Update on "The Screwtape Letters"

I hope you all enjoyed our interview with Paul McCusker! As many of you know, one of his latest projects is The Screwtape Letters. This highly anticipated radio drama will be available for purchase on October 15. In case you missed it, the Screwtape Letters website went live late last week. Be sure to check out the site, as there are a lot of audio and video goodies to be found. Plus, don't forget to follow Screwtape and Wormood on Twitter!

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 58

09.19.09. After several months of great anticipation, Darien's Rise finally makes its official radio debut today! If you haven't heard it yet, head on over to Whit's End and check out part one of this exciting drama. When you're done, be sure to have a listen to our latest podcast, which features our special guest, Paul McCusker, who joins us to talk about his time with Focus, Passages, his work on various Radio Theatre projects, as well as the upcoming season. You won't want to miss our exclusive interview with this long time writer and director for Adventures in Odyssey!


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Running Time: 50:22

A Fan Interview With Nathan Hoobler!

For those of you who aren't members of the Town of Odyssey, I thought you should be aware of a special treat that was posted on the message boards earlier this week. The two current administrators, LizzieG and Taq, recently conducted an interview with Nathan Hoobler. Lots of great Passages discussion, behind-the-scenes tidbits, as well as a brief glimpse into what will be coming up in Album 51. Be sure to check it out!

Many thanks to all of you who submitted questions for Paul McCusker. We'll be interviewing him later today and releasing the interview on Saturday. Stay tuned!

Final Call for Questions!

With only two days left until the airing of Darien's Rise, consider this your last chance to submit questions for Paul McCusker. We will be closing the submission page around midnight, so get your queries in while you still can!

Final Countdown to Darien's Rise!

Just five more days until Darien's Rise airs on radio stations across the country. It seems like it's been forever since we've had a new episode to discuss, but our hunger will soon be appeased! For those of you in the United States, you can purchase your own copy of the album at Christian Book. Canadian listeners may have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the album, but can place their order at the Focus bookstore. And don't forget to submit your questions for Paul McCusker! We will be interviewing him later this week and releasing the podcast on September 19th. Send your questions now!

Upcoming Interview with Paul McCusker!

Over the last couple years, we've been extremely privileged to speak with the likes of writers Nathan Hoobler and Marshal Younger, as well as actors Dave Griffin, Lauren Schaffel, Genni Long, and Katie Leigh. (Check out the sidebar to listen to those interviews!) It's been a long time coming since we've spoken with a member of the Odyssey team, but today we're pleased and proud to announce our next interview will be with writer Paul McCusker.

As the creator of the Passages series, Paul recently directed the radio adaptation of Darien's Rise and is currently working on the shows for Album 51. If there's anything you've been dying to know about Passages or Darien's Rise, don't delay!

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Album 51 Details!

Well, I know a lot of the focus lately has been on Passages, but I couldn't pass up on this bit of news. In their product page for Album 51, Tyndale now includes a brief description of what we can expect for this March 2010 release.

It’s back to the basics in Take It from the Top, the long-anticipated 51st album of Adventures in Odyssey! Enter Whit’s new invention, the Inspiration Station, and find out why Connie wants to spend so much time in it. Solve mysteries with local sleuth Emily Jones, and learn why 10-year-old Matthew Parker doesn’t think being “target of the week” is such a good thing. Catch up with Whit, Connie, Eugene, and Wooton, and meet two new families, as they learn lessons about responsibility, revenge, and God-given inspiration. Whether on a baseball field, at home, or at Whit’s End, there’s never a dull moment in the town of Odyssey!

We've known for a while about the Parker family, which includes the brother-sister tandem in Matthew and Camilla. I'm always intrigued whenever new kids are introduced, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of personalities they'll bring to the show. After the first hiatus ended in 1997, there was a complete turnover for their kid actors, and listeners were introduced to characters like Jared DeWhite, Sarah Pratchett, Dwayne Oswald, and Lisa Mulligan. With the presumed departure of Tamika, Marvin, Mandy, and Trent, it seems like the end of this hiatus will see a whole host of of new kids brought to Odyssey. I'm hoping that Matthew, Camilla, and Emily will be able to interact with existing kids, such as Grady or Kelly, but we'll see what happens. Only six months to go until the new season begins!

For those of you keeping track, Darien's Rise airs in only nine days. To celebrate the release of this highly anticipated radio drama, we'll be announcing a very special surprise sometime tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Unofficial Podcast Ep. 57

09.05.09. We're finally back after an extended hiatus, just in time to see Odyssey's hiatus come to a close. In this podcast, we address some of the biggest news since sliced bread! Included in our list of topics are Passages: Darien's Rise, Andre Stojka, and Album 51. Leave a comment or email us at aiofanpodcast@hotmail.com.

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Running Time: 23:48

So You Think You're An Odyssey Actor?

Ever wanted to be an actor for Adventures in Odyssey? Well, here's your chance to have your voice heard on an upcoming episode! The good folks over at the Official Site are holding open auditions to anyone interested. All you need to do is record a brief response to the question question, "How am I inspired by Connie Kendall?" Whichever entries the Odyssey team like the most will be included in the season premiere, tentatively called The Inspiration Station, which will air in March 2010. But don't delay! This contest is only open until Friday, September 11th.

Contest Winners Announced Tomorrow!

For those of you who entered in the Ultimate Passages Fan Scavenger Hunt, we have some exciting news to share. Tomorrow, on the Odyssey Scoop, we will be announcing the contest winners, in addition to their stories! Be sure to keep any eye on your inbox, as we will be emailing our winners within the next few days.

More Album Artwork!

Over the last couple weeks, a lot of new and exciting stuff has been coming out, the most significant of which was the first episode of Darien's Rise. If you haven't had the opportunity to have a listen, be sure to check it out soon! I'd love to hear your thoughts on Andre Stojka, Shane Baumel, and Rachel Fox.

Also making headlines this past week was the release of the album artwork for Album 51: Take It From the Top. It features a very stylish, green-sweater-deprived Connie with Eugene getting what appears to be a buzz cut. I'm thinking Eugene loses a bet, or maybe does this to raise money for Hand Up. I like how the album title has both a literal interpretation - as seen in the illustration - as well as a figurative meaning, which will probably be made more clear once we hear the episodes. I get the feeling that Odyssey is returning to the style of the more "classic" shows from its earlier years. In many ways, Odyssey will be going back to the beginning... or taking it from the top. ;)



The repackaging project continues its gradual march towards completion, as Album 43: Along for the Ride recently received its re-framed cover. Once again, as is the case with much of Gary Locke's designs, the colors are fresh and vibrant. I probably sound like a broke record by now, but it's true - this new cover is a definite improvement over the original cover.



Many thanks to all of you who participated in the Ultimate Passages Fan Scavenger Hunt. We received an overwhelming number of responses, with lots of great story ideas. Judging is currently underway, so stay tuned to the Odyssey Scoop to see if you're our grand prize winner!

Last, but not least, Sarah and I will be making our return to the podcast airwaves! There's certainly no lack of news to discuss, so be prepared for an onslaught of Odyssey discussion this weekend. As always, feel free to send us your comments or questions to aiofanpodcast@hotmail.com.