Justin’s Comments (group member since Mar 13, 2016)

Justin’s comments from the Science Fiction Microstory Contest group.

Good one Marianne!

I like it! Had a good "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" feel to it.

Chris!!! I love it! Awesome! And so true...bureaucracy is the only constant in the universe! Great work!!

Whoa Tom! What a great story! I felt like you packed a story with serious heft into a concise package. Well done!

Yes, very well done G.C. Not downhill, onwards and upwards!

Thanks Jack!

I don't always wear hats, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis...

(No, it never gets old for me...)

I'll tell him that when I see him this coming Saturday. LOL!

LOL! He went to Mars. Not too shabby...

My grandfather, who is my last living grandparent, turned 100 yesterday. Born 10/23/17 - during the flipping First World War. It boggles the mind.

I don't always write reviews, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis....

Hello everyone!

Here is who I have in the "yes" column for an audio book:
C. Lloyd Preville
Jot Russell
Chris Nance
Paula Friedman
Tom Olbert
Justin Sewall

Here is who I still need permission from:
S. M. Kraftchak
Jack McDaniel
Andrew Gurcak
Jeremy Lichtman
Marianne Petrino
John Appius Quill
Greg Krumrey
Joseph Minart
Rejoice Denhere
Jeremy McLain

Jot, I don't know if you have emails to these contributors, or if anyone else here does, but if you do would you please ask if they are willing to let their stories be "used with permission" for an audio version?

Thanks to everyone who has already said yes!

Best,

Justin

C. wrote: "Boxed In by Justin Sewell

Once again Justin has waxed historical and delivered a grand tale of two presidents and the mysterious Mr. Westinghouse.

An apparently powerful relic described as a blac..."

Wow C, thank you so much for reviewing my story - and for such positive feedback!!! I really appreciate it!

Paula wrote: "All sounds good to me, Justin--yes.
I wasn't doubting the audio quality, just asking what you had in mind; and your background, as you've now described it, would certainly allay any such doubts.
..."

It will be some work yes, but I'm happy to do it. I mean, yes, I'm doing it because I'm trying to get into audio book narration. But if I can bring everyone else along and get more exposure for their stories then I want to do that too.

So do I have your approval at this point?

Thanks for the questions Paula. I do want to make sure everyone understands the project, get everyone compensated appropriately, and produce a high quality audio book.

Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!

Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.

I have a question to all of the contributors of "The F..."

Thanks Tom, much appreciated!

Awesome, thanks Jot!

Paula wrote: "Sounds good, Justin--a couple of questions.
I know some people do many-multiple rehearsals for audio, especially if a story has multiple-voice narration, characters, etc.---can't it get to be LOTS..."

Hi Paula!

All great questions. Here are the short answers.

1) Yes
2) No
3) Unsure

Now, here are the long answers. :)

1) Most audio books today only use one reader. Some voice actors are very good at doing multiple voices and accents. I do not believe that level is necessary for these short stories.

2) As for equipment. I have a professional sound recording booth that creates a perfectly quiet recording environment. Go to www.soundsuckers.com to see examples. It is a 4'x4'x8', sound foam insulated booth. I have a professional grade microphone, sound mixing board and software, all that meet or exceed Amazon's recommendations for creating audio book narration files. (The booth I received for free, the rest I purchased using my carefully husbanded Best Buy gift cards) No expenses required!

3) Have I done this before? Not specifically. However, I have done on air radio broadcasting. I just recently completed a voiceover for a Boeing corporate video that our airline customers watch (the director/videographer said it was the cleanest voice work he has ever heard from someone who is not considered professional voice talent - I can send you a sample if you would like.)

4) I've been working on the editing portion on my own two sci-fi novellas and feel I am making exceptional progress on the critical backend work.

All that said, I am supremely confident in my ability to do this. If you are concerned about the quality of the work, I can either read a story of yours, edit it to meet Amazon's stringent audio requirements and send it to you for review and approval or I can read one of my own and do the same.

Basically, if I do this, I want to ensure the highest level of production quality and narration, not only for my own stories but for all of yours as well.

As for copyrights, it can be as simple as "Used with permission" with no rights transferring to me at all - nor do I want them for anyone else's stories, hence the request for all authors to give me approval to read their stories.

What do you think?

C. wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!

Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.

I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"

Ar..."

Hello C,

Of course. I want any royalties from an audio version to be just like the printed version. I'm not asking for anything beyond that and the opportunity to do it. I'll put you in the "yes" column. Thank you sir!

Chris wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!

Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.

I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"

Ar..."

Thank you Chris, I'll add you to the list of "yes."

Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Hello from Houston!

Cleanup work here is hot and hard but uplifting to the families we've visited.

I have a question to all of the contributors of "The Future is Short: Vol. 4"

Ar..."

Thank you Tom, I'll check you off the list as a good for if/when this moves forward. Houston was good, though I'm a bit shell-shocked moving from 85 and humid to 55, cool and rainy in Everett, WA. The destruction is often hidden inside the houses, although you can look down almost every residential street and see pile after pile after pile of debris in front of every home. Tuesday's home was the absolute worst. I had to wear a full Tyvek suit, two sets of gloves, goggles and a mask (with Listerine in it to help with the stench) to remove moldy furniture, clothes, etc., from a home that was covered floor to ceiling in black mold, black flies, cockroaches and raw sewage. It is still bad down there for sure.

Chris wrote: "Review of Boxed In by Justin

Boxed in tells the tale of a two presidents in different eras and with differing goals that each result in a tragic ending. The “deal with the devil” motif is a famili..."

Thank you Chris, much appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to review my story!!