I just returned from an author conference. There were
several different interesting workshops and panels. The most fun was the one put on by the
Killion Group or as some may know them, Hot Damn
Stock. They make stock photos for
authors to use on their book covers.
They held a mock photo shoot with one of their male models, Julian, and
individuals picked out of the audience. It was interesting to see how they stage the
photos and all that goes into the making of a stock photo.
The workshop I found most interesting was one presented by
Ann M. Richardson an audiobook narrator.
She talked about all the things a narrator has to do and what the author
can do ahead of time to make the book quicker and easier for the narrator.
Here are some key points to getting a good narrator:
1) Either pay the full narrator fee of anywhere from
$200-600(well-known narrators) per finished hour of the book. Or set up a
hybrid payment of royalty share and so much per finished hour, or the royalty
share and try to get a stipend from ACX. The
more you can give over the royalty share the better narrator you’ll get.
2) Choose the right audition script. This is 2-3 pages out
of your manuscript that has dialog from your main characters and some description
text. Be sure to let them know of any specific accents. They will send you a 5
minute audition.
Once you’ve picked the narrator:
1) Send them the manuscript with enough scenes marked to
give a good overall of your book and have the narrator send you a 15 minute
recording. This is where you adjust any accents and send them a list of words
that may have an ambiguous pronunciation.
2) When you receive the 15 minute recording. Listen close
and request any specific corrections. When you have approved this, your
narrator will continue to record the book.
3) Most won’t send you the audio until the whole book has
been read. A few will send you a chapter at a time. When you find corrections make sure to put
down the page and sentence as well as the time stamp on the recording to make
it easier for the narrator to find and make the corrections.
The part I have the most difficulty with is remembering to
promote the audio book. At this point I only have one. When we re-do the other
covers of my Halsey Brothers Series, I plan to get the rest of those in
audiobooks. Right now, I’m trying to get my mystery series in audiobooks. I had
a rough start with a narrator who backed out after she’d committed to my book, then decided she didn’t have time because of all her other
obligations. I’m looking for a new
narrator right now.
As a reader do you like audiobooks? If so, leave a comment and I’ll pick one
person to receive a code to get my book Marshal in Petticoats FREE!
Authors, have you dipped your toes in the audiobook world?
Why or why not and how is it going so far?
After accidentally shooting a bank robber, Darcy Duncan
becomes marshal of a town as accident prone as herself. Darcy's taken care of her younger brother the last five years, and she’s not about to take orders from a
corrupt mayor or a handsome drifter, whose curiosity could end her career as a marshal and take away their security
Gil Halsey is looking for his boss's son who is riding with outlaws. Taking the young man back to the ranch will seal the foreman's job. When he discovers the town's new marshal is a passionate woman with a huge regard for family and being framed for a bank heist, he has to decide which is the better future-- the feisty woman or the ranch.
Paty Jager writes murder
mysteries and steamy western romance starring cowboys and Indians.
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