Author Scott Sigler is using podcasting as a novel approach (pardon the pun) to get people to know about his new book, EarthCore. There’s no charge to download the podcasts, and Sigler plans to release the entire book in serial form on a weekly basis.
Described as “a cross between episodic modern-action fare like ’24’ and classic sci-fi movies like Predator and Starship Troopers,” “EarthCore” tells the story of brash young executive Connell Kirkland, on a mission to make his company (the EarthCore of the book’s title) billions by unearthing the largest platinum deposit ever discovered.
“But at three miles below the surface, where the rocks are so hot they burn bare skin, something has been waiting for centuries. Waiting … and guarding. Kirkland and EarthCore are about to find out first-hand why this treasure has never been unearthed,” reads a synopsis posted to the novel’s Web site. The podcasts have been performed by Sigler himself.
Podcasting is a term coined to describe making audio files available for download through RSS feeds. Podcasting is being used as a way to distribute weblogs, radio broadcasts and other content. You can read more about it in our feature Podcasting: Hear What the Buzz is About.
This is not EarthCore’s first attempt at publication. In 2001, AOL/Time Warner’s iPublish imprint offered it as an e-book, where it hit the top spot on Barnes & Noble’s Web site. It was due out for a paperback release in 2002, but iPublish folded before that could happen. Sigler eventually regained the rights to his novel but has been unable to get it published again, and is using podcasting as a means of getting into the hands of more readers — or more specifically, listeners.
Sigler hopes that he can attract 5,000 subscribers to the book. That will, he hopes, “… demonstrate the power of Podcasting and generate attention from publishers.”
Sigler kicked off the release of EarthCore with a prologue, which you can download from the EarthCore Web site now. He will release further chapters as weekly podcasts.
He advises potential listeners that EarthCore isn’t for tender ears — it “runs the gammut (sic) of politically incorrect topics, from language to sex to raw violence.”