Hello there to anyone that may still be following this old and dusty blog!

For those that know me… yes my life is still as packed and hectic as ever. My creative urges still pull at me constantly, but my ongoing list of responsibilities and a nagging need for sleep (meager as it may be) must continue to take priority over my “hobbies”.

January proved to be an interesting month as it saw me, once again, spending an inordinate amount of time working countless hours in China. All I can say about that trip is that the hard work paid off (employer satisfied) and it planted a few seeds for a story idea I’ve been cultivating.

Last summer I put “Murder by Design” up as a Kindle book on Amazon. It has been averaging 8 to 10 downloads per month and in January it spiked up to 30! I don’t know what spurred the interest (since I haven’t been promoting it) but the attention is certainly appreciated. The interest in “Murder by Design” has me itching to revise and finish “Conclave” but I can’t seem to schedule it in. Maybe this summer. I’ve also been itching to get it up on podiobooks.com but I haven’t had the time to get the files in the correct technical spec format. Any volunteers?

Ink ‘n Doodles Creative Workshop has also been taking up brainspace. I still believe greatly in the power of creative communities and it hurts me that Ink ‘n Doodles has languished in a half-life… not fully dead… not really alive. Any thoughts?

Anyway… thanks for reading through this. I’ve been looking to kickstart my writing and posting and maybe this post will help. In the meantime… go create something! (I know I’ll be trying!)

One of my friends, Tee Morris, just lost his wife yesterday. He now faces challenges that I can’t even begin to imagine.

And so now I turn to all of you. A fund has been started to help Tee and his daughter, “Sonic Boom”. In lieu of any gifts for my birthday (c’mon, I know you were going to lavish me with expensive gifts!) I ask that each of you find it in your hearts to make a donation. Together we are mighty: http://bit.ly/8ecseh

Yes, this is, at it’s heart, a “potboiler thriller“. An everyman (or every-men) thrown into fantastical situations. Conspiracy theories. The government needs their help… save the clones, save the world. But there is also so much more. Yes, one could read this like a Dan Brown novel, wonderfully written prose pulling the reader along on a thrill ride – a novelization of an action flick. Puzzles. Mysteries. Secrets. But Hutchins creates a world that is more than one-dimensional. We are taken along not only through the experiences of one everyman… but seven. “7th Son: Descent” grabs you from the beginning. Hutchins is truly a “word-herder”, grabbing you, teasing you, pulling you along on his katabatic journey.

And you lusciously succumb to his words, his characters, his twists and turns.

And you… comply.

(J.C. Hutchins has made the first 10 chapters of the book available as a free PDF download. Check it out here.)

Today I want to tell you the story of how I met a regular guy. An “anyman”. (In an absurd twist, his name is actually John Smith – no joke!) I haven’t had the pleasure of actually shaking his hand or seeing him in person, but that’s OK… that’s not what new media is about. He’s a very talented musician (folk/rock acoustic guitar) and another new media friend pointed me to his music. (http://www.reverbnation.com/johnmichaelsmith) I gave it a listen, and I was instantly hooked! I dropped him an e-mail. Just a quick note, really, just to let him know that I listened and enjoyed his music. What happened next… well, what happened next is why I LOVE new media. Within the same day… he sent me a reply AND a personalized autographed album cover. Tell me, what “old media” musician would ever do that? No one would. But this “Anyman” did. And now he’s earned a fan for life.

Rock on, John Smith. We’re listening.

I have often commented on how important it is to surround yourself with creative superheroes. They are my inspiration and constantly motivate me to keep on creating. So now I’m asking you to support them.

My first novel, “Murder by Design“, was just offered for sale on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle versions. While I would absolutely love for all of you to go out and buy it, what I would like even more is for you to go out and support some of my friends that have already been published.

So here’s the deal:

Buy somebody else’s book and I’ll send you a PDF of
“Murder by Design” for FREE!

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Buy one of these books:
   • Interview for a Wizard and The Secret Society of Seven Sorcerers by J.A. Areces
   • Personal Effects: Dark Art by J.C. Hutchins
   • Crescent by Phill Rossi
   • Infected and Contagious by Scott Sigler
   • Nina Kimberly the Merciless by Christiana Ellis
   • Jack Wakes Up by Seth Harwood
   • Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty
   • The Case of the Pitcher’s Pendant by Tee Morris
   • Chasing the Bard by Philippa Ballantine
   • Brave Men Run by Matthew Wayne Selznick
2. Send me an e-mail to murderbydesignnovel@gmail.com with some sort of “proof of purchase” and be sure to cc: the author.
3. That’s it! I’ll reply to your e-mail with a PDF of “Murder by Design” for FREE!

Click on th image below to be taken to Amazon.com.

If you listened to the free podcast version of “Murder by Design”, please go to the Amazon page and leave a review. If you’ve got some spare change, I would appreciate it if you could buy a copy!

Image by ~jjjohn~ via Flickr

Yep! You read that correctly! Make it a Monday! Monday’s tend to get a bad rap. But really, Monday’s are weekly resets that we get for free. On Monday mornings we tend to get up and plan out the week. We are energized to conquer the world. I really love Monday’s!

So what happens by Wednesday or Thursday that gets us unmotivated and dejected? Let’s make every morning like Monday morning. Plan out the week. Conquer the world! Are you with me?

Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered the heaviest element yet known to science.

The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete.

Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2- 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.

In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.

This characteristic of morons promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.

When catalysed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.

* I did not write this. It has been circulating around the web for some time but seems more fitting than ever right now.

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange

______________

*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922.

Image by manfred-hartmann via Flickr

If you are reading this post you are most probably checking to see if I’ve come out of my cave to post anything new. Alas, no… but I will populate this post with some random thoughts and happennings from the past few months.

• The family is good… and as always, they take priority in my life.
• I was fortunate enough to find a good full-time job. The commute is tough, but the work is creative and intellectually challenging.
• Unfortunately, my personal creative projects (”Conclave”, “Chronicles of the Wizard King”, etc…) have had to take a back burner. One of the projects I wanted to focus on was a re-design of this site’s wordpress template. I’ve come to realize that some of these things will just have to wait.
• My wife and I have decided to attack our debt with ferocity. We have a goal to be debt free (except for the house) within the next 2 – 2.5 years. An interesting side effect of working towards this goal has been that we are finding that, as we get rid of debt, commitments, and “stuff”, we are actually craving an even simpler life – When you are not buried under debt and “stuff”, you really do enjoy the things you do have much more.

Well, that’s all for now… I’ll try to post more often. In the meantime… go create something!

Image via Wikipedia

Watch out how you write your claims! The Bible can be, and has been, used as a Prior Art resrtiction by U.S. Patent examiners to reject claims. Think about it!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Who are you pushing around?

No, it’s not what you think. Sure, we can push people around. We can push people aside. We can even push people down. But, what I am asking is, “who is it that you are pushing up?”  Are you believing in someone? Are you encouraging someone?

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.” - William Arthur Ward

I have been blessed in that I have had so many instances in my life where someone else has encouraged me and pushed me up. An encouraging word works wonders. Good thoughts are great, but they don’t go anywhere. Give someone the simple gift of good words of encouragement and there is no limit to where they can go.

So encourage someone today. Be a push-upper.

Episode intro by J. A. Areces, the awesome author of Interview for a Wizard and the upcoming Secret Society of Seven Sorcerers.

Featuring the music of

Matthew Ebel

and

[munk]

Stay subscribed to this feed for upcoming short stories, new novels, and more adventures with Nick Casagran!  Also, keep an eye out for Murder by Design coming soon to PodioBooks.com!

Image via Wikipedia

I firmly believe that it is in our basic nature to be helpful.

When we see someone in our homes, families, or communities that need help, it is our natural instinct to want to reach out and lend a hand. When we help each other rise up individually we help the entire community rise up. So what is it about our societal influences that shunt our helpful natures? At what point did we get burned?

One of the the childhood jokes I remember goes like this: A kid dials 411. the operator answers and says, “Information, what listing please?” The kids says, “Hi, what time is it?” To which the operator snorts, “This is information, directory assistance, we don’t give the time. That’s a different number!” The kid shrugs and answers innocently, “Well, don’t you have a watch?”

It’s not the funniest joke in the world, but it teaches some lessons about being helpful. Are we so focused on “the task at hand” that we lose sight of what it is that our brother, neighbor, or customers really need? I urge you to take a moment to reflect on your relationships at work, school, and in your families, and try to find ways to truly be helpful.

Image by Eneida Castro via Flickr

Sometimes I have a hard time just getting started. A lot of times, I have a problems with just keeping going. Today is Monday, and so, like many of you, I woke up facing the week ahead of me. Here are a few things that are on my plate for the week.  No special order… just a brain dump….

• pay bills
• study for the Patent Bar
• follow up on financial aid
• follow up on job applications
• finish editing and post the final episode of “Murder by Design“

I’m sure that I have a ton more things to do this week…. but I’d better stop making lists right now and just start doing! Make it a great week everybody!

Are you looking at this site and thinking, “Hmmm.. that’s not what I expected to see.” Well, I can certainly understand! I am right in the middle of transitioning this site from solely hosting and promoting my novel (Murder by Design) to a one stop destination for my various ventures.

You see… things have been growing. And growth is good.

Taking advantage of various opportunities, I have been evolving  my “personal brand” and what it is that I have to offer. If you are still looking for the audio novel content, don’t worry, the feed will stay active and you will always be able to access it from here.

Thanks for visiting.  Thanks for keeping me motivated.  How can I help?

Episode intro by the swashbuckling Tee Morris.

When the power fails … chaos reigns.

Author J.C. Hutchins has recruited the biggest names in podcast storytelling for 7th Son: OBSIDIAN, a fiction anthology “first-ever” in podcasting.

Each storyteller will spin a unique tale that takes place during the nationwide blackout seen in the 7th Son trilogy, featuring brand new characters and stories.

Find out more at the OBSIDIAN website.

Episode intro by the lovely and talented P. J. Ballantine.

If you want some real literature… go check out Chasing the Bard. Tell her Rob sent you.

Episode intro by Mur Lafferty.

This year St. Patrick’s Day is two days early* so I thought you all deserved to get the next episode of “Murder by Design” a little early, too!

* Changed by the Roman Catholic Church to avoid conflict with Holy Monday that falls on 3/17.

In the great tradition of Scott Sigler, I present to you my 124,007th on-time episode!!! (Special thanks to the listeners that have stuck me with more than a few cattle prods – the story heats up from here on in and the body count will start to rise by episode #9!)

again… no promos or chatter – all story. Enjoy!

No promos or extra chatter this week… just more story!!!

Nick flys out to Kiev in style… and starts to realize thatsome things are not all they are cracked up to be!

Promos:

• Morevi Remastered by Tee Morris
  
• Interview for a Wizard by J.A. Areces (get it now at PodioBooks.com)
• Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty

I just wanted to take a minute to drop this quick message into the feed for “Murder by Design”. I am very gratefull to all of you that have subscribed, listened, and taken the time to let me know how much you have been enjoying the story so far. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to upload any new episodes for quite a few weeks now. You all deserve better than that. At the very least, I just wanted to let you know that more episodes are coming… I promise.

 See, I have been very swamped with the day job, and most recently, I was out in China for work. The good news is that my trip to China spawned some more great ideas! So, after “Murder by Design” and “Conclave” you’ll be sure to see Nick thrown into a good bit of international intrigue and adventure in the very alien socio-political landscape that is Southern China.

Thanks again for staying subscribed! The chase will continue soon!

J.C. Hutchins, author of the successful “7th Son” podcast novel trilogy, has accepted a book deal to publish “7th Son: Descent,” the series’ debut novel. The thriller is scheduled for a 2009 U.S. spring/summer release by St. Martin’s Press.

“7th Son” is the story of seven strangers who have been brought together after the recent assassination of the U.S. president. The men discover that they are human clones, with identical childhood memories. These “John Michael Smiths” have been assembled to catch the man who murdered the president. Their target? Their progenitor, the original John Michael Smith, code-named “John Alpha.”

Hutchins is widely-known as one of the vanguard authors in a growing genre of free online audiobooks — also called “podcast novels ” or “podiobooks.” These novels are often read and recorded by the author, and are promoted online in podcasts and web blogs. “Podnovelists” like Hutchins leverage these new technologies — and the ubiquity of iPods and other portable devices — to find audiences for their work.

Hutchins, a South Florida resident, launched the audio version of “7th Son” in early 2006. Since then, “7th Son” has become the most successful podcast novel series in history. The trilogy has more than 30,000 listeners worldwide, and features cameos from sci-fi/horror icons Nathan Fillion, George Romero, Kevin J. Anderson, and others. In February 2007, the trilogy was featured in The New York Times.

“I’m thrilled to work with St. Martin’s Press in bringing ‘7th Son’ into the ‘real world,’ in real bookstores,” Hutchins said. “For the past two years, I’ve released the online audio version of ‘7th Son’ to an ever-growing, very enthusiastic fan base. I don’t know who’s going to be more excited to see it on bookshelves — my amazing, supportive listeners, or me.”

The online success of “7th Son” has brought Hutchins more than a worldwide audience. Hutchins is currently co-writing the debut novel in a new thriller novel series, which is slated for a 2009 release, also by St. Martin’s Press. Opportunities for “7th Son” are emerging in other media, as well.

Hutchins, who is affectionately chastised by his listeners for his cliffhanger-style chapter endings, remains coy about the other projects.

“There’s lots to talk about,” Hutchins said, smiling. “But as in ‘7th Son,’ timing and pacing is everything. I guess folks will have to keep listening to learn more.”

Nick has to break the news to his wife… while things start to heat up back at the office.Promos:

• The Process Diary
• Interview for a Wizard by J.A. Areces (coming soon to PodioBooks.com)
• Crescent by Phil Rossi

The tension and intrigue ramp up at V.I.P. Interior Products and we are introduced to the old regime.

Promos:

• Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff’s “Diary of a Madman”
  
• C.C. Chapman’s Managing the Gray
• Phil Rossi’s “Crescent”
  

C.C. Chapman has played the “Murder by Design” promo (and paid me some nice compliments!) in this week’s “Accident Hash” episode.

Thanks C.C.! I wish I could be out at the PMNE ! Have a great time… “Peace and be Wild!”

Thanks Scott!

“Often, life altering circumstances can be traced back to a specific datum – a starting point. From that datum, time starts anew. The counter begins on a new life. You often don’t even realize when it happens. What triggers it? The most simple and innocent things tend to prompt a life altering series of events. A look, a touch… a question… ‘Nick, do you have a passport?’ “

Keep your head down and stay out of trouble, ’cause the chase is on!

Murder by Design is my debut novel that I am releasing today as a podcast. It is a thriller/mystery about a rookie engineer that uncovers an assasination plot and then becomes the target of the assasin. The story takes Nick (the protagonist) from Miami to Kiev and he only has his wits and resourcefulness to get him through. It’s like MacGyver meets the Bourne Identity. Music has always played an integral part in my creative process, so you can be sure that the action is accented with lots of great tracks from some incredible musicians. I hope everyone enjoys listening to the story as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it!

Music heard on today’s episode:

“Redemption” by Kevin Reeves and Ian Baird

“Dirty Work” by [munk]

“Rain” by Matthew Ebel

(c) 2007 Rob Suárez

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

The highly anticipated debut podcast thriller from the creative mind of Rob Suarez makes its debut on Friday, September 14, 2007. Click the link below to subscribe in your favorite podcatcher and get ready for a seat-of-your pants podcast thriller!

Subscribe Now!

While we’re all waiting for “Murder by Design” to launch… why don’t you head over to the “Other Works” section of the website and check out my latest short story
“Canis Sapiens”?

(Just make sure you leave a light on first.)

Murder by Design is a podcast thriller brought to you by Rob Suarez.

The chase begins in Fall 2007!

 Subscribe Now!

In his latest “listener appreciation” episode for the podcast novel, “Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword”, author, podcaster, and friend Tee Morris gave a mention and a teaser to the upcoming release of “Murder by Design”.

If you are not already listening to “Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword”… what are you waiting for…. subscribe already!

 Thanks Tee!!!!

The microphone has been set up.

I have begun the recording process!!!

Stay tuned… when I get a few episodes “in the can”, I’ll publish a release date.

Ever since I made the decision to put out “Murder by Design” as a podcast novel, I have been absolutely floored by the level of generosity and marketing “intellect” that is inhabiting this new world of “new media”.

Thanks to various conversations I’ve had this week (more details soon) I have been able to get a few things in process that move me closer to the premiere date for the “Murder by Design” podcast.

• I have started to write out an actual marketing plan! (Yes, this is necessary!)
• Conversations with leaders in this space have started up – lot’s of good advice!
• I’ve chosen a “theme song” for the series.
• A script for the promo was sent off to a voice over actor. I can’t wait to hear it!

Check back soon for more updates!

 After being snubbed by publishers for years, Mr. Sigler began recording his first book, “EarthCore,” in 2005. He offered it as a podcast in 22 episodes (roughly 45 minutes each) that he posted online and sent free to subscribers for downloading. Before long, Mr. Sigler had 5,000 listeners; by the time he finished releasing his second novel, “Ancestor,” last January, he had 30,000, as he does for “The Rookie,” which is playing now.

 Thanks to all of the podcasting novelists (and supporters such as podiobooks.com) I am deciding to podcast my novels… let’s see if I can garner even a small percentage of the following that they have earned for their works!

A death spiral, actually! So, energized by recent activity in the world of podcast novels as well as on the advice of JA Areces and Mur Lafferty, I am pleased to announce that I have come to terms with the fact that a novel that is constantly in edit is of no good to anyone.

So get ready! ”Murder by Design” is getting ready to land in your podcatcher… stay tuned!