SpellCast: Creativity is reborn as SpellCast Readings! For its debut, Gwendolyn Grace reads The Difference a Day Makes by Zannie. In this PG-rated Astronomy Tower fic, "Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny try to come to terms with the events at the Ministry of Magic. One-Shot. Missing moment told from Hermione and Ginny's perspective."

SpellCast invites you to send us your fic reviews, to appear in the next regular episode of SpellCast when the hosts also review the fic. You can email text reviews to spellcast@fictionalley.org or leave a Skype voicemail at (559) 477-4273. We hope you enjoy the fic!

1. How did you find out about SpellCast? (iTunes, FictionAlley, LiveJournal - please be specific)

2. When did you first listen to SpellCast? (Episode number, Month, Day - whatever you recall)

3. Do you listen regularly (almost every episode or more), occasionally (when something strikes your interest/you think to listen), or just once?

4. How many/which other podcasts do you listen to?

5. What are your primary activities in the Harry Potter fandom?

6. Do you like the format (organization and content ordering) of SpellCast? What specifically do you like/dislike about it?

7. What is your favorite type of SpellCast segment? (i.e., Writer's Corner, Fan Fiction Review, Podcast Spotlight, Celebrity Interview, etc.)

8. What have been your favorite specific segments? (i.e., Henry Jenkins interview, Beta Reading Roundtable, Draco Malfoy discussion, etc.)

9. If you've been listening for at least four months, what changes have you noticed in the show and how do you feel about them?

10. What would you like to hear more of on SpellCast? General types of segments and specific suggestions are both welcome.

11. What would you like to hear less of on SpellCast? General types of
segments and specific criticisms are both welcome.

12. SpellCast aims to represent the Harry Potter fandom. How well does
it achieve that goal? How could it better achieve it?

13. We'd like to get our listeners more involved in the podcast. In what ways would you feel most likely to participate? Possibilities include contests, listener calls, "roving journalist" segments, roundtable participation, quizzes - your own ideas are welcome.

14. What auxiliary content (website features, transcripts, visual aids, etc.) are you most interested in having SpellCast provide?

15. Anything we missed?

Thanks again! We look forward to your feedback at any time. Please send completed surveys to spellcast@fictionalley.org.

Don't have any plans tonight? Then ring in the new year with SpellCast: Epsiode 14! In this episode you'll find Robert, Venessa and Becka talking about conferences, wizarding rock, podcasting and other things that happened this past year.

For more information or comments and feedback regarding SpellCast, check out our forum on FictionAlley Park, but also our Livejournal and Myspace pages. We hope you enjoy the show, and don't forget to vote for us on PodcastAlley at midnight!

It's that time of year again, so SpellCast is bringing you a special holiday episode to supplement your celebrations - or help you escape from their stresses. With our second podcast play's debut and holiday filks rounding out the episode, we hope you'll find it as unforgettable as we do.

- We ease into the holiday spirit with an Artist's Corner as Venessa asks Margie (cauldroncakebkr) for tips on holiday baking.

- "Letters and Maps" makes its fandom debut as our second podcast play. It will be available to read on FictionAlley on December 25.

- As a special episode treat, the hosts review two fics for the episode: Lady Ravenclaw's, A Black Christmas and Cedar's, One for Each Night.

Along the way, listen for filks sung by Zorb, Sidney, and Venessa: - Zorb channels the Basilisk for "Change 'Em to Rock" by Caius Marcius; Sidney brings us Lavender's point of view in "Won-Won Baby" by Lilac; Venessa finishes with "Norbert Roasting on an Open Fire." You can read more holiday filks at the Harry Potter Filks site.

Whether and whatever you celebrate, we hope you're enjoying the holiday season. Let us know if SpellCast brought you seasonal cheer at our LiveJournal, MySpace, or FAP forum!

Hold onto your pants! In episode 4 of SpellCast Creativity we intend to rock your socks off!

This week, we have three fan fiction readings:

- Five have a Magical Time, written by Lazy_Neutrino and read by Elanor Isolda

- Shelter, written by Magnolia Mama and read by Gwendolyn Grace

- Amsterdam, written by DrT and read by Jason Fraser

Also, we feature a brand new segment, Wizrock News, provided by Wizrocklopedia, as well as a wizarding rock song "And then I Died", performed by the Moaning Myrtles.

SpellCast Creativity welcomes all fan fiction entries with a PG-13 rating or below, so if you'd like your favourite fic to be heard, flick an email over to spellcast@fictionalley.org.

Enjoy!

SpellCast is bringing you twice the fun this week!  Episode 11 is already released, and who better to double your listening pleasure than our favourite twins, James and Oliver Phelps!

In this episode:

- Gwendolyn talks with several intervenents from the Futures of Entertainment conference.

 - Spellcast reporter, Elanor got the chance to interview the Phelps twins at the Collectormania G-Mex event in Manchester, England and a few Harry Potter fans attending the event. (transcript)

 - Sidney talks with Andrea from Potterdelphia and Paul from Harry and the Potters about their upcoming Yule Ball event.

 - For the Fanfiction Review, we take a look at 'Always Pure' written by Ronniekins.

For more information or comments and feedback regarding SpellCast, check out our forum on FictionAlley Park, but also our Livejournal and Myspace pages. We hope you enjoy the show!

After a short delay due to some technical issues, episode 10 is now online and available for your listening pleasure! This week the female staff take over SpellCast, and bring some fantastic content to your earphones.

In this episode:

- Venessa got the chance to interview Neil Ciciriega, the creator of PotterPuppetPals.

- Gwen discussed the Harry Potter books and comparative culture with Dr. Henry Jenkins, the Peter de Florez Professor of Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

- Zorb talks with two Harry Potter fans about character death predictions for book 7.

- For the Fan Fiction Review, the hosts take a look at A Local's Guide to Life in London written by Mary G.

Please remember to check out our forum on Fictionalley Park for more news and discussion on SpellCast or to leave us a comment on our website. We hope you enjoy the show!

Note: Due to the recording schedule, some content may be out of date.

 

 

My Odeo Channel (odeo/af3040e3dd8da544)

What's Registration, FictionAlley's first podcast play?

When they get roped into waiting to register James' unborn son for Hogwarts, Sirius and Remus have a long day's wait, and a small dilemma -- nobody's picked a name yet. Faturing the Patils, Finnigans, Longbottoms, Malfoys, and one Weasley as supporting cast...

Download the podcast play, written and adapted by Copperbadge aka samvimes, and read the original story here.

In order to make this week without SpellCast a bit more bearable, we offer you the third episode of SpellCast Creativity. In this show you can expect:

"The Government Stole My Toothbrush", written by Pennswoods and read by Gwendolyn Grace.

"Like Father, Like Son", written by Mira Miracle read by Jason Fraser.

If you have a fic you'd like read on SpellCast Creativity, send us a link to spellcast@fictionalley.org. Please keep in mind that SpellCast can only include fics that are rated PG-13 and below. We hope you enjoy!

All Hallows Eve is upon us, and with it, a special episode of SpellCast! Have no fear as we bring you tricks and treats from around the fandom in our first holiday-themed episode.  Enter (if you dare) and find:

- Discussion of Halloween in Harry Potter and around the world.
- Harry Potter costuming tips and advice from Mandy Mitchell.
- How to make tasty treats for your holiday feast in an interview with cauldroncakebkr.
- Reviews of three Halloween fics on FictionAlley: Pumpkins, by Whitefeather; What Characters Do Between Books: The Halloween Party, by Fortuitous Intervent; and The After-Party Party, by Bloodyrose.

Don't go out among the boggarts and ghouls until you've downloaded SpellCast: Episode 9 at our website or through iTunes!

With the end of October fast approaching, SpellCast episodes are coming to you with the speed of a Snitch! SpellCast: Episode 8 is now online and available for download. In this episode:

- Announcements: SpellCast wants YOU!
- The hosts respond to comments and questions from SpellCast listeners in an all-new Mailbag segment.
- Writer's Corner takes on Dark!Harry fics with Becka and Cedar.
- Snape, Dumbledore, and their complicated relationship come into consideration through the fan fiction review of GMTH's Any Means Necessary.

As always, you can download the episode at our website or subscribe via iTunes.  Remember to vote for SpellCast on PodcastAlley!

What do you get when you cross two Americans, an Australian, and une Française? Why, SpellCast: Episode 7, of course!

This episode includes:

- The hosts of SpellCast give their thoughts on the recently released photos from Order of the Phoenix movie.
- We continue with the second half of the podcast play, Samvimes' Registration - if you want to download Registration on its own, you can get it here!
- Josh chatted with Belinda Hobbs about her hobby of keeping up-to-date with JKR's website for the Harry Potter Lexicon and FictionAlley.
- For the Fan Fiction Review, the gang discusses Maya's If You've a Ready Mind.

Please be sure to check out our forum on FictionAlley Park and Livejournal for more information and discussion regarding SpellCast. We hope you enjoy the show!

For your listening pleasure, we have more fan fiction readings! Here's what's in store for SpellCast Creativity: Episode 2:

"Of Shadows and Swans", written by Lady Ravenclaw, and read by Gwendolyn Grace.

"Just Desserts", written by PadawanMage, and read by Sidney Parker.

We hope you enjoy!

With back-to-back episodes, SpellCast: Episode 6 is now available for download!

This episode includes:

- In the Podcast Spotlight, we take an in-depth look at Snapecast.
- Our first podcast play, Samvimes' Registration, makes it's debut!
- The Writer's Corner focuses in on everyone's favorite werewolf, Remus Lupin!
- For the Fan Fiction Review, we take a look at Eliane Fraser's Not Yet Discouraged.

Please be sure to check out our forum on FictionAlley Park for more information and discussion regarding SpellCast. We hope you enjoy the show!

It's been a long time coming, but we're finally releasing the first episode of SpellCast Creativity. These episodes of SpellCast feature fan fiction readings and other creative endeavors of the fandom. We hope you enjoy!

The following fic readings are included in this episode:

- "By Any Other Name", written by Woolly Bladder, read by Sidney Parker

- "Harry &... Mrs. Figg?!", written by BJH, read by Jason Fraser

Once you've finished listening to the episode, please let us know what you think by leaving us a comment on our website or on FictionAlley Park. Be sure to check back Monday evening for the release of SpellCast: Episode 6!

If you enjoy listening to SpellCast, please vote for the show on PodcastAlley! Oh, for the record, they're not related to FictionAlley despite having simular names. Thank you for your votes!

After a rather long sabbatical, we're proud to announce that SpellCast: Episode 5 is now available for download.

This episode includes:

- A roundup of fandom news with Heidi, including a report on a Harry & the Potters concert with Barb Purdom.
- Robert sat down with Amy Tenbrink, one of the Lead Event Organizers of the upcoming Harry Potter convention, Phoenix Rising.
- Sidney had the oppertunity to talk with Dave O'Brien about his daughter, Katie O'Brien, the fan fiction they worked on together and the Katie O'Brien Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- The Artist's Corner finally makes it's debut on SpellCast. Venessa talks with midnight_ljc & leelastarsky for our first fan art discussion.

As always, be sure to check out our forum on FictionAlley Park for more information and discussion regarding SpellCast. We hope you enjoy the show!

Just in time for Lumos, it's the fourth episode of SpellCast!

This week's show includes:

- The Fan Created segement makes it's return with an interview on Harry Potter knitting.
- For the Writer's Corner, we talk about romantic relationships between Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in fan fiction.
- In the Fan Fiction Review, we take an in-depth look at Sabelle's A Fine Line. Joining the discussion is SpellCast staffer, Andrew Perry.

Once again, this episode's music has been brought to us by Lowlands Girl. Thank you so much! As always, be sure to check out our forum on FictionAlley Park for more information regarding SpellCast. We hope to see some of you in Las Vegas!

We're going to the Phoenix Rising conference in New Orleans next year! Listen for more details, and tune in to Spellcast #4 next week for an interview with a Phoenix Rising organizer!

This week's show includes:

- Heidi sits down with Jenna of Danradcliffe.com and talks about their upcoming plans for Dan's 17th birthday. Be sure to go here for more information!
- Heidi also had the chance to talk with Jeff of HPANA about Beyond Boundaries' upcoming trip on the Hogwarts Express.
- In the Writer's Corner, Sidney and a couple of authors take a deeper look into Luna Lovegood.
- For the Fan Fiction Review, Sidney and I talk about B. Bennett's A Certain Point of View. We have an in-depth discussion on shipping references in the fic and ... Milk Duds?

Also, a rather large thank you is in order for Lowlands Girl, who supplied this week's music for the podcast. Thank you! Be sure to check out our forum on FictionAlley Park for more information regarding SpellCast. We hope you enjoy the show!

Running Time: 44:30

The second episode of SpellCast is now available for downloading!

This episode features a brand new segment - the Writer's Corner - and a fan fiction review of Ashre's From the Ashes, plus Harry Potter fandom news!

For more information and discussion regarding SpellCast, be sure to check out the SpellCast forum on FictionAlley Park!

It gives us great pleasure to announce the launch of the first episode of FictionAlley's SpellCast! We hope that you enjoy it!

This episode features a discussion of Leni Jess's A Speaking Likeness and report on Professor Flitwick - Warwick Davis - live from Disney's Star Wars Days at MGM.

To learn more about how you can participate in our next episode's fic discussion or topical round-table, click here.