When I discovered how enjoyable it is to listen to audio books on my smart phone, I decided to see what the process required. Creating an audio book is not as easy as sitting in a quiet room and reading into a microphone. I contacted ACX.com, which is owned by Amazon and known as Audible.com to the general public. I decided on my bestselling book according to their guidelines. My Honorable Highlander is the first of my six Scottish time travel novels.
I posted a short excerpt, a description of what type of narrated voices I needed, and waited. Several people auditioned for me, meaning that they read the excerpt and posted it to my ACX account. After I chose one woman, I sent her the pdf of my manuscript along with a suggestion of what my characters looked like and sounded like. Example:
Kirkwall Gunn, our Hero
Scottish accent (deep and regal): 30 yr. old, dark auburn hair, blue eyes, 6ft. 4”, square chin, tanned, reddish chest hair, scar running from left lip up cheek. Laird of his small clan from Keldurunach (Kell-dure-ann-atch) near the Sutherland border.
Haven MacKay, our heroine
Modern-day American from New England: 25 yr. old, black hair w/wispy curls, pale green eyes, 5ft. 5”, born in Lincoln, NH. A friend of Jake’s. She has a small apt. and worked part-time at aunt’s herbal store & part-time at newspaper, photographic memory, named for ‘nymphs of the ash tree’.
Cameron Robeson
Scottish accent (comical, a jokester): 30 yr. old, wavy blond hair & golden eyebrows, amber eyes, weathered skin around mouth, 6’5”, tan. Kirk’s cousin, Nordic ancestry (think Vikings). Thinks of Haven as a raven-haired Goddess; has a feral glint; meaty fists, lusts after Haven.
The narrator was to start recording chapters, return them to me, and I would listen to them as I read along with my book. ACX gave her two months to complete the 10+ hour project. She asked for a two month extension, and then another without giving me one measly chapter. I fired her, and went back to asking for auditions. The second narrator I chose, Tracy Marks, was professional, competent, and came in under the two month requirement.
The Book Blurb: Bumbling present day herbalist, Haven MacKay, gets more than she bargains for when her love spell goes awry, is cast back in time, and meets her true love — Laird Kirkwall Gunn. Kirk’s plans go slightly off course when he falls in love with a woman wandering through the Scottish Highlands. After all, he has pledged to marry another, from an enemy clan, in order to end a century-old feud.
Buy Links: Audible Audio Book Amazon Audio Book iTunes Audio Book
To Celebrate Nancy’s 1st Audio Book Release
Three People will WIN a Free Download Code!
*Contest Ends July 13th
(Rafflecopter Code for the giveaway)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
“I Read Your Books.” Actually I haven’t read your books yet but I’m looking forward to doing so.
I hope you will! To celebrate the June 16th release of My Hunted Highlander, I have reduced the ebook prices of all my earlier Scottish time travel books!
Nancy Lee Badger
I would also like to thank Cynthia for inviting me to share my trials & tribulations while getting a book on audio. I am giving away three free downloads of this $24+ book, so do not forget to enter the drawing!
I read your books. Better yet, I love audiobooks and leave reviews.
I am about to read your books and hope they are as good as they sound
It has to be so exciting to listen to what you wrote in audio! I love audios and I love my Highlanders! Congrats on your first audio! AND Thanks for the giveaway!
Yes it is, Linda, especially when I have hired an awesome narrator who makes each voice…modern New Englander or 17th century Scottish Highlander..sound true to each of my characters. You can hear a free sample at Amazon here…
http://amzn.to/1BAuM4M
I listen to tons of audiobooks and I’ve added this to my TBR list. A good narrator can make or break a book so I’m glad you found one you liked. I look forward to hearing her. Best of luck!
I have not read your books yet as you are new to me but what I have seen I know I will like them.
I read your books…and love audiobooks!
Thanks! Remember…book reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Goodreads are like gold to an author. If you have the time, I would appreciate an honest review.
I was not familiar with your work but Amazon is my next stop to check it out!
From dragons to suspense, to military to Scottish Highlanders, I write what ever puts me in the mood. I am working on a regency romance,right now, but I have set it mostly in the border areas of England, and Scotland.
Good luck on winning one of the audio books I am giving away soon.
i read your books but I want s audio to listen to when I work out. With a sexy voice
haven’t read Your Books yet
What’s stopping you? I have 14 to choose from, as well as the audio book. Ebook, print books, and audio. Thanks for leaving a comment! I will be posting the 3 winners tomorrow (July 13th)
Congrats on your first audio book Nancy Lee,
I read and LURVE your books 🙂
The background on the character ROCKS
Will Cameron Robeson have a story? I LOVE jokester heros
Mindy 🙂
Yipee! I won 8D Thank you sooooo much Nancy Lee 🙂
Mina / Mindy 🙂