Happy Monday, WG2E-Land!!!
Any day now, my first Audio Book Release – BOOTSCOOTIN’ BLAHNIKS – will be available on Audible, Amazon and Apple iTunes!!!
To say I’m over the moon is a big-time understatement! LOL!
My A-mazing Narrator – who I discovered using Audible’s wonderful ACX Platform – is…
I had sooo many questions for Christine as we began our Audio Book Production Journey, and I knew y’all would too as you consider adding Audio Books to your Epublishing Empires.
Christine has all the scoop, and here she is on all-things Audio Book Narration:
1. Tell us about yourself (and how you got into recording and producing Audio Books)…
I actually fell into narrating audiobooks. I’ve been doing voiceovers
for commercials, tv/radio announcing type projects since 2007, and some
film/commercial acting as well. A voiceover colleague, John Grove was
my mentor for a marketing class in October 2011. He introduced me to
his narration coach, Vanessa Hart. She immediately told me to put a
profile on ACX.com with my then Narration demo and other voice samples.
In a little over a week, I had a publisher approach me to audition for
one of his books; then another book I chose to audition for liked my
voice too.
Within a week apart, I had two audiobook contracts – and all before the
end of October 2011! Then with those two book samples, I attracted more
authors and publishers, asking me to either audition for them, or give
me a book deal based on my voice samples – guess my voice is geared to
narrating audiobooks!
2. How do you find and choose the books you’d like to audition for?
This is hard because I now have so many authors and publishers
approaching me, that I don’t have time to look myself at the different
book titles on-line. I did at the end of 2011, look through the
different genres to see the types of books that fit my vocal style and
to audition for. I love all kinds of books – fiction or nonfiction. I
lean towards the books that are fantasy, thriller or romance/comedy – I
enjoy stories that are unique but are entertaining and/or have a special
message to impart.
3. Can you walk us through how you prepare for an Audition? For example, how do you figure out how to make each character sound? (You mentioned to me, for instance, that you use You Tube to study certain voices.)
Yes, YouTube is an amazing tool I’ve found for voice talent. When you
don’t know what a particular accent sounds like, you can basically find
an example of it on YouTube. In choosing voices for different
characters, I was taught to imagine a certain actor or known personality
for that character – then use that actor’s or person’s voice tones for
the character. This makes it easier for the narrator having an
association for how to do the character’s voice. So I read through the
copy, make my voice choices, then do a recording.
Of course, my vocal choices may not be what the author and/or publisher
have in mind, and sometimes I will be given feedback to change a vocal
choice. Or just not be given the book because I may be told they like
my voice but feel I’m not the best fit for their publication.
4. Once you’ve been hired to record and produce an Audio Book, what’s the process of actually making it happen? For example, could you walk us through a typical recording session?
I currently have a home studio where my ‘booth’ is a square walk-in
closet with special acoustic insulation on the walls and still has my
clothes on either side – it is a perfect ‘dead’ space for recording.
There is room for a chair where I sit in front of my microphone off the
boomstand – it’s a comfortable, cozy setting.
I typically record starting at 4:00am in the morning till about 6:30am
(getting up around 3:30am to hydrate my vocal cords with water and chew
on some green apple slices to reduce mouth clicks), then have another
quiet period for recording from 9:00am till about noontime. Because I’m
currently in a condo building, I have to be aware of when there is
running water through the walls, and not record when that is going on
(my Rode NT1-A microphone is super sensitive!!) When doing a book of
about 8-9 hours of listening time, the goal is to record at least 4
chapters a day, 5 days a week with two days rest for the voice. Some
chapters are longer than others, so that also determines how much I
record per day without taxing my voice. It takes me about 2 weeks to
record a 10 hour book – sometimes a week and a half if there is a rushed
deadline.
Obviously, if the book is shorter, the recording time is shorter too
A novella of 40 pages that I am doing now only takes a day to do.
5. At the time of this interview (early April 2012), my first Audio Book – BOOTSCOOTIN’ BLAHNIKS – was in what is called the “Engineering and Editing Phase”…what happens at this point and how and where is it done?
Once you finish recording the chapters of a book, you now have to use
high quality audio speakers or headphones to listen to the recordings
while reading along with the manuscript. You have to check and be sure
you recorded every word exactly as the author wrote it. Of course, you
correctly record for typos or misspellings and check with the author or
publisher if there is a question on a particular word or phrase. At the
same time, you are also checking for errant mouth clicks or heavy
breathing, or any other sound that doesn’t belong in the recording
(airplane overhead; loud garbage truck in the distance, etc.)
Editing can be done at home with quality audio software and equipment,
or given to a professional audio engineer. I do my own takes – I put
all the correct cuts together of the chapter recordings, edit the
spacing and take out anything that should not be in the final file.
Then because I am currently so busy with other projects, I then email
the files to an audio engineer to master the files. Meaning he takes my
raw WAV files and masters them to a compressed, equalized quality and
puts them into what most people know as an MP3 file format. This is the
format the publisher will need to put the book onto Audible, iTunes and
Amazon.com.
6. How do you then Upload the Audio Files for each book to Audible ACX? And you, as the producer, do that, right, not the author?
Yes, it is the narrator’s responsibility as also being the Producer to
upload all the completed chapter files onto ACX – for the author’s
and/or publisher’s review. I normally receive the MP3 mastered chapter
files from the engineer via an FTP website or YouSendIt.com or DropBox
method. A profile page for the book was already created within my ACX
profile once I was awarded the book – I login to my profile and click
the book tab, and its production page opens up. I then give a heading
for each chapter – for examples, ‘BootscootinBlahniks – Chapter 1′, then
copy the file to that title. Once that is finished, it gives me a new
field to put another chapter title in.
Then the Intro and Outro files are uploaded, and a 5 minute (or less)
retail sample of the book. I let the author or publisher know the files
are uploaded for their review. Once they give me the O.K., I click
‘Done’, then the files are released to ACX for their quality control
review. It takes between 7 to 10 days for ACX to review and post the
book on Audible.com, iTunes.com and Amazon.com for listeners to purchase
and enjoy .
7. Do you prefer to contract with authors for the Royalty Split Option or the Per Finished Hour Fee?
That is an interesting question as most of the self-published authors
and small to midsize publishers prefer to do Royalty Share (split the
profits 50/50 with the Narrator/Producer). So far, all the books I have
done have been Royalty Share. Currently, I have one author offering
straight Per Finished Hour (PFH) pay.
I actually like the Royalty Split because if it is a popular book with
many fans, it means I can be earning money off that book for several
years (or as long as the copyright holds out )
8. How long on average does it take you to record and produce a novel (standard length 65,000 to 85,000 words)?
Basically, 85,000 to 95,000 is 2 to 3 weeks of recording time. So far,
it is 2 weeks of 5 day a week recording to do a 90,000 work book. With
65,000 words, probably 1.5 weeks. For it to be fully produced, another
2-3 weeks – I would say 5 weeks in total from start to finish.
9. What current projects are you working on for which authors?
For you, D.D. – Stompin’ on Stetsons and Buckles Me Baby, the other two
Bootscootin’ books. Annie Bellet – her fantasy novella, ‘Witch Hunt:
The Gryphonpike Chronicles’; Amanda Ashley – her vampire/romance novel,
‘A Darker Dream’. I was asked by author, Karen Cantwell to audition for
her book, ‘Take the Monkeys and Run’ so we’ll see if I get that one too
10. What’s the toughest part of recording and producing an Audio Book?
The toughest part is prepping the book – marking any difficult words
where pronunciations need to be looked up and sounded off. For a 90,000
word book, it takes about 3 days (sometimes 4-5) to fully read through,
mark and write down separately all the characters, their qualities and
quirks and choosing their voices. Then if needed, listening to
different inflections and accents on YouTube to make sure you get it
right for a certain character. Also, deciding on what tonal quality the
narrator’s voice as just the narrator should be for the book.
11. What part of the process do you enjoy most?
The recording part! That is the most fun
12. What can the authors do to make y’all’s job easier?
If authors can produce a formatted file of the manuscript where all the
chapters start at the top of the page and include page numbering, that
would make the job much easier. When a book is printed out on 8.5×11
pages, I want to be able to paperclip each chapter together as a
standalone chapter. This way, a recording is for one completed chapter
and makes editing easier as well. Eventually, a future Droid or iPad
will take the place of paper but still, having the manuscript formatted
ahead of time saves the narrator a lot of time in getting the book ready
for recording.
******************************************
Great scoop here, right, Y’All?!
Recording in a closet…luuuvvv it!!! And wow!!! What a complex process!!!
I can tell you there’s NOTHING like hearing that first chapter come alive through your Narrator’s voice!!! It’s one moment in life I’ll never forget!
Thanks Bunches, Christine, for doing this terrific interview and for making my dreams of doing Audio Books come true!!!
U rock!!! As does our entire Production Team (so thank all our Vegas Crew for me too)!
Now then…
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: What Audio Book Narration questions do you have for Christine? Or if you have any questions on using ACX, I can try and answer those for you too…
The Best of Audio Book Wishes — D. D. Scott
P.S. I’ll let y’all know as soon as BOOTSCOOTIN’ BLAHNIKS is live on Audible, Amazon and iTunes!!!
Brilliant! That is so clearly explained. I didn’t knoow about ACX.com, but have now bookmarked it.
Good luck with the audiobook, Dee-Dee!
Thanks Bunches, Alison!
And wow Amazon’s ACX is just A-mazing to work with!!!
I’ve found a true gem of talent and sweetness with Christine!!!
I was wondering about the process of going audio. I sat next to a person on a plane trip whose mother is blind. She asked me to let her know when my books go audio. This post brings me one step closer ( right after publishing my books in large print editions)!
Thank you for your timely posts! This is my go-to blog every morning.
~Nancy Jill
This is exactly my main reason for wanting to go into Audio Formats too, Nancy!
I have a Great Aunt who’s legally blind, and she devours Audio Books…we’re talking like a dozen a week!
I can’t wait till she can hear mine for the first time!
Also, my Dad travels about two hours round-trip each day so he can listen to ‘em too!!! He asks me every morning on his way to work if it’s live yet…
And we’re thrilled to hear that WG2E is your Go-To Blog Every Morning! We luuuvvv spending time with each of you every day here on The WG2E!
Hi Nancy,
Yes, ACX.com is a great resource for authors to easily get their books into audio format without the hassle of writing their own contracts. ACX has all of that done for you in digital format. You choose the method of how you wish the Narrator/Producer paid (royalty share or pfh), read up on the narrators, listen to narrator samples, write to them and/or wait for narrators to audition for you, and away you go.
Best to you and your new publications
Any questions you have about the process, ACX is very helpful.
Sincerely, Christine Padovan
Thanks for the scoop! Learning about accents through YouTube makes complete sense. And how exciting, D.D.! Best of luck with your audio book!
Thanks Bunches, Tamara! We’re very very excited about this new venture!!!
And I know…how cool is it to hear how Narrators like the superfab Christine nail the voices?!
Just an A-mazing process!!!
How ’bout having the apple slices to limit the mouth clicks?! Wow!
Specifically, green apples, that is
Not sure why, but Granny Smith apples clean the mouth’s palate and keep the mouth from incessantly ‘clicking’ as you speak. Also, my engineers tell me that apple juice works very well too, but I find it easier to slice a few green apple slices, put them in a Ziplock baggie and keep them by my recording chair in the ‘booth’. 
Great post, you clear everything up and make it seems so doable! Going to do it!
Go for it, Elizabeth!
It’s just sooo much fun and what an exciting new sales avenue with totally new audiences for each of us!!!
Yes, now that ACX.com is here, it is such a great vehicle in getting self published authors’ and small publishers’ works into audio form for the mass market to enjoy
. It is also helps narrators like myself get introduced to all of you wonderful authors through one site, linking all the information together. What a great concept!
What an interesting post. Now we know how it is done. Something to think about to do in the near future.
I’m with you, Julie, the Audio Book Production Process itself just totally intrigues me!
It’s definitely an avenue to explore, my friend, with your superfab books!!!
Welcome, Christine! It’ll great fun to hear how you made the Boostscootin’ characters talk.
And good luck with the audio books, D.D.! You’re always an inspiration!
Thanks, Alicia
Congrats to you and your hubby, Roy on your great books 
You two make a winning team!
Thanks bunches, Alicia!
I can’t wait to hear you and Roy’s superfab characters “talk” too!!!
Thanks DD! Your turning into a media mogul!
This seems like a win win! Going to look into in between projects.
Definitely worth doing, Liz
ACX will love you – you have great reviews on Amazon for your books.
Thanks Christine. I’m really excited about doing this.
Go for it, Liz!!!
You’ll have a blast with it too!!!
And, in this day and age, it’s all about getting on as many multi-media platforms as you can!!!
Hi, Christine,
I’ve already learned a lot from you in our ACX messages so it was nice to see your on D.D.’s blog with even more detailed explanations of your process.
I’ve got to tell everyone here that you really do have an amazing voice–guess I should say instrument like they do on all the singing reality shows, huh?
Best wishes,
Joan Reeves
Great point to bring up too, Joan…in that ACX does allow you to message with your narrator/producer right through their site so you can keep each other posted on progress and begin to learn how to build up the buzz for your Audio Books together!!!
And you’re sooo right also…Christine has one superfab voice!!! We should just start calling her “The Voice”…
Aw shucks ;;)
Great info! Thank you both for the post and explanations. Very interesting learning how this was done. I’m definitely going to do this with my books. I just have to get them pubbed first.
U betchya, Rhonda!
And Go, Girl, Go!!!
It’s so interesting to hear exactly how the process works from someone who’s involved in it! Thanks so much, DD. You’ve definitely made me think more about producing audio books!
Your books would be superfab fun Audio Books, Talli!
I sooo hope to encourage y’all to try this multi-media outlet for your Ebooks! It’s a fabulous new market for each of us to explore!!!
Thank you for coming out of the closet, to tell us about Audiobook production!
I really enjoyed the peek into your behind the scenes work.
I’m a HUGE Audiobook fan and read/listen to probably 90% of my books on Audio (Audible.com). After a hard day slaving over the hot computer, I relish having someone read to me, to give my eyes a rest. Also, listening to a book helps pass the time when doing boring house chores, mucking the horse stall, or sitting on a dead stopped freeway.
Keep up the GREAT work! Can’t wait to hear DD’s books on Audio!
Thanks, Jill
I’ll stay in the closet and make more books for you to listen to 
Thanks DD and Christine for an illuminating post.
This is timely for me–I’ve just put my first mystery/thriller up on ACX. No auditions yet; I guess I must go searching
Christine, how do you differentiate between a male and female voice? Or you narrate everything in the same overall tone/voice?
This is another great point, Toni…and thanks for mentioning it!
I did not wait for auditions, instead I began listening to a ton of narrators’ samples to see who I thought would work for my books! I then messaged my choices and ask them to audition and asked if they were interested in the Royalty Split Option.
That’s how I found my superfab Christine!
Hi Toni, basically one can differentiate between a male and female voice just in cadence – a slight change in speed or inflection. I was taught to not really throw my voice around – though I really still do that with all my audio work. My voice is naturally deep (similar to a Karen Carpenter richness) so I can easily do a male voice by just speaking in my natural lower tones, then just speaking in a higher pitch as a woman.
Regarding not getting any bites yet for auditions – I believe the really good narrators listed on ACX are a little overwhelmed with doing more than one book at a time for the number of publishers/authors listed there. And some of the narrators may not be as proactive in their careers, looking for titles to submit for.
I was less busy in January in between books and auditioned for several titles, fiction and non-fiction on my own. Now is a different matter juggling 5 ongoing productions at the same time (fortunately, not due all at once
. So if you are willing to search and solicit a narrator to your liking, and work with their schedule, that may be best in getting your book in production with your narrator of choice 
You can write to me within ACX or at cp@actorcp.com if you wish to speak further about your lovely books
Thanks so much Christine for the informative answer. I’ll be contacting you!
Thanks so much for this detailed explanation! I had no idea how audio book work was done — just another mysterious black box for me. I’m not ready to do an audio book but when I am ready, I’ll understand a bit of the process. Thanks again.
U betchya, Gail!
Glad our post helped you!!!
That’s what it’s all about here at The WG2E!!!
Great post! It was so interesting to hear how all of it comes together……sounds as if Christine has “the voice” for doing narrating……..great find D.D.! Best wishes to you & Christine!
I couldn’t get over the process itself either, Jeanne! Wow!
And I can’t wait for y’all to hear Christine’s A-mazing voice!!! She totally rocks it!!!
Thanks, Jeanne
It’s great to get to know Christine and the process!
Congrats on this next step in your publishing world, D.D.
Super post!
Thanks sooo much, Partner!!!
I struck gold with Christine!!!
Can’t wait for you to hear her magic in making my characters come alive!!!
Congrats to D.D. and David for their ‘Stuck With A…’ series
When will that be on Amazon?
How on EARTH do you manage to get up so early? What time do you go to bed? I would DIE if I tried that, I’m sure.
I don’t do it every day
Basically, for now until I have a house where one room is dedicated as a studio with a Whisperbooth or some sort of soundproof audio booth, this is what I have to do to create audiobook quality recordings. I live in a condo building – so running water through the wall even a few feet away is loud enough for the microphone to pick up in the background. If these were commercials, then music or other sound effects would go over the background and wouldn’t matter.
For narration where it is just your voice, the background and all around you has to be perfectly quiet. So yes, I get to bed alittle earlier on days I am recording – maybe 9pm, 9:30pm and sacrifice some sleep time to get in quality recording time.
A loud Blackberry phone alarm gets me up at those early morning hours
and your body kind of gets used to it. Believe me, I relax more on the weekends when I’m resting my voice 