HOW IT WORKS

Whether you're an author who is looking to turn your novel into an audio book, or are just curious about the process, there are myriad ways to go about it. That doesn't mean the experience has to be a headache. In fact, it can (and should) be a fun way to bring your project to life! Here are some of the main aspects to consider.

DISTRIBUTION

To get started, I would suggest checking out the following top audio book publishing sites:

ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange)
Findaway Voices
Spoken Realms

Each publisher offers different options in terms of contract types and distribution options.

WORKING WITH A NARRATOR

Regardless of which publisher you decide on, your search for a narrator is probably the most important step. How do you find the perfect voice for your book? No matter the content, the finished audio book will be a multimedia representation of something you worked very hard to create. You'll want to choose carefully.

While the mechanics of each of the above publishers will vary, you essentially get a chance to explore narrator profiles, including examples of their work. This is a good first step in finding a general voice that you feel will fit. You can then post your project and, depending on the publisher, select which narrators you would like to audition, or receive a slew of auditions from random folks who think they have what it takes. Either way, you'll have the opportunity to make an informed decision.

Once you've selected a narrator, you'll usually have the opportunity to have them record the first 15 minutes (or any 15-minute section you'd like) so you can get a real sense of how their voice will work with your book. This is a crucial opportunity for you to address any issues with pacing, tone, characters, etc. This is the time for adjustments to be made because generally, after this step is approved, the narrator will be off and running, and you won't receive any more audio until it's complete.

When you receive the finished audio, you'll be able to listen and review, and provide the narrator with a list of corrections. These could include anything from an inflection of speech to more obvious wording errors. Once all of the corrections have been completed, you (or the narrator) will be able to submit the audio to the publishing site for review. Then you sit and wait, and usually within a couple weeks, you're in production!

Send me a message and let me know how I can help bring your work to life!