Prep for an Audio Book Release

by Elva Cobb Martin

Have you noticed that audio books are selling better than ever? I actually listen to an audio book while I do my fast walking at the gym five days a week. A friend of mine with small children said the only time she had to "read"was while cooking or driving and listening to an audio book.

I was so happy when my publisher, Lighthouse Publishers of the Carolinas, sent me a form to fill out to start the process of getting my two novels into audio. This would not cost me anything, but my publisher, professional reader, and I would all earn money when the audio versions sold.

The form sent me included things like choosing the narrator's age, gender, accent, and style. I chose adult, female, American Southern, and inspirational or storyteller style.

Next, I had to give the Amazon overall rating for each novel and samples of reviews posted by the public. I also had to state how active I would be in marketing the audio books across my social media, etc. I gave my "number of followers" on Social Media.

My publisher then sent this info out to professional readers and those interested began to send me about two-minute auditions of the first pages of my two books.

A strange thing happened. I received two male reader auditions and decided the male readers were the best, even though I had originally assumed a romance novel would need a female reader. It is now my opinion the female readers who buy my audio book will fall in love with these strong male voices and thereby my hero. LOL

Here's a sample from my novel Summer of Deception.

http://bit.ly/2Fzbswr

How do you like this male voice? This man is a professional actor and we can tell it by his enunciation, emphasis, and otherwise great reading. He is busy right now finishing the audio version of my romantic suspense, Summer of Deception. I look forward to announcing it on this blog when it is ready.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you leave a comment and share this on your social media by clicking on the small icons below.

Blessings,
Elva 

Elva Cobb Martin is vice-president of the South Carolina Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. She has two inspirational novels contracted with Lighthouse Publishers of the Carolinas. Summer of Deception, a contemporary romantic suspense, and an historical romance, In a Pirate’s Debt. Both have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have carried Elva's articles. Jim Hart of Hartline Literary represents her. She and her husband Dwayne are semi-retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in Anderson, South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site http://www.elvamartin.com, her blog http://carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com, on Twitter www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin; Facebook http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin;  and Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin

Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI