When I was first published (with a small press), my publisher was quick to put the Grant Us Grace series into audio in addition to e-book and paperback. I loved the fact that I had options for traditional readers and for the busy readers who met their book needs through audiobooks. But since I was with a publisher, I didn’t have a lot of insight into the process behind it.
One of my goals for 2017 is to get the rest of my books into audio. And so, at the start of the year, I logged into ACX — Amazon’s audiobook creation platform — and started poking around. I’ll admit that it was a little bit daunting, but I took a deep breath and claimed A Splash of Substance. From there, it was a relatively simple matter of filling out a form with basic details and setting up an audition script and opening it up for narrators to record their auditions for me to listen to.
The first time I got an email from ACX saying I had an audition waiting for me to listen to I might have squealed a little. (And I’m really not a squealer.) It took a few days and several different auditions and then I got an audition that made me pause. I listened to it again. And then a third time. And something just clicked. I liked the woman’s voice and I liked the way she voiced the characters in my audition script. So I sent her a message. After a little back and forth, a contract was made and the production of the audiobook for A Splash of Substance was underway.
I spent last week listening to the completed files and I can’t wait for people who enjoy listening to books to get a chance to hear A Splash of Substance! At this point, it’s winding its way through the ACX quality control process — but neither my narrator nor I anticipate any trouble, which means Splash should be up on Audible (and other places like iTunes) in the next two-ish weeks.
What’s even more fun is that Brenna (that’s the narrator) enjoyed the story and is excited about continuing to narrate the rest of the series. So plans (and a contract) are in place for A Pinch of Promise (estimated on-sale date mid-June). I love that the character voice acting will be consistent from book to book (well, minus a tweak or two that we’ve discussed that I think is going to make it stronger going forward.)
Once I got over the initial nerves about setting up a book and looking for a narrator, I have to say I’ve enjoyed this process and I’m looking forward to watching (listening?) as the rest of the Taste of Romance books (including the last book in the series that I’ll be publishing later this year) come to life.
Do you enjoy audiobooks? Have any things you love to see? Things that make you crazy when you’re listening?
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
How exciting Elizabeth:) My husband listens to audiobooks all the time when he runs, can’t fall asleep etc. and my mother-in-law is legally blind, so enjoys audiobooks also, so I look forward to telling her about yours.
We listen to audiobooks with the boys as we drive, and I enjoy it when the narrator is able to differentiate between the characters and make them come alive.
Blessings:)
PS, I thoroughly enjoyed Malachi and Ursula’s story, gave me cravings for good bread!!
Congrats to you and Brenna on your audio book. Personally the only time I listened to audio books was in my high school English classroom. Audio book introduced American classics: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Mockingbird, The Odyssey. I especially enjoyed William Golding reading his novel Lord of the Flies. Audio brings a different perspective to the work. I was always amazed at a new fact that I had somehow missed in my own reading. Some of these classics I taught for 10 years, so to discover a new perspective was truly incredible. T
Thanks for your delightful read – Muffins and Moonbeams. I related on many levels – the sweet aroma of bread coming out of a bakery oven (worked in a bakery for 3 years). The challenges and misunderstanding in communication with a deaf person. Our youngest son is an on line gamer, so that part of story was fun. Best wishes! Happy writing and listening!
Congratulations on your audio book, Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes of its making. I listen to Joyce Meyer during my commute to and from work, but I’ve never really been one for audio books. I’m not sure why, but my mind seems to wander too much.
I’m so glad you have some audiobook listeners in your family! I do like them for car trips with the kids – for whatever reason I didn’t think of that when I was writing my post. :) But differentiating between the characters is definitely something a good narrator can do.
And yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed Muffins & Moonbeams :)
Oh! I bet listening to the classics would reveal new little tidbits. We listened to Patrick Stewart read A Christmas Carol this year and that was a delight. But I’d really listen to him read anything. He has such a great voice. :)
I’m so delighted you enjoyed Muffins & Moonbeams!
It can be a problem for me, too (the mind wandering :) ) I suspect there are some of us who will never be huge audiobook fans. But even then it can be an interesting way to try something new now and again.
I’ve listened to a few audio books, but I can’t keep my mind on what I’m listening and will miss parts I’ll have to go back and listen to lol. I like when you can listen and tell which character is talking. Thanks for explaining the process of how you found a narrator!
That’s something I think Brenna did particularly well — the character voicing is quite delightful (I think at least :) )
Congratulations on releasing the audiobook, Elizabeth! Thank you for sharing about behind the scenes process. I didn’t enter the world of audiobooks yet, but maybe one of these days I will. I think they are great when one has a long commute or while doing housework.
Thanks, Alexa! I have friends around here who definitely love them for their commutes. I can see that being a big bonus. I hadn’t thought of during housework — but for me, housework usually involves supervising my minions while they learn how to do the chores. :)
I used to listen to music while knitting, and now I think I could’ve listened to an audiobook instead. And audiobooks wouldn’t affect my eyesight, so I wish there were audiobooks while I was growing up. To think about it, audiobooks are very useful and convenient.
How fun, Elizabeth! I have listened to a sample or two of audio books, but I’m obnoxiously picky when it comes to voices, so I’ve stuck with reading in my head, for the present. :) My husband loves audio books and listens to them frequently.
There are a lot of hand involved tasks that could be made into reading time with an audiobook..Maybe I’ll have to turn myself into a fan :)
It’s so great when the narrator just clicks with you… and with your voices. I love that part! Congrats on your new audiobook. :)
The picky thing I did have to get over. My characters sound a certain way in my head. But…I was already half over that because the people on the cover never are perfect matches to the picture in my head. So why would they sound perfect? :)
Thanks! It was really great when I heard her and thought…Yeah, she’s good.
I haven’t been interested in audiobooks, which is kind of funny because the way my husband and I got introduced to Madeleine L’Engle was finding “A Wrinkle in Time” being read on a radio station years ago on a trip from California to Oregon!
Congrats! I’m trying to get mine to audio. Finding a narrator is hard. Glad you found one!
Too funny!
And I love Madeline L’Engle. She’s one of the first authors I remember searching for by name at the library.
It’s definitely not a fast process! I hope you find someone you love :)
Elizabeth, this was gr-r-r-r-eat! I love audio books and listen to one daily when I do my 20 minute walks. I can’t wait for my debut inspy romantic suspense, Summer of Deception, being released this week. It’s going to be audio, too, eventually. You are wise to have the same reader for a series!
Blessings on your writing ministry,
Elva Cobb Martin, Pres. ACFW-SC Chapter, Anderson, SC
Thanks, Elva.
Congrats on your impending debut.
Congratulations Elizabeth, it must be so exciting hearing your book come to life in this way.
Thanks, Margaret! It really is :)
That is so exciting Elizabeth! The right narrator can make a big difference in a audio book and the same narrator will continue that home feel that we as readers get with a series. That said, I’ve never listened to one, as my hearing is poor. Subtitles on movies/shows are a must for me (not that I take time out of reading/computer to watch much anymore).
Thanks, Andrea! And yes, I think having a consistent narrator will be a big boon to readers :)
Thank you for sharing your process and for taking so much time choosing a narrator. It really makes all the difference. I was listening to a book the other day and the narrator was really distracting and telling the story in a way that I just didn’t care for it. Since the book was from an author I usually enjoy reading, I decided to read the kindle version. I ended up really liking the book.
Speaking of liking, I loved reading Muffins and Moonbeams. Malachi and Ursula are great characters. I’m looking forward to read Jonah and Micah’s stories even when I realize their stories might take a while to come out given your timeline for the Arcadia Valley series.
Thanks, Priscila! I’m glad you were able to read the kindle version of that book instead of doing the audio! :)
And I’m SO glad you enjoyed Muffins & Moonbeams. :) Micah is the main character for the next book (poor Jonah has to wait ;) ) and his story, Cookies & Candlelight, will be out in September. So not too long in the overall scheme.
I am an avid reader, but have never listened to audio books! I enjoyed the comments here which will help me make a decision re audio!
How exciting it must be to move on to another step in the writing world. Audiobooks are becoming very popular. Congrats
Oh, yay Jackie! You can always start out by adding the whisper sync audio to a kindle edition of a book you buy – it’s a cheaper way to get the audiobook often.
It is really exciting, Colleen! I really want to do as much as I can to make sure my readers — any sort of reader — can get my books in whatever way they most enjoy. :)
That’s unexpected. I really thought you were setting up the next story by introducing us to Gloria. I’m still looking forward to both their stories. So it actually doesn’t matter.
:) Gloria’s in this one, too. But I like to keep people on their toes.
I really enjoy audiobooks! In fact, I’m listening to one now. I will have to check this out when it becomes available, because I really enjoyed the book.
Oh yay! :)
What a cool process. It sounds like ACX makes it pretty easy for authors to turn their stories into audiobooks.