I have a most interesting interview today –
with the three authors who wrote a book about producing audio books! Welcome
Renea Mason, Noah Levine and Erin deWard.
What inspired you to write The Audiobook
Book?
Hi Jennifer.
Thanks for letting us stop by your blog.
In answer to your first question, we were inspired by several
factors. A lot of people have, at different times, asked all three of us
about getting started on their path to producing/recording audiobooks.
It’s something we’re all passionate about, but it’s hard to give all this
information to people on an individual basis. More importantly, we believe
fostering the creation of more audiobooks is good for everyone – authors and
narrators.
It’s a growing industry and listeners are hungry for more content.
If a person listens to one audiobook and likes it – they’ll want to listen to
more. That translates into more sales for authors and narrators, and more
listeners appreciating what we all work so hard to create.
Lastly, we had such a great experience collaborating on all the books
we’ve done together. We want others to have similar experiences.
Not all authors and narrators will want to collaborate as fully as we have. Our
way certainly isn’t the only way, but we felt having both narrators and authors
understand a bit more about the challenges each other faces when creating
audiobooks would go a long way toward enhancing empathy and potentially, better
audiobooks, smoother productions and happier experiences.
(absolutely fascinating! JD)
What sorts of things are included in the
book?
We tried to include everything we could think of, from soup to nuts, to
help both authors and narrators through the process. Upfront costs for
narrators just getting started, financial considerations for authors with
regards to producing and promoting the audiobook, the different types of
contracts that authors and narrators can enter into, the ups and downs of those
different contracts, how vitally important clear and open communication is from
the get-go, how to set up an ACX profile, how to run an audition, the different
narration styles, figuring out which one(s) are a good fit.
We also covered aspects of performance, marketing, and generally
speaking, the need for all of us to support each other. Sure, there's a certain amount of competitiveness between authors and other authors and narrators and other narrators, and a healthy does of competition can be a good thing. We emphasize the overarching idea of
mutual respect, understanding and support is a big message in the book.
What made you decide to work as co-authors?
When we worked collaboratively on audiobooks, we found that the final
result was benefited from our multiple viewpoints. As individuals, we
each do the best work we can, and hopefully, our readers and listeners enjoy
the work, but there’s something special about the creative process being
collaborative. So it seemed like a natural flow for us to write the book
together, each giving our individual perspectives, drafted as one unified
message.
How did you find it working together?
It was both rewarding and challenging in equal measure. We each have
different writing styles and degrees of experience writing, but in the end, we
fed off each other’s ideas and styles. For example, all of the anecdotes
in the book came as a secondary thought. The first draft felt a little
stiff and too business-like, but when we added some of our personal experiences
to the mix, it took on a whole new flavor. It made the presentation of all the
business material a lot more entertaining and intimate. But we definitely
faced our challenges with deadlines and edits.
(having co-written a book myself I know what
you mean about rewarding AND challenging! JD)
Buy Links
Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/Audiobook-Book-Production-Authors-Narrators-ebook/dp/B01M3WX6FF/
All other major online retailer - https://books2read.com/TheAudiobookBook
Print and audio editions coming soon...
The price is $3.99.
Author bios
RENEA MASON
"Sexy, fun and so
creative it makes my head spin! I'd read the damn phone book if Renea Mason
wrote it."
-NYT and USA TODAY
Bestselling author ROBYN PETERMAN
Multi-award-winning and bestselling author Renea
Mason writes erotic romances which challenge the definition of conventional
love. Whether it be contemporary or paranormal, the author of the 2016 Audie
Award-Winning Curing Doctor Vincent, prides herself on bringing readers unique
storylines, memorable characters, and top-notch audiobook performances in her
tales of love, lust, and mystery.
In addition to being an author, Renea has spent
more than two decades in leadership roles, from manager to vice president, in
various fundraising and healthcare organizations. Currently, she works under
her legal name, Sheila Hollums Bates, as a Senior Business Advisor, providing
management and process consulting services to internal constituencies for the
seventh largest revenue producing company in the US.
When she isn't crafting sensual stories which
stimulate the mind and body alike or providing the latest management and
process guidance, she spends time in the Laurel Mountains of Western
Pennsylvania with her beyond-supportive husband, two wonderful sons, and two
loving but needy cats.
Renea loves connecting with her readers. Visit her on…
Website – http://ReneaMason.com
Facebook
– http://www.facebook.com/ReneaMasonAuthor
Twitter –
@reneamason1
Instagram
– @renea_mason
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/c/ReneaMason
SoundCloud
- https://soundcloud.com/reneamason
Friends
and Reader Club – http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheMadMasons
NOAH MICHAEL LEVINE
Noah
Michael Levine is an Audie Award-Winning narrator, actor and author, living in
the beautiful Hudson River Village of Nyack, NY. He has narrated 200 audiobook
titles and looks forward to doing many more. He truly loves his work.
Sometimes known by #AuralSexpert, he’s performed a lot of Romance and
Erotica, but his catalog spans the full breadth of genres, from history,
philosophy, science, and literary critique to drama, comedy, young adult, and
thriller. He is deeply thankful for and grateful to both Audible and ACX, as
well as the authors and lovers of audiobooks who make his work possible.
Noah’s career in the entertainment industry spans over thirty years,
including a long run as lead singer, lyricist, and keyboard player for the
largely unknown 1980s-era band PLCourage and as owner of Eleuthra Productions.
He’s appeared in many productions from stage to TV and Film, in addition to
writing and producing works for large and small screens.
When not in “The Booth,” he’s an avid home chef, lover of animals and is
working on his first novel.
Website – http://NoahMichaelLevine.com
ACX Narrator
Profile - Noah Michael Levine
Instagram
– @therealbadnoah
YouTube -
http://www.youtube.com/eleuthra
SoundCloud
- http://www.soundcloud.com/eleuthra
ERIN deWARD
Erin deWard is an Audie Award-Winning narrator with over fifty titles in
genres ranging from Spirituality to Young Adult to Adult Contemporary and
others. She's worked on stage, screen, and behind the mic for over thirty
years. She is beyond grateful to have come to this place in her life and thanks
all of the people and organizations that sped her on her way.
In addition to her love of acting, Erin is passionate about her work as
an audio describer, translating visual images in media and performance into
aural pictures for people who have low or no vision. She studies and performs
Shakespearean text and can most frequently be seen cavorting onstage with The
Strange Bedfellows, the adult troupe of the Children’s Shakespeare Theatre of
New York.
Erin lives in lovely Nyack on Hudson, New York with her husband,
daughter, sometimes her college-aged son, and two ill-behaved but loveable
dogs, Annie and Benevolio.
Website – http://www.erindeward.com/
Twitter – @erindeward
Instagram
– @erindeward
SoundCloud
- https://soundcloud.com/erin-deward
Thanks
for sharing with us. Good luck with your book.
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