Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation

Teresereading

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

QOTD if I don‘t renew my audiobook subscription- do I retain access to the titles I have purchased?

wanderinglynn Yes. At least for Libro.fm & Audible. 3y

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peaKnit

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

#thisorthat @RealLifeReading I wish I had more time to listen!

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BarbaraTheBibliophage

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

Let me know! Do you love when an author narrates their own audiobook? Does the genre matter?

Or do you wish they‘d stick to writing because narration is *acting*, and most people are horrible actors?

I found myself reviewing a memoir this week narrated by the author (posting it soon). She has some performance experience, but I still positively hated her narration. My face while listening: 😡🤬🤯😳😱🤢🤮

What‘s your take on this?

Emiller I love when Neil Gaiman narrates his own books 😊 6y

GripLitGrl I enjoy when authors are the narrator no know knows the charecters or story better. Haven't experienced a badly narrated audiobook yet... 6y

Cinfhen I don‘t listen to too many audio books but I generally prefer the author, especially when it‘s a memoir or Jason Reynolds😍😍😍I mean, no one BUT Bruce Springsteen should narrate his memoir 😉 6y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage @Emiller I loved his narration for A View From the Cheap Seats, so I think you‘re right! #neilhimelf is a good one! 6y

Coleen There are some good author narrators out there ( @Emiller is spot on), but for the most part I more often than not do NOT enjoy the author reading their own books. 6y

Andrew65 This can depend on he author, some can be great at it, others not so. 6y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen I‘ve enjoyed a LOT of author-read memoirs, but not many good narrations in a fiction genre. Couldn‘t agree more about Springsteen—his voice is so iconic. 6y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @GripLitGrl Hmm. This helps me articulate. I think sometimes authors are too close to the story to narrate, especially their fiction. 6y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Coleen @Andrew65 It‘s not just me, then. Thanks! 6y

ghosthost It depends. There are some bad ones, but I can think of lots of audiobooks narrated by the author that I loved. @Emiller already mentioned Neil Gaiman, but Trevor Noah, Shonda Rhimes, and Aaron Mahnke are also great narrators. 6y

Redwritinghood Agree with @ghosthost. Some do a great job, some don‘t. 6y

SarahSaysRead For nonfiction I always prefer the author, especially if he/she is even mildly famous or popular / I already know what their voice sounds like. 6y

AlaMich I haven‘t read very many but I absolutely second @emiller‘s mention of Neil Gaiman. He is gifted in narration as well as writing. (edited) 6y

Coleen Barbara, I have often felt in the minority with my opinion, but I do tend to feel kind of strongly about it. Glad you posted this, so I don‘t feel quite as alone. 😉 6y

Amie I like when an author narrates a memoir or other nonfiction that has a personal component and is written in first person. But they do need to have a talent for it too or it doesn't work. 6y

Emiller I agree with @ghosthost Trevor Noah and Aaron Mahnke are great narrators 6y

merelybookish Like others, I thought immediately of Gaiman! His narration of The Graveyard Book is excellent. I find audiobook narration can really vary. Even some if the paid professionals can make me cringe. 6y

Cortg I usually like them but there are some exceptions. 6y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @merelybookish You‘re so right—some of the professionals aren‘t too great either! 6y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Emiller @ghosthost I agree about Trevor. He‘s probably the best I‘ve heard. Ever. I haven‘t read or listened to Aaron Mahke, but since he‘s a podcaster it makes sense he‘d do well at audiobook narration. 6y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @amie I think that talent question is so subjective. I‘ve listened to a few memoirs where I thought the author was the narrator. And then I realized it was a professional. That‘s a talented narrator, if you ask me. They fooled me! 🤩 6y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Coleen You‘re welcome! 😍 (edited) 6y

benchley1 It all depends, but with memoirs I prefer the author. Heaven knows there are a lot of professional narrators that are awful 6y

Readerann I guess I‘ve been lucky, but I‘ve listened to several memoirs read by the author and can‘t think of one that I didn‘t enjoy. 6y

JacqMac I agree. It depends on the author. I‘m not a huge fan of audiobooks in general, but I will listen to Neil Gaiman read just about anything. 6y

LibrarianRyan It depends. Comic audio books I would rather hear from the comic but others. I always think of Lemony Snicket reading the Series of Unfortunate events. It's boring. However Tim Curry reading the same books, can't turn it off. 6y

Jenny I‘ve only listened to one audio book narrated by the author and I loved it. 🤷‍♀️ I can imagine it might not always be a good thing, though. 6y

CaitlinR The two I loved were Gaiman reading “Norse Mythology” and Vance reading “Hillbilly Elegy” 6y

Birdsong28 I like authors reading their own books as it gives it more authenticity and sometimes they get points across the 'right' way as sometimes it can get lost as to how they want certain things to sound. 📚📖 6y

Bookzombie I really think it depends on the author. Libby Bray reads Beauty Queens and it‘s amazing, but I am sure there are authors who just can‘t perform as narrator. I can‘t think of any off the top of my head. For memoirs, I really love to hear the author read it, but there are exceptions I‘m sure. 6y

CouronneDhiver I‘ve had some good and some bad author narration experiences... at 50/50 odds, I just take my chances... if it sucks, I can always bail 6y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @SarahSaysRead @AlaMich @Cortg @benchley1 @Readerann @JacqMac @LibrarianRyan @Jenny @CaitlinR @Birdsong28 @Bookzombie @CouronneDhiver Thanks for weighing in everyone! 6y

DGRachel Late to the party, but for me it depends on the book/author. I think memoirs tend to be better when read by the author (Trevor Noah is a prime example), but fiction really needs a true performer (Jodi Taylor narrates one of her short stories and it was AWFUL. Her books are narrated by Zara Ramm who is perfect). 6y

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Hestapleton

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

Okay friends. I'm looking to get into some more audiobooks and I'm looking for recommendations. What's the best #audiobook you've ever listened to and why?

BookishBeth Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter series or Claire Danes reading A Handmaid's Tale. Or The Girl With All the Gifts. Everyone always recommends Born a Crime as well. 7y

Lizpixie The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore. It's narrated by Tony Roberts, who's a newsreader & the combination of his "Trust Me, I'm Serious" voice and the completely bonkers story he's reading is too perfect for words. It's an experience all right.??‍♀️ 7y

JenP I love everything narrated by Neil Gaiman even though I don't always love his books (I just love listening to him). Invisible Man narrated by Joe Morton was probably one of my all time favorite narrations. Edited bc even though I know better, I ALWAYS spell Gaiman's name wrong. Always. (edited) 7y

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I-read-and-eat As @JenP said, anything by Neil Gaiman is great. I also loved The Girl on the Train narrated by India Fisscher et al. 7y

Simona Trevor Noah Born to Crime, because his narration is superb and his childhood is very interesting. Douglas Smith - Rasputin, because it's always nice to 'read' about peculiar persons, and because this is the most researched book about him and example for fake news. 7y

sprainedbrain What genres do you like best? I think I have listened to 97 audiobooks over the last 2+ years, and I can maybe recommend some if you share what you like. 🙂 7y

Hestapleton @sprainedbrain wow! I love thrillers, contemporary ya, and very spectacular fantasy (currently obsessed with fairy tale retellings and fairies.) 7y

Smangela

Let's Pretend This Never Happened

sprainedbrain The Shadow of the Wind is my favorite audiobook so far (one of my favorite books ever, actually). Close second is The Song of Achilles. I think my favorite YA audio is Carry On by Rainbow Rowell or the Red Rising series. I also LOVED The Passage series by Justin Cronin on audio. For a thriller, I would pick Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter... that one is super creepy. 😃 7y

CouronneDhiver Oh gosh, I've listened to a ton of them this year. A recent recommendation is:

I See You

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Megabooks

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

Hi everyone! So I'm getting rid of my old blog, and just started a free one to post my #ArmchairAudies reviews and possibly some more after that. The first three reviews are posted. The URL is audiobooksandcooks.wordpress.com (because I'm so original at naming! 🤣🤣🤣)

I'll catch up posting to Litsy after I get a couple of rooms done 😬, but thank you to all who gave advice about my sciatica!

NovelGirl82 Just followed! 7y

Megabooks @NovelGirl82 Thanks! 7y

Tnovo Just followed too! I have really enjoyed your audio book choices👍 7y

Megabooks @Tnovo Thank you! 7y

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Megabooks

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

I'm just so overwhelmed by this sale! I don't even know what to get! #audible #sale

Donna_sBookMinute Me either but I'm sure I'll find something. 7y

Sarahsbookshelves Just went shopping. Sadly, it's not as great a deal for members as it is for non-members 7y

alanacristin Hmm.. 7y

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alanacristin I don't see this when i go to audible. Because I'm not a member? Sorry for early reply. Babies! 7y

Megabooks @alanacristin Are you in the US? There seems to be a time difference between us. That may be it. Also, it may only be for members. 7y

Megabooks @Donna_sBookMinute There are a couple I'm looking for as audiobooks for the A to Z challenge, so I'm hope they're on sale! 7y

Megabooks @Sarahsbookshelves Boo!! 7y

Donna_sBookMinute @Sarahsbookshelves that's how they GITcha!! 📦 7y

Megabooks @Donna_sBookMinute @Sarahsbookshelves It is a bad sale! Too many books are still too expensive! I picked up The Fault in Our Stars for $3.99 and this one for #LitsyAtoZ for about $8

X: A Novel

alanacristin I'm in the us at the moment but likely my profile reflects that i live in japan. Likely a member thing. Alas! Though really I've gone crazy over their daily deals this month, i should probably calm down 😂 i may need that X though 😜 7y

Donna_sBookMinute @Ebooksandcooks -- I know right? I got "Sister of Mine" from my wish list for $5.57. There are a couple more days to find something else. Having second thoughts about "X." If it's about his life up until age 20, his name was Malcom Little. He wasn't "X" yet.

Sister of Mine

Megabooks @alanacristin probably so. I thought the sample narration on X sounded good. 7y

Megabooks @Donna_sBookMinute I'm going by the title for A to Z. I know it's a YA book, but I threw in a few of those. 7y

Donna_sBookMinute @Ebooksandcooks -- Sorry. I wasn't challenging your selection for the alphabet. I was just thinking maybe Shabazz should not have named her book "X" when that wasn't his name yet. Good for us that she did though. LOL! 7y

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Megabooks

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

Shit just got real. Litsy converted me to an audiobook lover. #audible #upgradedaccount #blameitonlitsy I'm in particular "blaming" @LitHousewife ??????

I seriously considered the 24-at-once account, but I was afraid I'd use them all too fast. ??? #audiobooks

Theresa I'm not sure whether to say congrats or damn you, Litsy! 😂 7y

TheNextBook I still haven't jumped on the audiobook bandwagon yet. I love that we have something to blame our bookish decisions on now though! #blameitonlitsy 7y

LitHousewife This makes my darn day!!!! Whoo hoo!!!! I've been on the same plan now for years. No regrets. 7y

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Seekingtardis I do the same thing! I love audio books! Sometime two isn't enough and sometimes I only use one in three months. 7y

BookishFeminist 😂😂😂 7y

Megabooks @Theresa 😂😂😂 @TheNextBook Exactly! 😉 @LitHousewife 😊😊 You regularly make my day, so I'm glad to return the favor. @Seekingtardis Awesome!! 👍🏻👍🏻 @BookishFeminist I know right! 7y

Lucylovesreading I thank god I can get free audio books through my library and overdrive. I listen to about 3-4 a month and that would be crazy expensive on audible! 7y

Ammie I'm trying to figure out a way my parents can gift me an upgraded audible account for Christmas. My starving artist paycheck can't afford the two credits a month option right now and it bums me out! 7y

Megabooks @Lucylovesreading Oh, I totally use my library, too! Audible just bridges the gap left by books my library has versus books I want to read. My library doesn't have nearly as many titles on audio as it does as ebooks. 7y

Megabooks @Ammie Hmmm...that's a tough one. It isn't an easy gift to give. 7y

Lucylovesreading @Ebooksandcooks yeah mine usually has them all rarely they don't have it on audiobook. Don't know what I'm going to do if I have to move to somewhere where the library isn't as good. 7y

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Megabooks

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

So I finally joined Audible! Yay! Can someone please send me the link for the current sale and how you get to their daily deals? #audiblenoob Thanks!!! 👍🏻👍🏻🤘🏻

readingonarainyday Here's the link to the current sale : https://mobile.audible.com/WWS2016/apc.htm?ref=mob_WWS2016_hp_zing 8y

readingonarainyday But otherwise, if you go to the homepage, they have a slider at the top. One of those slides takes to the above sale link. Another slide takes you to the Daily Deals. Hope that helps! 8y

Megabooks Thank you thank you @readingonarainyday !! 💚💜 8y

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bookishkai You're going love audible, I just know it. 8y

readingonarainyday @Ebooksandcooks you're welcome! Enjoy Audible! 😃 8y

Theresa Yey!! Audible is totally addictive! 8y

Seekingtardis Audible is amazing!! It makes making dinner for the family enjoyable instead of "if you ask if it's done one more time you are getting mouth full of spinach!!" Angry mom. Lol ??? 8y

BookishJackie I love audible!! It makes my walks more interesting! 8y

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Megabooks

Author's Guide to Audiobook Creation | Richard Rieman

Interesting findings! I can certainly see this trend on @Litsy

[DELETED] 3323341091 i must confess, i have never successfully finished an audiobook - i always end up falling asleep. 8y

Megabooks @fern I fall asleep, too. I've only listened to two complete audiobooks! 8y

HollyB3 @Ebooksandcooks I started listening to them a couple of years ago. I'm completely hooked on them. Audible ❤️ 8y

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Megabooks @HollyB3 You certainly seem to be in the majority around here! I wish I didn't have as much difficulty. I do enjoy them in the car on trips! 8y

prowlix I used to only listen on car rides but then started listening to audiobooks in place of music while I'm cleaning or cooking. I still need to have a good narrator but I've become a convert! 8y

Megabooks @prowlix That's part of my problem. I don't know which books have good narrators! 8y

Julie548 Which is the best/least expensive way to get audio books? Been wanting to try them but don't want to spend a ton of money. 8y

Megabooks @Julie548 If your library has overdrive (checking out ebooks and audiobooks) online, you can check them out and listen to them through the overdrive app on your phone or tablet for free. 8y

Megabooks @Julie548 There's also an Audible subscription, which a lot of people here have. @LitHousewife Do you know how that works? 8y

LitHousewife @Ebooksandcooks @Julie548 I have had an Audible account for probably 6 years now. I love it. A subscription is $14.95 for one credit a month (most audiobooks are 1 credit). For at least 3 years I've been on the 2 credits a month. Love it! You can also exchange titles you didn't like. 8y

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