Monthly Archives: December 2023

28 Dec

Audible Update: 12-28-23

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Greetings,

Another year is drawing to a close, but my artistic efforts have no signs of slowing,  I work on one or more projects just about every day, barring my daughter’s visits (although I do sometimes find the occasional opportunity in the wee hours), and on those days, I follow pretty much the same routine.  After work, I eat dinner and perform any errands that need completing before spending about an hour or so with my newfound love: my 1987 Fender Precision Lyte Bass, given to me by my uncle before he passed away. This takes the form of playing Rocksmith 2014, which was a gift to me from my daughters, and an excellent way to learn to play an instrument.  Once I’m finished with my musical release therapy (kidding…maybe), I then sit down to a good 2-4 hours of recording time.

Currently, I am working on part 3 of BOO! from ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales‘, the longest novella in the volume, and likely my third favorite.  The story is a little over a hundred pages long, and translates to a bit over 3 1/2 hours.  I’ve been learning more as I go, and apply whatever I learn to the next project, such as adding sound effect transitions and title music to the tracks.  I felt this was a definite positive step, but I do wish I had decided upon that course of action before I had recorded half the book.  Once I am done with the current story, I will have to go back and add these effects to the previous stories.  Not a daunting task, but one which will take a bit of time.  I do feel the result will be worth the effort, however, and look forward to being able to release this book in the Audible format in the new year.

Until we meet again,

~Namaste

14 Dec

Audible Update 12-13-23

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Greetings,

As promised, I am making an attempt to provide more updates on both my writing and art sites.  I have just finished my recording session for the night, in  my second attempt to bring my second work, ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales’, to Audible.  On most nights, I follow pretty much the same routine.  Once home from my day job, I take care of dinner and other tasks, perhaps enjoy a bit of bass practice, before spending two or three hours on front of a microphone, and using an audio editor to process the recording.  As I may have mentioned earlier, I am adding sound transitions (and perhaps some opening and closing theme music) to my second attempt,  The upside to this is that it has steepened the learning curve, allowing me to hopefully bring a more rich experience to the listener.  The downside, is the fact I had this idea halfway through the book, and will now have to go back and add them to at least two of the stories I have previously recorded, if not more.  I don’t mind this, actually, if the final product ends being one of which I can be proud to have created.

Well, that’s about all the time I have for tonight.  I must rest in order to attack another day of relentless labor with something approaching competence, if not enthusiasm.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste

4 Dec

Audible Update 12-4-23

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Greetings.

My goodness, time goes fast.  I am making an effort to update my blog on a more regular basis, but even so, the days seem to slip past me, and before I know it – boom – it’s December.

Anywho, I’ve been putting in as much time as possible in my effort to record ‘Strange Stories, Twisted Tales’ for Audible.  I just wrapped up doing some post-recording and effects work for ‘Message in an Electromagnetic Bubble‘.  This story required a bit more effects work than most, as it is my first (and rare) attempt at sci-fi, and I felt it needed a bit more.  To this end, i have enlisted the Amazing Danika to assist with a few lines of dialogue, and will add them to the project when she is available.

During the recording of this story, I was also forced to reconsider how to translate transitions for an Audible project, as a line of asterisks does not translate into audio.  I decided to use some sound effect transitions for these, and may add an opening theme.  As i have often said, I am new to this type of creative endeavor, and am striving to bring the most interesting version of my work to that format as I can.  Only the future, and whatever feedback I receive, will tell if I am successful in that regard.

Next up on the recording schedule is ‘BOO!’, a hundred-page novella inspired by a story that has floated in my brain since I first began reading comics, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.  It was during the recording of this story – about a cursed castle in the mountains of New York – that my hard drive failed.  Coincidence?  I sure hope so…I can’t afford to replace yet another computer.

That’s pretty much the news for now, although there is plenty more coming, believe me.  In the meantime, a quick reminder (and shameless plug) my first novel, ‘Highway Hypnosis’ is available on Audible.

Until Next Time,

~Namaste