Hello and welcome to yet another coming attractions episode from Decoder Ring Theater.

We've done a few of these over the years, and sometimes I try and dress them up as a season spectacular,

but this is probably not that. This is me trying to get the word out to everybody all at once and answer some

questions before they are asked in 11,000 individual emails. And if you're guessing that we're

changing things up a little bit, you're right. In August 2020, we will begin our 16th season

of storytelling podcasts, which is just crazy and awesome, and thank you for being there for it.

For most of that time, we pursued an aggressive schedule of full cast audio drama, which I love so

very much. I really don't know how we kept the pace up. I mean, I guess I do. I don't think I

slept more than five hours a night for ten years or so, but it was my choice and I regret nothing.

A few years ago, a number of things happened all at once which made me feel like maybe an era had passed and it was time to try some new things.

Mostly, I think I was just burnt out and in need of some new challenges.

Fortunately, I had the sense to keep things going at Dakota Ring Theater

with audiobook content that had never seen podcast release,

a couple of Blackjack novels, a fourth red panda novel,

and then a few middle-grade detective and adventure books I had cooked up

that never quite got off the ground.

I love writing and creating stories and worlds.

I hate the business of writing.

I am terrible at it, and as recently as a year and a half ago, I was more burnt out than ever.

I didn't know what the long-term prospects for the Dakota Ring Theater podcast were,

but on the advice of more than one listener, I created a Patreon page to support the creation

of new material.

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