If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may remember that I started thinking of creating a podiobook (audiobook distributed in incremental podcasts/sections) back in February or so. It’s been a while since I mentioned it, so I thought I’d bring you up to date and let you know what the process has been like (the entire book is done now, and we’re going to get the first chapter online in another week or so).
I was originally inspired by the interview I’d done with full-time ebook author Nathan Lowell. Nathan started out podcasting his novels long before he prettied them up and turned them into books. In doing so, he built a fan base that was ready and waiting when he launched his first ebook.
I figured that creating podiobook versions of my novels would be another way to get my name out there and let people try my stories. After all, not everybody has jumped on the e-reader train yet, but many folks have iPods and other mp3 players, and some of those folks enjoy listening to audiobooks that way. I know I’ve listened to more than a few in the car and at the gym.
My plan isn’t to charge for the podiobook (those interested will be able to listen to each chapter as I release it, probably once a week), but maybe some of those listeners will want to go on to buy the ebook or print (coming soon!) versions.
For those who might be thinking of choosing this route as well, here’s a look at how the process has gone for me:
- I decided whether I wanted to learn how to do this myself (which would include investing in good audio production equipment and spending quite a bit of time reading my book aloud and then editing it). The answer was no. I figured it would be a steep learning curve, and I wanted to invest my time in other things — like writing the next book!
- I got in touch with the folks from Darkfire Productions. They gave me a quote on what it would cost to pay voice talent and put everything together, and I decided to go for it. (I wasn’t making the big e-publishing bucks back then, and they were nice enough to let me pay in installments.)
- I sent off the manuscript and Starla Huchton started narrating it. It seemed like a good idea to get the whole book (100,000+ words!) recorded and finished before releasing episodes, and this took a good three months or so. She had to read the chapters, the DFP guys (Collin Earl and Chris Snelgrove) had to edit them, and then it was my turn to listen to the chapters to check for errors (I was probably the slowest link in this chain, heh).
- I picked out some music for the introduction that will play at the beginning of each segment (as you’d guess, you can’t just grab music from some band you like; you have to buy a license from someone who puts out royalty-free music). I’m using Space Deep by Scott Hallgren.
- The next step, which I’m working on now, is to get the book information over to Darkfire Productions, the stuff that will go into the listing at Podiobooks.com (genre, dust jacket blurb, cover art, keywords, etc.). I’d thought the guys might just send me the files when they were done, and I’d have to figure out where to upload them and what not, but they’re doing that for me too. Yay, thanks, gentlemen! (They’ve all done their own podiobooks, as well as work for clients, so they bring a lot of experience to the table.)
- Once all that’s done, we should be ready to launch the first chapter (I believe we’re shooting for the 15th).
So, that’s the process!
I’ve already sent the DF fellows the Dark Currents (Emperor’s Edge 2) manuscript, and I’ll be having that one recorded this fall. I’m planning to do the whole series, as I get them written and published, and I’m hoping this will be a great way for me to gain some new fans.
I’ll post again when the first episode is up, and I’ll do an update later on to let you know if it seems worthwhile (insofar as earning new fans and selling books).
I really admire your enterprising spirit, Lindsay.
I might well be one of the new readers you pick up through your podiobook! I’m looking forward to it!
Oh, I’ll definitely be listening to the podiocast! I’ve been meaning to get around to reading The Emperor’s Edge, so this only makes my life easier.
Congrats, Lindsay! This is exciting!
I’m doing the Podiobooks thing DIY. You’re right, learning curve is steep. Like Everest. The equivalent of learning a whole new career, which is what it is.
Meeting the technical requirements are also hard to learn. There’s no comprehensive manual. I had to cobble together procedures from blog posts, trial-and-error, etc.
Having done it (half!) it has gotten easier. But I don’t recommend it. The result, my best work, will still be short of polished.
I’m hoping the charm of ‘Author Narrated’ will carry me. 😀
Best of luck with the launch.
Glad to hear you’re giving it a try, PV! Hey, author narrated sounds fine to me. 🙂
Great to hear you are almost done. Your blog inspired me to experiment with this route as well. I still have about 17 chapters of audio to review for my novel Union of Renegades and then I’ll be joining the Podiobooks club. I’m excited to see what kind of attention I attract by getting my content into another format.
I hope it goes well for you, Tracy! (And me too, grin)
Do you have a release date yet, Linds?
NVM. I see 15th as target … (helps if you actually READ before commenting)
Congrats and best on your new release.
Thanks, Nathan! We’ll see if we actually get that. I didn’t realize you had to get in line over there, hah. 😉
used to be that you could walk up to the counter and get your book in.
now? you need to schedule it — sometimes a month in advance.
Did that company disappear? I tried to click on the link, but I got nothing.
Are you going to share how much it cost? I’m tempted to do the same thing. I would record it myself but seeing as I have a podcast, it’s a lot of work and I don’t like the sound of my own voice. I’d rather pay someone who sounded better than me.
I got in touch with the guys, and they are having some website difficulties this weekend. It was fine Friday night when I was writing up the post, and then poof. Hope I didn’t break it. 😉
The price depends on the length of your book, but I’m guessing it would be over $1,000 for anything novel length. Podiobooks.com itself also offers narration and editing services, though, when I did the math, they were pricier than DFP.
Marc,
Hi! I’m a representative of the company Lindsay’s is using! (Nice to meet you.) Email me directly at collin@darkfireproductions.com and we can chat. I would happy to answer any questions you have. No pressure of course. We are working on getting the website back up. Thanks for the shoot out Lindsay!
I have a friend who does cds and I suggested this to him. I don’t know whether he’s looked into it or not.
Seems like another fun creative outlet.
Oops! Typo! Shout I meant shout out!
That’s fantastic, Lindsay! Hope it does well. I love Podiobooks and Evo Terra is just an awesome dude for all he does there.
I put Wrath of the White Tigress up on Podiobooks (DIY), starting in 2009 and had a small bit of success with it. I didn’t promote it well.
I’m producing a new Podiobook for Pepper Thorn, which she narrated herself. That will be out this fall. And hopefully I’ll get one up for The Storm Dragon’s Heart soon as well, but I haven’t begun recording it yet.
Thanks, David! I’d guess that if you did a whole series over there (the way Nathan did), that’d be the way to develop a good following over time. We shall see. 🙂
FYI, the Darkfire site is back up and running.
Your posts always give me a new way to think about promoting my writing!
I’m not ready for creating a podiocast yet, but it sounds really cool. I’ll have to check yours out. 🙂