Audio Book Connection - Behind the Scenes with the Creative Teams: Recent Episodes

Becky Parker Geist

Engaging conversations with Authors, Narrators, Post-production audio engineers, Marketing teams as well as audio book listeners and fans. Go behind the scenes with audiobook creators as host Becky Parker Geist guides the conversation to discover the surprises, victories and challenges in publishing and producing audiobooks. Ideal for indie authors, small publishers, audiobook fans, and anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes peek into the audiobook world - as well as authors and publishers looking for tips from the pros on production and marketing. Behind-the-scenes interviews with audiobook creators as well as audiobook production and marketing tips - with episodes weekly. #C-Suite Radio.

Guest Tamara Shiloh is the author of the series for children: Just Imagine . . . What if there were no black people in the world. The first two in the series: Jaxon's Magical Adventure with Black Inventors and Scientists and Book Two: Jaxon and Kevin’s Black History Trip Downtown are available in innovative versions of audiobook. Tamara also founded and is owner of the Multicultural Bookstore in Richmond, CA, and host of the “Once Upon a Time in Black History” podcast. Educator, author, and business leader, one of Tamara’s objectives is to desegregate the teaching of American history away from the white history narrative and Black history into an inclusive teaching of history. Her audiobooks will be (or maybe already are) available on AMPlify Audiobooks. AMPlify Audiobooks: https://proaudiovoices.com/audiobooks/ https://www.multiculturalbookstore.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Strain recently left Adobe, where over the course of 17 years he led teams across marketing, strategy, new business, and research. He is now focused on helping “real people” prepare for the opportunities with AI. Matt and Becky converse about the intersection of AI and creativity, when and how AI might find a place in the audiobook realm, and whether AI will ever replace human narrators. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hall of Fame podcaster and teacher Dave Jackson shares tips on creating your own podcast, what mistakes to avoid, and how to grow your audience and monetize your podcast. If you are even considering starting your own podcast, thai episode is for you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Need to know and understand tips and a deeper dive into audiobook royalties. Ever wondered how they are calculated or why yours are not what you thought they would be? Becky will explain how they work behind the scenes and also how you can come out ahead and set yourself up to win with higher royalties and more control. Learn more about AMPlify Audiobooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is that ineffable quality that makes an audiobook ok vs great? Should authors narrate their own audiobooks? If not, why not? Host Becky Parker Geist provides some examples and discusses what skills are needed for anyone narrating an audiobook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Into the weeds with words and how they are pronounced! Join Becky for a deep dive for both authors and narrators into how to prepare your project regarding pronunciations, as well as how to determine what’s the best choice when there is more than one option. From fiction and fantasy created words to nonfiction names and places, get the low down on how to approach your pronunciation research and decision making.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Come behind the scenes with children’s author Kelly Anne Manuel! From inception to publication to audio and video, Kelly is an inspiration! You’ll hear about her journey and learn about the process and her intuitive pursuit of the next steps. The audiobook “boxed sets” of her children’s book series are ONLY available at AMPlify Audiobooks where you can purchase directly from Kelly: https://proaudiovoices.com/vendor/time-to-fly-llc/ To learn more about getting your children’s books produced in audio and the many opportunities available to you, visit us a Pro Audio Voices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A fun and enlightening trip into the booth with one of Pro Audio Voices’ narrators Scott Ellis! What are the biggest challenges in being an audiobook narrator? And what’s to love about it? For authors as well as narrators, this episode will entertain while providing tips and insights that will help you in your audiobook journey.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s wrong with the audiobook industry? And why and in what ways does it need to change? Becky leads us behind the scenes to discover what has driven the development of AMPlify Audiobooks, what some of the challenges have been in the process, and where we’re headed. AMPlify Audiobooks: Best for Authors: Best for Listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Go behind the scenes with Becky and Sam Cooper, Casting Director for Pro Audio Voices. Learn about how casting is done, what questions are asked of authors, and what kinds of things can lead to not getting cast. No matter which side you sit on—author or narrator—there are nuggets for you in this fun interview about casting audiobooks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Got charts or graphs or table? Data-heavy visuals can be a challenge, yes, but they can also be an opportunity to create more value for your listeners. There are many ways to describe these types of visuals, so you’ll need to know what to consider as you decide on your approach. Host Becky Parker Geist leads you through the process to clarify what those considerations are as well as how to implement them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday, Jun 17, 2023 10am-noon Pacific Time, join Becky Parker Geist for a workshop: Putting Your Audiobook to Work for You. Learn more or sign up at https://bit.ly/baipa-workshop-audio. In this episode Becky discusses audiobook pricing strategies—factors you may want to consider when setting your MSRP—as well as coupon codes and promotional pricing. During the workshop she’ll go even deeper into these, as well as strategizing their usage. For more about the AMPlify Audiobooks platform, visit: https://proaudiovoices.com/amplify-audiobook-distribution/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now available as an option! Launch your project audio first or bypass the other formats and do audio only. With that new AMPlify Audiobooks author-direct sales platform, indie authors and small publishers now have the option to publish audiobooks before the other text formats. In this episode, Becky covers the types of projects that can work well as audio first or only—and some of these may surprise you! You’ll also learn what you’ll need to go this route and some tips on how to maximize your success

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wondering how to earn higher royalties and gain more control over your audiobook? Becky shares more about why every author with an audiobook should want to get on board and what difference it makes for you. After all, indie authors put in the time and money and resources to create the book and audiobook. They should be the ones earning back the majority of the sales price.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Becky Parker Geist expresses her gratitude to clients, customers, and the amazing team that works as a part of Pro Audio Voices. Inspiring the World—Empowering Authors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela and Mia co-authored and also co-narrated this funny, at times poignant, and thought provoking tale. Join in the fun of this interview to hear the behind the scenes story of its inception, its journey through writing and recording, and where its headed in distribution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a handful of payment structures that are typically used in the audiobook industry, for example Royalty Share or Per Finished Hour. Becky will walk you through the cost basis types, but will also show you the challenges and risks that each involve. If you are exploring your audiobook production options, this is an episode you definitely need to hear so you are better prepared for the decisions ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An overview of audiobook production, this tour of the process is foundational. Host Becky Parker Geist knows audiobook production inside out and leads us through the steps with clarity and focus on what is most important for you to know. Not only will you get the grand tour from Pre-Production through to Marketing, you’ll also learn about where to mine the gold when it comes to audiobooks. Everyone with an audiobook in distribution should know about where to get the highest royalties and maintain the most control. But most don’t. Get ahead of the game and listen now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for this fascinating and delightful dive down the rabbit holes of what makes audiobook narration really come alive and grab our listeners by the ears and hearts. Joshua has a nature based approach to the creative process and works with clients in any storytelling context, from writing to performance in any genre or medium. Learn more about our guest at https://joshuatownshend.com. This is an episode you’ll definitely want to tune in for! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many authors do you know who are also helicopter pilots? Meet Gina Cheyne in this episode, author of the SeeMS Detective Agency series. Learn about how her unique approach to a female collaborative team of detectives, and her experience in listening to other authors narrate their own audiobooks, combined to steer her toward having a pro narrator. Get the audiobook at https://bit.ly/GinaCheyne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wondering about your options for launching your audiobook and how it fits into the launch? Should you have all your formats done before launch or roll the formats out one at a time? Becky Parker Geist provides guidance on these decisions and shares her secret sauce on how to stay in control of sales and royalties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Figuring out what accents are important to how an audiobook comes to life can shift during the audition and casting process. Finding the right voice is often more about the storytelling itself than the mechanics of accent. You’ll also hear about the inception, research and writing of this powerful spiritual story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some books just feel like they need to be author narrated—they are so very close to the soul and heart of the author. But do they actually? Hear how this author discovered how the mystical connection between author and content and narrator—when all are in alignment—can all merge into a deep and magical audiobook. Host Becky Parker Geist was also the narrator for this project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Especially with full cast projects—but really with any audiobook, the cadence and timing of voice and the spaces between are as much a part of its success as the notes and rests are in music. Becky focuses in this episode on the spacing, especially of dialogue. A valuable listen for audiobook engineers and editors as well as narrators and authors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Becky Parker Geist for an interview with author of the Utopian Testament series, psychological thrillers that draw on intriguing characters and often inspired by conflicting perspectives. Find out how and why Jim selected the narrator for his series and how it played out as the audiobooks come to fruition. Learn more at https://jimwritesbooks.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Becky delves into the pre-Production phase of audiobooks, pointing out some of the lodes of gold that are so often overlooked. Whether you’re an author of nonfiction or fiction, there are opportunities that most authors miss. And most audiobook producers are more focused on just delivering a voiced narrative of your book than on helping you achieve your goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If there were just one key question to ask yourself for which the answer is likely to be life-changing, what would that be? There is such a question, and a follow-up adjunct question to pair it with. This is a question to answer not just once, but throughout your life. Yes, it relates to your audiobook, but it goes WAY beyond it as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to recording your own memoir, is it a given that the author should narrate? Will it be weird to have someone else read it as if they are you? What are the key questions to ask when making that decision? In this episode Becky Parker Geist guides us through the decision process and points out when it may be a good idea to record it yourself—and when it may not be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With book marketing, we focus a lot on metadata, especially on Amazon, where there are more tools and information available to help us make good choices for categories and keywords. Audiobooks, especially for those of us who are wanting to get the widest distribution, can still utilize Amazon tools for our audiobooks, then apply what we learn to our metadata with our audiobook digital distributor. Join Becky as she guides you through how to figure out categories for audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Becky released her novel The Left Turn: Two Lives, Worlds Apart this year and shares her journey with the project from inception to completion to audio production and audio-first release to ebook and print release. The ebook is on a free ebook promotion on the day of this episode release at: https://amzn.to/3AqzZmq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Becky for an engaging interview with Joy Imboden Overstreet, author of The Cherry Pie Paradox: The Surprising Path to Diet Freedom and Lasting Weight Loss, and her narrator Melanie Carey. This project involved exercises and meditations, and was a very personal story for the author. Learn why she chose to have a pro narrator, how this book is distinctly different from other diet books, and how the alignment between author and narrator played out for a successful result. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than ever since the pandemic hit, we need to factor into our planning what to do if delays happen. A narrator illness can delay a project days or weeks depending on the severity. How can you protect yourself from loss of marketing dollars when you’re being proactive during production and then get hit with the news that there are delays? What can you do to turn the obstacle into an opportunity? Host Becky Parker Geist addresses these questions in this episode inspired by a stuffy nose, but with client experiences that have led to the very issues she covers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Becky interviews composer/audio engineer/musician Julian Blackmore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your audiobook is an asset, not just another format. But most authors don’t recognize how they can leverage that asset in their overall marketing for their books and platform. Join host Becky Parker Geist as she walks you through the details on how to select audio clips from your audiobook and how to use them once you have them. Whether you are a DIY person or want to hire someone to handle the pieces you don’t want to tackle, this episode has valuable suggestions for how to proceed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jarryd first went through the audiobook production process as a client, getting his father’s book into audio with Pro Audio Voices (PAV). Now as a PAV Project Manager for other authors, he’s experiencing the other side of the process. Join us for a peek behind the scenes into the world of audiobook project management, hear about some of the complications that can come up, and get a feel for the many elements that are involved in the process with a concierge style customer experience. You’ll also hear about the project he managed from the client side of the table: Searching for Monkumar: A Mystical Tale About Finding Freedom, Friendship, and Spirituality, now available direct at https://bit.ly/monkumar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Got tables? Maybe you are assuming you need to omit them for the audio. If you are, put that decision on hold until you listen to this episode packed with valuable information and what you need to know! What questions do you need to ask yourself before you begin? How do you keep your listener clear on where they are in the table? What if your table is full of statistics or numbers? Join Becky as she goes into detail about how to deal with tables. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The tables are turned when our host is interviewed as the author of The Left Turn: Two Lives, Worlds Apart (book 1 in the Split Universe Series). Join Jarryd Chambers as the interviewer and Becky and her co-narrator JS Arquin for this fun interview on a dual narrator project that just launched audio first. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes peek from the perspectives of author, narrators and project manager. From writing to casting to production to launch, get the full picture! The audiobook is now available at https://bit.ly/geist-su1. You can check out Becky’s author website at BeckyParkerGeist.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does your book include writing exercises? How should you handle those in an audiobook? Is there a way to do them that works in audio? Should you just put them on your website and leave them out? Or are they opportunities instead of obstacles? Host Becky Parker Geist discusses what to consider in your decisions, how to handle writing exercises, how to leverage those, and samples of instructions you can give your listeners. Exercises can enhance your client value journey, if you know how to handle them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Becky Parker Geist for a discussion about mastering audiobook files with two-time Grammy™ award winning audio engineer Michael Reaves. From studio to microphone technique, from single narrator to full cast, with or without music and SFX, learn what it means for your audiobook to be properly mastered. It’s not only about passing QC required specifications for distribution. The art of mastering is part of what keeps our listeners engaged, even though recording takes place over many recording sessions. Especially valuable content if you are an author planning to narrate your own audiobook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audiobook versions of graphic novels are growing in popularity, but as a distinctly visual format, how that works may not be easy to figure out. Host Becky Parker Geist provides tips to help you save lots of money in the process, while also helping you get the best version of your graphic novel audiobook. From the elements to include in the scripting, to the kinds of sound effects and how to identify them, to casting your actors. If you’re the author of a graphic novel and considering converting to audio, then this is a must listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Titan Book Award-winning author William McGinnis joins Becky Parker Geist to discuss his Adam Weldon Thriller series, now with four books, the first three launched in audio and the fourth in production. Learn more about his journey as a successful nonfiction writer who has turned to fiction, and tips on what he has learned in the publishing process. Learn more about William McGinnis at WilliamMcGinnis.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have a book series, or even a single audiobook that is very long, we’ve got some tips for you! What if you could stay in front of your customers so that as they finish listening to each of your audiobooks, they are back for the next one? And if you only have one of your books in audio, have you thought about how to still get the message out about the next one? Or whatever else is next in your customer value journey? Becky Parker Geist will share her tips on how to market your book series through email sequences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using the AMPlify program offered by Pro Audio Voices, you can regain or maintain control of your audiobook launch timing, pricing, promotions, discount codes, customer info and so much more while dramatically increasing your royalties! Becky will talk you through the program, what it offers, and also how to maximize its use with your audiobook. This marketing program used to be exclusive to Pro Audio Voices’ production clients, but is now available to authors who already have a completed audiobook. Expand your options and stay in control! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Becky Parker Geist and Jim Parker, owner of Riverview Studios, as they have a behind-the-scenes chat about Colla Voce, a new play by Larry Klein that premieres May 7, 2022. Bringing a play to life in film, including filming in a confined space, creates opportunities and challenges for the entire production team. From lighting to sound to resident dogs, the five-day shoot and months of post-production work involved an abundance of creative problem-solving. Learn more at https://proaudiovoices.com/colla-voce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind the scenes with author Jacqui Burnett you’ll get to hear about casting decisions and why it was critical to find the narrator who could effectively characterize a few key players in this memoir of growing up in South Africa during apartheid. This book and audiobook are part of a Dare to Be Love platform for healing. Learn about how this project helps raise awareness for #DareToBeLove and some of the ways in which the audiobook is leveraged to increase the impact of this message of healing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have a play or screenplay, this is an episode you’ll want to hear! Learn about the elements of the process of turning a theatre playscript or screenplay into an audiobook. You’ll need to think through the visual messages inherent in the original format to adapt the script to the audio-only format. Host Becky Parker Geist also covers music and sound effects—how to determine what is needed and helpful, as well as casting and recording—how to manage your budget while getting the best of interactive acting. You’ll also learn about how your audiobook can benefit your overall marketing of the original script and build an audience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a fascinating interview with Liz Rosner who was one of three narrators for her book, The Speed of Light. Get a behind the scenes peek at some of the challenges and joys of this kind of approach. What were some of the surprise discoveries that emerged out of the audiobook production process? Why the re-release of this title in audio after twenty-one years? In this episode, you’ll hear about key decisions that were made about the recording and why those choices were made and also challenges and how those were handled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Becky Parker Geist interviews marketing strategist Todd Walker on the top items that make websites effective or lose their visitors and potential customers. What path do you want your website visitors to take? How do you get them to walk that path? Learn how to get started to get your website to work for you, regardless of the size of your budget. These are small but powerful things you can do to turn visitors into customers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve finished your manuscript and are ready to start the audiobook production process. But then when listening to the recording you hear things that you’d like to change. Unlike making changes in a word document, where changing a word here and there is no big deal—just cut and paste, in the audio arena it’s a very different beast. Look behind the scenes and dive into what that means, whether it’s even possible, and what it takes to make modifications after the recording is done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This powerful memoir delves into the controversial world of the Catholic Church and what happened to Joan’s brother Tim, the only one willing to publicly speak about what happened to him as a boy. The abuse he suffered and ongoing effects into adulthood are the central focus of his sister Joan’s memoir. Joan is a Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alaska. Hear about the effect of the publication of the book on their family and friends, and Tim’s experience of listening to the audiobook that tells his story. While much of this interview is focused on the content of the memoir, the audiobook experience both in production decisions as well as the final result, provides valuable insights into the power of memoir in audio. Get the audiobook now at: https://bit.ly/TheBookOfTimothy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wondering if TikTok is a place you should be and if so how to make it work for you? Desiree Duffy is the founder of Black Chateau, a marketing and public relations agency that has successfully delved into this up-and-coming world of #BookTok. Learn about why and how you’ll want to connect with #BookTok influencers, what kind of agreements you can form with them, and what makes the viral potential of #BookTok so very exciting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing your audiobooks and books can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. Join host Becky Parker Geist for this episode on ways to keep your marketing manageable. Step number one is having a plan for your next step and each step along the way. Chunking it down to where you can see the path emerge clearly, as a result of mapping deeply, can make your journey enjoyable—even if marketing in general feels like a necessary nuisance. No matter where you’re starting, these tips will help you keep the overwhelm at bay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world where more readers than ever are requesting for their favorite books to be available on audio, many authors don’t know where to start in making that happen. What better way to research than by listening to other audiobooks? This week, host Becky Parker Geist talks about how listening to audiobooks of the same style as yours can help you figure out where to begin in producing your own. When should you use a full cast versus a single narrator? What sort of sound effects should you have, if any? How does a fantasy audiobook differ from a memoir or poetry? In this episode, you’ll get answers to all these questions and more, as well as some great book recommendations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a continuation of last week’s episode, host Becky Parker Geist discusses ways to maximize the effects of your content to most benefit your listeners as well as yourself. What sort of bonus material is appropriate for a children’s audiobook? What can be marketed towards parents and educators but also be entertaining for children? How do you answer your customers’ question of “what else do you have to offer” once they are done listening to your audiobook? All this and more will be discussed as well as how to get creative with your content and stand out from competitors.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thinking of producing a children’s audiobook? Then this episode is for you. Given that children’s audio makes up such a small percentage of the market, it can be daunting to figure out where to start. You might even think there’s no point in making one at all. But that’s no reason to give up. In fact, this gap in the market provides a vast array of opportunities for you to take advantage of! In this episode, host Becky Parker Geist will walk you through the benefits of children’s audiobooks, what making one will entail, and your options when it comes to marketing and sound production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting your audience to follow a “call to action” outside of listening to your audiobook can be tricky, and can often seem like a gimmick or sales pitch. In this episode, you’ll learn how to enhance your listeners’ experience and make them eager to engage with your content. Whether your audiobook is fiction, nonfiction, or for children, there are ways to create excitement and curiosity that will guide your audience to interact with your work. Host Becky Parker Geist will teach you tips and tricks to create an immersive listener experience and motivate your audience to follow your lead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When history is written by the winners, it is always worthwhile to honor those whose stories are buried or forgotten. “Once in a Blood Moon” reframes American history and delves into the often undervalued influence African-Americans had on building the country we know and love today. Host Becky Parker Geist speaks with award-winning author Dorothea Bonneau about her characters, inspiration, and the 15 years of research into black history that went into her book.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In celebration of our 100th episode, host Becky Parker Geisttalks about Consistency, Commitment and Gratitude, three keys to success. Making a commitment to the project, following through with consistency, and living in gratitude—especially for everyone on our teams that move us forward and support the process. A great episode to help you think about your own work and success team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your audiobook were a party? There are a surprising number of similarities in terms of the prep for the event and how to get folks to come. Like a party, audiobooks are an experience. In this episode, Host Becky Parker Geist starts off with the planning—setting goals, figuring out what materials you need, are there activities you need, what do you want your guests to experience. Once you've got your party or audiobook planned, you'll want to make sure your invitations are enticing. With your audiobook, invitations include those within the audio production, not just the marketing that happens afterwards.

In this episode you'll learn how to: set your goals for the audiobook, craft the audio production and user experience in ways that move you toward those goals through listener engagement, and create effective invitations so that your listeners will be eager to continue the journey with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing can feel overwhelming—so many options, so many things we should do! While you might sometimes feel like doing anything is at least doing something, your results may suggest that the only result is that short-lived feeling of satisfaction.

Host Becky Parker Geist will walk you through the top four tasks to get yourself organized and able to move your marketing forward. Whether you’re marketing your audiobook or another format of your book or your author platform, the same top four apply.

Additional resources for this episode: proaudiovoices.com and stevenapolitan.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have questions about what your finished audiobook audio files look like? What the possible formats for your audio files are and which is best for you? Without requiring you to possess a lot of tech savvy, host Becky Parker Geist acts as a gentle guide through the often mystifying and intimidating tech world, giving enough information for you to make the correct decisions for your audiobook project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s that time of year to look over our shoulders to review this past year and then to plan out what we’d like for this coming year. Host Becky Parker Geist offers some ways to consider both your view of what’s behind you as well as how to make a plan for what you’d like to experience in 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At year end, looking forward to new opportunities to share your passion, learn ways to use your curiosity to include others in your “tribe” by making more new personal connections with those from whom you can partner and learn, turning competitors into allies, and increasing your target audience reach with some tips from Host Becky Parker Geist.

Happy New Year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Host Becky Parker Geist during this holiday season as she brings our attention to the importance of storytelling traditions, especially the ancient rites of oral tradition to impart wisdom, to teach children and all of us what went on before to help us find meaning in our lives, and to pass on to future generations the legacies we need to remember and cherish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you yearn to publish your book as an audiobook? If so, this episode is for you. If not, you may want to learn more about it! Host Becky Parker Geist alerts you to some of the pitfalls and challenges to anticipate and to prepare for, and offers some recommendations based on her years of experience in the audiobook industry. Learn how to get started, what to avoid and who to seek out for assistance with the multitude of tasks involved in the process. Welcome to the World of Audio! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you looked at your website with the eyes of someone searching for something? How does it answer someone’s yearning for information, escape, advice, or entertainment?

If you want to know how to answer these and other questions to get your business running more smoothly, to increase your audience - entice them - pique their curiosity about you and their interest in what you offer, without having to break the bank, and to reclaim your leisure time, consider some of the points that Host Becky Parker Geist discusses with Jeffrey Samarano, “the tech guy you want in your back pocket” with regard to your website. An interesting interview, to be certain! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what it would take to record an audiobook from your theatre production, play, or book? If you have a story that’s demanding to come out, to be expressed to the world, help is available! Host Becky Parker Geist enumerates the intricacies and technical requirements of such a complex project, services that her organization provides to clients. As Becky clears up the mysteries and confusion, she shows us that this is very doable and rewarding. ProAudioVoices.com has a dedicated team to help you navigate the myriad of choices and options to get the results you desire and enjoy the richness of a successful project accomplished! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

’Tis the season to remember what we have to be grateful for throughout the year! Host Becky Parker Geist expresses her appreciation for and thanks to all of her listeners and to everyone involved in the production of audiobooks through ProAudioVoices (ProAudioVoices.com). In this uplifting podcast episode, Becky lists and defines the various roles of each member of the multiple teams that are part of the greater Production Team. This is a marvelously enlightening education in itself of the production process and includes a detailed overview of the parts played by the entire Audiobook Production Crew. Fascinating! Enjoy listening to it and have a happy holiday season!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have questions about how to profitably run your own business? Increase your bottom line AND your top line? Avoid pitfalls and increase your highs while decreasing your lows? Host Becky Parker Geist discusses with businesswoman Dawn Fuchs Coleman, author of “Get Your Game FACE On” and founder of We Guide You Grow, a CONSULTING FIRM, ? her passion to share with enterprising business people the wealth of information, tips, advice, etc. she has gleaned from her experiences in the business world. If you have ever doubted the value of what you have to offer, take inspiration from our guest today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How royalties work and what the different kinds of platforms are and the payment models can feel like getting lost in the forest. Audiobook digital distribution is a complex process involving preparing the files and metadata to suit a huge range of retailers, libraries, music channels, subscription services. The payment models vary as well. Darren Speers, Chief Operating Officer of Authors Republic, gets into the weeds with us to explain how this jungle. In the process, you’ll gain tips on marketing and how to figure out where your audience is hanging out—so you know where to put your efforts. This episode is a must-listen for anyone with questions about audiobook royalties! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever considered getting your book or script into audio with a full cast of actors to bring it to life? Host Becky Parker Geistshares several samples from full cast projects produced by Pro Audio Voices and describes some of the differences. She discusses the rationale behind decisions made for each unique project. If an audiobook with multiple voice actors, music and sound effects is something you’re considering, here’s your chance to learn more about—and hear samples from—this genre of audiobooks that is on the rise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Host Becky Parker Geist in reviewing highlights of four different children’s stories recorded as audiobooks, with various music and sound effects emphasizing aspects of each story, delightfully adding depth and meaning to educating children, and ourselves, about diverse facets of life on our planet and with a serious yet lighthearted hopefulness bringing awareness to issues confronting individuals, groups, and the planet itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what mental illness is like up close and personal? What is it like to live with this debilitating condition, and what effects does it have on the family? Is it a curse? Or can it be a blessing? Is a mental health condition set in stone? Can people heal and live a positive life? If so, how? What tools assist in the process of healing? Join Host Becky Parker Geist as you listen in on a frank discussion of this timely topic on mental health with Maggie Newcomb, author of Chocolate Pudding in Heaven, The Intriguing Journey of My Bipolar Mind. Witness the courage the author exhibited in putting out in the world this thought-provoking, different kind of story about mental illness and the technical challenges of recording her book, and in her own voice, as well. See what we can learn from this inspiring, courageous, and true story of a young person and her family living with and recovering from this condition and overcoming the stigma of mental illness by sharing her journey with the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you find the legaleze surrounding copyrights confusing and frustrating? The nuances of meaning and interpretation, what’s legal, ethical, and moral to do and not to do regarding copyrights. You want to be fair, as you want to be treated fairly yourself. What about the definitions, boundaries and limits set up and imposed upon you and your artistic, creative endeavors by people who may appreciate music yet not be creative types themselves ?

In the realm of music, these questions can dim the sound of the celestial music with their harsh uncompromising din, quashing the creativity of the music makers with the harsh bang of the gavel that brings the pleasant sounds to a screeching halt, depriving your audience and you of the magic and imagery that music brings into our lives.

Host Becky Parker Geist discusses with musician and author Dan Miller these concerns in depth enough to put you on the right track to orchestrate your audiobook with the music of the angelic spheres! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you struggling to get yourself and your work known? Do you feel alone straining to make progress against the incoming tide? Do you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders? Are you trying to single-handedly furnish all the content for your genre for all the readers and listeners in the world? Wouldn’t you feel relieved to know that you are in good company, that you are working with other authors (or related roles) rather than against them? Wouldn’t that feel like a safer world? Are you at a loss for ideas of how to connect with your colleagues, who might be able to help you when you help them? Isn’t it a rewarding endeavor to reach out to help others, without an agenda, and perhaps receive the same benefits for yourself in return? What a nice surprise that would be! Host Becky Parker Geist gives some ideas of how to begin your quest by asking some pointed questions and giving suggestions to guide you in unfolding your own path of discovery and to garner the support you feel you need, to become a Leader by Being a Follower. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What kind of impact do you want to have? As authors, we often think about sales and discoverability and reaching our audience. Host Becky Parker Geist walks with us down the path of considering all this from the angle of impact, helping us focus on specifics that can enable us to achieve our goals, share our message, and increase our influence and sharing with others. We all want to be seen and heard, to know that we make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others, in our community, and in our personal and business worlds. It is a bonus when we have the opportunity to see and experience the consequent ripple effect we have on others and can use marketing effectively. Consider why are we creating this content in the first place? Getting clear on our intentions is step number one in creating a plan to make an impact—or increasing our impact.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have dingbats or icons or other repetitive visual indicators in your print book? Wondering what to do about those for the audio? Host Becky Parker Geist will help clarify why you might consider not just ignoring or omitting them and some creative ways to help your listener with things like “aural dingbats.” Find out when the best approach is to just leave a differentiation silence and when you might want to help the listener with clues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you wondering or have questions about whether or not to podcast your finished Audiobook? What are the reasons for doing so? What are the consequences of taking such an action? How do you turn your Audiobook into a podcast and enrich your listener’s experience, and what kind of podcast would be best for your purposes? Host Becky Parker Geist gently leads us into the world of podcasting your Audiobook with ideas with which you can increase your impact with your content, and perhaps increase your audience as well.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might think that the best way to review your audiobook files is with your text in hand and your analytic scrutinizer turned up full volume. Host Becky Parker Geist shares a different approach—one that will better help you provide the best listening experience for your audience. Find out why and how to review your audiobook effectively, do it with less stress, and deliver the best product for your listeners! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Success leaves clues” Tony Robbins tells us. Figure out what a successful person does and model it, even improve on it, but learn their steps, specifically regarding your marketing. Host Becky Parker Geist helps fill the gaps in our understanding of effective marketing with ideas, techniques and strategies that we may not have imagined are effective. She gives us encouragement to find out what successful authors are doing and suggests how to follow up on that information and use what works to promote our book and audiobook sales. What is marketing? Other than the part of your business of “doing what you love” that is distasteful, disgusting, and to be avoided at all costs. We hear buzzwords: “keywords” “hashtags” and other terms that make no sense. Yet we’re told they’re critical to our success in business.

Join Becky as she clears up this confusion with simple, straightforward definitions, examples, and steps you can take to help get you following the clues to success on your path. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have a story to tell? Is your own story pushing its way to get out into the world?

Be prepared to tell it successfully when you hear what Host Becky Parker Geist, a successful author, audiobook producer, publisher, and entrepreneur has to share about overcoming the challenges to getting your memoir into a storytelling format to reach the hearts of others who might benefit from hearing about your experiences.

Looking at it from different perspectives, Becky illustrates sound technical and aesthetic reasons for making your choices, and the advantages and disadvantages of each choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen in as Host Becky Parker Geist discusses with innovative Children’s Book author Brad Pohl the exciting new way he is bringing his content out to the world, creating an experience for children to have more control, thus teaching them self-discipline, accelerating the learning process, and teaching children ways to take care of the earth’s environment. Brad alerts us all to conservation problems and solutions. You may find inspiration in discovering what got Brad started writing children’s books, how he turned a mindless doodling habit into a career he enjoys, and why he likes it!

To get a complimentary copy of Fernando Invents Socks, go to https://tadpohl.com/product/fernando-ebook/ and use the coupon code: proaudiovoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Becky Parker Geist discusses with Memoir author Laura Davis the advantages and disadvantages of collaboration between an author who narrates her own audiobook and (with) a professional narrator’s consistency in playing some of the characters. As an author narrating – making the best choices and discovering what really matters. How sharing a memoir - a very intimate, personal account - with others feels and what purpose it serves for herself and for her listeners.

Learn about the skills necessary to be able to have increased insight into characters and to infuse the character’s distinguishing traits into the narration, to focus on the craft of writing and attaining new levels of writing skill to create a richer telling of the events and to bring the story alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sounds and sound effects can appeal to us on a vicarious rather than a conscious level, connecting the listener with the author’s intended message in a deeper way in our understanding and emotions than words. This brings immediate clarity to the message and can join everyone in enjoying the author’s tale.

Host Becky Parker Geist invites us to join her in diving into the idea of sounds replacing symbols in an audiobook, and the ability to use different contexts to bring your story to life! Let Becky fire your imagination and creativity with a few interesting examples to inspire you to to play with this concept to create more lively, dynamic, and active relationships with your story and characters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview with Melyssa Barrett, Host of the JALI Podcast, you’ll discover the fascinating journey of one woman who turned her husband’s profession of telling the stories that need to be told, along with her passion for connecting and engaging with people, into an inquiry to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion through her successful podcast series. Host Becky Parker Geist asks questions that bring forth and generate ideas that can inspire all of us to reach deep within ourselves to connect with others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Becky Parker Geist dives into the things you need to know about pronunciations, from names and that are real or fictional to regional pronunciations. Should foreign words be pronounced as someone from that country or as someone from the narrative voice? Where should you look for valid pronunciations? And when does the author need to provide them? So much about such a simple thing—or is it as simple as it seems? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What to do when you miss a deadline or make a mistake or something unexpected throws you off? Host Becky Parker Geist offers some gentle techniques and tips to help us all move on in a positive way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview with Director of Pre-Production at Pro Audio Voices Inc., Jerrilee Geist, you’ll learn more about the conversion from Screenplay or Theatre Script into the Audiobook format. Find out how to approach film shots and stage directions, just how narrative to make your script, how the difference in the visually-oriented scripts best translate into a great auditory experience. Tips on directions your actors need—and don’t—and what helps your listeners fully engage without distractions. They also discuss how to integrate music and sound effects in these types of full cast projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you tired of living and working in a dog-eat-dog business world? Is the frustration adding to your stress level and robbing you of the pleasure of doing what you love to do while serving others? There are a number of ways you can change that situation without moving to and setting up shop in the Bahamas, Jamaica, or the Pacific Islands. (Although these spots are tempting to visit.)

Host Becky Parker Geist puts forth some ideas and suggestions to help you transform your business and client relationships and ways to attain your goals of increasing your audience following, easing the strain of competition, and finding again the joy you first imagined when you began your business.

Join us to find out how! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calling all those wanting to express their characters audibly! Do you want to know how to best bring your story alive with your characters’ voices?

Voice characterization is very subjective. Learn about this kind of character representation and interpretation, differentiation of characters voices, when it matters, when it doesn’t, and more!

Join Host Becky Parker Geist on a fun and productive journey into new ways of expression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you connect with your current and prospective audience out there? What do you think about when considering repurposing your content? Can you think creatively about how to know your audience well enough to know what they want, and then to help them get what they (and you) want? Host Becky Parker Geist shares a few of the many tools and practices for you as a Fiction writer to find your audience . . . and how you can make it easier for your audience to find you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Considering adding a bonus interview to your audiobook? Host Becky Parker Geist provides the why’s and how’s of creating an interview and how to leverage that to have a greater impact with your listeners, entice them to your website, and provide an enhanced listener experience. Whether you have an existing interview or need to create one, this episode provides valuable tips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Becky Parker Geist shares reasons to repurpose your content, reframing the information and tailoring it to the intended purposes of expanding your coverage in the world and helping the listeners learn your content more deeply and integrate it more fully. Becky inspires you to think about different ways to present your content (information) to reach ever wider audiences, giving several ideas of the multitude of ways to offer your expertise and to use and reuse portions of your audiobook in creative and innovative avenues. Learn tips to create and run a podcast episode, to take advantage of new forms of media to spread your message, and to translate your message into various formats as appropriate. Become aware of the various platforms on which to present your content: YouTube, Social Media, blogs, vlogs, etc. Learn how and where to mention the availability of your other products and the importance of your website in your networking and marketing efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re thinking you’ll just send your manuscript to your narrator or audiobook producer and they’ll deliver the audiobook you imagine, then you are probably making a lot of assumptions that could bite you later. Host Becky Parker Geist will lead you through several of the key things to consider when in pre-production, BEFORE recording begins. Set yourself up for success with preparation and the process will go much more smoothly and efficiently. Specific guidance on what to prepare is included in this episode on Pre-Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Expanding on a topic introduced in the previous podcast episode, “DIY Snags - Those Little Things You Might Not Think Of,” Intellectual Property Attorney Kelley Way answers Host Becky Parker Geist’s insightful questions that every author and others involved in an audiobook production need to ask about getting agreements before production in order to keep things clear and to avoid the clash of differing expectations on critical issues later in the production process, and shares what to do to protect your project and everyone affected. Attorney Kelley Way answers some very important basic questions that all can benefit from asking and getting answered with direct, simple, practical answers that lay people (non-legals) can understand and use in contractual situations. Kelley answers such basic questions as: Why do we need to have a contract and who writes a contract? What do we need to put in a contract? Core elements. When & how each party gets paid. Differing expectations about what’s going to happen next or what each one is getting out of the deal. Do you need an attorney? Useful vs. legally required. Red flags in terms of friendship vs. a business arrangement. Who owns the copyright? Who’s doing the work? Who owns the work? Who decides in a matter of disagreement? On what basis? And more. Kelley clarifies the roles of expectations and interpretations, the fears and benefits of discussing money earlier rather than later, reasonable negotiations, industry standards, clear communication, fair and equitable agreements in working on a project toward the same goals. She defines some legal terms such as “Work for Hire” and its legal meanings, “Rule of Law” in court, Doctrine in Rule in Copyright Law, and points out the complications when things are misinterpreted, depending upon perspective. Kelley also explains why cases get to court, mediation, or arbitration, and how to avoid those scenarios. She shares the hopeful news about the legal system working to make legal language less complicated and more understandable to lay people. Join Host Becky Parker Geist and Intellectual Property Attorney Kelley Way in this in-depth examination of the best ways to create intellectual agreements to create value and to know what should be included in that conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn some specifics about the production process that shine a light on potential “snags” to bypass to make your road to your audiobook goal smoother and more rewarding. In this week’s podcast episode, Host Becky Parker Geist offers the listening audience some timely alerts to avoid problems that can happen in the process of producing your book in audiobook format, some tips to inform the author regarding the business of managing your project and the importance of meeting the requirements to get your audiobook produced. Learn when professionals can rescue a troubled project and mitigate unpleasant and unproductive challenges that could potentially derail your project, which can help you decide whether the time, money, and energy you spend on producing the project on your own is worth saving on the expenses of having knowledgeable and experienced professionals help you create your biggest goals, or how to incorporate their expertise in your project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you considering how your audiobook will help your listeners stay with you and continue to engage with you? You should be! In this episode, host Becky Parker Geist interviews award-winning marketer, international best-selling author (in 4 countries and 14 categories!), Steve Napolitan about how he creates content related to his books and his mission to achieve his biggest goals. Learn key tips on how to produce and leverage and re-purpose content—like the very content in your book! Gain hints on how to work more efficiently so you can enjoy life more. Great info for non-fiction and fiction authors alike! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having all the information you need to make an informed decision about your audiobook makes it so much easier to be certain that you, as the author of a book, are making the correct decision in selecting an audiobook producer for your project. Host BPG takes the mystery out of audiobook production pricing by sharing specific criteria that are taken into account in considering the cost of producing an audiobook, sharing the formulae producers use to figure out / estimate how to best cover their own necessary business expenses and give a fair price quote to the author, based on her own experience with her clients.

Authors can learn the elements that audiobook producers use to calculate the length, tine involved, and all the various other factors involved in estimating a price quote for the audio book author.

Host BPG decodes the labyrinth of esoteric information to help you, the author, have a good experience in bringing your story to life and helping you to create the impact you desire on or with your audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you interested in having your audiobook in libraries? Listen as Michele Cobb, Publisher of AudioFile Magazine and Audio and Digital Publishing Consultant answers authors’ questions about marketing their audiobooks to the library system. Tips on topics such as increasing your visibility, reviews, contacts with influential associations and vendors, networking and the surprising benefits of the digital world we are now in. Learn how to keep afloat in our changing world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding the right voice is critical to bringing your story to life – it can transport your audiobook listeners to new worlds.

Host BPG provides guidance to assist you in selecting the correct narrator for your audiobook as she gives tips and shines a light on the nuances of the audiobook recording process that may be unfamiliar to an author to help head off or deal with issues that do come up and to avoid the pitfalls in producing your audiobook.

BPG illustrates the time-saving and other benefits of working with and learning from experienced professionals and / in a creative team that have developed skills and resources over time, pay attention to important details, and use a personalized approach to your audiobook project.

Give a listen now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Becky Parker Geist and get to know our Audiobook Marketing Program Concierge, Johnny Robinson. Hear about the ways authors and the marketing team come together to learn and move past challenges as well as sharing victories in marketing. Learn more about the community aspect of marketing and audiobooks. Johnny also hosts the The Audio Book Club—an online, interactive club for audiobook enthusiasts—that was launched in January 2021. Discover what's available for you whether as an audiobook author and/or listening enthusiast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this fifth episode in this series on the Audiobook Marketing Program (AMP), host Becky Parker Geist helps you think through the gathering of your marketing team. If you’ve created your Marketing Blueprint as we discussed in the first in this series (Episode AC-T-52), you know what tasks need to be done. Figuring out which you should take on yourself and which you should delegate out stumps many an author, and the insights in this episode will help you gain clarity. Every successful author has a team! Publishing and marketing a book or audiobook should not be a solo venture, not if you intend to really reach your audience with your message and to have the impact most authors dream of. Pulling together your team is critical to your success! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this fourth episode in a series on the Audiobook Marketing Program (AMP) created by Pro Audio Voices, host Becky Parker Geist interviews Ryan Perry, business consultant and CEO of Simple Biz Support and a 20-year veteran of helping companies grow sustainably. From his vast experience with YouTube he shared powerful and practical tips on how to use YouTube to market your audiobooks and yourselves as authors. With these suggestions and recommendations for tools and resources, you can dynamically tailor your videos to fit and expand your target audience and keep yourself and your audiobooks compelling and viable in this digital world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is the third of a series on the Audiobook Marketing Program (AMP) created by Pro Audio Voices. Host Becky Parker Geist will introduce you to what she and her team use to stay organized and to keep forward momentum: maintaining a short and manageable list of the Weekly Tasks to be accomplished. With these tips and suggestions as a jumping off point, you can tailor your Weekly Task List to fit your needs and keep you and your marketing plan moving forward. Keeping a Weekly Task List can help you maintain a handle on a successful, active marketing campaign and help you reach out to an ever increasing audience more efficiently. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Managing your marketing assets can help you gain an advantage for a successful marketing campaign and help you reach your wider audience and even expand your fan base. Today’s episode is the second of a series on the Audiobook Marketing Program (AMP) created by Pro Audio Voices. Host Becky Parker Geist will walk you through what she and her team call your Marketing Assets Library and help you identify the resources available to you and where to focus your efforts for maximum benefit. With this information you can create your own DIY program or just gather professional tips. Learn what your “Media Assets Library” should include, how to store your assets, how to recognize what is useful to you, and guidelines and recommendations on how to use the tools, materials, and techniques in innovative ways. This series outlines the elements that make the full Audiobook Marketing Program successful. - Discover what it takes to initialize a solid yet flexible marketing plan. - Learn how to meet your goals for your audiobook. - Pick up tips to help you create and maintain successful marketing campaign strategies. - Pull back the curtain to reveal the best techniques and tricks of the trade to take advantage of current trends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Effective Marketing can make the difference in sales success for your audiobook and help you reach your wider audience. Authors often feel challenged dealing with marketing, figuring out where to begin and where to focus. Today’s episode is the first of a series on the Audiobook Marketing Program (AMP) created by Pro Audio Voices. Host Becky Parker Geist will walk you through what she and her team have developed and why. You can use this as a model to create your own DIY program or just glean tips from the professionals. This series outlines the elements that make the full Audiobook Marketing Program successful. · Discover what it takes to initialize a solid yet flexible marketing plan. · Learn how to meet your goals for your audiobook. · Pick up tips to help you create and maintain successful marketing campaign strategies. · Pull back the curtain to reveal the best techniques and tricks of the trade to take advantage of current trends. In this first episode, we’ll be emphasizing the importance of organization, self-assessment, setting clear goals and taking action steps to grow into the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve decided to be the voice for your own book, this episode will help you with some options and recommendations. Whether you choose to record in a pro studio, a semi-pro studio, or set yourself up with a home recording set up, there are questions to ask and decisions to make that will make the experience smoother and more manageable. Also be sure to check out Episode #34: “Should You Record Your Own Audiobook?” in this podcast series, which provides some useful information to help you make that decision about whether to be your own narrator or hire a professional. We’ll cover suggestions about the basics of audiobook recording, the equipment you’ll need, some software options, technical requirements to meet the industry standards. We’ll also touch on some tips for good recording techniques. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A child’s curiosity knows no bounds. Even those who seem bored and distracted have the energy within them to participate in the world if only we arouse their interest. Today we look at the opportunities presented by Unpublished Children’s Books - children’s stories not yet published in an eBook or a print format, and ways to enrich the stories with a soundscape. We explore the benefits of producing your children’s stories in audio format vs. print format, the perks of getting published or producing your book with Independent Publishing, the fun, inspiring and educational aspects that unfold with audio stories, and an appeal to your ingenuity to embark on this fascinating journey of discovery by allowing your imagination to run free and practice your original storylines and characters on the kids in your life with tales specifically designed for telling rather than reading - a fun, rewarding experience that can open you up to new possibilities and opportunities as an author of children’s stories. Sound effects and verbal descriptions of the environment and of action encourage children to use their resourcefulnessand versatility to conceptualize, stimulating them to continue learning for life. We are introduced to the fascinating world of foley sound – creating a sound for an action when the actual sound does not translate accurately on its own. And much more! PROMO: ProAudio Voices has come up with a system to help our clients gain control over the Launch of their audiobook. Starting with a beautiful custom sales landing page, you set the retail price and can run promotional pricing and get discount codes for a special event at any time, earn 65% of your royalties based on the charge you set for each audiobook, and get paid just 3 days after each sale is made. We include a bonus: a series of emails with step-by-step tutorials on how to use that landing page. Please schedule a call with me at ProAudioVoices.com. Please note that Amplify is available exclusively to the production clients of ProAudio Voices and those who join our audiobook marketing program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover the variety of useful ways your short stories (singly and as collections) can benefit children, parents who wish to encourage their young to appreciate the fascinating world of literature through audiobooks, the literary-hungry public, educators, and you! Becky Parker Geist has some innovative suggestions for enhancing your short stories to maximize their visual and auditory appeal, to illustrate the storyline and action in your short story (without the expense of illustrations necessarily), and to enrich your stories by minimizing verbiage using other techniques to supplement words to entertain and to educate. Learn new approaches to getting your stories out there in the world by making the most of the internet and finding new possibilities for expanding your reach and influence. These Production and Marketing Tips can foster your contributions to any genre, inspire your creativity flow, and increase your business and sales. All of this and having fun too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Children are thirsty for adventure, knowledge, entertainment; constantly looking for great stories to drink in and enhance their life experience. An often-neglected segment of that population – visually impaired and blind children – are just as much so - craving the same stimuli. This creates a wide-open market for the author’s creative use of the elements of storytelling and learning possibilities, particularly in the audiobook format. Challenge your own creativity by listening to BPG’s Tips for enhancing your audiobook to make it more accessible to the visually impaired and blind children and discover the variety of situations in which Audiobooks are useful, then rise to the challenge BPG presents to further explore and make a contribution to the visually impaired and blind children’s audiobook world! Hear about the advantages for a children’s book author who has the foresight to bring their children’s book into the audiobook world and get their book translated and recorded as an audiobook in multiple languages, as advised by an expert in the book and audiobook marketing fields, Darren Speers of Author’s Republic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding the right audiobook producer can feel like a daunting task! And if you’re new to the format, you may not even know what questions to ask in your selection process. So in today’s episode, I’m giving you a comprehensive list of questions to ask potential producers so you can find the perfect match for your unique needs. I’ll give you questions that address casting, manuscript preparation, modifications to text and tone, the audio file review process, metadata, the submission + distribution process, and more! Even if you’re considering producing your own audiobook, these key questions will gracefully guide you through each stage of the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Pro Audio Voices, our preferred digital distributor for audiobooks is Authors’s Republic...and for good reason! Distributing content to over 50 different channels across the world like audiobooks.com and spotify, the platform opens the door to high visibility for authors. So in this week’s episode I invited Darren Spears, COO at Author's Republic, to talk about their process for getting YOUR content out into the world. Tune in for his insights on the top reasons audiobooks get rejected by distributors, where authors tend to get most tripped up in the production process, and how to overcome them. He’ll also answer the most common question about royalties and why certain audiobooks sell like hotcakes on one platform and flop on another. Use his insider tips to help your next audio title soar to new heights! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Forget half-baked resolutions — let’s define rock solid goals for your audiobook in 2021! In today’s episode, we’ll dive into the VERY first step in approaching the audiobook process. The clearer you are about your goals around your audiobook, the more easily you can make decisions that will bring those goals to life. I’ll lay out the most common goals and how each one affects the audiobook production process. Whether your goal is to reach a greater audience, earn more royalties, become a full-time writer, get more coaching clients and speaking engagements, or be recognized as the go-to expert in your field...I’ve got you covered! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Self-help and personal development authors rejoice! It’s that time of the year where readers and listeners everywhere are making resolutions, setting goals, and planning big changes in their lives — which means they need you the most right now! So how can you most effectively leverage this time to reach a bigger audience and boost your audiobook sales? In this episode, I’ll be sharing pre-launch tips to build momentum, how to select the juiciest clips for your promotion efforts, and choosing the right platform for avoiding critical launch delays. I’ll help you see your marketing efforts as more than a one-time launch or an endless marathon and tune into the ‘seasons’ that will guide you toward the best marketing timing. It’s time to harness every bit of leverage you have in 2021! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holiday season has gifts on everyone’s mind...but have you considered the unique gifts you have to offer as an author? In this episode, I’m going to help you shift from thoughts like “how do I sell my books?” to considering instead, “how can I best share my gifts with the world?” The first step to this meaningful shift is clarifying your target market so you can connect with those who will love your work with greater ease. Remembering who you’re writing for will rekindle your passion, and I’ll show you how to leverage that passion to propel your career and knock through obstacles. Tune in for a powerful mindset shift that will help you connect with your audience more than ever in 2021! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wellness, self-care, and health have become hot topics in 2020 amidst a global pandemic, social distancing, and skyrocketing stress levels. Despite the difficulties, these events have given writers like Brianna Fitzgerald, author of ‘The Road To Healing’, a chance to shine. In today’s episode, she’ll share her thoughts on how the pandemic has shaped our mental, emotional, and physical health. Tune in for her tips on creating a ‘circle of security’ during socially distanced times and how to become more resilient to the mood tanking effects of social + news media. On the audiobook production side, we’ll get into how her written ideas on health turned into a book (much to her surprise!) and continued on into audio format. Don’t miss her tips on finding a narrator that feels like “the one” and securing the support you need throughout the production process! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The audiobook production and launch processes can be incredibly layered and complex. So where do you even start? In today’s episode, I’ll give you the most important, broad-perspective considerations you need to get the process rolling. Learn how to start with one overarching goal and using it to inform the entire process, as well as deciding whether hiring a professional or DIY is best for you. You’ll also get my best tips on vetting the right producer, weighing budget considerations, and keeping your finger on the pulse of the production process...even if you don’t understand all the technical terms. Consider this your big picture launchpad! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New Year is a time when people start thinking about making new changes, setting goals, and bettering themselves — making it the PERFECT time to launch nonfiction content! Whether you already have a nonfiction audiobook or authored a book that hasn’t made it to the audio format yet, I’m going to give you my tips for making best use of this opportunity. I’ll show you how to develop and launch value added content for existing audiobooks for the purpose of getting audiences fully engaged. No audiobook yet? No problem! I’ll also share how to develop a new year launch strategy focused on the CTA you want your audience to take...whether it be visiting your site, buying your other books, signing up for your services, booking a speaking engagement, or beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’m dedicating this short episode to this amazing audio community and the gratitude I have for it. The team at Pro Audio Voices REALLY care about bringing great stories to life. When authors collaborate with us to bring those stories to life, doors open in the heart, the mind, and the spirit. We’ll talk about the amazing change that is made possible when authors bring their valuable content to the world — from messages of healing and inspiration, to imaginative stories that keep us entertained and awestruck in these difficult times. I’ll also share my top audiobook recommendations for your holiday enjoyment, PLUS an open invitation to get on the phone with me and share an amazing conversation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most common questions I get from ambitious and frugal authors is, “can I just record an audiobook with my phone’s built-in mic and an app?” So in today’s episode, we’ll explore how it’s possible...but by no means simple. I’ll cover the three main hurdles in phone recording; the sound quality, file type, and technical specs of your recording space. Hear side-by-side samples of recordings from phone mics, USB mics, and professional recording equipment to discern the quality difference. We’ll explore the possibilities and limitations of recording apps, as well as how file type and compression affect quality. Plus, learn about noise floor and room tone, and how their presence in DIY recordings can get your self-produced audiobook rejected by platforms. Dive in, see what it takes, and decide for yourself if this might be the DIY option for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charts and tables are an essential tool for nonfiction authors to share information on the page...but what happens to those visuals in the audio format? The default choice of many audiobook narrators and producers is to omit them, but today I’ll share that it isn’t always the right decision. Tune in and learn how to translate charts into engaging narratives that enhance the listener experience. I’ll also read examples from Rene Zamora’s book, Part Time Sales Management, to illustrate the different ways you can include table information and redirect listeners to visual resources on your website. We’ll even tackle how to handle tricky visual information like number-heavy charts and mathematical trends! No more throwing away information your audio audience will value...the sky's the limit! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Footnotes and endnotes have a clear place in written nonfiction - but how do they fit into the audio format? In today’s episode, we’ll dive into the options...and you’ll be surprised that “omit them” isn’t the only one! We’ll talk about the types of audiences that appreciate footnote inclusion and how to seamlessly integrate this information without detracting from narrative flow and listener experience. Learn how to turn footnote information into value added content or a ‘free gift’ that invites your listener to your website. Finally, we’ll get into the specific pros, cons, challenges, and solutions for handling citations and bibliographic footnotes in your nonfiction audiobook. Let’s turn the footnote conundrum into an inviting listener experience! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first thing that comes to mind when people hear ‘Soundcloud’ is music...but did you know it can be an amazing platform for audiobook marketing? In today’s episode, I’ll show you how to leverage the platform to access a wider audience and create great opportunities to invite them to your website. You’ll learn practical tips for setting up your account, creating effective + keyword rich descriptions, and choosing the clips and content you want to share. I’ll also teach you how to use the embedded link feature to share your soundcloud content on your website and other social platforms to maximize your reach. So open up a tab, go to soundcloud, and prepare to kick your audiobook marketing into high gear! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The skill sets involved in narration are VERY different from those of writing text...but does being a story’s author make you the best person for the narration job? There is a possibility you may not be the person to bring your audiobook to life in sound, but on the other hand you may be the PERFECT person. So how do you know? In this episode, I’ll guide you through the decision making process, starting with your goal for your audiobook. We’ll cover whether recording yourself REALLY saves money and time, and well as recording equipment and space considerations for getting a clean recording. Finally, I’ll help you assess your comfort level with technology so you can decide if the editing process is right for you. Tune in and get a big dose of clarity!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audiobook audiences and podcast listeners have one great thing in common -- they LOVE consuming audio content! The podcast format is an incredible way to expand your audience and drive sales with a wealth of content you already have. In today’s episode, learn the many ways you can structure an audiobook-based podcast, how to edit in complimentary content with listener experience in mind, and how to choose segments that generate excitement and interest. I’ll also give you tips on leveraging breaks for promotion, editing, and crafting a compelling intro and outro. With some smart strategies and a little editing magic, you can open yourself to a whole new audience in less time than you think! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Youtube is one of the internet’s most popular search engines and there are ample marketing benefits to getting your audiobook in on the mix. But how do you translate your audiobook into video? In today’s episode, I’ll share how to create potent marketing material with audiobook segments and some video editing magic. I’ll cover how to select segments appealing to your audience, ideas for visual components to accompany your story, and video editing softwares. I’ll also teach you how to leverage your Author Central account and youtube to the maximum in attracting people to your audio title! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes for a timely and compelling memoir? And how do you vividly convey that journey in audio? To answer these questions and more, we’re joined by Tania Romanov, author of Mother Tongue: The Saga Of 3 Generations of Balkan Women. Her book chronicles the strong women in her family and their struggles with immigration and exile, and effectively pulls readers into their lives without boring the reader with history. Tune in for her nuggets of wisdom surrounding the audiobook production process, launch timing, where to promote your audiobook, and how to orchestrate it all with print publication! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the fence about whether or not you should turn your book or screenplay into an audiobook? Unsure if it’ll really be worth it? Let’s look at the benefits! Audio format is the fastest growing segment of the publishing industry, and it’s an amazing way to ignite your reach. Today we’ll dive into the both the big reasons and the smaller (yet VALUABLE) ones you might not have considered. From increasing your earning potential to creating a wealth of content to leverage on social, you’re sure to find a good reason to finally take the plunge into audio! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writing, publishing, audiobook production...it’s all a journey of discovery when it’s your first time! The best tips and tricks come from those fresh off the adventure, which is why we’ve invited Gordon Chambers, author of Searching For Monkumar. He’ll share the wild path of bad publishing company experiences, the process of finding out if his draft was shelf worthy, and enlisting his son Jarryd (also joining us) to indie publish. You’ll also get a creative peek into how composer Wallace Harvey infused the audiobook with music for intros, outtros, background tones, and as dialogue. Buckle up for an exciting ride! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever weathered the process of getting your title on Audible, you already know that it takes a small eternity. If you haven’t, you’ve come to the right place! Today I’ll be giving out insider tips on how to shorten those painful wait times that have become the norm. Learn how audiobook quality affects your experience, and which royalty frequency to accept to speed up the process. Plus, find out what we use to shortcut our Audible publication time from 2-4 months to 2-3 WEEKS! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What author wouldn’t love more sales over the lifetime of their book release? That’s exactly what a solid audiobook presale strategy has the power to generate for you! In today’s episode, I’ll share the pros, cons, and considerations of selling your audiobook before its official release date. Learn how to choose the best author platforms for presale, strategies for incentivizing early purchases, and create a marketing timeline for your preorder launch. You’ll also discover the biggest presale pitfalls to avoid, including the ones that affect your Amazon ranking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So you’ve finished your book, and now the most exciting (and nerve wracking) part of the journey begins...the launch! With an endless sea of marketing options at your fingertips, how are you supposed to start narrowing it down? In today’s episode, I’ll cover 2 overarching strategies to help you kickstart the decision making process -- the staggered launch and the ‘all formats’ launch. Learn the pros and cons of both approaches, how to maximize your royalties with the right retail platforms, and more!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What adventures do you hope your writing career will whisk you away on? Open up to the possibilities with today’s inspiring guest Glenis Redmond; poet, teaching artist, and author of What My Hands Say. She’ll share how she went from a professional counselor struggling with fibromyalgia...to a single mom clocking 40k miles on her vehicle every year, spreading the power of poetry. We’ll also talk about how audio production and performance can elevate poetry into a more communicative art form, as well as powerful ways you can make an impact with your work. Let’s get inspired... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is an audiobook edition an appropriate or worthwhile venture as a writer of poetry? At first glance it might seem like the translation from page to spoken word is a difficult one, but today I’ll share practical tips for bringing your poetry to life in this sharable medium. We’ll dive into considerations like finding the right narrator, deciding how read lines should be metered (or not!), and enhancing the experience with musical tracks. I’ll also tackle tougher issues like conveying images included in your print poetry, and some solutions for getting them in front of your audio listeners. Run with these ideas, and you’ll be bringing your art to a broader audience in no time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have a crystal clear picture of who your target audience is? If not, today you’re in luck! Understanding your audiobook’s prime listeners affects so much more than marketing...it shapes all aspects of your production, too! Today I’ll be tips on bringing your target into laser-focus so that you can reach them with ease. I’ll also describe each facet of production that your target audience shapes, from narrator choice to tone (and beyond). Don’t miss my specific, side-by-side narration examples to drive the concepts home! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where does history end and an exciting new story begin? Today we’ll take a multifaceted look into writing and producing historical fiction with author Jim Wetton and the narrator of his audiobook, Samantha Cooper. In this 3-way interview, we chat about his experience bringing new life to historical figures and writing female characters from a male perspective. Samantha shares the unique challenges (and fun!) of learning dialects of yore and juggling them between characters. Whether you’re a history buff or a fiction fan, you’re going to love this dynamic conversation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So...you’ve written a memoir and you’re ready to bring it to life in audio. Now you face that big burning question, “who should narrate it?” You might think the easy answer is YOU, but this is just one valid approach of many! Today I’ll share my best tips for deciding if self-narration is right for you. I’ll give you my best questions for digging up a decision, important production considerations, and a great ‘test the waters’ exercise for comparing your narration samples to established pros. Let’s get confident! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does your nonfiction title include exercises to enhance the reader’s experience? If so, you’ve likely grappled with how to translate these interactive elements into audiobook format. Today, we’ll tackle how to elegantly present exercises like fill-in-the-blanks, prompts, writing exercises, physical exercises, meditations and more in audiobook production. I’ll give you specific ways you can approach each of these, including the use of music-backed pauses, clear instructions, and strategic invitations to your website for supporting content. Follow these to craft a smooth, truly engaging listener experience! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where could the inspiration for your next big title be hiding? Today Dale Arden, author of The Iguana Project, shares how an unexpected moment of inspiration launched him into first-time authorship. He’ll talk about how observing iguanas in the Galapagos planted the seeds for a murder mystery novel, and the many facets of bringing it to life over a 3 year creative journey. Tune in for his best tips on choosing the perfect audiobook narrator...especially if you have very colorful characters to bring to life. The perfect listen for new authors looking for the inspiration and confidence to charge forward! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Internal citations like footnotes are a familiar sight in print books -- but how should we deal with them in audiobook production? There’s no one right answer, but today I’ll share a variety of options for integrating (or omitting) them in a way that maximizes listener experience. We’ll get to thinking about the value of the information to the listener and how to incorporate bibliographic information without harming the narrative flow. Follow these tips and you’ll be confidently and mindfully managing citations like a pro...seamless listener experience ahead! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wanted to turn the raw material of life experience into transformative nonfiction? Today, author of Gates Of Power Nomi Bachar shares how her diverse history formed the foundation for a powerful self-help program. She took inspiration from her upbringing in Israel, experience in the performing arts, and training in various therapy modalities to create healing nonfiction. Tune in and get ideas for combining your unique life experience into books that help your audience grow!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An audiobook holds the potential to ignite your business in so many ways! Whether your goal is to kickstart a speaking career, attract new coaching clients, or garner interest in your products, I’m going to give you my best tips for leveraging your nonfiction title to the fullest. Today I’ll share how you can develop relationships with your listeners by inviting them deeper into your world (and website!) by offering free bonus content. We’ll discuss ideas for compelling supporting content, how to seamlessly direct your listeners to it, and how to build an interactive experience around your nonfiction title! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have a message with the power to uplift and heal? That’s exactly what today’s guest Pamela Evans set out to do with her book, Ring Exchange: Life Lessons From A Multiple Marrier. She used her experience with multiple marriages to bring attention and wisdom to a situation often left hidden. She’ll share how she used humor to bring lightheartedness to a painful subject, and how you can use your voice to bring insight, guidance, and comfort to listeners that need it most. We’ll also tackle assumptions about authors and who should narrate their audiobooks, so tune in for some great audiobook production tips! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes seemingly simple questions can have very complicated answers. “What will producing my audiobook cost me?” is one of those common questions, and today I’ll help you unravel the tangle of cost basis options for audiobook production. We’ll explore the industry standard of charging by the finished hour, how that time is estimated, and the factors that affect your audiobook’s finished length. I’ll also share the pros and cons of ACX’s royalty share and royalty share plus options, and the types of narrators willing to collaborate on these production styles. So tune in and get the certainty you need to bring your next audiobook to life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roll the credits! …or don’t? Deciding what to do with acknowledgements leaves many audiobook creators scratching their heads. Should you scrap them? Include them? And if you do...where to work them in?! Today, I’ll share some insightful questions to help you decide whether or not to include acknowledgements in your audiobook. You’ll also learn the best placement for this track, so that you can create the most engaging, seamless listening experience possible. So tune in finally and put that indecision to rest! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 12 of Audio Book Connection, Becky Parker Geist interviews singer-songwriter and author of 'The Blanket and the Bear', Buffy Ford Stewart. Go behind the scenes with Buffy and Becky as they explore what inspired 'The Blanket and the Bear', how it grew from a poem into a musical audiobook and how Buffy hopes to change the world with her work!

And make sure to stay tuned till the end of the episode for a sneak peak of 'The Blanket and the Bear'! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trying to figure out whether to have your book narrated by a male or female narrator? If your book is written in the third person, you might be wondering which would be better. Becky Parker Geist, CEO of Pro Audio Voices Inc, offers suggestions to help you make this decision - or if it makes most sense to leave auditions open to any gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take a behind the scenes look at kids books with host Becky Parker Geist. What are the qualities of a kids book that make a good candidate for audio? What about the illustrations? Learn about how your children's book can be enhanced in audio, just as illustrations enhance a story visually. Hear samples from a range of books for kids to get inspired with techniques that might work well for your audiobook production project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Go behind the scenes with author Jennifer Grais. Christa's Luck, by Jennifer and Michael Grais, tells a story of the wild mustangs of Nevada and the teenage girl who leads the rescue mission to save them. Host Becky Parker Geist, who also narrated the audiobook invites Jennifer to share what surprises came up in the audiobook production process. What inspired this story? Jennifer shares her experience with audiobook production and how it brought her story to life in ways she did not expect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Been wondering what you need to know when it comes to ISBNs? The world runs on metadata. Learn the key things you need to know as an indie author so you can make good decisions about your ISBNs, whether your book is in print, ebook or audiobook format - and even the divisions in those basic formats (hard cover, paperback; downloadable or CD, for example). Host Becky Parker Geist takes you behind the scenes to provide just the info you need to make good audiobook production and marketing decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how to increase the impact of your audiobook with tips on how to leverage an About the Author track - even if you don't have an About the Author in your print or ebook editions. Becky Parker Geist walks you through ways to keep your audiobook up to date while also creating an invitation to your listeners to continue to engage with you, to purchase your other books and/or products and/or services. Find out how to take advantage of this opportunity that most authors and audiobook producers miss or ignore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fascinating interview with transformation expert Michelle Masters, author of Money Magic: Clearing Your Path to Money, Time and Happiness. Learn about her experience recording her own book, and the decisions behind the music for the change patter exercises. Find out why our attempts to make changes in our lives often fail to generate the results we desire. And Michelle brings her delightful sense of humor to the interview just as she does to her work with transformation. More info at www.michellemastersNLP.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn when it is appropriate to have more than one voice narrate your audiobook. While the most typical audiobook is narrated by a single voice, there are many times when using multiple voices is a better choice. Examples include children's books (Tamara Shiloh's Jaxon's Magical Adventure with Black Inventors and Scientists), business books (Gil Broza's The Human Side of Agile), travel books (Chris Santilli's The Naked Truth About Hedonism II) and full cast projects such as screenplays (JD West's Cosmic Cowboy). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind-the-scenes with Chris Shockowitz, author of Silent Invasion (book one in the Zalthuras Series), s well as the novel Colonizing Trappist. Joining the interview host Becky Parker Geist (also the narrator of Silent Invasion) is long time colleague, friend and fellow science fiction enthusiast Rajeev Nanda, author of AI.gov (also sci-fi) and RISE: Essential Soft-Skills For Career Management. Discussion includes: trends of classic sci-fi and the infiltration of fantasy and dystopian elements; Chris' take on the technological advances he's researched for the second book in the Zalthuras Series and the problems they may solve; the audiobook production process for Silent Invasion; and what's up next for Chris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Silent Invasion

Creator Margot Elaine Jones pulled together a brilliant team of voiceover talent, musicians and more in the creation of Beneath the Dragonwood Trees. Hear about the inspiration that drives her forward and her vision for this creation. From stage play to audiobook to film to Broadway, Margot is on a mission to bring this musical masterpiece to families everywhere. To learn more about the author visit https://margotelainejones.com. Entertain the whole family with this original, orchestrated, magical adventure! Imagine meeting up with some of your favorite fairy tale characters in an enchanted forest that casts a spell of mayhem, mischief, magic and fun. A musical fairy tale, Beneath the Dragonwood Trees: In the Beginning - the first in the Beneath the Dragonwood Trees trilogy - takes us into the woods on a journey reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Hansel and Gretel, Peter and the Wolf, and even a hint of Jaberwocky by Lewis Carroll. What lies ahead in this enchanted forest of wacky witches and a lost boy and stalwart furry and feathered friends? Original songs, score, and a wild-haired storyteller guide us on our way - in this Broadway style escapade of a boy's quest - with his talking animal pals, to catch the dreaded Wolf and win a badge of honor. In the end, Peter learns a great lesson - that the love between family and friends is far greater than a badge of honor. Nationally-acclaimed director, composer, choreographer, independent filmmaker and 30-year veteran of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Margot Elaine Jones brings us this Broadway style musical comedy in an audiobook. The audiobook includes a bonus interview with author/creator/performer Margot Elaine Jones. Full cast of narrators includes: Margot Elaine Jones, Charles Moselle, Buffy Ford Stewart, Rebecca J Nile, Corrine Kason, Esther Clyman, Jeanne Lauren, Oscar Salabert, Benjamin Bossi, and Ken Kramarz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Wendy Bartlett interviewed by Host Becky Parker Geist - also the narrator of Bartlett's audiobook. Wendy's book, The Flood: the Dangerous Exploits of Three Girls, a Cat and a Boat (The Elizabeth Books Series, Book 4), is geared for kids ages 8-12. Hear about what the audiobook production experience was like for this author as her book was brought to life in audio. https://wendybartlett.com When 11-year-old Elizabeth is left to babysit her four-year-old sister one rainy night, neither of them expect the adventure that unfolds. Their parents don’t return home, and by morning there is a flood that fills the first floor of their house. Elizabeth must take initiative and make an agonizing decision: whether to stay put where her parents might find them, or to be brave and leave home to go in search of their parents. Dangers loom in either scenario. Then Elizabeth and her sister Amanda rescue a neighbor, seven-year-old Maya, and her cat. In this adventure for girls, the three lost children and the cat together set out in a little red boat, looking for their mothers and fathers. As they struggle to survive the flood waters, find food, and make their way among the ruins left behind by the rising tides, the quest forces Elizabeth to rise to new levels of courage, bravery, and resourcefulness she didn’t know she had. But will they find their families before it’s too late? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interviews of audiobook creative teams - authors, narrators, audio engineers, marketing teams, even listeners - as well as audiobook production tips. An overview of what we'll be doing on Audiobook Connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices