People You Need to Meet: Scott Sigler

I don't remember where I first heard of the podcast book (podiobook) EarthCore, but once I heard the first episode, I was hooked!  I've introduced you to authors David St. Lawrence, Rosa Say and Dave Shields and the overwhelming passion that all of these authors bring to their work is contagious.

Scott is taking self publishing to a new level by using podcasting and blogging to help his cause.  I recommend that you read more about Scott below and be sure to check out his blog and subscribe to his podcast!

Business Thoughts:  Tell us about you and the "world's first podcast book" EarthCore!

Scott Sigler:  I've been writing for about seven years.  I originally landed EarthCore with AOL/TimeWarner and the book was due in stores in April of 2002.  Unfortunately, the 9/11 recession hit AOL/TW pretty hard and they scrapped a lot of projects, including EarthCore.  The book was tied up contractually for a couple of years - AOL/TW didn't want it, and didn't have the staff to process all the legal work, so it kind of languished in limbo until my agent could get it free and clear.  Since then, we haven't been able to find a publisher.  So when I discovered Podcasting, it seemed like a great way to create a brand name as a writer and entertain some people.  I had no idea it would get as big as it has; it's been a ball.

BT:  Is this your first novel?

SS:  EarthCore is actually my second novel.  Infection is my first...it, too, is seeking a publisher.

BT:  How did you decide to use podcasting for the book?

SS:  When I first found podcasting, I assumed there would be dozens of podcast novels, because the format is so perfect for delivering serialized fiction.  I Googled like mad, but could find no podcast novels out there.  At that point, I realized I had a finished, professionally edited novel of major publishing house quality, and that I could be "first to market" with the concept of a podcast noel.  I butchered my way through the technology (and when I say "butchered", I mean it - I'm a Grade-A Techtard), and put up the first episode.  If I had know how much work it would be, I probably wouldn't have done it, but now in for a penny, in for a pound.

BT:  What is your ultimate goal of using podcasting and your blog for the book?

SS:  The ultimate goal is to land a print publishing deal for EarthCore.  Breaking into the publishing biz is very difficult.  I'm hoping that by proving EarthCore can land a big audience a publisher will take a chance on printing the book.  The typical first printing for a new novelist is 5,000 copies.  I already have more listeners than that.  It seems like a no-brainer that a publisher would pick up a book with a proven audience and built-in publicity.

BT:  You have a local band, The Transfer, as a sponsor of your blog and podcast.  Are they paying you for the sponsorship?

SS:  Yes they are paying.  I'm actively seeking new sponsors.

BT:  What is the best lesson you have learned from this EarthCore experience?

SS:  That a weekly podcast, edited for deliver, is a rather time-consuming affair.  I think doing podiobooks or audio players are very different from most talk-show style podcasts.  With a talk-show style podcast, you just turn on the mic and go - if you say something silly or mispronounce a word, that's part of the charm.  With a podiobook, however, you have to go back and fix everything so it sounds professional, and that takes a lot of time.  And mine is a straight reading - I can only imagine how long it takes to do a podiobook with sound effects, like Tee Morris's Moravi or Mark Jeffery's The Pocket and the Pendant (both are available at Podiobooks)

BT:  When did you start writing and what was your inspiraion to write?

SS:  I wrote my first monster move in the third grade.  My inspiration was seeing King Kong in the theater as a little kid - I almost peed my pants.  My dad thought my terror was funny as hell  After that movie, I knew I wanted to write monster stories.

BT:  What drives you and gets you fired up in the morning?

SS:  I write constantly and I'm always thinking of a new story or a new screenplay.  I'm still trying to find a way to "break into the biz", so to speak, so that also occupies a lot of my thoughts.

BT:  What is your day job?  Have any other interests besides writing/blogging/podcasting?

SS:  I am a marketing director for a communications company in San Francisco.  Outside of the "day job", I like to bike and root for the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Lions (this is the year for the Lions!)  I've been saing that for 20 years, and I ain't stoppin' now!

BT:  Anything I forgot to ask you that you would like to let us know?

SS:  EarthCore will be free right to the bitter end.  A lot of people think I'm going to yank the chair out from under them for the last chapter and make them cough up the dough to hear the end (you're gonna pay, see, your gonna pay or the last chapter gets it!).  However, I started the audio book saying EarthCore would be free, and I'll finish it that way.  For my next podiobook, Ancestor, I'll try charging $5 for the whole thing and see how that goes.

[read] Scott's blog
[subscribe] to EarthCore podcast (right click on link, copy link and paste to your podcast aggregator)

____
tags:  podcast | podcasting | earthcore | podiobook | scott sigler