Adventures in Connelsville preview

Hello everyone.  Alex Jefferson has given me an exclusive preview of his next AIC instalment.  Enjoy!

“Nick?” Maxwell said, bewildered that his friend was wearing a hockey mask and disguising his voice. “Nick who?” Nick asked. “Never mind,” Maxwell retorted with a smirk. “Who are you?” interjected Mugshot. “Oh, I’m just here for the kid. Catch ya’ later!” Nick forgot to disguise his voice when he said this, so The Brothers knew he was one of their sworn enemies. “Hey, hey Mulligan!” shouted Bobby with a British accent. “Come back here!” But it was too late. Maxwell and Nick were already well on their way. Maxwell checked his watch again. 4:32. They would be late. “Maxwell, let’s go! We’re gonna be late! Tony’s probably waiting. You got your maracas?” “Yeah. You got your tambourine?” “Yeah. Have you ever noticed that Tony’s the only one with a legitimate band instrument?” “Yeah,” Maxwell said with a chuckle. But before they could go any further, because, standing in front of them, in the alley, was Detective Don Polehouse, looking as if he had stumbled upon Jesse James after he committed a robbery.

The Top 5 All-Time Best AIO Blogs and Websites

5: The Boredom Buster Podcast Blog

The BBP is a great podcast, but when I heard that fodo14 was coming out with a blog on his website I just went crazy.  I check it out all the time, and although it isn't that big of a blog (yet) I love it.

4: The Adventures in Odyssey Blog

The Adventures in Odyssey Blog is sorta like the BBP Blog.  It has a podcast (which is VERY well done) and a very detailed blog.  It updates whenever there is AIO news.  It's been going for 4 years now which is very good.  Stay tuned on my blog for a more detailed review coming soon.

3: The AIO Update

This blog posts news the second it comes out.  This blog has editorials which are pretty neat.  Anyway, if you are looking for AIO news then this is the blog for it.

2: Twists and Turns

This website is just so unique.  The courtroom feature is so original.  Old Judge updates a lot.  It's a nice small website with Official AND unofficial news.  Fun fact: Did you know that the Imagination Station link page was Old Judge's idea.  He asked me if I wanted to be a part of it and I agreed.

1: Just Another AIO Blog

It was so hard to decide between Twists and Turns and Just Another AIO Blog.  They are both very unique in their own way.  But I've decided to pick JAAIOB for #1.  His features are spectacular.  Who else in the world would have thought of Adventures in Connelsville?  Also, I like his contest and quiz page.  Keep up the good work everyone!

I've got good news and I've got bad news

Lets get the bad news over with.  Some of you might have noticed that the AIO 24-7 radio had not shut down after all.  Some people think it's because NovaCom had taken over Focus on the Family's mind and made them decide to not shut it down after all, but their theories were proved wrong in this twitter post:

The good news is that a shortened version of the live show will be in Album 56.





Some more good news is that Abby and Mandie from the Abby and Mandie AIO Podcast now has their own website. The link is:  http://theabbyandmandieshow.webnode.com/

That's all for now.

Finally! *VERY IMPORTANT POST*

Finally after waiting soooo long Odyssey is coming to iTunes!  It was recently announced on Twitter.

I don't know if I can wait 'til fall.  I'm so excited!  How about you?

Thank you everyone!

Over the past weeks my blog has really grown.  It has been reviewed and i have been interviewed.  It is up to 4 followers.  It even has an AIO wiki page.  In a recent interview Alex Jefferson (creator of Just Another AIO Blog) said that he wanted a behind the scenes look at how I create logos. So Alex, I updated my logo page with a behind the scenes look.  That's all for now everyone.  I just wanted to say thank you for making my blog such a success.

Interview with.....Paul McCusker!

I know a lot of you have been waiting patiently for this review.  Just a few minutes ago Paul McCusker emailed me back the answers to the questions I sent him.  Enjoy!

1. What is your favourite show that you have written?

That's impossible for me to answer, since there have been so many over the past 25 years. And every script presents its own challenges and enjoyments. Many I've completely forgotten. But I suppose The Green Ring Conspiracy was particularly enjoyable for me, over the more recent episodes.

2. What is your favourite book that you have written?

I suppose the answers to this question is the same as the previous. Every book is unique - and there are things about writing one that I may enjoy and other things that can be hard-going. But I have affection for the various novels, both in the Odyssey series and the Passages series.

3. What is the most challenging show that you have written?

I think the most challenging shows tend to be the ones where a lot of research is needed. The historical shows come immediately to mind. But some of the mysteries present their own difficulties. The "glass" mystery needed quite a bit of research to try to get it right. As did The Green Ring Conspiracy" and "The Labyrinth."

4. How did you start working on AIO?

I was working at another ministry with Chuck Bolte, who later became the Executive Producer for Odyssey. He had been consulting with Focus on the Family on some "new" audio dramas they wanted to produce. It was the predecessor to Odyssey called "Family Portraits." He said they were looking for writers and wanted to know if I was interested in that at all. I said I didn't know anything about audio dramas, but thought it would be a good experience to try. I wound up writing "My Brother's Keeper" - and that's where it started.

5. If you could have anything happen in the Odyssey universe, what would it be?

That's a really hard question. Right now I wish we had more time to spend with all the characters and to explore that various inventions Whit has created.

6. What is the most fun part  of working for AIO?

The writing process is hard work, but fun. All in all, I'd have to say it's working with the actors in the studio when we record the scripts.

7. Are you planning on making any more Passages books?

We occasionally talk about doing more Passages novels, but nothing has materialized yet. We're really busy with a lot of other projects at the moment.

8. What was your inspiration for the Passages books.

I don't remember where the original inspiration came from. It might have been something I'd read or seen - where someone had created a modern version of a classic story, or an alternative reality of some sort. But, like Whit, I had the desire to make the Bible more accessible to more people and thought re-telling the stories in an alternative universe would be a good way to do it.

9. How was it like playing Phillip Glossman? 

I'm not an actor, so I'm not happy with any of the voice-work I've done on the show. I always think that there are a lot of other people who could do the job so much better than I could.

10.  How are you like or unlike Phillip Glossman?

Since I don't have a variety of voices, the Philip Glossman voice is mine, but with a weaselly, sniveling, sarcastic attitude. Other than that, I don't think I'm like Philip Glossman at all. I can't imagine thinking, behaving nor making the kinds of bad moral choices he made.

11. Are you currently working on something?  A new book perhaps?

I've recently finished a screenplay. And I've written an annotated version of "The Screwtape Letters" for HarperOne.

12. Is it hard to agree on different ideas for Odyssey?

Most ideas aren't hard to agree on, if they fit the world of Odyssey, have compelling storylines and a solid theme. Any disagreements are usually over those issues. Occasionally we might argue over something a character may or may not do.

13. Will Philip Glossman ever be coming back?

No. We last heard from him in a small cameo part in Album 50 - and I think that's more than enough.


All the best,
Paul McCusker

Secrets and Interviews

Alex Jefferson from Just Another AIO Blog has finally released the "Something Big"  he has been talking about for the past week.  Well, the big secret is.......2 new pages on his blog.  The first one, Adventures in Connelsville, is probably the most original feature on an AIO blog that I've ever seen.  It is just like AIO only it takes place in Connelsville.  The second page is Contests and Quizzes.  I can't wait for some of those to get started.  Alex also interviewed me and the Old Judge (creator of the Twists and Turns website).  Check it out.  Oh...and Alex....keep up the great work.