for every light that shines, a shadow falls

I don't read nearly as much as I would like to, partly due to my current online addictions, blogging & Facebook. So if someone is going to read to me, I'm all for it.

I'm really into podcasts because content wise, they are far more interesting to me than what is available on mainstream radio and television. One of the most prolific podcasters out there is Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff. He produces a number of different and excellent programs from the crass Pacific Coast Hellway to his hysterical account of Hollywood from the assistant's prospective Where's My F*cking Latte (also available in the traditional format, known as a book). His work is both provocative and entertaining.

His literary brilliance is especially evident in Shadow Falls. I'm not sure exactly what genre this book would fall into but I would describe it as suspense-mystery-fiction, if that makes any sense. What's interesting for me is that if I saw this story in book form at a store I wouldn't give it a second glance. I usually go for light, funny, fluff books. Yes, I am a chick lit nut. Forgive me. Let's just call it a guilty pleasure and move past it. Unless everyone I know has told be to read it (eg. The DiVinci Code) it's not likely that I will pick it up. But I'm completely addicted to Shadow Falls. I find myself cursing at my iPod when the episode is over because I can't wait for the next chapter. I'm completely hooked. This story is really freakin' good!

I guess the point is that podcasting has exposed me to a host of interesting things that I never would have heard about otherwise. It's also given people like Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff the opportunity to get his stuff out to the public, make a living off it and retain ownership of his work. His copyrights are his own. He has full control of how is work is used. He doesn't have to answer to "the man." He's free to be as creative as possible. Isn't that what being an artist is all about?