saving%20people%20from%20hurting%20themselves.

About the show –

Created by author Alex Dolan and produced by Audiohm Media, The Patron Saint of Suicides is a full-cast podcast thriller & mystery audio drama.

Haven Otomo spends her spare time saving people from hurting themselves. Possessed with unnatural powers of persuasion, she’s always been good at talking people in and out of things.

When a rash of suicides hits the city, a detective reaches out for her help on the investigation, and her insight into why people kill themselves. When the crime becomes more complicated, she must question the people she trusts most, and whether they are involved.

CAST
Elissa Park | Haven Otomo
Rob Schwarb |  Victor Blossem
Richie Amos |  Narrator
Georgia McKenzie | Zoey Gibson
AJ Beckles | Walking Sam, Turo Torres
Jason Webb | Wesley Pope

Adrienne Reiter: What were the main challenges involving production, and what are/were the biggest highlights?

Alex Dolan: This was the first time I’ve done a recording session where I wasn’t physically in the same studio. Impressed by the caliber of performances the cast brought to the show; working with actors remotely and hearing how a trained actor can bring writing to life was an amazing experience.

Working with producer Auidiohm Media gave me insight into how foley (sound effects) works, and how to bring a scene to life through sound. In season 1, there’s a pivotal shooting on a BART train, and we searched around until we found a good recording of an actual BART train. It’s a very specific sound. When we created the scene on the Golden Gate Bridge the team and I minimized the sound of the water (hundreds of feet below the bridge), and increased the sound of traffic (naturally very close to pedestrians). We then added horns for the cargo barges traveling under the bridge. That’s just one example. It’s subtle, but a lot of work goes into creating a scene convincing to one’s ears.

Thanks again, Alex.

Do you have audio books, serial podcasts, or short story anthologies? Have you thought about it? Please share in comments below. Unless abducted by aliens or kidnapped by Bigfoot, I always return comments on my fellow IWSG member’s blogs. Looking forward to reading yours!

Episode 52: Killer Physicians – Linda Hazzard

What gives alternative healers such a bad rap? Naturopathic medicine is a wonderful way to avoid habit forming prescriptions. Lemon Balm is like taking a Xanax without the Xanax. Tonics made with hibiscus extract and ashwagandha root are a healthy relaxing substitute to liver damaging alcohol. 

Enter serial killer physician, Linda Hazzard and her alcoholic vanilla extract addicted side-kick. Leo and Adrienne discuss the infamous quack’s Olalla, Washington sanitarium, aka Starvation Heights and the numerous deaths Hazzard caused through her insistence one must suffer for the cure.

Free wherever you get podcasts!

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Hazzard
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/124485/starvation-heights-by-gregg-olsen/

 #starvationheights #alternative #medicine #serialkiller #lindahazzard #killerphysicians #ghoulsjustwannahavefunpodcast #AdrienneReiter #LeoBuckley #HazzardsCure 

Is It Your Story, or Our Story? #IWSG #AMWRITING

It’s time for author Alex J. Cavanaugh’s https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html. Join us as we share our insecurities, frustrations and triumphs by clicking the link. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

March 2 question – Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?

A suicide here. A murder charge there. During my Interdisciplinary Arts and Writing MFA program when it came to revealing the stories of others I struggled. The stories of antagonists central to the plot of my book; a memoir of sorts. I have the news articles all sitting in a box.

I keep returning to this post and editing due to my anxiety over the details. It’s silly, but sums up how I’m feeling about my master thesis.

“She can’t be all bad. No one is.”

“Well, she comes the closest.” – Out Of The Past

These are very real events. People surviving crazy amounts of trauma. Friends. I worked it into a memoir of sorts. It morphed into an algorithm of a modern noir mystery. Growing up on Hammett, Chandler and MacDonald I write most everything in a jerky unapologetic, Johnny on the spot, call it like I see it – noir form -.

I keep telling myself, “Just put it out there. Don’t use names. So, you’ve seen some shit. You don’t need to beat readers over the head with it. They get it. They know.” That’s the problem. They know. One of the stories mentioned made national news. I’m afraid to lose friends.

“I haven’t lived a good life. I’ve been bad, worse than you can know.”

“You know that’s good, because if you actually were as innocent as you pretend to be, we’d never get anywhere.” – The Maltese Falcon

I’ve been sitting on this completed manuscript for 3 years now. I feel like a gate keeper and key holder to the details of personal struggles. My characters very real people with very real lives. The responsibility weighs on me awkward, heavy and unbalanced.

Submitted as my master thesis; this work has had eyes on it. Important ones. Fantastic writers. Author, Carolyn Cooke herself helped me render out important parts adding a rich texture and flavor combination I couldn’t have come up with on my own. I continue to sit on my pages worried if putting it out there would be “right”. I’m a nobody. Why do have anxiety over such a limited audience? It’s not about the audience. It’s the content.

I attended a workshop led by a high profile author. During workshop writers shared work and provided each other feedback. I don’t remember the quote, but essentially the author leading the group stated, “If you’re not unhappy with your work enough to try try again you won’t get it right.”

One of the writers in the salon piped up.

“I’ve never had that problem,” he said.

The author, who had read his work, looked over his eye-glasses at the writer.

“I believe you,” he said.

Have you ever been conflicted over writing a scene or sharing your work with someone other than your mentors or publisher?
The awesome co-hosts for the March 2 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, Pat Garcia, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!

Radio Silence – “Copy That.” #IWSG @TheIWSG

TRIGGER WARNING – I do more cursing than my usual one-off.

It’s the first Wednesday of the month and I’m about to let my insecurity flag fly. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. I’ve felt ambitions derail due to the disruption of the rigorous routine I needed to maintain to get from my self imposed point A to B. I feel beat to shit from the anxiety of work and travel while conscious of the welfare of all around me, myself and my family.

To share your insecurities join Alex J. Cavanaugh’s group at https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html.

I get discouraged, depressed, then look around at others and think to myself, “I’m a selfish asshole for having these feelings.” I have limited responsibilities compared to most. I have my job. My dog. My family is relatively healthy, and I’m lucky enough to be employed using skills I know I’m good at and not just grinding away. I have a friend that has 5 kids, and I haven’t spoken to her in forever. In all fairness the phone does work both ways. Did I mention she has FIVE KIDS? Holy shit. I’d have lost my mind by now. I’m such a dick.

February 2 question – Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn’t around anymore? Anyone you miss?

I can try to spin my answer into a positive. I could say, “I’m very fortunate to have many brilliant influencers in my life to miss right now”, and just leave it at that. But that would be disingenuous. The truth is I’m completely deflated. I miss literary salons. I miss events at indie bookstores. I miss San Francisco not sucking. I miss being able to hangout in a public place without having to worry if the bug that kills someone’s unvaccinated granny came from me. I paid good money to see Bruce Campbell’s hysterical ass get roasted at this year’s SF Sketchfest and it got canceled. On top of it all, I feel like a complete douche for whining about that shit.

I can’t win for losing.

That’s all. Reaching out to see if anyone feels the same. Thanks guys.


The awesome co-hosts for the February 2 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!

Episode 51: Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horror

Composer Hugh Doolan, vocalist Jessica Doolan and producer John West speak on their innovative new score for the 100th year anniversary of Nosferatu. This iconic German expressionist film banned at the time of its release is once again resurrected with new music.

Free wherever you get podcasts!

#Nosferatu #Nosferatu2022 #HughDoolan #JessicaDoolan #JohnWest #JasonFiggis #GhoulsJustWannaHaveFunPodcast #AdrienneReiter #SymphonyofHorror #Film #Composer #Vocalist #BannedFilm #German #Expressionist 

Top 3 Writing Regrets #IWSG #AmWriting @TheIWSG

Happy IWSG Day! Every Wednesday of the month Alex J. Cavaugh’s group share their insecurities. Feel free to join us! https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

January 5 question – What’s the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it?


The awesome co-hosts are Erika Beebe, Olga Godim, Sandra Cox, Sarah Foster, and Chemist Ken!

Top 3 Writing Regrets

  1. Overanalyzing – The anxiety! When you put yourself out there overthinking comes with the territory. We all do/say dumb things. I have enough road behind me now to sift through criticism, collect what’s helpful and discard what’s not. If I could say anything to my old writer self it’s, “Trust your gut.” and “Learn to let stuff go.”
  2. Publishing too soon – In the world of instant digital gratification we’re hasty to share our creativity, then learn the hard way once work is out there attached to our name it follows us forever. Thankfully it’s a big world and I am one little person. I’m not important. Life is short. Etc.
  3. Isolating – Writing is solitary, but only to a point. It’s seductive to go into this misanthropic state when we’re angry, sad or simply feeling unsure of ourselves. The romance of insanity. I don’t know who originally said it, but the statement, “Art isn’t created in a vacuum.” is great to keep in mind. Know your audience. Learn from mentors. Collaborate for growth and renewal.

OMG. Regret itself.

A friend mentioned to me how interesting it is wood burns in many ways. It heats us in many ways. I assumed they were eluding to some complex concept, and couldn’t follow what they were saying. Then I remembered my cabin in the woods in Albion, CA. The wood burning stove in the living room was small. I would go down under the tarp where we kept the wood dry near the pigmy forrest and lug a piece up the hill to the splitting stump where a large tree once stood. Once I was done splitting the damn thing to fit the little stove I would be warm enough to not want a fire for another hour or so.

We chop wood down, haul wood, store wood, split wood and light wood. It burns calories. Time. Energy. Writing also burns in many ways. When I question myself as to whether what I’m working on is “right” or “productive” I remember my muscles grow each time I create something new. Having no regrets is still a work in progress.

What do you regret most? Were you able to overcome it? I will always return comments with the exception of a zombie apocalypse.

Episode 49: Resurrecting Lafcadio Hearn Part 3

Leo and Adrienne unpack more Japanese ghost stories translated by Lafcadio Hearn in the 1800’s. What was his obsession with these esoteric tales, and what did he actually find when visiting the sites of such happenings?

Dedicated to the memory of Kaoru Allen.

#Shinto #spells #Buddhism #LafcadioHearn #GhostStories #catholicism #Greek #Irish #Japanese #GhoulsJustWannaHaveFunPodcast #paranormal #ghoststories #LeoBuckley #AdrienneReiter

Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

3 ways to turn stress into delight #IWSG @TheIWSG

Happy Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day!


IWSG is the brain child of writer, Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click to join.

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

Every month, we announce a question.

December 1 question – In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?
The awesome co-hosts are PJ Colando, Diane Burton, Louise – Fundy Blue, Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!

3 Ways To Turn Stress Into Delight (kinda, sorta), or What Works For Me Sometimes (IDK).

1. When collaborating with other artists

Whether we’re at odds with our editors, working with graphic artists or other writers – collaborating with artists we admire and respect should be a positive growing experience. Art isn’t created in a vacuum, but there are pros and cons to each stage of the process when working with others. Managing multiple stubborn personalities is stressful. Dovetailing together when it finally gains traction makes it worth the required patience and time.

Tip – Don’t try to put your process on top of theirs. Learn, listen and expand your process with them.

2. Subplots – Avoiding dross.

Joseph Campbell’s, The Hero’s Journey is a fantastic source of multiple perspectives. I’ve been told you can judge the depth and perspective of work by its subplots. Am I in trouble? This made me analyze a few of my recent subplots. They tend to develop organically as the story grows. Love triangles. Secrets. The inevitable letting go of vice to achieve character building. The basic ‘human condition’ vs inevitable growth stuff.

Tip – Use tools that direct your creative energy. Table sized sheets of graph paper, dollar store notebooks and Moleskins are my thing. No, I don’t always tie up every loose end, but it helps to shift from a micro-perspective and pull back to a bird’s eye view when fleshing out details.

3. Deadlines & Deadlock

We all miss our deadlines. No? Maybe not all of us, but I do. Writer’s block is stressful. Sitting still is death. I self sooth with familiar things like walks and Moleskin notebooks. Moleskins can take a beating and fit in the pockets of my larger jackets. On a walk of procrastination I can carry a Moleskin with me through sleet and hail and get back to how I fell in love with writing. By hand and with the hope I grow new muscles and have a breakthrough.

Tip – Gift a young creative something that helped you gather your thoughts. Example:

Books Inc. San Francisco

Me: “It’s a Moleskin notebook. For centuries artists have used these to direct their thoughts.”

Little girl: “Oh.” -tight smile-

Me: “Ok. Major yawn… but inside it has a history. See? It’s been used by Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and Bruce Chatwin. Not one woman? Seriously?”

Little girl: -frowns-

Me: -shuts book and hands over Moleskin- “It’s very durable.”

Wishing everyone a safe and pleasant holiday season. What delights and/or distracts you about your writing? Happy IWSG Day!

“It’s alive!” #IWSG #AmWriting @TheIWSG

When bringing your work to life which is more difficult to write? The title or blurb?

It’s the first Wednesday of the month. Time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post à la author, Alex J. Cavanaugh. Join us here – https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html


Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!

Blurbs are your hook, but the title dictates a lot.

 While the working title of any given piece is ever morphing; I have a basic idea of the blurb as I’m finishing the book. I’ve let go of fantasizing about cover options. I’ve accepted it’s the publisher’s decision and I have no say in the matter. But, the title…

For me the title is the heartbeat of the piece. If I give it the wrong name during the, “Let there be light!” moment all my efforts will have been in vane. When the lightening strikes I’ll have missed my moment and failed my creation. The blurb is the ever important 25 second pitch to say, “Read. Me.” Still. I’ve found the title influences the cover choice the graphic designer will execute. This makes it hard for me to choose. I have commitment issues when it comes to titles.

Blurb or title? It’s a difficult question. Which is harder? I lean towards title. Which one do you find most difficult to write?

Episode 48: Resurrecting Lafcadio Hern Part 2

Leo and Adrienne resurrect author, Lacadio Hearn. A man whose life was just as horrifying as the Japanese parables he translated to make available to the west. 

Is it ox hour? Adrienne and Leo juxtapose Shinto and Buddhist beliefs to Roman Catholicism, and go down a rabbit hole predestined to haunt them for 7 lifetimes.

Can another recording during tiger hour reverse this? Probably not, but this episode was promised, and with promises eternally binding The Ghouls resurrect Lafcadio Hearn.

Dedicated to the memory of Kaoru Allen.

Available where ever you listen to podcasts. Links below.

#Shinto #spells #Buddhism #LafcadioHearn #GhostStories #catholicism #Greek #Irish #Japanese #GhoulsJustWannaHaveFunPodcast #paranormal #ghoststories