Medallion Media celebrates 10 years of telling stories
By David Sharos For The Sun January 11, 2013 5:10PM
Aurora-based Medallion Media Group plans to launch its groundbreaking e-book technology “TREEbook,” which allows authors and publishers to release novels with multiple story branches built into the narrative. | Submitted
Updated: February 16, 2013 6:04AM
The Aurora-based Medallion Media Group is celebrating 10 years of doing business with the introduction of new e-book technology along with plans to continue to present new authors to readers throughout the year.
At the end of this year, the Medallion Media Group plans to launch its ground breaking e-book technology “Treebook,” which allows authors and publishers to release novels with multiple story branches built into the narrative.
Director of sales and marketing Paul Ohlson said the new technology has been three years in the making and has actually “freed” authors to take the creative process in directions that were never before possible. Not unlike the popular FOX television series “24” and protagonist Jack Bauer, some events in the Treebook will actually unfold in real time.
“The technology we’ve developed tracks readers’ habits and their average reading pace at which they read the ebook,” Ohlson said. “We currently have five authors under contract to write Treebooks. They are creating alternate plot lines that are passively triggered.”
As an example, readers might see a passage where the hero has five minutes to reach a particular location. The reader must then reach this point in the story within five real-life minutes of reading or else the antagonist enacts a consequence which may cause the story line to branch.
“If the reader closes the ebook and stops reading, the five-minute clock is still ticking,” Ohlson said. “The next time the reader opens the book, the reader may learn that the location has been blown up by the antagonist. At first, our authors were intimidated by the technology, but now they don’t have to kill off their darlings, and they are allowed to explore the story further and take it anywhere. It’s really freed them.”
The Medallion Media group also will continue its popular online interactive author presentations this month.
From noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 16, design expert Kelly Edwards will discuss her upcoming release, “The Design Cookbook: Recipes for a Stylish Home” online. Then on Jan. 23 at the same time, Medallion will host “Great Upcoming Horror Books of 2013,” featuring Gregory Lamberson and Ronald Malfi. The two authors will present their upcoming titles and sign previous releases for fans.
“Using the webcam on people’s computers, fans can actually see and talk with authors and request signed copies of books that will then be mailed out to them,” Ohlson said. “We started doing these events three years ago and have been able to reach readers from all over the world.”
To view the online author events, visit Shindig.com for more details.
Adding to the anniversary festivities, Medallion will give away iTunes gift cards to winners monthly. In December, one participant will be selected from the overall giveaways to win the grand prize, a new Apple iPad. Check the company’s website (medallionmediagroup.com) for details about the promotions.
