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October 12, 2005

Podcasting Pocket Guide

I’ve been waiting for a moment like this for many years. A day when I can announce that you can view and order my book in Amazon.

Many people will know that I started writing a co-authored book in June. At the beginning of April Kirk McElhearn, my co-author, suggested we write a book about podcasting. Within a month–quick work in the publishing industry–O’Reilly confirmed that they wanted to work with us on The Whole Internet Guide To Podcasting and Internet Audio.

Several mad mad months ensued, with every hour of my life consumed with my work, podcasting, and writing. My wife and daughter brought me food and water, as I locked myself in my new office to churn out words.

Yesterday Kirk Skyped me to confirm that he’d received a copy of a pocket guide of our work. It’s a shortened version of our book, with some extra information from Jack Herrington. Our work focuses on the listener, where Jack’s is for the budding podcaster, introducing the tools and methods to record your own.


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It’s an exciting time, seeing my name on the front cover of a book. What’s almost as exciting–as a minority might understand–is I have an O’Reilly animal to call my own: a Narwhal.

So the Podcasting Pocket Guide is a quick introduction to podcasting. As the blurb says :

Small enough to fit in your pocket, the portable and affordable Podcasting Pocket Guide shows you how to tune into the best podcasts and download them to your favorite portable device so you can listen to them wherever and whenever you want. This handy reference even includes a listener’s guide with reviews of some of the most interesting and unusual podcasts available today. From unique views on current events to music you’d never hear otherwise to soundseeing tours that take you all over the world, there’s something for everyone on virtually every conceivable topic.

For aspiring podcasters, Podcasting Pocket Guide introduces you to the tools and techniques you’ll need to make and publish podcasts with the most basic of equipment: a computer, a microphone, and some free software. It includes practical tips and how-tos for creating, recording, editing, and uploading your own, professional-quality podcast. Once you’ve made that first recording, you can publish it online, get it listed, and start obsessing over the size of your audience!

The full work will also be available soon. I’ll let you know when I hear the details about that publication.

In the mean time, the pocket guide retails for $9.95, so please, grab a few for Christmas presents :).


Gadgetman | | General

7 Responses to “Podcasting Pocket Guide”

  1. Jordan Brock Says:
    October 12th, 2005 at 11:43 am

    Hey, that’s freaking cool! Congratulations.

  2. Jordan Brock Says:
    October 12th, 2005 at 11:44 am

    Oh, and do you have any say on the O’Reilly Animal? Or do you find out when you see the cover for the first time?

  3. Richard Says:
    October 12th, 2005 at 12:05 pm

    Thanks Jordan.

    As for the animal. No, I see it when the book is printed–or in my case on Amazon :).

  4. Graeme Says:
    October 12th, 2005 at 9:21 pm

    Congrats Rich. I knew you were working on a book. But an O’Reilly book? Wow..

  5. bret Says:
    October 21st, 2005 at 3:51 pm

    Hearty congratulations. O’Reilly. Wow. BTW, just finished a post shit-canning the video iPod. All technology and no marketing.

    Anyway, well done. Take a bow.

  6. Paul Says:
    October 26th, 2005 at 9:00 am

    Does the book go into how to enhanced podcasts like iTunes New Music Tuesday podcast?

    Congrat on getting something published.

    BTW, does the animal on the cover relate to anything - like whales living in pods/podcast or is it just a random image?

  7. David Says:
    October 26th, 2005 at 8:07 pm

    Hi Richard,

    Congratulations on finishing the book. I’ll make sure I put an order through seeing as am quite the avid podcaster these days (who’d have thought hey?).

    I hope you made mention to us Perth Webloggers somewhere in your book???

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