Audiobooks: How to Take Your Book to Listeners and Tap Into the Hot Audio Market

People take in information through their senses. So, if your terrific book is in print form, your readers can hold it in their hands and touch it. If it's an e-book, they can see it and read it on their Kindles, smartphones or tablets.

But can they also hear it and listen to it? They can if it's in an audiobook format.
 At our July 9 meeting, two SLPA members undefined audio engineer Scott Newton and author/publisher Margaret Cook undefined will introduce us to the world of audiobooks. In case you haven’t heard, it’s a growing market filled with opportunity for savvy authors and publishers. In this fast-paced, information-packed presentation, you will learn how to:

• Turn your book into a quality audiobook
  
• Plan your budget and timeline
  
• Outsource aspects of the project
  
• Prepare files for ACX, the audiobook platform owned by Amazon
  
• Record, prepare files, and produce your audiobook
  
• Select software and recording equipment
  
• Find and hire affordable voice talent and hold auditions
  
• Set up the best environment for home recording
  
• Create audio transitions using music
  
• Avoid common mistakes
  
• Sell your audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes
  

Scott Newton is an audio engineer, Web designer, and all-around techie who makes authors sound good. Whether it's live or recorded sound, Scott can do it all: radio spots, music production, restoration, fine editing, mastering, and more. He can improve audio files to make sure they meet technical specifications while sounding their best. He is the audio engineer for an audiobook version of Be Still Moments. Learn more about Scott at www.PageAndSound.com.

Margaret Cook is the president of All She Writ Publishing and the author of two books and numerous articles. She published Be Still Moments in print, Kindle version, and as an audiobook. Her easy-to-understand Jump-Start Guide for Independent Publishing and the Jump-Start Guide for a Start-Up Online Business are scheduled for release as audiobooks in 2014. Learn more at www.AllSheWrit.net.