 Timberwolf Press New Media  Some of Timberwolf's titles  The Helmsman - one of Timberwolf's titles |
CASE STUDY: TIMBERWOLF PRESS NEW MEDIA
In 1992 Patrick founded Timberwolf as a software company, publishing “Writer’s Desktop Database” – a suite of productivity tools integrated with a database version of the best-selling trade reference, the “Writer’s Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents” by Jeff Herman. The software was published in four or five annual editions. Later, after launching AudioNet/Broadcast.com, Patrick spent his nights building and supporting the webcasting infrastructure and his days making deals for new content to add to the broadcast lineup. A writer, Patrick was a member of a writer’s group and one of the other writers had finished a hard-hitting and hefty science fiction tome, “A Small Percentage,” by Jim Cline. Jim agreed to produce an audio version of the novel and the result was the first audio book on the Internet. Jim produced it in bi-weekly episodes. It grew to become a cult phenomenon and was the most-listened-to audiobook on the web. Fan mail flooded in from around the world, including flame mail when we were late with an episode. Jim produced it as a dramatized series. It evolved into a 42 episode drama with multiple actors, music and sound effects. In 1997, Timberwolf Press expanded to publish “A Small Percentage” in hardback. In 2000, Patrick launched Timberwolf as a full time small new media press. Timberwolf was the first to publish an audiobook online, the first to publish on MP3 CD, the first to publish a podcast-style audiobook, the first to simultaneously publish in MP3, WMA, CD, MP3-CD, Book and even cassette tape. Patrick was CEO and founder, and was responsible for corporate development, marketing, graphic arts, communications and PR and was the senior technical editor. Patrick designed and built the corporate web and e-commerce sites with social networking components, blogs, podcasts, webcasts, etc. Patrick was invited to speak at the Annual meeting of the Association of American Publishers and many other conferences and events. On the “fun” side, Patrick was a finalist for the “Sexiest Geek Alive” contest and appeared on Good Morning America and numerous radio interviews and TXCN. Timberwolf went on to produce award winning titles and push the boundaries of new media, with author webcasts, social networking forums, user generated content and a completely fresh approach to media and publishing. Patrick sold the company in 2004. |
