copyright 2017 aaron paul lazar
It's been a while since I wrote my first article about how to get your book made into an audio book via ACX. I now have twenty-six books that have gone through the process, and I've learned a great deal as I've blundered through. ;o)
As a listener, I've also been an Audible member for a while
now. I love Audible - I get one book per month for $14.99, but it's not
enough so I end up buying more credits. I need to upgrade my membership to a
higher plan.
Here is a collection of tips I've thrown together that might help you get started and have a successful audio book project. Please also consider reading these previous related articles to help give you perspective:
Read this first for the nuts and bolts of how to start:
And here are some more articles that deal with the subject. Dora Machado's piece is wonderful, I highly recommend it.
Here are a few tips, and thanks to Christine Amsden for tip 8! Please feel free to add to the list in the comments.
Tip #1: your book must be available on Amazon as an eBook
for you to be eligible to sign up with ACX.com, which is owned by Audible,
which is owned by Amazon.
Tip #2: listen to a series of professionally done audio books
before you select your narrator. I did not do this - and I wish I had. My first
few books were recorded by a a wonderful guy with a great voice, but he was a novice, and I realize in hindsight it was a mistake. Now I can't undo it. Fortunately now I have great narrators I
adore. But it takes time to learn, so be patient.
Tip #3: listen closely to all
preliminary chapter recordings, listen twice or three times if you need to.
Don't be afraid to suggest changes in how words are emphasized or pronounced.
Tip #4: Go through the book in advance
for names or places that might be hard to pronounce. Record a voice memo with
all the pronunciations up front so your narrator doesn't have to struggle or
wonder about them!
Tip #5: Don't be afraid to listen to
narrators and ask them to audition. There is a search in both directions, and
you may find a perfect guy/gal for your book by being assertive and not sitting
back to wait for auditions to pour in!
Tip #6: If you sign up for royalty
share, you won't have to pay any money up front. You will forever split your
profits with your narrator, however. That's how I do it. Unless you have big
bucks and want to hire them by the hour, I suggest this method.
Tip #7: You need a square image for the
cover - it must be 2400x2400 pixels and you must have rights (or gain permission to
use) the original art. Your book cover as is is NOT an acceptable size for the
audio book cover.
Tip #8 from Christine Amsden: Make sure
to include some dialog in your audition script. I didn't do this originally,
and had to go back and edit later because I wanted to know what the female
narrators would sound like doing a male voice. (note from
Aaron: Sometimes male narrators go too high with the female characters. I
didn't want falsetto - I wanted a "softer" tone for the ladies.)
So, authors, go out there and try this! You'll find another new platform to share your work with the public, and have loads of fun at the same time!
Enjoy!
Aaron Paul Lazar
www.lazarbooks.com
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(Romantic
country mysteries set in the Finger Lakes region)
1. DOUBLE FORTÉ
2. UPSTAGED
3. MAZURKA
4. FIRESONG
10. LADY BLUES
11. VOODOO SUMMER
(Riveting
country mysteries with time travel and a Native American ghost)
1. THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLY MOORE (formerly Healey’s Cave)
3. FOR
KEEPS
(Sensual
women’s mysteries set in the Adirondacks)
3. SANCTUARY
4. BETRAYAL
5. TALL PINES BOOK SET
PAINES CREEK BEACH Love Stories
(Sensual love stories by the
sea)
1. THE
SEACREST
2. THE
SEACROFT
3. THE
SEADOG
(Romantic suspense involving
kidnapping)
1. DEVIL’S
LAKE
WRITE LIKE THE WIND,
volume 1
WRITE
LIKE THE WIND, volume 2
WRITE
LIKE THE WIND, volume 3
1 comment:
Wonderful post, Aaron! A perfect summary for anyone who might be considering making their book into an audio-book. Thanks!
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