Interview: Scott Sigler – Sci-Fi Author & Podcaster
A recent San Francisco Immigrant Entrepreneur’s Meet-up hosted by the entrepreneur queen herself – Edith Yeung – featured a talk by pioneering podcast Sci-Fi author Scott Sigler. He’s the first author, ever, to podcast a novel in it’s entirety.
Scott’s first novel Earthcore was podcast back in March of 2006 and is available today, by subscribing to the free download from the iTunes Store. Simply fire up iTunes on your computer, choose ‘iTunes Store’ and enter ‘Scott Sigler’ in the search area. You’ll see that Scott also has other books, Ancestor and Nocturnal, available online as well. There’s hours of listening pleasure available at no charge (a warning for our under-18 readers: Scott’s novels are marked EXPLICIT by iTunes and have more than their fair share of blood and guts.)
As compelling a read (or a listen) as these books are, Scott is an accomplished marketeer in the Web 2.0 world as he is a Sci-Fi author. You’ll see if you check out the links to his works that I’ve used already in my blog that his work is available through multiple channels:
- via iTunes or any of the other podcasting sources as audio
- on Google books as a downloadable .pdf file
- on Amazon
- and last, but not least, on his own portal: www.scottsigler.com
I missed the opportunity to interview Scott at the event in San Francisco. But not to worry. I followed his suggestion as a ace podcaster and thought outside the envelope. I installed the PrettyMay plug-in to SKYPE and arranged to interview him remotely. The sound quality on my first recorded SKYPE call is a bit spotty in places (having a webcam operate at the same time as you are recording is NOT recommended!)
In my interview I asked him how he could make any money giving the best stuff away for free. He’s very blunt “What people forget is the marketing and sales angle…”. To hear Scott discuss how podcasting and Web 2.0 technologies such as Instant Messaging, Wiki’s and free content downloads provide for user involvement and the growth of his fan-base click on the podcast icon below.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:53 — 1.3MB)
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3 Comments so far
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Nice interview. As a fan of Scott – not just of his stories but also his marketing, publishing and podcasting pioneering – it’s great to hear these discussions.
By Michael Vanderdonk on 12.10.07 6:14 pm
Scott’s latest book Infected has been given a limited web download window, as noted by BoingBoing this “inexplicably limited” approach by publisher Crown books is counter to Scott’s own wishes. His publishers are now in the driving seat. Pity.
By Ian on 03.27.08 8:07 am
Giving away books as podcasts – a new way to promote sales, is featured in this article in the San Francisco Chronicle.Scott Sigler and Seth Harwood are featured.
By Ian on 04.05.08 6:18 am
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