July 12, 2021
Are audiobooks the future of book sales? Do you have your stories on audio?
First it was large print books and books for the blind. Then there were books on tape. Now we moved into proprietary formats based on what platform you listen on. Alternative ways of reading have been around for years.
I own copies of James Bond books as MP3s that I got back in the late 90s. (I think – I’ve transferred them from one PC
to another so many times that I’ve lost track of when I got them.) I listened to them when I was doing chores that didn’t demand my total attention but found my enjoyment was based on the voice of the narrator—when the narrator changed in the middle of the series I didn’t like it—and I never got ‘addicted’ to the format.
To be honest, I don’t understand people who listen to audiobooks when they’re driving. I need to concentrate on the road, and the radio is background noise to keep me company, especially on long drives. I can’t imagine trying to pay attention to a book and still giving traffic the needed attention. Even on the long, flat, lonely stretches of Wyoming roads, you never know when someone is going to fly around you doing over 100 mph. Obviously, that changes if you are the passenger and someone else is driving.
Are audiobooks the future? Maybe, in the same way that ebooks were the future not too long ago. There will always be an audience for all forms of books – print, ebook, and audio, as well as any form that hasn’t been invented yet. (Neural implant, anyone?)
I’ve looked into audio for my books. (NOT Audible, because that’s part of the Amazon monopoly.) I looked is as far as it’s gone. The price to have audio books done right is out of my budget and I don’t have the skills or equipment to do it myself. It’s more than just reading your story out loud. I think I’m an expressive reader, but I am aware of the slight mistakes I make. To have a recording edited to make it error-free would be more work than many editors would tackle. I need to sell many more of my books before an audio book would fit into my plans.
We have authors on this hop that have audiobooks, and I’m looking forward to their input. You can find them by following the links below.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
July 12, 2021
Are audiobooks the future of book sales? Do you have your stories on audio?
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This is exactly the reason I chose Audible/ACX. It costs nothing and it’s another way of selling your books. I also get more royalties for an audio book than I do for an ebook.
Have you been following the “Audiblegate” controversy? Where Amazon is accused of ripping authors off on audible books?
No I was unaware of this. I wonder if this applies to KDP too?
KDP? Where they can and do change the amount authors get on a monthly basis?
It depends if you’ve had any returns. If there are returns, then they stop the royalties.
Don’t get me started on Audiblegate. I managed to keep my real thoughts on THAT subject away from my post.
Yes, I noticed you tiptoed around it. 🙂
I only listen to books I “should” read but don’t have time for.
There are some books I can’t imagine listening to. (that includes most erotica)
You’re making a lot of noise about editing VO. The software is free. The editing is visual and recoverable if you screw up. I started editing VO for $ at a video production facility in Houston in 19xx with a splice block, grease pencil and razor blade.On through the 80 when smples were numbers to now where an 8 year old can paste up a hit record.
Audacity is free. Decent mics these days are under $30. Compression, normalization, eq, blah blah blah are all free, and usually included. Your voice shows up as a linear waveform presentation. Drop a marker, zoom in, drag and cut. 15 minutes of practice and you’re almost an expert.
Some world famous dance DJ pissed everyone off a few years back when he said in a na interview that he could take a kid off the street, teach them Ableton and in 15 minutes have them doing what every DJ in the world is doing. He wasn’t far off. You’re the kid on the street. We can all, given a short time and the free tools, produce whatever we need from publishable output to audio books. It’s not a techie rocket science thing these days. Talk, capture, edit done.
I say this because as an old product specialist from when experts were required I’m all for the modern crafts DIY movement. There are no secrets, on tools and adaptable skills,
Hi Patricia, I also don’t have audio books. I have been thinking about it and doing my own recording but I just don’t have time for anything else. Amazon decided to remove all my ebooks and has only returned a few. I am a little fed up. They are available elsewhere and I am trying to market them there rather but it is harder. Americans particularly, seem very devoted to Amazon.
They removed your books? Do you know why?