1. BRINGING VOICES TO YOUR BOOK BUILDING AN AUDIO BOOK Photo by Ilmicrofono Oggiono

2. WHY CREATE AN AUDIOBOOK? 3. WHY CREATE AN AUDIOBOOK? The audiobook market is growing; now estimated at about $1.2 billion (Independent Publisher) Its a different way of experiencing a book and the story you want to tell More people are listening while multi-tasking/commuting Many aging baby-boomers are losing their eyesight and want to enjoy books but cannot read them anymore; over 1 million in U.S. are blind Its an opportunity to up-sell and/or cross-sell other editions of your book People who are looking for audiobooks will only find your book if it is in audiobook format 4. WHY NOT CREATE AN AUDIOBOOK? 5. WHY NOT CREATE AN AUDIOBOOK? Heavy reliance on images/tables/graphs List books, certain reference books Heavy reliance on footnotes 6. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS What are my goals and intentions? Make $ from audiobook sales; Cross-sell print/ebooks; Promote myself (speaking career, business, expert); Reach more markets (visually-impaired/blind/seniors) Who is my audience and how are they listening? 7. PRIMARY DECISIONS 1. Format: Downloadable (MP3, .AA) CD Enhanced Ebook DoodleeBooks Photo by Ioe Sullivan 8. PRIMARY DECISIONS 2. Who will produce it? DIY Hire producer Producer/Narrator Producer who finds Narrator Photo by kat Baulu 9. DO IT YOURSELF Studio: Create home studio Hardware: Mic, Computer interface Software: DAW Room prep: Its a bird! Its a plane! Its a noise! Photo by Tim Wilson 10. DO IT YOURSELF Studio: Create home studio Hardware: Mic, Computer interface Software: DAW Room prep: Its a bird! Its a plane! Its a noise! Rent studio (including technician) Community access Professional Photo by Kat Baulu 11. DO IT YOURSELF Recording/Narration Quiet mouth Quiet clothes Quiet chair Interesting, engaging reading voice over long periods of time Plan on at least 2-5 hours of initial recording for each 7,500 words Remove sharp objects from the area Drink lots of water: before and during Photo by Danny Choo 12. DO IT YOURSELF Editing & Mastering Learn how to use editing software Plan on at least 5-10 hours of initial recording for each 7,500 words Clean up stumbles, throat clearing, audible breaths, noises, fix timing, etc. Re-record as necessary Make sure your files meet technical specifications If you have not yet removed sharp objects, now is the time. Upload audio files Photo by Steve 13. HIRE PRODUCER Online options such as: ACX.com (Audible Creative Exchange) elance.com Voice123.com Etc. Hire by referral Photo by kat Baulu 14. SECONDARY DECISIONS Voice criteria Age Gender Accent / Dialects for characters Style Language 15. SECONDARY DECISIONS Compensation Per finished hour Per finished minute Project stipend Royalty share (with or without advance) Combination 16. NEXT STEPS 1. Create free ACX account 2. Claim your book 3. Create book profile 4. Create and post audition script 5. Listen to auditions and samples 6. If using non-ACX, make sure they understand ACX technical specifications 7. Hire: contracts 8. First 15 minute sample: approve or NOT 17. DURING PRODUCTION 1. Listen and Proof 2. Request changes 3. Listen and Proof AGAIN 4. Create cover image (2400x2400) 5. When your thrilled with it all, approve it 6. Market your upcoming audiobook!!!! (But dont wait until now!!!!!) 18. IMPORTANT! Give timestamp for corrections e.g., In chapter 5, at 1:47, overt should be ovary. Give pronunciations BEFORE recording begins: make no assumptions e.g., Monet is pronounced mo-NAY Character notes & dialects: give in advance as much as possible; be specific and constructive e.g., Jill is a Londoner with a rapidfire Cockney delivery 19. OTHER SOUNDS WhisperSync (for Audible/Kindle syncing) Music Neeta Lyffe narration by Becky Parker Geist 20. OTHER SOUNDS WhisperSync (for Audible/Kindle syncing) Music Multiple voices (hire producer) Sound effects The Seven Gods of Luck written and narrated by David Kudler 21. QUALITY Listeners will stop listening if narrator or tech is poor. The end. If the narration is great, they will be looking for your next book and recommending this one to their friends. From Soul Mastery narration by author and by Becky Parker Geist 22. COSTS DIY Studio set-up: ~$500 10,000+ Studio rental: $45 - 1,000/hour Post-production: $45 - 1,000/hour Hire Producer $4-15 pfm or $100-600 pfh Royalty share 50/50 of the 40% (or 25%) gross Other flexible agreements 23. OTHER WAYS TO USE AUDIO Audio sample read from your book, even if not available in audiobook format Podcasts of readings from your book YouTube videos using images or even just the cover from your book Add audio or video clips to email campaigns, including Constant Contact and Vertical Response Post on social media Post on audio sharing sites, e.g., SoundCloud Enhanced ebooks, DoodleeBooks 24. GIVE VOICE TO YOUR BOOK! Audiobook market is GROWING FAST! Cross-marketing benefits sales in all formats Reach more of your target market Photo by Vancouver Film School