One of the very pleasant things about participating in crime fiction events is that they can lead to all sorts of unexpected and agreeable further activities. A good example cropped up recently when I put on my Victorian mystery event at Stockton-on-~Tees. I was approached afterwards by a couple of chaps from Southside Broadcasting, which has links not only with hospital radio in the North East, but also festivals further afield, in particular in Lincoln.
The outcome of our conversation was that on Friday I was interviewed by Southside by phone about my writing. This was a pre-record, to be broadcast in the near future, and Southside kindly offered to let me have an mp3 version to upload on my site as a podcast.
A podcast would be a new departure for me, though there is already on my website a video interview that I did with Legal TV before it disappeared into oblivion (I don’t think this was solely because I used to appear on their programmes).
What I’m wondering is whether those of you who have websites, and those of you who visit authors’ websites, think that podcast interviews are potentially of interest and worth including on a site such as mine? Or don’t you have enough time to bother with them? In my own case, I’ve listened to very few, one of the exceptions being an interview that John Baker gave about his latest novel, which I found fascinating. My website contains plenty of text interviews, but it is worth expanding in this direction? All opinions, for and against, will be gratefully received…
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Interview and Podcasts
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13 comments:
I listen to quite a lot of audio and so would always welcome a podcast as long as I can download it and put it on my portable device because I listen to audio when I walk to work or when I'm doing other things that don't allow me to read. It always annoys me when sites only allow you to listen at the site via streaming and i normally don't bother with that, especially if it's longer than about 10 minutes.
Thanks for this helpful feedback, Bernadette. Any views as to how to improve my site and blog in IT terms is most welcome.
It's a sign of my technological ignorance that I don't know whether podcasts are automatically downloadable unless downloading is disabled, or vice versa. I shall investigate!
Meanwhile, various people have made recommendations about RSS feeds, and this is something else I want to get round to before too long.
I personally don't listen to podcasts or watch videos online, they take too long, but I am probably not typical! I use the internet to read and interact via writing comments. But podcasts are popular, a lot of people on the train listen to their MP3 players, and I'm sure it would be useful to have a downloadable version on your site - you could build up quite a collection of interviews as you attend more events.
If I had more time in my life, I probably would listen to podcasts and watch online videos, but at the moment I barely have time in the evenings after work to read the blogs and other sites I subscribe to, and write a blog post myself - before going to bed to get up early for work next morning. So I have to be very disciplined about what I spend time online doing. Bernadette's option of downloading to listen later (when not online) makes a lot of sense (however in my particular case I always have a stack of reading, either work or non-work) for my train journeys.
Very helpful, thanks Maxine. I know what you mean about lack of time...
I can't think of a reason NOT to put it on there. I don't think it will impact your load time at all for the site.
I'm doing a radio show in a few weeks, myself and plan on putting it on my website.
This has less to do with the podcast, but I don't see any links on your website for a press kit (don't look at my site as an example! That's on my list of things to do, too.) I've heard that the press really likes to have cover photos, author photos, interviews, review blurbs, etc. all on one page to lift easily. Instead, I've been emailing these things as attachments, which uses up my time and theirs.
Elizabeth
Hi Martin.
I have an award for you.
Very good advice, Elizabeth. Thank you.
And thanks, Dorte.
I just listened to one Megan did in Tennessee and enjoyed it--but she's my kid. I have also listened to other ones on that site by Clute and Edwards that used to exist (http://www.noircast.net/.) That might be the best thing. To create a site that indexes author podcasts that listeners can go to.
As Elizabeth says though, there is no reason not to include it. I am sure many people will sample it.
I think adding podcast intereviews are an excellent idea. Even if not everyone uses them some people love them so why not include them.
Thanks, Patti and Juxtabook. This has been a useful brain-picking exercise for me, since the clear message is that including podcasts is a worthwhile project. One more thing for the to-do list!
I am also a download-and-listen-later sort. The written word may be easier to skim, but it's also interesting to hear what an author sounds like.
Re: downloading vs streaming, downloadable is much easier to arrange, and nicer for us listeners. Streaming is only real advantage is that it is easier to retain control over copying.
Hope this helps.
Yes, it does, thanks, Tim.
Martin, I have incorporated into my blog a feature called Odiogo that auto-generates a "podiocast" of each blog post. You'll see a link just above the text of each post. I thought this would accommodate those who would rather listen than read. I actually have no idea how much use it gets, but I know people who download podcasts regularly from their favourite sources to listen to while they are walking, driving etc.
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