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Okay... Clearly we've missed our Halloween launch.

Let me explain why in this State of the Podcast Address.

I realized that I bit off a little more than I could chew. The #1 stumbling block I tripped over was music and sound effects.

If I were only giving away HMW for free, there would be tons of resources available. Since we do plan on selling CDs eventually, we either have to buy the rights to music and sfx or we have to use public domain resources. So what does that mean?

Public domain means that it belongs to all of us and can be repackaged, reworked and sold by anybody. Most anything that was written or recorded prior to 1962 are now in the public domain unless the copyrights have been renewed. Dracula and Frankenstein are in the public domain, but Superman, Tarzan and Mickey Mouse aren't.

Public domain music is tricky because you have pay attention to when it was recorded and the release date. Sure Bach's complete works are in the public domain, but you can't use a Yo-Yo Ma recording of it. So if you can't find what you need, you have to buy the rights. Music rights can run from $30 to $300+ depending on the piece. I did contact a composer who was willing to contribute original music, but we've fallen out of touch and I'm trying to get ahold of him again.

Decent public domain sound effects are few and far between. While I could buy a large sound effects package pretty reasonably, I'd be lucky if I could use 10% of them. Modern and science fiction sfx aren't of any use to this project. I have yet to find offerings of "period" sfx packages (Victorian, Old West, WWI, WWII). So I'm working with a professional sfx company and building a package of the effects I'll need. Since I don't have deep pockets, I have to be conservative and get as few effects as I can get away with.

Yes, I can and will have to record some of my own sfx, but I want to do as little of that as possible.

So as of this writing here we are.

• We have 2 episodes and our first promo recorded waiting for music and sfx.

• I have some public domain music selected that should work well, and will soon have the sfx.

• I have concept plots for about 40 episodes and detailed (script-ready) plots for two episodes.

• I have a finished script that needs a little reworking.

• I'd prefer to have the first 6 episodes (5 for the free podcast and the 6th for the 1st CD collection) finished and in the can before we launch, and have at least two more recorded and ready to mix.

Since my process is a) concept, b) detail plot, c) draft script, d) final script, e) recording, f) mixing; I'm going to get those detail plots into draft stage and get more concepts into detail plot stage.

And with sfx in hand I can start mixing. As I build up more experience mixing I should be able to improve my 1 hour mix time to 1 minute of episode, ratio.

I should be recording again by the end of January, and shoot for a spring launch.

Here's hoping!

Baxter

In the fall of 2006 the owner of a home in Yorkshire, England began an extensive remodeling project. When the parlor floor was torn up a secret compartment was discovered.

A sealed book and a series of papers were discovered.

The papers and book had belonged to, and were written in the hand of a previous owner of the home, a retired Scotland Yard police inspector, Percival Harding.

Among the papers were strict instructions that the journal should remain sealed and be surrendered to the Crown, in accordance with direct orders from His Majesty King Edward.

Needless to say the owner became very curious and did a little research as well as contacting a local barrister. They were able to confirm that Percival Harding had served Scotland Yard in the late 19^th and early 20^th century, but Scotland Yard refused to release any other information regarding him.

Upon the advice of the owner’s barrister, the book and the instructions were taken to Scotland Yard and surrendered. Within hours the owner found himself interrogated and his home ransacked. Every inch of the house was searched, even inside the walls and floors.

After nearly nine hours of interminable questions, a man who only identified himself as Mister Black, confronted the owner. He spoke in slow deliberate tones. After another hour of questions Mister Black returned the journal and apologized for all the inconvenience. He assured the owner that the contents of the journal were "utter nonsense".

After examining the journal himself, and taking into account the bizarre treatment at the hands of Scotland Yard, the owner became convinced that the journal was, most probably, authentic. Every attempt to formally authenticate the journal has failed.

The most unusual event during the first series of authentication attempts, was in the London Museum's rare documents room. As the owner watched the archivist examining the document, the enigmatic Mister Black arrived. He spoke to the archivist and left. The journal was immediately returned and declared a fake.

We purchased the journal and have made quiet inquiries. We are convinced the journal is authentic, and its frightening and bizarre secrets must be revealed.

With this site, and this program, we hope to bring these secrets to light.

Join us on October 31st for the first chilling episode!