What it takes to produce an audiobook

After years of people asking me, "Is that in audiobook format?" I finally broke down and recorded my first novel and published it as an audiobook. Last month, my post about this process mostly revolved around creating the cleanest audio to submit to sites like Amazon’s Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX). This month, I'd like to explain the process of actually recording and producing an audiobook. It's a bit more complicated than you might think. For those who read last month's post, you might be wondering why I used a Christmas tree box to prop up a tablet and hold the microphone. First off, using a tablet with my manuscript on it, I could easily scroll through the pages of my book using my finger on the screen instead of flipping pages on an actual book. Not only did this remove any page-turning noises in my recording, but the seamless manuscript prevented any unnecessary pauses that might occur between pages. Recording an audiobook?...
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How an iPhone, a comforter, and a Christmas tree helped me record my first audiobook

How an iPhone, a comforter, and a Christmas tree helped me record my first audiobook

Ten years ago, I had just released First Name Basis and was excited that my book was in a physical format. I could grab a paperback copy of my book and flip through it just like any other big-name author. However, when I tried selling this book, most people would ask, "Is it in eBook format?" This question confused me because I figured anyone could make an eBook. It takes a bit more effort to produce a physical product like a paperback. After finally caving and creating an eBook for First Name Basis, everything was fine...for a few years. Now, everyone asks if it's in audiobook format. *sigh* Don't get me wrong; I understand the appeal of audiobooks. The majority of the books I read each year are in the audiobook format because I can multitask something menial while also absorbing a book. For self-published authors, the problem with audiobooks is that they are significantly more complex to create than an...
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