Newsflash! #SwampGhosts is Now Available as an Audiobook!

/ Marcia Meara

Some of you may remember, I was inspired by a post of Don Massenzio’s to give audio books a try, via ACX.  Then a tree decided to fall on our house, and everything came to a halt, including work on this project. I’m thrilled to say that I finally got back to work on this and a few other things, and voila! I now have my first audio book available on Amazon!

This process was one that, while costing me nothing but time, turned out to be a real learning experience. I’m eager to do it again, this time with a greater sense of what I’m really looking for, and how I want to approach it. But rest assured, it is definitely something that each of you should consider. The market is a large one, and growing steadily, and it is something you should offer your readers, regardless of the number of sales generated.

I’m going to do a longer post on the process soon, and maybe that will encourage any of you who are on the fence to give it a go. In the meantime, just know that you have the option to split your royalties with your producer (narrator) so that if, like me, you are on budget, it will not cost you a thing to get your audio book out there.

Stay tuned for more information, just as soon as I have time to put together a comprehensive post.  For now, I just want to get the word out. To listen to a sample of Swamp Ghosts on audio, go to my Swamp Ghosts Audio sales page. You’ll see the “Audio Sample” link directly beneath the cover image.  Swamp Ghosts on Audio

34 thoughts on “Newsflash! #SwampGhosts is Now Available as an Audiobook!”

    • I would probably like that, too, if I could actually HEAR again. Even with hearing aids, I miss too much for it to work well for me. But I’ve been told that the audio market is the fastest growing book market out there, right now. And because I do at least two local events every month, I know firsthand that people are at least asking about it all the time. It’s going to be so nice to be able to say, “Why, yes! My books are available on audio.” 😀 I figure it’s the least I can do for readers, no matter how many audio books I sell. And I want to make them happy. 🙂

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        • Ooooh, yay! Looking forward to hearing what you think of those books. I hope to have the 4th WRR book out in the spring. Gonna introduce Little Rabbit to the infamous and mysterious Brown Mountain lights. I’ve missed that boy, though to be fair, he DOES talk to me all the time! Luckily, he usually makes me laugh, even if he has usurped my entire romantic suspense series with a completely different agenda of his own. 😀 😀 😀

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    • They are certainly very popular, and I really want my readers to have the option, if that’s what they prefer. ACX makes it relatively simple, though it does take time. Hopefully, each one will be easier, as I become more familiar with the process. 🙂

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  4. My aunt keeps asking me when I’m going to out my novels on audio books. I have three indie titles, so I may need to look into this. At least I know I have an audience of one, waiting, LOL.

    I checked out the audio sample your narrator did. Very cool, Marcia. Congratulations!

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    • It’s not difficult. I just didn’t realize what parts of the book I needed to have auditions for. Next time, I will definitely select bits of dialogue from my main characters. (More on that when I do the longer post).

      I’m glad you liked the sample, Mae. And you should really get going on this. You can’t keep your aunt waiting forever, you know. 😀

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        • I will try to explain the general process. It isn’t difficult, really, but I get kind of nervous when I’m doing something for the first time, myself. But you’ll do fine. I will try to post no later than the first of the week. We will be laying the dining room flooring over the weekend, so whatever I don’t get done tomorrow will have to wait. 🙂

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  5. Yay! I was actually wondering about this earlier today – I think we must have a psychic link.
    Looking forward to your more extensive post and what you learned from the process, I really do have this on my ‘to do’ list, pretty near the top now.

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    • Yes, I think we do have a psychic link, Debby. 🙂 You really MUST do this. It is a slow process, once you’ve found your narrator, because they can’t just read the book straight through in one go. It takes weeks. And then of course, you have to allow for hurricanes!! 😀 😀 😀 But once you get it started, then you can get back to work as usual until you have your first “listen,” and a chance to note things that need to be changed. And then it goes back to the narrator again, for corrections. So, the sooner you get started, the better, as it will be a couple of months in the making.

      I promise to post more as soon as I can. I have had the plumbers here today, and now the contractor is building a temporary wall close to the inner garage wall, which will be covered to protect our house from dust and water seepage during the demo and reconstruction. It’s not OPEN to the house, except at the attic, but that needs to be sealed, etc. So they are now working on that.

      Tomorrow, demo begins. They’ll be tearing apart the smashed roof/rafters/attic flooring, etc, and getting ready for the masonry guys. So FINALLY, progress is underway! After a mere EIGHT weeks! 😀 And I should be able to get to the post fairly quickly, because once they are working out there, they won’t need me underfoot, I’m sure.

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      • Sounds like the perfect time to stay away from the rebuild! Hope it all goes smoothly for you.
        I have a couple of things to get through before I start on trying to find a narrator: setting up a regular newsletter – something else I’ve been terrible about getting around to – and scheduling in a new regular equestrian website feature which PAYS every month – yay! I’ve been without one of these for a year or so, so very happy to have it back on the books. THEN I will get on with it!

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    • I can see how that would be the case, Olga, especially if you aren’t using the same narrator each time. A lot depends on what type of job they do, and any corrections that need to be made, etc. A lot of other variables, I’m sure. Thanks for the well wishes. It’s kind of exciting! 😀

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    • Well, a hurricane and a tree falling can sure slow me down, that’s for certain! But unless it actually falls on ME, it’s not going to stop me, by golly! 😀 I’m so glad you enjoyed the sample. 🙂 I can’t wait to get started on the next one. I’m just trying to decide if I should go straight through the Riverbend series, or do Book 1 of the Wake-Robin Ridge series, and alternate. I’m thinking that might be best, so audio book lovers can get started on whichever series is more appealing to them. But I’m going to get to work on one of them, for sure. (And with my OTHER hand, I’ll be writing my draft for Rabbit’s next adventure! Haha.)

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    • You were a BIG help, Don. I don’t know how long it would have taken me to try making an audio books had I not read your post. Now I’m really happy I did it, and I’m looking forward to starting my next one. 🙂 You definitely deserved at least a shout out! 😀

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    • Oh, I like that, and far be it from me to disabuse you of the notion. 😀 (I’m not going to tell my husband, though. He’d fall over on the floor laughing!) 😀

      Truly, I’m so far behind on my To Do List, it isn’t really funny, but I keep plugging away at it. (For instance, the audio book should have been up weeks ago, but had to go on hold for this other stuff.) At any rate, progress is being made, and that’s all I can ask for.

      Now, go back to thinking I’m a wonder woman. I can use the encouragement. 😀 ❤

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