(Feb. 25, 2016) Technical difficulties pushed back the release of the “So, What’s Your Story?” podcast, but, thanks to a few Christmas acquisitions, release of the first episode is expected today, Thursday.
Cohosted by Tony Russo and Salt Water Media Founder Stephanie Fowler, the podcast, recorded in the Berlin writer’s shop, will focus on local authors.
“I’ll take responsibility,” Russo said of the delay. “I had crappy equipment that we couldn’t make work, and then I bought way better equipment that I didn’t understand.” He later tested the new gear – successfully – on “Beer with Strangers,” a podcast he hosts with Doug Griffith from Xtreme Brewing.
Originally, Fowler said they recorded five episodes, one of which “evaporated into nothingness.” Three others also suffered technical setbacks.
“Instead of launching with podcasts that were not great quality, we decided to hang on until we figured out the audio part, and then we would relaunch,” she said.
The one original recording that stood out, an interview with former Salisbury University professor Dr. Clara Small, will be the podcast’s first episode. Small’s third book, “Compass Points: Profiles and Biographies of African-Americans from the Delmarva Peninsula, Vol. I,” was published in November.
Russo and Fowler will re-record other episodes with young-adult author Andrew Heller, and authors Joan Cooper and Carol K. Psaros, with planned releases every Thursday morning.
The podcast will focus on regional authors, and Russo said he hopes to have support from the Maryland Writer’s Association. The Lower Eastern Shore chapter of the association holds regular meetings at Salt Water Media.
“Hopefully the Maryland Writer’s Association will give us a list of who’s got books coming out, and so part of the show is going to be, these are the books by Maryland authors that are coming out this week,” he said. “Berlin is already an art destination, so we’re trying to round it out with literary art. We have a couple things going that are focused toward increasing the awareness that lots of writing goes on here.”
A companion blog website will also feature exclusive audio excerpts of each guest reading from his or her work, which will not be part of the weekly podcast.
The goal, Russo said, is exposure for authors who publish independently, or through small presses.
“Everyone is into indie albums, but, unfortunately, indie publishing got a bad rap during the last 70 years,” he said. “Just because Harper Collins didn’t put it out doesn’t mean it’s not quality stuff. This is the opportunity for the authors to show that they’re doing good things.”
Fowler said she feels like something of a poster child for writers who were forced to publish in nontraditional ways.
“I was a Sophie Kerr Prize winner and couldn’t get picked up, and I had to self-publish. Just because you’re self-published doesn’t mean it isn’t good,” she said. “I think what we’re trying to do is let people know that these different authors are out there, and that they have interesting things going on.”
Look for “So, What’s Your Story?” on iTunes, or visit www.saltwatermedia.com/podcast.html.
Cohosted by Tony Russo and Salt Water Media Founder Stephanie Fowler, the podcast, recorded in the Berlin writer’s shop, will focus on local authors.
“I’ll take responsibility,” Russo said of the delay. “I had crappy equipment that we couldn’t make work, and then I bought way better equipment that I didn’t understand.” He later tested the new gear – successfully – on “Beer with Strangers,” a podcast he hosts with Doug Griffith from Xtreme Brewing.
Originally, Fowler said they recorded five episodes, one of which “evaporated into nothingness.” Three others also suffered technical setbacks.
“Instead of launching with podcasts that were not great quality, we decided to hang on until we figured out the audio part, and then we would relaunch,” she said.
The one original recording that stood out, an interview with former Salisbury University professor Dr. Clara Small, will be the podcast’s first episode. Small’s third book, “Compass Points: Profiles and Biographies of African-Americans from the Delmarva Peninsula, Vol. I,” was published in November.
Russo and Fowler will re-record other episodes with young-adult author Andrew Heller, and authors Joan Cooper and Carol K. Psaros, with planned releases every Thursday morning.
The podcast will focus on regional authors, and Russo said he hopes to have support from the Maryland Writer’s Association. The Lower Eastern Shore chapter of the association holds regular meetings at Salt Water Media.
“Hopefully the Maryland Writer’s Association will give us a list of who’s got books coming out, and so part of the show is going to be, these are the books by Maryland authors that are coming out this week,” he said. “Berlin is already an art destination, so we’re trying to round it out with literary art. We have a couple things going that are focused toward increasing the awareness that lots of writing goes on here.”
A companion blog website will also feature exclusive audio excerpts of each guest reading from his or her work, which will not be part of the weekly podcast.
The goal, Russo said, is exposure for authors who publish independently, or through small presses.
“Everyone is into indie albums, but, unfortunately, indie publishing got a bad rap during the last 70 years,” he said. “Just because Harper Collins didn’t put it out doesn’t mean it’s not quality stuff. This is the opportunity for the authors to show that they’re doing good things.”
Fowler said she feels like something of a poster child for writers who were forced to publish in nontraditional ways.
“I was a Sophie Kerr Prize winner and couldn’t get picked up, and I had to self-publish. Just because you’re self-published doesn’t mean it isn’t good,” she said. “I think what we’re trying to do is let people know that these different authors are out there, and that they have interesting things going on.”
Look for “So, What’s Your Story?” on iTunes, or visit www.saltwatermedia.com/podcast.html.