Entertainment and Resources for Christian Geeks!
SPIRIT BLADE PRODUCTIONS exists to equip, encourage and inspire Christian Geeks to live in the freedom and purpose Christ offers.
Our big summer sale might be over, but you can still save money on the Spirit Blade Productions Archive Discs!
I've just dropped the regular price for each of them to $4.99! This isn't a sale, but a permanent price drop!
The Archive Discs are loaded with hours and hours of audio content, along with tons of documents and behind the scenes goodies!
For more info you can check out the Archives Page!
-Paeter Frandsen
As is always the case after I take some time off, I've come back to a mountain of "to dos" that must be done before I get back into my normal routine.
First off, I want to thank all of you who took advantage of the massive 50% off sale we ran for the last several weeks. I was really happy with how it went and was honored and excited by the number of people who bought audio dramas from us for the first time ever! Thanks for taking that leap of faith and trying us out! I hope you like what you hear and enjoy exploring the hours of behind the scenes content on our Media Page, as well as the forums and other stuff going on at spiritblade.net.
If you want to hear about more opportunities for HUGE savings, be sure to sign up for our monthly Newsletter, which not only keeps you posted on our normal sales, but also offers exclusive opportunities for discounts not advertised anywhere else!
Speaking of which, it won't be much longer before I launch the next "Demented Dollar Download"! This sale involves me temporarily (a few days or a few hours) dropping the price of one of our downloadable products to $1. But the only way to know when and which product is by reading about it in the Newsletter. So don't miss out! Sign up now!
Apologies to anyone who still got my auto-respond message yesterday. I WAS in my office, but got my day off to a very late start and neglected to turn off my auto-respond message until last night. (Oops!)
"In Search Of Truth" will still be posted this week, but not until Friday so I have the chance to catch up on e-mails first.
Thanks again for all of your support! I couldn't be doing this without you!
-Paeter Frandsen
Scripting for Spirit Blade 3 has been going very well this week! All the outlining is done and now I get to sit down and let these characters talk to each other.
One of the first scenes is a very "explosive" one that launches right after the opening credits, featuring Vincent Craft. I'll leave it at that for now.
The following scene introduces a new plot thread I'm referring to as "Falcore's Legacy", which complicates things a little for the Sheida and has major significance by the end of the story.
And the scene I'm working on now develops some of the relationships between characters in the main cast. These people have all been around each other for long enough now to have clear opinions and feelings about each other, and that will be coming out more strongly in this story than ever before.
On a totally different note, I wanted to remind everyone that the last day of our big 50% off sale is July 4th!! Whether for you or someone you know, this is the best chance yet to get your hands on our intense and groundbreaking audio dramas! For all the details, visit our online store!
Lastly, although there will be a podcast this weekend, there won't be next weekend, as I will be out of town visiting family on vacation. (In fact on that particular day I think I'll be hanging on for dear life amidst white-water rapids in Alaska.) There also won't be any new blog posts next week. All physical product orders will be processed on July 5th and I'll be answering e-mails again then as well.
As always, thanks for your support! Have a great week!
-Paeter Frandsen
(Note: "In Search Of Truth" will be posted on Wednesday.)
Free standard shipping on International T-Shirt Day!
June 21st is International T-Shirt Day, so Spreadshirt is offering free standard shipping on all orders, for one day only! No minimum basket required.Maximum $9.50 off of shipping.
Visit the Spirit Blade Spreadhirt Store and use the coupon code below to get FREE SHIPPING!
Valid only on June 21, 2011, so don't miss out!
Coupon Code: T-DAY2011
Part 3 (of 3) of the Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream Interactive Audio Commentary is available for download now on the Media Page!
Hear what it was like to work with Mickey Bryce (Spirit Blade, Isaiah Daniels) again and how God seemed to orchestrate a "happy accident" in the scripting process!
-Paeter Frandsen
I think the worst is over today, but yesterday I was hit with some kind of stomach flu and it left me only able to basically copy and paste an already written review on my other blog and get on here to let you know that "In Search Of Truth" will be delayed until Wednesday.
See you here then!
-Paeter Frandsen
Boy, taking time off really hits me hard when I come back!
I had the usual massive number of e-mails to check and answer. That took about two days. (I usually spend over an hour each day doing e-mail related work.) I had an extra movie to watch and review this week, which took a massive bite out of my Tuesday. I had a huge sale to launch, which involves adjusting prices and creating notices. I launched a Facebook ad for my interview with Brent Weeks. (BTW, as a personal favor, please don't click on it if you see it. I'm charged by the click and I'm hoping to steer some new folks to the blog and podcast this way. Thanks!) And I also squeezed in watching coverage of E3 on G4 and some online videos.
So all the things I would have normally hoped to do this week, like writing some of Spirit Blade 3, got completely pushed aside. Bummer.
But it was still a great week, I'm stoked about the massive sale at our store and the other stuff I checked out to share with you guys this week on the podcast! I'm also gearing up for a big Green Lantern themed podcast and blog posts at Paeter's Brain next week!
Yeah, that's been real painful work to do... ;-)
-Paeter Frandsen
I must have lost my mind!
Now through July 4th, all in-store physical products in our online store are a massive 50% OFF! And tax and shipping are still FREE!
Get the CD sets for "Spirit Blade: Special Edition" or "Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual" for just $6.49 each! Or get the CD/Download combos for just $7.99!
Archive Discs 1 & 2 are just $2.99 each!
And get the limited "Spirit Blade: Special Edition Collector's Set" (featuring a signed copy of the Classic Edition, the Special Edition CD set and Archive Disc 1) for just $11.99!
To take advantage of these insane deals and more like them, visit our online store!
And tell all of your friends! This is a GREAT opportunity to jump into the world of Spirit Blade!
You can still plan on this weekend's podcast going up sometime later today, but I will be out of town all next week and there will be no podcast next weekend.
Even though I'll miss the chance to continue building steam on the Spirit Blade 3 script, I'm looking forward to a week of guilt-free relaxation and hanging out with family. (The guys always schedule a "game night" involving multiple TVs and game consoles in one room. It's awesome!)
In the meantime, stop by the Spirit Blade Forums if you haven't been there in awhile! Some great conversation you've been missing, and I'll continue to pop in when I can this week!
I hope your summer is off to a great start! Catcha later!
-Paeter Frandsen
I started working on the script for Spirit Blade 3 at the end of last week and have been making good progress this week. But it hasn't been easy!
This is my first time writing the third part of a trilogy, and it has challenges that writing the first two didn't. In Spirit Blade, the sky was the limit. I could take the story wherever I wanted! In Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual I had to advance some story elements from Spirit Blade, but I still had a lot of freedom to enter new territory.
In Spirit Blade 3, I'm still moving the story into cool new places that I hope will take things over the top and insanely epic, but I've also got all of the remaining plot threads from Spirit Blade and Dark Ritual to treat and resolve.
Right now, I'm creating separate outlines for each plot thread, such as: Saolos/Sanctafi, Legion, "Falcore's Legacy" and Raan/AIA/Ebony. Once I have the arcs figured out for each plot thread, I'm dropping them into the main story outline to see how they all can best fit.
At the end of the day I have to make sure all threads are covered well, AND that their arrangement in the story still results in good story pacing! So this scripting process easily involves more logistics work than I've ever had to do. Very challenging, but also very exciting as I see things start to work and come together!
-Paeter Frandsen
The second part of the Pilgrim's Progress Interactive Audio Commentary is available now on our Media Page!
In this section I talk about a "He-man" inspired scene, and why you should watch movies before listening to our audio dramas! Check it out!
I'm also thrilled to announce that I have officially begun writing Spirit Blade 3 today!
Although at this point it's mostly a more detailed version of outlining, I've also written a few snippets of dialogue here and there as I'm inspired.
And after a phone call yesterday I can also confirm that Sean Anthony Roberts will be returning as Brother Saolos! Boy do I have some interesting stuff planned for him!
The blank page is mocking me, so I'd better go cover it with words!
Have a great weekend!
-Paeter Frandsen
I couldn't be much happier today. I've been under piles of stupid, monotonous work, I've had an ache in my back for two days and the video game I've been playing crashed beyond my ability to recover my save files. And yet...
Next week I will begin writing "Spirit Blade 3"!
I'm finally out from six months of non-stop "marketing"(shudder...) and can get back into the creative work that I love so much. I still have a few housekeeping items to get to this week, which is why I haven't started writing already. Of course, it's also possible that I'll be done "housekeeping" by the end of tomorrow and can start writing as early as Friday, but I'm not getting my hopes up.
At this point, I would really value your prayers. I believe that God has brought this endeavor as far as he has in response to prayer. My prayers, your prayers and the prayers of people I've never met and who may have not even heard of us. I'm also convinced that God often waits to move forward until his people are on the same page with him, which is what prayer is primarily about.
So if you could, please pray that God will energize and make productive any marketing work I've done that is in line with his agenda. In order to move forward from here, it will be important not only to build more connection with existing fans, but find new listeners to connect with our products and be a part of what we're doing.
The work of marketing and networking has been like throwing message bottles out to sea, with no idea who might respond or even read the message to begin with. But I've done all I can for now in my own strength, which amounts to nothing if God doesn't make it effective and propel it forward.
You can also pray that the way I choose to spend my time and direct this endeavor is in line with God's agenda. Outside of his plan, it's all a waste of time and useful to no one, so I want to be on the same page with him.
Stay tuned! Pretty soon I'll be able to start reporting progress for the script of Spirit Blade 3, and from there things will only get more exciting!
Thanks so much for your support! It means a lot more than you might think!
-Paeter Frandsen
Last night I just finished putting together the promo for the Spirit Blade Audio Book!
You can download the promo right now or just skip that step and go listen to the Spirit Blade Audio Book!
There's a new way to get involved and reap rewards with Spirit Blade Productions! As a Blade Runner!
From time to time in our Newsletter, I'll feature a "Blade Runner Mission" that anyone can participate in. A task will be presented (usually something to help promote Spirit Blade Productions) along with a deadline and the reward. Complete the task and e-mail us the proof, and you get the reward!
Freebies, advance content, special events and more! Subscribe to our newsletter, and when the call goes out, accept your mission and join the ranks of the Blade Runners!
It's here at last! The Spirit Blade Audio Book is available to listen to for FREE right now atspiritblade.net/audiobook!
Enjoy this unique, alternate version of the Spirit Blade story, read by me (ever wonder what my "Vincent voice" would sound like?) and enhanced with music and sound effects from the Spirit Blade Audio Drama Trilogy!
Hours of free audio entertainment that you can listen to online or download in mp3 format. Help spread the word and tell your sci-fi loving friends that there's a great free way to experience the world of Spirit Blade!
What are you waiting for? Go check it out!
-Paeter Frandsen
I hate dealing with i-tunes. It's a bit of a necessary evil now and then, as it is this week. In order to submit the Spirit Blade Audiobook to one of the sites I hope to place it on, I have to encode the files using i-tunes software. No other software will do, unfortunately.
I get it. I-tunes is the monster of all digital audio providers. They are the overlords of MP3s. But every time I download it to my computer, it seems to want to take over. The installation takes forever and my computer seems to start up and run just a little bit slower when I have it installed. So I'm itchin' to get this encoding process over with so I can delete i-tunes and once again be free of Apple domination.
Not sure what the rest of the week will look like. My schedule has been very unpredictable lately. But I'm off to a good start in getting the audiobook launched and I hope to have an official announcement for you soon!
And for those wondering, you can plan on seeing "In Search Of Truth" here this coming Wednesday.
See ya!
-Paeter Frandsen
Well, it's been a crazy busy week for both me and my wife, and unfortunately it's all been things that have taken away from my time at Spirit Blade Productions.
Now and then I have a week in "survival mode", where all I manage to do is post on both blogs, keep up with answering e-mails and somehow squeeze out a podcast. This is one of those weeks.
Still, I think the show this week will be a good one. I'm looking forward to seeing and reviewing "Dylan Dog: Dead Of Night" tomorrow morning and getting the podcast out sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening.
Thanks for your patience!
-Paeter Frandsen
Part 1 of the Interactive Audio Commentary for Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream is available for free download right now on our Media Page!
Included in this segment: How to make chain mail without chain mail! Where all the character names and "curses" come from! And when did I record just one letter of another actor's line for them?
Enjoy!
-Paeter Frandsen
Getting out of church yesterday (a blast of hot Arizona wind welcoming us to the parking lot), my wife and I were reminded that summer is on its way, if not already here. And I'm REALLY looking forward to it!
Not only are there a TON of cool looking movies I want to see, but we've got some cool summer events going on at Spirit Blade Productions, including two big sales (one of which will be mentioned to newsletter subscribers only!) and of course, The Summer Of Free, 2011!
For those who don't know, The Summer Of Free is an annual, summer long event on my personal blog and The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast, in which I highlight, with your help, some cool options for free geek entertainment that enable us to be more responsible with the financial resources God has given us. (I'll be the first to admit how easy it is to recklessly blow cash on a bunch of nerdy stuff.)
This summer, I even plan to create a page (probably on the forums) dedicated to websites and entertainment options featured in the Summer Of Free, both past and present, so that we can all be reminded of the cool free stuff there is to do out there, even during the bitter cold of winter! My primary focus this summer will be on video games. There are some great, free, 100% legal video game options available out there, and I'm planning to spend some time each week checking them out. And you're invited to join me! I'll have more info about how you can help me make a list of the best free games out there in the coming weeks.
Lastly, I REALLY can't wait for summer because it means that I will have about 3 solid months where I can build creative momentum on development for Spirit Blade 3, without being interrupted by my substitute teaching side-gig. My hope is to have the script finished by the end of the summer so I can start developing songs in early fall and begin recording in late 2011 or early 2012. I just have a few more things to do before I can give my full attention to scripting, but it won't be long before I'm writing dialogue for Merikk, Raan and Vincent for the very last time!
-Paeter Frandsen
At this point all of your suggestions for online hosting of the Spirit Blade Audio Book seem to be in, and I'm beginning the submission process. I'm hoping the book will be available for free in multiple places online for an official launch announcement sometime in the next two weeks.
For those of you who are podcasters, or who know a podcaster who might be interested, I'm offering a free download of Spirit Blade: Special Edition to any podcaster who plays all 12 parts of the Spirit Blade Audio Book on their podcast. This is a standing offer with no expiration date.
It's also a great way for podcasters to take a break from podcasting (as some do over the summer) while still keeping their feed alive with new content! So consider suggesting The Spirit Blade Audio Book to your favorite podcasters! Interested podcasters can e-mail me to request the audio book at: paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net
Stay tuned for more very soon!
-Paeter Frandsen