Two weeks ago, I announced our weekly articles are coming to end. So what is the new bi-monthly newsletter that’s replacing our weekly articles going to look like?
I intended to write this article last week but research for Hot Copy kind of took what time I had for that. (This is why I stopped doing the weekly article.)
Below, I answer some basic questions about the newsletter. Now, as I’ve not actually started the newsletter, or seen what the response will be, this is information isn’t set in stone (except for the last point) and much could change as I continue to figure out best practices.
What will the newsletter be about?: The focus will be on classic entertainment and mysteries. It’s actually a very wide remit since I’ve covered a lot of topics over the years. I will say that in terms of featured articles, I lean a lot more towards audio drama and mystery. So I’m far more likely to write about a mystery TV series from the 1990s or audiodramas from the 2010s than I am a sitcom from the 1970s.
What will be in the newsletter?: There will be an article or two or three in each edition of the newsletter. In addition to that, I’ll share items I find in my research, such as blog posts, articles, and details about new or rediscovered material that seem worthy of your time and on-topic. For example, if I had been doing the newsletter when I was researching Mathew Slade, I might have shared the Wiki entry for star William Wintersole’s character on General Hospital. While Wintersole is best known for his long-running role on Guiding Light, two years on General Hospital saw him as head of a secret agency fighting a villain with a weather control machine. And all these years I thought of daytime soaps as being all about family drama.
I’ll share those fascinating YouTube finds. Some might be interesting interviews. A recent example is John Lithgow explaining how he landed the role of Yoda in the Star Wars. Others might be some great vintage performances, like that time that Dead Eye (aka Red Skelton) met John Wayne.
How often will the newsletter be published?: For starters, I’ll be posting it bi-monthly beginning in May. There will be four issues for the rest of 2025 and I have plans for each one. How often it will be released in 2026 and beyond will depend on the reader’s response.
Who will be writing it?: We will be employing three writers: me, myself, and I.
Eventually, I hope to feature a few guest pieces. There will be a query process because I don’t want to waste my time or anyone else’s. I hope to make this a paying market, although it will be minimal to start.
Where will it be published?: There are many ways to publish a newsletter. For example, I could start a substack or some other newsletter solution. However, I don’t want to add complexity to either myself or those who follow me, by adding yet another thing. To start with, the newsletter will be published on Patreon.
Patreon has the option to follow a creator for free. As a Free member, you don’t get access to Premium features (such as the extra programs and voting on our summer series for The Amazing World of Radio.) However, you do get access to free features such as Video Theater and Old Time Radio Snack Wagon episodes. And the newsletter will be sent to you. I’m considering giving our paid supporters early access to it, but it will be available to all. You can follow me on Patreon here.
Rather than charging a separate subscription, I leave it up to each subscriber. If you’re a free Patreon supporter who finds the newsletter adds enough value that you want to support me, you can become a paid Patreon supporter. If not, that’s fine too.
Will the Patreon supporter updates continue or will this replace them?: The newsletter is an entirely separate thing. Paid Patreon supporters receive monthly updates from me regarding podcast plans and ideas as well as personal updates and will continue to be paywalled.
The bi-monthly newsletter will be a general publication dedicated to mystery and classic entertainment. So they are and will remain entirely different publications.
In conclusion, I’m looking forward to this new effort and a chance to see where this all goes. If you’re curious and want to see what I come up with, follow me on Patreon.
