paraka

Now that I'm no longer ashamed of my webpage, Paraka Productions please go there to see all of my works.

They should also all be up on AO3.

If you need to contact me for any reason (including questions about any of the many comms I run), my email is parakaproductions at gmail dot com.


Remix Policy
If you'd like to remix any of my fandom offerings (that includes anything I created on this journal), all the power to you. I don't have much fic but you're welcome to podfic it, write sequels or rewrite them entirely; whatever strikes your fancy.

Same goes with my vids, feel free to copy ideas or take clips if you need.

If I've podficed a story that you'd also like to podfic, don't let me hold you back (I don't actually think you need to ask first before repodding but if you were thinking about it, no need).

If you want to do anything with my works or fannish presence, go for it, you don't need to ask first (although I'd be totally interested in seeing what you make of it :).

So I've been meaning to do this for a while, if only because I'm kind of curious myself. I enjoy recording podfic so much more than editing it, so my to-edit folder is generally pretty large (I was the one who submitted this FY Podfic Platypus after all). Normally I'm able to buckle down and get things finished during amplificathon but I didn't participate this year so, sadly, my to-edit folder just keeps growing.

It wasn't actually that easy to make this list since my WIPs are spread over many computers and removable storage devices. (Also, I generally ask for author permission after I finish a project, so if any of these do get finished by me, I'd still have to wait on permission).

( My Podfic WIPs )

And that's all of them, over 20 hours of recorded, unshared podfic.. I know there have been others that I've started, but if I can't find the raw files for them, then they don't count. One day, one day! I will actually finish all most of the things I start. But until then, I will have a giant list. :P

Fic: (My House Is) Such A Sad Mile Away by moirariordan (text link)
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Derek/Stiles
Length: 0:05:59
Summary: Eyes ahead.
Download: MP3 (4.9 MBs) ||| M4B (6.1 MBs)
Please right click and "Save As".




Notes: This was recorded as a present for heard_the_owl. Thank you to fire_juggler for the encouragement and beta

Fic: Dapper Dan Man by hoktauri (text link)
Readers: lunate8 and paraka
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: Gen
Summary: A thunderstorm and a messy head of hair.
Length: 0:01:00
Download: MP3 (0.9 MBs) ||| M4B (1.3 MBs)
Please right click and "Save As".



Notes: Recorded with lunate8 when I was visiting her. :D She is delightfully hardcore when it comes to podfic and is basically my hero now. ♥

So, I've basically been going insane for the past few weeks, trying to finish up the school semester. Podfic is one of the only things getting me through this past month. Which leads me to the purpose of this entry.

Dear Bandom friends (you know who you are Twitter peeps),

I hate you all¹. *glares* I have been successfully avoiding bandom for 2 years now, ever since klb tried to convert me. But apparently knowing all the bandom podficcers on Twitter, I've learned a lot through osmosis. And when I asked for podfic recs 12 days ago on Twitter, I got some bandom recs (big surprise). I've now listened to about 40 hours worth of bandom podfic in the, like, 2 weeks since I asked for podfic recs.

I've really been enjoying listening to so much podfic. In the past I listened to podfic a lot at work, so would be listening on a computer. Since I went back to school I haven't had nearly as much podfic listening time since I wasn't at work with the podfic sitting there. But part of how I managed to listen to that much podfic (when really, I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off for school/work) is because I've finally started putting podfic on my mp3 player. It's pretty awesome being able to listen for the 10 minutes between classes, in the car, while cooking dinner, while falling asleep, etc.

I've come to the realization that, you know how a lot of non-podfic listeners say they don't listen because they can read faster? That is totally not true for me. I can listen to a podfic soooo much faster than I can read the fic. Like, I'm sure if I were to read the equivalent of that 40 hours I've gone though, it would have taken me at least 5X as long.
I've also realized that I would happily substituted all my fic reading for podfic listening (well, except, how would I ever find fic to record myself then? Hmmm, dilemma).

But, yes, I've got a foot in the door for bandom now and am trying to enjoy that new fandom love, by consuming all the awesome things (which is such a nice relief after struggling for months to find things I want to read in AI fandom - though, it is weird to see Adam showing up in bandom things. In one story he was even the bad guy! :P).

¹ Except not really, please send fic recs! (I don't really need podfic recs; at this point I'll probably listen to them all. I've been trying to contain myself to MCR and really like the stories where they're fighting for a greater good or something [Like I Gave Been All Things Unholy or The Fall and Rise of the Black Parade]. Please and thank you!).

There have been so many memes going on that I've wanted to do, but I've been so busy this year. I think I might try the make up meme later this week, but in the mean time, I can do this one while at school.

( AO3 Hits Meme )

I just had an amusing conversation with one of my teachers. We got into a discussion about sci fi and reading habits and I mentioned that most of what I read is published online. On just that information he asked me if it was slash I was reading. The look on his face when I admitted that, yes, it was slash, was pretty hilarious. He got all wide eyed and shocked that I would admit it.

Guys! manifesty made cover art for my podfic From Adam to Kris, written by moirariordan. Isn't it pretty?



If you're the type that likes cover art with your podfic but doesn't know how to attach it yourself, I've re-uploaded the files with cover art attached.

I know I don't update here much, other than for podfic related reasons. That's because I do most of my day-to-day fannish stuff over on Twitter (I'm paraka12 if you want to follow me there), but tonight was just too... whatever, to try and explain in 140 character chunks.

( Cut for Length )

Fic: Scribbles by Shakespeares_Girl (text link)
Fandom: American Idol S8
Pairing: Kris/Adam preslash
Length: 0:05:43
Summary: Kris has a habit of writing things down on whatever happens to be available.

Download: MP3 (4.7 MBs) ||| M4B (5.6 MBs)
Please right click and "Save As".




Notes: This was recorded at the request of rockxxxjunkie. It also fits my podfic_bingo square of <10 minutes.

This year maybe I'll actually get a line or something *rolls eyes*

paraka's Podfic Bingo!
Character Voices	Crack	Abridge	<10 Minutes Long	Character of Colour
Gen	Echo Effect	Read Sexy	Out of Order	Radio Play Style
Angst	Slur/Mumble	Wild Card!	Incorporate Physical Sound	Sing
Gossip	Read Animatedly	Unfamiliar Genre	Record While Lying Down	Read Deadpan
Read Quickly (for you)	Splice Fics Together	Slash	Use a Speed Effect	Minor Character

Fic: Breath by amaresu (text link)
Fandom: Fairy Tales/Rapunzel
Pairing: Rapunzel/Prince
Summary: I'll have to find another tower somewhere / And keep away from the windows.
Download: MP3 (4.3 MBs) ||| M4B (4.4 MBs)
Please right click and "Save As".
Length: 0:04:14




Fic: Contretemps by summerstorm (text link)
Fandom: American Idol S8/Leverage
Pairing: Gen
Summary: Allison popped her head in the pilot's cabin because the door was open, not because she thought there was something going on.
Download: MP3 (2.9 MBs) ||| M4B (2.9 MBs)
Please right click and "Save As".
Length: 0:02:31




Fic: You Will Move Mountains by minkhollow (text link)
Fandom: Warehouse 13
Pairing: Gen
Summary: Post-S2 finale: Claudia asks Mrs. Frederic how she got mixed up in the Warehouse.
Download: MP3 (4.2 MBs) ||| M4B (4.4 MBs)
Please right click and "Save As".
Length: 0:04:29




Notes: This was recorded for the Awesome Ladies Podfic Anthology II. Amazing coverart by bessyboo (can you spot me on the cover? :P)

Fic: Kissing Games by samanthahirr
Fandom: American Idol S8
Pairing: Kris/Adam
Length: 14:19
Links: MP3 ||| M4B

Summary: "For once, I want a guy to just walk up and sweep me off my feet."


Notes: This was recorded for silsecri. :)

For Valentine's Day fire_juggler put out the offer to record short ficlets for people. I've seen a couple other people on my flist make similar offers and thought I'd join in.

There's no way I can do this for Valentine's Day, things are crazy busy with school right now but next week's reading week so I can record some when I get back from NYC. I've been kinda in a podfic funk lately and am hoping that this'll help me get back into podficcing so I can finish up some of my larger projects. :S

So, rules:
1) I make no promises that I'll actually get through all the requests. I'll try, but I have no idea how many requests I'll get.

2) Please keep the requested fics under 2500 words. (Fics with permission already give, ie. blanket permission or author's offering up their own fic, are extra appreciated)

3) You can ask about other fandoms or pairings, but my main fandom is American Idol and I tend to be pretty fixed in my ships (Kris/Adam, Kris/Katy/Adam, David/David, David A/Allison). I've also been feeling out Twin Peaks and Warehouse 13 fandoms lately. :)

This time from Allison! Who has actually put out quite a few new songs at live shows in the past year, but I think this is the first studio recorded one to come out since her album.

The video (which appears to be for a fashion line or something?) calls it California Exccentric.

Mp3 Download

California Eccentric from Skaist Taylor on Vimeo.

So much music excitement for me lately! :D :D :D :D

I'm going to have to change how I sum up what I post to this journal. Previously I was saying "podfic announcements (both for my podfics and podfic comms/challenges) and podfic meta." However I seem to keep posting Kris Allen music, so I'll have to tack that onto the end. :P

Last night Kris did a show at The Mint in LA (god I wish I could have been there!). He debuted some new music as well as played some of his old stuff. I started off this morning scouring YouTube to hear them all and have ripped them to mp3s. I ended up grabbing all my rips from jsalow2, and I highly suggest checking out their vids on YouTube, since I cut out the Kris chatter but jsalow2 left it in (also to thank them for putting them up!).

( MP3 Downloads and Vids )

Someone really loves me. :D :D :D :D
Today I was linked to new Leaks/Demos from Kris Allen!

I spent a stupid amount of time today trying to download and convert these from the original Chinese site these were on. But voilà!

Forget About You (mp3)

( Lyrics )



Parachute (mp3)

( Lyrics )

These a just demos, so the vocals are a little rough, especially for Parachute, but the songs are seriously amazing. I really, really hope they make the album, I can so imagine them doing well on the radio.

Note: There's some talking over the start of both songs about "this is number 1" which I'm assuming isn't actually part of the song, and there's some weird laughing in Parachute that was added in later too.


*Disclaimer: This is just what I've been able to get from obsessively listening to it over and over again, suggested corrections are welcome.

Guys, megaupload has been shut down. D:

Yes, there was a lot of pirated files up there, but worse, there was also a lot of fannish works up there.

I've said this a couple different places and at different times, but if anyone wants a fannish home to host their fanworks (podfic, vids, art, whatever) I'm happy to share my webspace. I host things for a number of people already. And would be happy to host for others too.

( Details )

I'm seriously offering this to any fan, you don't need to know me to take me up on the offer. :)

ETA: Because some people have asked, there is some statistics tracking available if you want to host with me. Here's an example of what the stats page looks like.
People are also free to use the space to make an actual webpage if they like (rather than just hosting files there). My default is to set people up with an FTP account but if you want something with My SQL or something we can talk. :)

ETA2: I'm actually out of town this weekend. I will have internet access to answer questions and/or set up accounts, it just might take me a bit before I can answer.

ETA3: This offer is still open to anyone. If you'd like to take me up on it, can you please leave me an email address so I can forward the info to you. Also, please let me know if you'd like the website to have a different name than your journal name (otherwise I'll default to your journal name).

Fic: Untitled Kink Fic by anonymous (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5&6, Part 7, Part 8)
Fandom: American Idol S8
Pairing: Kris/Adam
Length: 49:48
Links: MP3 (40 MBs) ||| M4B (49 MBs)

Summary: A series of D/s ficlets.



Notes:This is my 50th podfic! \o/ I actually recorded this and had all but the last part edited back in August, but it took me a while to get author permission and then I was busy with pod_aware stuff... and it's only now that I managed to go back to it.

I'm sorry there aren't fic links to the last two parts. I recorded from a locked entry (which I won't link to since it might reveal the author and they asked to stay anonymous and it's locked anyways). I tried to find public links for the last two parts, I seriously just spent the past two hours searching through the 4676 comments on that post to see if the other parts were there and couldn't find it. /o\ If I'm able to find them later, I'll edit them in.

Book meme!

Pick up the nearest book to you. Turn to page 45. The first sentence describes your sex life in 2012.

"It smelled like moss and oak and the damp dark spaces of the Wood beyond the meadow."

I'm just glad I was sitting on the side of the bed I was when I decided to do this, because if I was on the other, the closest book was a math textbook :S Although discussing exponents could have implied good things I guess?

Also, depending on my energy levels, I may be posting podfic meta soon.