The Idea Farm's Blog

  A sweet love story about the twilight years. If Haruf (who died November 30, 2014 at age 71) hadn't titled his previous book Benediction (2013), that might have been perfect for this one. It's a slim novel of short chapters, and it would seem to bring the cycle of books about small-town Holt, Colorado, to a close. This isn't a dark night of the soul but one filled with hope and with second chances. Here's how it opens: "And then there was the day when Addie Moore made a call on Louis Waters." Addie is 70, a widow, and she was close with Louis' late wife. She and Louis don't really know each other that well, other than as nodding acquaintances, but she has a novel proposition: she wants him to sleep with her. Not to have sexual relations, but just to have someone with whom she can talk and share and make it through the night. He appreciates the risk she's taken in making the request, and he agrees, though on their first night he's filled wit...

Creator of the world's largest hospitality podcast network, Wil Slickers, recently announced the formation of Amplified Audio, a new on-demand digital audio company devoted to fueling the growth of voices in niche categories. Besides offering end-to-end production and distribution support for creators, Amplified Audio brings a new, tiered fee structure to the market, designed to equalize access to high-value sponsorship deals. "Podcasting continues to grow in popularity with all kinds of audiences, all over the globe," said Amplified Audio founder Wil Slickers. "Hosts are in the ears, homes and cars of their listeners and can cultivate trusting relationships worth their weight in gold." According to Nielsen Podcast Ad Effectiveness data, 69% of podcast audiophiles said they became aware of a new product or service from podcasts, and two-thirds report having researched or purchased a product or service after hearing about it in a podcast episode, according to Com...