Matthew Wayne Selznick

Just in the last month or so, I’ve reconnected with several folks I haven’t heard from since elementary and high school. This has been a special pleasure — a real treat. I realized I should catch these people up on what’s been going on with me for the last twenty to thirty years… and then I recognized that this is probably going to keep happening, so why not do it once, here?

So… my family left Glendora for Mission Viejo in… 1978? I got there in time for sixth grade. I don’t recall much, except for having a crush on the little red-headed girl (Charlie Brown, much?) and experiencing the effects of one of my best friend’s parents’ divorce (he had to move away.) Junior high school was interesting — I broke both of my wrists (at the same time) and so spent a good part of one semester with casts on both arms. Awesome.

In the summer of 1981, between junior high and high school, my friend Matt Maxwell and I collaborated on a “novel” called “Devastator.” It took everything we loved about comic books and science fiction and, well, smeared it with fourteen-year-old enthusiasm and inexperience. Somewhere, I still have my copy. Matt has threatened to kill me if it ever sees the light of day. Fair enough… but the baby universe we created with that manuscript has expanded to influence a whole lot of my creative output since then. These days, Matt is actually in the comics industry, and I’ve written a novel and a bunch of other stuff.

High school… I went to Capistrano Valley High from 1981 - 1985. I remember Karen Wynn (journalism, yearbook, photography) and Paul Pfleuger (contemporary world problems) as my favorite, most positively influential teachers. I started playing bass guitar in high school, when I was sixteen, and picked up the acoustic guitar two years later. Me and my friends talked a lot about starting bands, but nothing serious ever happened until the tail end of my senior year, when me and Roger Huff started up an acoustic duo that had many names and incarnations over the next few years.

Of all my friends from high school, I still keep track of my best friend (though we are rarely in direct contact despite the fact that we have very similar interests and passions) and my longest steady girlfriend. Through the magic of blogs and other threads, we can trace each other’s lives even if we rarely get in touch. It’s comforting to know they’re out there, though.

My first job out of high school was at the Tower Records in El Toro at El Toro Road and Rockfield. I worked in the video department for a year and a half. That was an eye-opening experience. I met many people who would be very important in my life for years and years to come — people who, through the lines of connection hindsight gives us, truly changed my life. I go into that in more detail here. It’s enough for now to say that the eighteen or so months there went a very long way to making me the person I am today.

In the late eighties, I had played my first live gigs in real bands. Psychopathway was the first, with Theresa Copell, Tony Lekas, and Steve Harvey. We played around San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Doheney Beach, and a couple of parties in Los Angeles and Davis. I played bass and shared vocals and songwriting duties with Steve and Theresa. After that came Loveless with Gus Contreras, Kyle Hall, and Marco Solferino. We played pretty much all the same places Psychopathway did, plus the occasional gig in Costa Mesa and Anaheim. I played the legendary Linda’s Doll Hut while I was with Loveless, a place I would play many more times with other bands.

In the late eighties, I moved a lot, had a steady string of relationships, a series of jobs (mostly retail), partied a lot, played a lot of music, and lived several movies I have yet to write. In other words, I was in my early twenties.

In between bands, I played a lot of solo acoustic shows — singer / songwriter stuff. I also wrote, here and there, but didn’t have much discipline for it. I enjoyed creating the settings — what’s known as worldbuilding — more than the actual writing. I recognize it now as a form of procrastination, which is another name for not wanting to face the possibility of failure. Still, I was very creative in those days, if scattered.

At the beginning of the nineties, I met the woman who would become my first wife. We married in 1995. She was a good friend, but I think we both came into things with far too much baggage and I, for one, was not mature enough to properly deal with it all. It’s a long story, of course, but we separated in October of 1999 and were divorced by August of 2000.

From 1995 to 2005, I worked for Borders, a worldwide chain of book, music, and media superstores. It was, overall, a very positive experience. While they are a dying company as I write this, in the late nineties it was an amazing place to work — open, ambitious, and compassionate as a corporate culture can be. I wouldn’t take back the time I spent there for anything.

Music kept happening in the nineties. From about 1993 - 1995, I was in a band I formed that, to date, was my most satisfying creative experience. Called PIGBAT, it was a power trio featuring drummer Jon Strunk and guitarist Kris Shine. I played bass, sang, and wrote most of the songs — though it was, musically, a very collaborative effort. Our drummer left to take a job offer in San Francisco, and while we continued briefly with a different drummer (Jeff Senske, now with Bright Men of Learning) it just didn’t last. I played dozens and dozens of acoustic solo gigs, formed two short-lived duos (Widdershins and Wednesday In The Barrel) and, toward the end of the century, joined with Gary Fitch, Erin Foster, and Tony Dare to form the power-pop Running Erin. Running Erin lasted until 2002 or or so.

The Internet, you will recall, happened in the nineties, too. I think I first got online in 1996 or so. I remember exploring Gopher and using the Mosaic browser, if that gives you some idea. Webcrawler was the search engine everyone swore by. I was entranced by the whole thing.

In 1998, I read a particularly bad tie-in novel featuring Marvel Comics’ X-Men characters. Now, as mentioned above, I’m a long-time fan of the comics, but this book was just… so… very… bad. I told myself I could do better, and set about planning a universe of my own wherein I could tell super-hero stories. Gradually, the idea grew to become a web-based magazine called Sovereign Serials. From 1998 until 2002, with varying regularity, I used Sovereign Serials to tell episodic stories set in the Sovereign Era, when “individuals with remarkable abilities change the course of human destiny..!” I also invited other authors to tell Sovereign Era stories in the magazine, and ran two or three.

By the end, I realized I had written more than sixty thousand words over the course of almost four years. I could have written a novel! I shelved the floundering Sovereign Serials to do just that. There were a few false starts. During this time, people wrote me to ask if I would ever finish the stories in Sovereign Serials — one story in particular. I began to write the book that would become my first novel, “Brave Men Run.”

In February of 2001, I married a second time. I know, that seems like tight timing, but we had known each other a few years, although not well, and had the occasion to spend a great deal of time together in a very short period of time. We fell in love — that’s how it happens sometimes..! We lived in her apartment in San Pedro for a time, and bought a house in Hesperia, a community in the High Desert of San Bernardino County in 2002. We’re here still, with our four cats, two dogs, and a turtle.

In 2004, driving “down the hill” to work in Pasadena, I heard an episode of Leo Laporte’s “The Tech Guy” call-in talk radio show. His guest was Adam Curry, and they were talking about this crazy new media thing called podcasting. I was inspired. In less than a week, on October 15th, I released the first episode of the MWS Media Radio Show. That podcast, now called the DIY Endeavors podcast, has had sixty five episodes to date. The first sixty were very nearly weekly. These days, I record one when the mood to create a mix tape of excellent independent music strikes me.

Podcasting is another one of those things that has changed my life in a major way. The people I’ve met, the things I’ve learned, the opportunities presented to me… let’s run down a few:

• When “Brave Men Run” was finished, I knew I would self-publish in keeping with the DIY ethic. I also decided to follow the example of the handful of people who put their books out as free podcasts. At the time, those people were Tee Morris, Scott Sigler, Mark Jeffrey, and Paul Story. “Brave Men Run” wasn’t the first podcast novel by any means, but I’m pretty sure it was among the first dozen. It’s been in two different top ten lists at Podiobooks.com perpetually since it came out, and donations from listeners — people who listen under no obligation to pay anything, mind you — have surpassed royalties from the print, e-book, and CD audiobook versions of the book.
• The day after Thanksgiving in 2005, I left Borders and embarked on fifteen months of promoting “Brave Men Run” and doing freelance work. I did some fiction editing, but my biggest clients wanted me to help them with their podcasting. While my first run at being a freelancer didn’t have long-term sustainability, if you will, it would have been a much shorter run if not for podcasting.
• I’ve become a recognized authority, which has led to speaking engagements at several conventions. I’ve been profiled in “Tricks of the Podcasting Masters” and on About.com , and interviewed on scores of podcasts and websites.
• Through my friendship with two podcasters, I was brought on at Mahalo.com , which is proving to be a challenging, enriching, and fun experience. We’re doing social search on the Internet in a way that hasn’t been done yet (or still.)
• The best thing podcasting has given me is a far-flung network of friends. Podcasting has given me my tribe, and that’s worth more than anything.

We’re pretty much caught up, folks. As I write this, I’m working at Mahalo.com, writing my second novel, “Pilgrimage,” and taking a hiatus from recording podcasts until the book is finished and ready to launch.

How are you? It’s very cool to hear from you again.

Matthew Wayne Selznick will be a guest at the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California, September 28 through September 30, 2007. The PNME is the largest annual gathering of podcasters, vidcasters, and other new media creative people, companies, and related industries.

Find Matt at the following events during the Expo:

Saturday, September 29, 12:00 - 12:30 PM:
Booth 617, autographing copies of his book “Brave Men Run - A Novel of the Sovereign Era.” A limited number of copies of the paperback will be available for purchase at the booth. THIS EVENT IS FREE.

Saturday, September 29, 2:00 - 3:00 PM:
“Veterans of the Yahoo! Podcasting Board: What We’ve Learned These Past Two Years” Join Matt, Stephen Eley, Evo Terra, Michael W. Dean, and Ed Vawter in Ballroom B. From the official program: New content creators will be able to shave two years off of their learning curve by listening to these panelists. THIS EVENT REQUIRES FULL REGISTRATION.

Sunday, September 30, 12:30 - 1:00 PM:
Booth 607, L.A. Podcasters, where Matt will host a Writer’s Panel with guests Evo Terra, Mur Lafferty, and Larry Winfield. Each writer will share how podcasting has affected their careers for the better, including their favorite anecdote as a writer / podcaster. This panel will likely be included in a future episode of Writers Talking. THIS EVENT IS FREE.

Additionally, Matt plans to attend the PodCampSoCal event the day before the official PNME, Thursday, September 27. This “unconference” will take place at the Ontario Convention Center in Ballroom C from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Matt plans to discuss repurposing the written word for podcasting. THIS EVENT IS FREE.

Matthew Wayne Selznick attends Dragon*Con, America’s largest multimedia genre convention and expo, in Atlanta, Georgia August 31st through September 3rd, 2007.

Matt will be a featured guest on eight panels:

Podcasting for Promotion
Are you a writer, musician, game designer, or trying to promote your brand or grow an audience? Learn the tricks to get a wider audience!
Time: 8/31/2007 4:00:00 PM Location: Jackson/Carter - Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

Interactive Podcasting (TalkShoe and BlogTalk)
Using some of the most popular live podcasting/net radio services to produce your show, tips and tricks.
Time: 8/31/2007 5:30:00 PM Location: Jackson/Carter - Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

Marketing for the Independent Creator
One of the biggest challenges for self-publishers and independent creators is getting noticed — without the help of traditional publishing institutions. Discover marketing and PR strategies used by successful self-published authors and podcasters.
Time: 9/1/2007 10:00:00 AM Location: Cherokee - Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

15 Minutes of Fame (or more) with Web 2.0
Social networking, viral video/photographs, and blogging are the modern artist’s and entrepreneur’s best friend. Learn from Internet professionals how to utilize these tools to pave the way to your own success no matter what your venture may be.
Time: 9/1/2007 4:00:00 PM Location: Cherokee - Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

Aliens You Will Meet LIVE!
A live puppet based play based on the podcast by the same name.
Time: 9/1/2007 5:30:00 PM Location: Jackson/Carter - Hilton (Length: 30 Min)

Second Annual Parsec Awards Extravaganza!
Join us for the second annual Parsec Awards for excellence in Sci-Fi and Fantasy podcasting!
Time: 9/1/2007 7:00:00 PM Location: Hyatt - Regency 5 (Length: 2.5 Hours)

LuLu TV LIVE!
Lulu TV Loves DragonCon - video mashups and the future of internet broad (pod) casting.
Time: 9/2/2007 10:00:00 AM Location: Jackson/Carter - Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

Podcasting Your Writing
Tips and Tricks for those who want to podcast your writing and books. Maybe you can hear a chapter or two of a new book!
Time: 9/2/2007 5:30:00 PM Location: Jackson/Carter - Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

Creative Commons and Legal Issues
Come and discuss all things related to your own content and how to deal with the content of others.
Time: 9/3/2007 11:30:00 AM Location: Jackson/Carter - Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)

Please check the convention calendar to confirm dates, times, and locations.

He’ll have a limited number of copies of his book, “Brave Men Run - A Novel of the Sovereign Era” available for purchase and autographs. If you’re going to be at Dragon*Con this year, please say hello!

Matthew Wayne Selznick will be at BaltiCon, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn in Baltimore. The convention is from May 25th through the 28th, however Matt arrives in the afternoon of the 24th and will be there until the afternoon of the 29th.

There will be several chances to meet Matt on the New Media track at the convention:

Friday, May 25th:

• 7:00 PM: Self Publishing Panel: With Jason Adams, Mur Lafferty, Earl Newton, and JR Blackwell

Saturday, May 26th:

• 4:00 PM: Earning a Living by Giving It Away: With Nathan Lilly, Evo Terra, Davey Beauchamp, JR Blackwell, and Steve Eley
• 5:00 PM: Podiobooks 102: What Are They And Why Should I Give Away My Work For Free?: With Tee Morris, Evo Terra, Bill DeSmedt, Steven H. Wilson, and Jack Mangan
• 7:00 PM: Writers Talking Live: With guests Mur Lafferty, Steven H. Wilson, Phil Rossi, and others
• 8:00 PM: Geek Fu Action Grip Episode 100 Live: With Mur Lafferty, George Hrab, Command Line, Jim Van Verth, and J.C. Hutchins

Sunday, May 27th:

• 12:00 PM: Podcasting and Music: With Jason Adams, Heather Welliver, Bill Shunn, and Phil Rossi

Monday, May 28th:

• 10:00 AM: Copyright: With Command Line, Jason Adams, J.C. Hutchins, Mur Lafferty

Matt will have lots of copies of the paperback edition of “Brave Men Run - A Novel of the Sovereign Era” available for purchase and autographing. Be sure to say hello!

Hey — I know the folks hanging out here might resent the diversion, but I just finished my first piece of fiction since I wrote “Brenhurst’s Tale” for the podcast edition of “Brave Men Run - A Novel of the Sovereign Era” almost a year ago.

I broke rules for this one: I edited as I wrote. I researched as I wrote. I didn’t know where I was going when I started — which kept me excited. I think it worked.

I think it’s called “Reggie vs Kaiju Storm Chimera Wolf,” until / if I think of something better than that. It’s my first time playing in a new universe of mine… my take on the giant monster genre. It was really, really fun to write.

I’m gonna clean it up after a few days of buffer time, then I’m gonna actually shop it around. I’ll play it safe and start with familiar territory — I’ll send it to Escape Pod, and if Steve doesn’t want it, I’ll move on from there. If I can’t sell it somewhere, after a few months I’ll podcast it, I guess.

Feels pretty good to actually finish something. I started writing it on March 1st, and I thought about it constantly, like a new lover, over the last week. Huzzah!

Wish me luck with it!