Dear Paul and Martha,

Yes, Serve it Cold, excellent work. If any one wants an example of a PodioBook done right they should listen to it. Now I know the reason why Tee Morris is doing Morevi Remastered. You guys didn’t raise the bar you changed the game. Loved the use of small town gosip to give us a story so far. Ronnie’s discriptions took me there I could smell, coffee, spice and the river.

C.A. Sizemore

[Submitted via Twitter]

<The free download period has expired. Get your copy of Scott Sigler’s Infected on line or at your local bookstore. Thank you!>

We did it before and we are doing it again.

Scott Sigler’s new print version of Infected gets released on April 1st, 2008. Over the next few days, his publisher has allowed him to give away copies of the PDF version of the book for free.

We are helping him do just that.

For more information on Scott and Infected, visit www.scottsigler.com

If you want share the file with friends, get them to download it from this page or from:

www.randomhouse.com/crown/infected/downloads/infected_novel.pdf

By getting the file from that link, it’s proving to the big publishers that we podcasters have a clue about what we are doing.

This file will only be active for a few days, at which time the link will become inactive and you’ll have to go to the bookstore to read the story. Which you should do anyway.

Ronnie is a regular contributor now to the Gulfport, Mississippi, SunHerald. Follow these links to great articles about one of Ronnie’s other lifelong passions–the world of birds and nature.

05 January 2008 I’m no Judy Passport to birding
12 January 2008 Winter brings hummers we never knew
19 January 2008 Backyard Bird Count Needs You

Evo Tera at Podiobooks.com has posted the top 20 Podiobooks of 2007 and we are elated to see one of our three entries make the grade. Kimberly Steel’s awesome teen vampire novel, Forever Fifteen, came in at number 8. Way back in the dawn of Podcasting, in March 2005, we offered to help Kim get her audio cleaned up and on Podiobooks.com. It is gratifying to us that we have helped her make her mark on this new and exciting community.

We send out most sincere congratulations to all the PB authors and their teams in the top slots and we wish them the best for 2008.

In addition to offering its listeners their regular story for the month of December,
Variant Frequencies has prepared a special holiday surprise for fans of the two-time Parsec-nominated FAILED CITIES MONOLOGUES, as well as all those who’ve supported the podcast in the past year. We are proud to present THE FAILED CITIES: HATH A DARKNESS, an exclusive 10,000-word eChapbook written by Matt Wallace and produced by Variant Frequencies.

Happy Holidays from the entire crew of Variant Frequencies!

Denouement. John Turner’s favorite literary term. Loose ends get tied up. But there is still a surprise or two left in this tale!

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Rodger Johnson as Eaton Barton
Helen bends Cherlee’s ear about an article in the Catherine Democrat. What’s the world comin’ to?

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Babylon Bombs rocks The Cradle bar with “Hometown Hero” and “Jaded Heart”.
The Turner Trust and Scholarship Fund board members dance the night away to “Love’s Way” by Michael Mucklow. You can find out more about Babylon Bombs and Michael Mucklow at their websites and you can find their music on the Podsafe Music Network.

And at last we play the entire theme song without any voice overs. Big, big thank you to Michelle Malone for lending us her incredible voice and talent.

It’s been a blast!

Jonny wakes up to find some surprising visitors at the house helping themselves to his coffee!

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Christiana Ellis and Martha Holloway as Cindy Sparks Aultman and Lilly Banks Grantham
And with Rodger Johnson as Eaton Barton and Paul Fischer as Lurker
Jim Van Verth and P G Holyfield, as Dude and Rabbit, have a conversation about a hoax gone horribly wrong. Tee Morris as Officer Pete gives them a ride home.
Oh, and Command Line’s dogs have another cameo!

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Promos: The Vintage Gamer, Murder at Avedon Hill, and Space Casey

Well, this time we can’t blame the delay on hardware failure. But, please, bear with us. Episode 24 is a really long one and we want to get it right. So, we are taking a little extra time to do just that. We expect to publish on Sunday, December 9th. We hope you will think this episode is worth the wait.

Thank you for staying subscribed!

UPDATE: I guess I spoke too soon! My system has gone back to its old, random-shutdown ways. <sigh> We’re working with the slower, backup system but we are still doing our best to meet today’s publication schedule. Wish us luck!

Back in Catherine, Jonny goes out to Burnt Bridge with Butch to have a look at the famous blue Stratus. They decide to look around the family farm in Covington County then head back home to Catherine. Will this day ever end?

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
The Whya Gallery gets a call about its latest art collection.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Michelle Malone’s “Beyond the Mountain” rocks Jonny off to sleep at the end.

Jonny and Vera discuss shocking news from Catherine. Vera tells Jonny a story from her past–The House of Blue Lights.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
Another tour de force from Eric and Beth.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

With “Miss Miss’ippi” and “Beyond the Mountain” standing in as the playlist for WWOZ. We reprise “Miss Miss’ippi” at the end. Enjoy!

Promo: Jack Palms: Jack Wakes Up and This Is Life by Seth Harwood

Due to a hardware failure in our main production computer, Serve It Cold episode 22 will be delayed. The iMac suffered a logic board failure early this week, and needs to go into the shop for a few days. The good news is Martha backed up all the data before the system failed. Once we get the machine back we will start cranking out the episodes again.

Darkstar has a nice blog entry about Serve It Cold. He should rest assured that we hope to bring you more work from Ronnie Blackwell as soon as we can.

New Orleans can be a dangerous place: you can get your wallet stolen, your door kicked in, or your shoulder dislocated before most French Quarter residents even get out of bed. On the brighter side, you can get breakfast at Poppy’s around the clock.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Paul Fischer as Sonny Richard and Mike Nguyen as Kevin at Poppy’s and Jerry Joachim. Phil Rossi and Beth Wojiski give voices to Yellowhead and BlueHair.
Paul Fischer as Sonny calls Goat to check in and update him on the investigation.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

The thoroughly awesome Possum Holler checks us into “Heartbreak Hotel” at the end of the episode. Tori Anderson’s stunning vocals breathe new life into the King’s classic. “Heartbreak Hotel” is off their critically acclaimed album Substantially Blue. Check it out at CDBaby.com. Y’all stick around, now. Y’ hear?

Jonny C and the crew head for New Orleans to try to find Ray. Meanwhile back in Catherine, Jonny’s carefully crafted reconstruction of the crime turns out to be dead wrong.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Mike Nguyen as Kenny “G” Mays, Paul Fischer as Sonny Richard and Martha Holloway as Tommy2.
Mike Nguyen gives us a Lamar Park runner’s view of the goings on in Catherine.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

And if you have the munchies at the end of this one, we hope you’ll find that Michelle’s recipe for “Soul Chicken” satisfies your cravings. Michelle’s Sugarfoot album just keeps getting better and better!

The search for clues in the Grantham murder case continues. The crack Speed investigative team turn their attention to the old Arnold Line trail. Could they have found the much needed break in the case?

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Rodger Johnson as Eaton Barton and Paul Fischer as Sonny Richard.
Paul Fischer reprises his role as Tom Miller, slyly setting up Petey Saunders for a severe leg pulling from his daddy.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Butch Ellis invites himself over to Jonny’s house for morning coffee amidst the herd of over-excited dogs. Go Joe and Lurker make plans to “fish up” more information on Lattimer Grantham. And Jonny, Narlene and Sonny look for a Louisiana needle in a Mississippi haystack.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Paul Fischer as Sonny Richard, Lurker76 and Tom Miller
Marc Bailey of Grailwolf’s Geek Life gives his “son” Butch Ellis some advice on the case

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Circumstances look pretty bad for Jonny C and the gang: no client, no payment, and Jonny’s actions could be misconstrued as stalking Landis Grantham. Seems it’s always darkest before the cops show up….

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Rodger Johnson as Goat Johnson
Helen (Martha Holloway) calls in a tip to the Catherine Po-lice Tip Line.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Jonny and Narlene return to Catherine. Jonny calls everyone together to brainstorm what their next move should be.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
Eric gives us a command performance as Jonny C, Go Joe Jackson, GG Castor, and Butch Ellis. Beth speaks up for Narlene Moore and Vera Hill.
With Rodger Johnson as Goat Johnson, Julia Holloway as Sister Cielee, and Paul Fischer as Sonny Richard and George.
The Command Line delivers an informal review of the events of the so-called “Battle of Lake Catherine” for some unknown bureaucrat.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

And tendered as a kind of apology for our rough publication schedule last month, we include “Winter Muscadine” by Michelle Malone from the Sugarfoot album.

Thank you for staying with us!

Here’s another rich handful of Ronnie’s Hattiesburg American articles. Please be sure to leave comments on the HA site if you enjoy them!

All aflutter: Count butterflies in Delta this weekend
Aging author splashes into new media wave
Hummingbird season arrives in South Mississippi backyards
They fly by night: Restless thrushes called to migrate

Sitting big: Counting birds in Hattiesburg circles
River: The Pascagoula runs free
Holidays include this annual tradition for local birders

Jonny finishes telling Narlene the story of the “Battle of Catherine”. Mafioso, guns, drugs, DEA, explosions, and the last time Jonny saw Big John Turner.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
Marc Bailey of Grailwolf’s Geek Life gives us a brief history lesson on the Battle of New Orleans. Plus he reminds us just where we left our hero.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Again, our thanks to the FreeSound Project for making Lake Catherine and the Rigolets come to life.

The information concerning the Battle of New Orleans found at the beginning of this episode is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article “The Battle of New Orleans”.

Jonny C and Narlene head back to Catherine. They stop to do a little bird watching to throw off anyone tailing them and Jonny C tells Narlene the story of the “Battle of Lake Catherine”.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
Paul Fischer is a sound effect. Heather Welliver interrupts with late breaking news.
We finally find out what went down at the “Battle of Lake Catherine” and what happened to Big John Turner.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Swamp, lake and forest ambient, flora and fauna sound effects courtesy of the FreeSound Project.

Click on the link to hear Ronnie on Writers Talking, hosted by Matthew Wayne Selznick. For an extra treat, Tee Morris, another Lulu author and Podiobooks veteran joins him on the show. Thanks for listening!

Lunch at Mother’s with the Tommys and Narlene is interrupted by unsettling news from Catherine. What’s a hardworking private detective to do? Why, have desert and fine wine at the Napoleon House and rally the troops!

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Mike Nguyen and Martha Holloway as the Tommy’s and various wait staff.
A distraught Julia Holloway complains about her husband’s photographic subjects.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Jonny drops by the Tommy’s to check in with Narlene and change his disguise before trailing the “happy couple” through the French Quarter. He still can’t shake the nagging feeling that Lily Banks and Lattimer Grantham are making getting evidence for the divorce case just too damn easy!

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Mike Nguyen as Tommy and Martha Holloway as Tommy, too!
The lovely and talented Heather Welliver tells us why she needs a new hotel after last night.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

In honor of Jonny C’s new look for this episode, we feature “Black Motorcycle Boots” off the Sugarfoot album by Michelle Malone. It’s gonna knock your socks off!

Surveillance on “The Granthams” goes like clockwork. But something about it just doesn’t seem to be quite right. Jonny discovers another friend of Big John Turner.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Mike Nguyen as Kenny “G” Mays
And, yes, Helen is back spreading rumor and innuendo in Martha’s voice.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Jonny checks in at The Guest House and finds a friend he’s never met before. The surveillance for Landis Grantham’s divorce case takes Jonny to an art show opening for Catherine’s finest artist, Cindy Aultman. Her subjects turn out to be rather unexpected.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Rodger Johnson as Goat Johnson and Paul Fischer as Sonny Richard
Beth Wojiski checks in with Narlene Moore’s half-brother, Goat, to get him up to speed

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Jonny and Narlene have dinner with the Tommy’s. Jonny gets a little off the sides and a trim–ready for his surveillance later that night.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Mike Nguyen as Tommy and Martha Holloway as Tommy 2 (it was a hoot!)
Eric leaves a voice mail for Vera with a synopsis of his trip and the dogs go a little nuts.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Featured song: “Where is the Love? - Live Acoustic Version” - available nowhere else. Wow! Michelle can sing!

Blogger and Podcaster Mike Schleifstein from Blogging New Orleans has written a nice article about Serve It Cold and Podiobooks. You can read it here. Hopefully Mike will get a podcast out soon and include one of our nifty promos in his podcast.

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It was warm weather indoors at Jammin’ Java this past Wednesday night and the new stage made the venue seem a little more formal than in the past but neither slowed down the rockin’ Michelle Malone. The Michelle Malone Band pulled out all the stops to put on a smoking hot show.

And Paul and I had the very great pleasure of witnessing it all first hand.

Michelle’s music has been submitted this year for 2 Grammys: Best Contemporary Blues Album and Best Americana Album and it’s easy to see why. All you have to do is listen. My word, that woman can sing! We were treated to some new old-fashioned blues rock songs that shook the paint off the walls, but, when the dust started coming off the rafters, Michelle scaled it back with an acoustic set that was just stunning.

But I shouldn’t slight her guitar work which was as much a pleasure to watch as to hear. Words fail me, folks.

If you ever have the chance to hear Michelle Malone live, do not let that chance slide by you. Reach out and grab it with both hands and hold on for the ride. It’s worth waiting for! But while you’re waiting you might as well be listening to some really good music. So, show Michelle some love. Jump over to her site and pick up her latest album, Sugarfoot, and maybe a few of her earlier ones too. You’ll be glad you did.

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Jonny checks in with his clients Goat Johnson and Landis Grantham. Jonny and Narlene’s hopes are raised when a team of plain clothes detectives arrive clearly on the hunt for someone, but they soon realize the cops are after a pickpocket team working the crowd around the street band instead of Jerry and Ray. So it goes.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Mike Nguyen as Tommy
Martha Holloway spreads the word about Jerry’s troubles

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Standing in for our street band again are The Hipnotics. You heard “Planning an Accident”, “Death Letter Blues”, “Blues Don’t Know”, and “Get Up!”. Don’t worry–we feature “Death Letter Blues” at the end of the episode. The Hipnotics music is available from both the Podsafe Music Network and their own site.

On the way to the apartment, Jonny and Narlene find Jerry’s car parked illegally in the French Quarter and ask Tommy to keep an eye on it. They settle in to the third floor apartment and discreetly watch the goings on out on the street. Jerry shows up–dressed oddly–but can’t get in the car that has a hot date with a tow truck.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
Guest Voices: This week is the Eric and Beth show.
Julia Holloway tells Aunt Helen all about the odd couple at table 3.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

The awesome sample of National Guitars in this episode is courtesy of Lenny Gerthoffer, VintageNationals.com.

Standing in for our street band are The Hipnotics. The Hipnotics music is available from both the Podsafe Music Network and their own site. Street songs: “Big Mary’s”, “I Feel It Too”, and “Planning an Accident.” Featured after the credits “Big Mary’s”.

Safe and sound at Margaritaville, Narlene tells Jonny C how she ended up in New Orleans with Jerry and Ray. And how she managed to get away to the French Market. Jonny C and Narlene gather supplies for the French Quarter apartment.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
Guest Voices: Ronnie Blackwell returns as Steve and Rodger Johnson as Don, the proprietor of Coffee, Tea or….Paul Fischer gets us caught up on the story as Sonny Richard.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

And there’s something special at the end of this episode: “Rooster 44,” also off the Sugarfoot album by Michelle Malone

The original cover for the book was taken from one of Ronnie’s photos. But we had the great good fortune to have two other beautiful pieces of art contributed by Georgia Godwin and Laura Mann. Georgia Godwin’s cover plays with the image of the Altoids box that features in the novel and Laura Mann’s cover really sets the mood for a murder mystery in small town Mississippi.

To honor Georgia and Laura’s work, we asked Ronnie if he would create special editions of Serve It Cold to showcase their art, and he went us, not one, but two better. Available now from Lulu are two collector’s editions of the novel. Each with a little something extra to make it even sweeter. Choose your favorite or get them both!

Serve It Cold (Georgia Godwin cover art) includes the Jonny C short story, Crossing. $12.95

Serve It Cold (Laura Mann cover art) includes the Jonny C short story, Silver Hull. $12.95

Jonny heads to New Orleans to start his divorce case and find Narlene. Jonny checks Sonny’s past with Steve at Margaritaville. He finds Narlene and takes her back to Margaritaville for lunch.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
Guest Voices: Ronnie Blackwell, the author his own self, as Steve, and Mike Nguyen as Tommy. Martha returns as the town gossip.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Have a listen to Ronnie’s interview on Lulu Radio Episode 31 with Jason Adams. Ronnie and Jason discuss jumping into Creative Commons publishing with both feet, the process of publishing both through a conventional press and through Lulu, and how the podiobook came to be. Lulu Radio is funny and informative and we hope you give Mur Lafferty and Jason Adams a listen on other episodes as well. You can find Lulu Radio at the link in this post.

Goat introduces Jonny to his club manager, Sonny Richard, who was beaten up the night before. Sonny tells Jonny how Narlene got the marijuana in the first place. Jonny gets evidence in the divorce case.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Martha Holloway as Helen, the town gossip, Rodger Johnson as Goat Johnson and Paul Fischer as Sonny Richard

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Some sound effects courtesy of the FreeSound Project
Blue drives past
Walking on gravel

Jonny starts working his divorce case beginning with a little surveillance on all three of the Granthams: Landis, Latimer, and Lilian. Go Joe Jackson takes over the routine investigations for Speed Investigations.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Martha Holloway as Helen, the town gossip, Rodger Johnson as Eaton Barton

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Some sound effects courtesy of the FreeSound Project
Early at Landis Grantham’s house
Police car on gravel
Walking on gravel
Eurasian Collared Dove landing
Eurasian Collared Dove call

Jonny finds evidence in the parking lot and heads into the woods. After an incident in the woods Jonny visits Goat at The Rocking the Cradle Bar which he has bought and is refurbishing. Jonny gets a divorce case in New Orleans.

Starring Eric Rowe and Beth Wojiski
With Martha Holloway as Helen, the town gossip, Rodger Johnson as Goat Johnson and Paul Fischer as Lurker76.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone

Some sound effects courtesy of the FreeSound Project
Pearl Trace
Blackberry Woods
HomerBlue gang screaming left and right
Cradle construction/hammering

If you are enjoying Serve It Cold and can’t wait for more from the author, then check out Ronnie’s articles in The Hattiesburg American. The newspaper is not able to keep archives of the articles online for very long. So periodically we will refresh the links in this post. Please leave comments about the articles on The Hattiesburg American site instead of or in addition to here. Enjoy!

Watch Hummingbirds This Weekend — offline
Anticipate Jewels of Spring — offline
Waiting for the King on Dauphin Island — offline
Legend of Crow-baby — offline
Listen for Song of Wood Thrush — offline
Summer’s first harvest of wobbly baby birds arrives — offline
All aflutter: Count butterflies in Delta this weekend
Aging author splashes into new media wave
Hummingbird season arrives in South Mississippi backyards

They fly by night: Restless thrushes called to migrate
Sitting big: Counting birds in Hattiesburg circles

Convenience store manager, Jonny C. Speed, is accused of stealing marijuana from Narlene Moore. Narlene calls her brother Goat Johnson and the cops to set them on Speed.

Starring Eric Rowe as Jonny C, Butch Ellis, Go Joe Jackson, and other voices, and Beth Wojiski as Narlene Moore and Vera Hill.
With Rodger Johnson as Goat Johnson & Eaton Barton and Julie Holloway as Sister Cielee.

Theme song: “Where is the Love?” by Michelle Malone