Audiobook Librarian

Audio Book with Sample: Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster @Rebecca_Forster

When sixteen-year-old Hannah Sheraton is arrested for the murder of her stepgrandfather, the chief justice of the California Supreme court, her distraught mother turns to her old college roommate, Josie Baylor-Bates, for help. Josie, once a hot-shot criminal defense attorney, left the fast track behind for a small practice in Hermosa Beach, California. But Hannah Sheraton intrigues her and, when the girl is charged as an adult, Josie cannot turn her back. But the deeper she digs the more Josie realizes that politics, the law and family relationships create a combustible and dangerous situation. When the horrible truth is uncovered it can save Hannah Sheraton or destroy them both.

Targeted Age Group: General
Genre: thriller/legal thriller

What was your inspiration for this book?
My husband, a Superior Court judge in California, presided over a criminal case in which he sentenced a sixteen-year-old boy to life in prison because he had been tried as an adult. It was a dramatic trial and it was the inspiration for Hostile Witness. When you wrote the book did you know you were going to offer it as an audio book?
No.

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
My son is a talent manager and his client, Tara Platt, is an award winning voiceover. I have to credit him for making it happen and Tara for bringing life to the characters I love.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
Tara actually did a sample reading for me. After I heard her voice, there was never any question that she would be the voice of Josie Bates and The Witness Series.

If someone is thinking about creating an audio book, what advice would you give them?
GIve your talent as much information as you can in as orderly a manner as you can. I wrote an overview for Tara of each of the primary characters – not just the main one – a short synopsis, plot points etc. I also gave her a copy of the book. What else would you like to share with readers about your audio book?
I am not sure I can adequately express the feeling of hearing this story told. I thought an audio book would feel a bit anticlimactic. After all, I knew who these characters were, I knew the story, I knew how it ended and yet I found myself caught up as if I it was unfolding for the first time. That was an amazing experience.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon
Link to Audio Book for sale on iTunes
Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible

Social Media:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2518.Rebecca_Forster
https://www.facebook.com/groups/160652797421506/?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/Rebecca_Forster
http://pinterest.com/rebforster/

Audio Book with Sample: The Soulmate Experience by Mali Apple & Joe Dunn @SoulmateExprnce

Posted By Audiobook Librarian

Winner of the 2012 International Book Awards Gold Medal and the 2012 Living Now Awards Silver Medal, The Soulmate Experience has been called “A relationship guide masterpiece.” “A catalyst for transformation in life, relationships, and self.” “Inspiring, motivational, and truly remarkable.”Single, in a relationship, or married: people of all walks of life and all ages are using the ideas in this revolutionary book to create and sustain relationships that are intimately connected on all levels—emotional, intellectual, sexual, and spiritual—and a continual source of love, inspiration, and joy.

In Part 1, “Creating the Love of Your Life,” chapters like “Loving Your Body,” “Reducing Your Baggage,” and “Raising Your Soulmate Potential” will help you release anything that might be preventing you from experiencing a deeply connected relationship.

In Part 2, “Keeping the Life in Your Love,” chapters like “Turning Expectations into Invitations,” “Transforming the Energy of Jealousy,” and “Connecting on a Soul Level” will give you everything you need to approach even the most challenging aspects of relationships in ways that deepen your experience of love and intimacy. You will discover the secrets to keeping the love, passion, and connection in your relationship fully alive—every single day.

Whether you’re on a quest for your soulmate, looking for deeper connection in the relationship you have right now, or just want to experience much more love in your life, the ground-breaking ideas in this book—and the many stories of real people putting them into practice—will fill you with love, inspiration, and possibility.

Targeted Age Group: 18-up
Genre: Body/Mind/Spirit, Self-help: Relationships, Love and Romance

What was your inspiration for this book?
We met online and immediately began a conversational exploration into life, spirituality, and, in particular, relationships. As the days went on and our conversation deepened, we didn’t feel moved to exchange photos or share details about our ages, our education, our interests, or our pasts, and yet our feeling of connection to each other only intensified. When we met in person three weeks later, one lingering kiss ignited a passion that continues to this day.

Early one morning, five months and many mystical sychronicities later, we experienced a profound realization. In that moment, we looked into each other’s eyes and simply knew we were here together to do something in this world. We also knew that if we said yes to this greater purpose for our relationship, our lives were going to change dramatically.

Four years later, it finally became clear to us that what we were together to do was to help others have deeply connected relationships. So we spent another four years examining our relationship, writing down our discoveries in practical, accessible language, and trying out our ideas with dozens of other people, both singles and couples.

We called our book The Soulmate Experience because we knew that although finding one’s “soulmate” might be very elusive, even impossible, creating a “soulmate experience”—a relationship deeply connected on all levels: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual—is available to everyone. And since our book’s publication almost two years ago, we hear from readers almost every day that it’s working.

The message we’d like to give readers is this: Whether you’re single or already in a relationship, it is possible to create and sustain a profoundly connected, exciting, and deeply rewarding relationship experience.
When you wrote the book did you know you were going to offer it as an audio book?
Yes, eventually. Now we record the audio book at the same time the final proofing of the print book is underway, as the two processes support each other.

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
Because more and more people these days are listening to information while driving, exercising, and the like.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
We read it ourselves—first we received some training in a professional studio and then we recorded it on our own, with professional assistance. It was a very fun experience! The outtakes are hilarious… 😉

If someone is thinking about creating an audio book, what advice would you give them?
Get a great microphone and create a nice sound by padding the walls and ceiling. Hire a professional editor to assist with your initial recording setup and clean up the final files. What else would you like to share with readers about your audio book?
We’ve been told it makes great listening, especially the stories of real people.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon
Link to Audio Book for sale on iTunes
Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible

Social Media:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12981000-the-soulmate-experience
https://www.facebook.com/TheSoulmateExperience
https://twitter.com/SoulmateExprnce
http://pinterest.com/soulmateexprnce/

Audio Book with Sample: Some Are Sicker Than Others by Andrew Seaward @aaseaward

Posted By Audiobook Librarian

ADDICTION: CUNNING, BAFFLING, & POWERFUL

In this gripping debut novel by Andrew Seaward, the lives of three addicts converge following an accidental and horrific death.

Monty Miller, a self-destructive, codependent alcoholic, is wracked by an obsession to drink himself to death as punishment for a fatal car accident he didn’t cause.

Dave Bell, a former all-American track star turned washed-up high school volleyball coach, routinely chauffeurs his bus full of teens on a belly full of liquor and head full of crack.

Angie Mallard, a recently divorced housewife with three estranged children, will go to any lengths to restore the family she lost to crystal meth.

All three are court-mandated to a secluded drug rehab high in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. There, they learn the universal truth among alcoholics and addicts:

Though they may all be sick…SOME ARE SICKER THAN OTHERS.

Based on the author’s own personal experience with substance abuse and twelve-step programs, Some Are Sicker Than Others, transcends the clichés of the typical recovery story by exploring the insidiousness of addiction and the harrowing effect it has on not just the afflicted, but everyone it touches.

With the harsh realism of Brett Easton Ellis and the dark, confrontational humor of Chuck Palahniuk, Mr. Seaward takes the reader deep inside the psyche of the addict and portrays, in very explicit details, the psychological and physiological effects of withdrawal and the various stages of recovery.

As Top 10 Amazon Reviewer, Grady Harp, put it: “What sets Andrew’s novel apart from other recovery stories is his deep understanding of the physiochemical aspects of substance abuse and addiction. Seaward not only understands the socioeconomic, psychological and, yes, criminal impact these people create, he also displays such a profound understanding of the physiological/medical aspects of addiction that we are left to wonder if he hasn’t been down the path of his characters himself.”

Targeted Age Group: 18 and over
Genre: Transgressive Fiction

What was your inspiration for this book?
At first, I didn’t want to write this story. Having spent the better part of my twenties in and out of hospitals and rehabs all over the country, I wanted to get as far away from addiction and thinking about addiction as I possibly could. But I couldn’t do it. No matter how hard I tried to forget all that had happened, the memories were right there, taunting me, teasing me, reminding me just how inadequate I was. So, I did what any stubborn alcoholic with only a year of sobriety would do; I decided to face my addiction head on. I turned off my cell phone, powered on my computer, made a pot of coffee, and locked the door.

But after a few weeks of staring at a blank monitor, I quickly began to realize…I wasn’t gonna remember much. As it turns out, I had drank so much and caused so much brain damage that I couldn’t really remember what had actually had occurred. I remembered bits and pieces and fragments of images, like waking up in a hospital bed strapped down by my wrists and ankles while nurses in green uniforms scurried behind me and connected tubes to my arms. But how I got there and what happened after, are all just blurs of another place and time. So, a memoir was out of the question, unless I was gonna fabricate most of it, but we all remember what happened to James Frey.

So, instead of trying to portray the insidiousness of addiction through my own personal story, I decided to portray it through the lives of three fictional characters. This turned out to be a very good decision. Through my main protagonist, Monty, I was able to ask a very difficult question, that I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to ask otherwise. The question I’m referring to is this:

What would happen if, only after a year of sobriety, I lost the only person in my life that I ever truly loved? Would I, like Monty, use it as an excuse to relapse and drink myself into oblivion? Or would I fight to stay sober and live my life clean and pure, the way that she lived hers?

The answer I came up with was a little disturbing, especially for my parents, who I put through absolute hell. But, I believe it was the honest answer, the truthful answer, and I couldn’t have written it any other way. Believe me, I tried.

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
Last Fall, I took a road trip from Long Beach to San Francisco so I could visit my godchild, Nora Wells. It was a long drive and I didn’t feel like listening to the same old albums I had listened to over and over on previous road trips. Instead, I bought the audio book version of “Moonlight Mile” Dennis Lehane’s follow-up to the thrilling “Gone Baby Gone.” Though not as good as the first, the sequel did keep my mind occupied during that high octane burn up I-5 across the dry, sun-baked fields of the California high desert. While listening to the book (and at the same time trying to avoid dirt devils) I had an epiphany; I can do this! It’s seems so easy. Just think, people could be listening to my book while caravanning across the country, or working out, or running errands, or doing whatever it is people do while listening to a book on tape. In fact, it seemed downright silly not to produce an audiobook. Just think of all the potential listeners I was missing out on – gym rats, marathon runners, commuters, blind people! It’s an untapped market, and the best thing about it is…it’s as easy as ever to get one produced. In fact, if you’re really lucky, you can do what I did, and find someone who will do it for share of the royalties. See below.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
ACX. AUDIO CREATION EXCHANGE. Probably the best thing to happen to audiobooks since the advent of the iPod. Not only can you find dozens of quality, voice-over professionals in once central location, you can get them to competitively bid on your books in a way that helps drive down the cost of production. In fact, as I mentioned above, I was lucky enough to find a very talented voice over actor by the name of Andrew Wehrlen, who was willing to produce the book for a share of the royalties. This is great for two reasons. The first, obviously being I don’t have to pay any money up front. The second is that I have another person financially invested in the success of the audiobook who will go to great lengths to help me reach my audience. Why? Because for any sales I make, 50% goes into his pocket. So, he has what I call “marketing motivation.” Also, being a voice-over professional, he already knows where all the listeners hang out. Unfortunately, not everyone will be as fortunate as I was in finding an inexpensive source of audio book production. Andrew happened to have a very personal connection with my story. Without going into too much detail, Andrew has had some experience with people (not himself, but family members) dealing with and sometimes succumbing to the insidiousness of addiction. Due to the intense personal connection he made with the characters in the story, Andrew was willing to help me out by doing what he does best: narration and production. It was as simple as that. The fact that his voice was more natural and “layered” than even Robert Downey Jr’s was just icing on the cake. I will definitely be using Andrew’s services for my next project.

If someone is thinking about creating an audio book, what advice would you give them?
Trust your voice-over professional. They know what they’re doing. Chances are, they’ve done a lot more of these than you.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon
Link to Audio Book for sale on iTunes
Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible

Online Samples
Link to Book on Soundcloud

Social Media:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5806102.Andrew_Seaward
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrew-Seaward/332227823480003?ref=ts
http://twitter.com/aaseaward
http://pinterest.com/andrewseaward/

Audio Book with Sample: Two Shadows – The Inspirational Story of One Man’s Triumph Over Adversity by Charlie Winger @WingerBooks

Posted By Audiobook Librarian

From the darkness of a six by eight foot cell in solitary confinement to the top of the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, this is the captivating story of one man’s struggle to recover from a troubled past.

Charlie is known to his friends as an accomplished mountain climber and entertaining storyteller. Few know the story of his childhood, filled with neglect and abuse. Fewer still realize that he spent seven years of his youth in the shadow of juvenile detention and prison.

After relegating those painful memories to a place far from his current life, Charlie is confronted with his past as he tries to enter Canada for an ice climbing vacation with friends.

“Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” the Canadian Border Services Officer inquired. “No,” I responded with a straight face and sweaty palms. “Are you sure you’ve never been convicted of a felony?” he repeated. “Not since 1955,” I admitted, guiltily. So began my journey back in time to a place I thought I had forever left behind.

Charlie faces his past once again, finding strength in his unconquerable spirit, unique sense of humor, and the focus he’s found through his passion for mountaineering. He takes you from the tenements and alleys of pre-World War II Chicago through jails, reformatories, and the hell that was prison. From solitary confinement to the jungles of the Amazon, the heights of the Himalayas, the isolation of the desert Southwest, and many points in between. His story will move you, entertain you, frustrate you, and ultimately inspire you to turn the dark shadows of life into the triumphant shadows cast by the mountains you climb — whatever form they may take.

Targeted Age Group: 18+
Genre: Memoir / Adventure

What was your inspiration for this book?
For decades I had been tinkering with writing a novel based on my life. Being denied entry to Canada for an ice climbing trip several years ago brought many difficult and painful memories to mind — memories which I thought I had set aside for good. Finally, following a climbing accident at age 72, I found myself flat on my back for months. I had plenty of time to think and reflect, and plenty of time to write. I wanted to tell the true story of my life to demonstrate how extremely difficult obstacles early in life can be overcome. I’m proud of how my life turned out, and hope others can be inspired by my story.

Plus, I love telling climbing stories. When you wrote the book did you know you were going to offer it as an audio book?
No, that hadn’t occurred to me. I daydreamed of having a movie made about my life, but so far nothing’s happening in that department.

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
The audio book was actually my wife’s idea. Diane is the “publicist” for all our books — even the ones with traditional publishers. Two Shadows is a book filled with tales, so it seemed to lend itself very well to audio. We imagine many climbers will listen to it during road trips and while backpacking, and hope it will get them psyched up for their own adventures.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
We’ve had good experiences with Amazon’s Kindle program and thought using ACX (another Amazon company) to search for a narrator would be a good fit. We listened to a number of audio samples to find voices and styles which seemed right for the job, then asked a few narrators to submit auditions. We intentionally chose excerpts from the book with very different moods: straight narrative, a dramatic mountaineering situation, and a humorous section. We’re very pleased with the results from using Paul Kelly to narrate the book.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon
Link to Audio Book for sale on iTunes
Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible

Social Media:
http://www.facebook.com/WingerBooks
http://twitter.com/WingerBooks
http://pinterest.com/wingerbooks/

Return to Valley End High by Brian Barber

Posted By Audiobook Librarian

Barnes returns to Valley End High, this time with bits of his lost memory returning. Find out what happens when he finally learns the dark secret behind the largest high school in the world.

Part of the LYCCYX universe, the Valley End High series describes some of the events that take place on Earth while the main story of LYCCYX focuses on the lunar colony know as LB127.

Targeted Age Group: all
Genre: mystery, thriller, short stories

What was your inspiration for this book?
I wanted to explore what takes place on Earth while the main story of LYCCYX occurs. Barnes is an interesting character in a unique predicament. In the first installment, Valley End High, he has just found himself starting a new job as a security officer at the largest high school in the world.

He has no memory of anything before that morning. He has no idea why he is working there and has an uncomfortable feeling that this place may not be what it appears to be on the surface. When you wrote the book did you know you were going to offer it as an audio book?
No.

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
My first audiobook, A Stormy Night, did extremely well and I figured I might as well use ACX to create an audio version of the Valley End High series. These are perfect for when you want a complete experience but don’t have the time to invest in a full-length novel.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
ACX made that all so simple. I heard about them shortly after publishing my first eBook and decided to give them a try.

Eric Nutting sent me an audition for Valley End High and I really felt that he captured the character of Barnes perfectly. I immediately asked if he would do both stories in the series and was delighted that he agreed.

If someone is thinking about creating an audio book, what advice would you give them?
Try ACX, especially if you already have eBooks on Amazon. I couldn’t imagine an easier way to produce a quality audiobook. What else would you like to share with readers about your audio book?
I don’t know how long it will last, but Amazon is offering the first episode, Valley End High for $1.99 when you buy the eBook for $0.99. Since most audiobooks start around $7, this is a phenomenal deal. Also, for Audible members it can be had for one member credit.

The third installment of Valley End High is coming soon so be sure to check out the first two.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon

Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible

Online Samples

Social Media:
http://goodreads.com/lyccyx
http://facebook.com/brianbarberbooks
http://twitter.com/lyccyx

Audio Book: Lyon’s Legacy by Sandra Ulbrich Almazan

Posted By Audiobook Librarian

Sometimes being a geneticist isn’t enough to understand your family….

Joanna Lyon is the great-granddaughter of the legendary TwenCen musician Sean Lyon. She may have inherited her ancestor’s musical talent, but her parents’ bitter divorce and her Uncle Jack’s attempts to remake her into another Sean have left her hostile toward her family and music. Her passion is for science, but since she has no access to the family funds, she struggles to earn enough credits for graduate school. Then her uncle sets up a business deal with her employer to make Joanna go on a mission for him: travel via the spaceship Sagan to an alternate TwenCen universe where Sean is still alive. Joanna must collect a DNA sample from Sean so her uncle can create a clone of him. She refuses at first, but finally agrees to go. Secretly, however, Joanna believes her uncle will exploit the clone, and she plans to sabotage the project to stop him. But when she falls in love with one of the scientists in the Sagan’s genetics lab, clashes with other time travelers who fear she’ll change how history develops on the alternative TwenCen Earth, and receives devastating personal news, Joanna will find herself pushed to her limit even before she comes face-to-face with her hated ancestor. Their encounter will leave her changed forever. Will she still be able to thwart her uncle’s plan, and what will she have to sacrifice to do so?

Approximately 36,000 words.

Targeted Age Group: adult
Genre: science fiction

What was your inspiration for this book?
I’m a big Beatles fan and wanted to write a scene with an observer from the future traveling back in time to watch them perform at the Cavern in Liverpool. From there, I started asking myself questions as to why the traveler was there and what her goal was. This helped me developed my main character, Joanna. I eventually rewrote the story to be about a fictional rock star instead of the Beatles, but I tried to retain some of their flavor. When you wrote the book did you know you were going to offer it as an audio book?
No, I didn’t know how easy it was for independent authors to create audiobooks of their work until after I’ve already published Lyon’s Legacy.

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
I put my book into audio format so it could reach a wider audience.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
I submitted my audiobook project through ACX. A couple of people auditioned for the work, but the second reader did a great job of capturing my main character’s personality.

If someone is thinking about creating an audio book, what advice would you give them?
Go through Audiobook Creation Exchange (https://www.acx.com/). It’s a service that connects authors with producers and narrators, then distributes the finished project.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon

Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible
Link to Audio Book for sale via other sites

Social Media:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5282664.Sandra_Ulbrich_Almazan
http://www.facebook.com/SandraUlbrichAlmazanSffAuthor
https://twitter.com/ulbrichalmazan

Audio Book: Food-Free at Last: How I Learned to Eat Air by Dr. Robert Jones MD PhD DDS ODD, J.M. Porup @JMPorup

Posted By Audiobook Librarian

Get the Monkey Off Your Back

Food is a drug. Break the shackles of addiction and learn to eat air! In this detailed guide, Dr. Robert Jones, MD, PhD, DDS, ODD gives you the practical, step-by-step advice you need to transition to the air-only diet.

Common Questions About the Air-Only Diet:

Q: Eating air? Are you crazy?

A: I am a medical doctor with more than forty years of clinical experience. An Obesity Epidemic is sweeping across our great nation. Eating air is the answer.

Q: Isn’t there a risk of malnutrition?

A: Not at all! Air contains all the vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and essential amino acids your body needs.

Q: A friend of mine went on the air-only diet and starved to death. Will I die too?

A: Lies, lies and more lies! Propaganda spread by the agro-business special interests that run Washington. They will do anything to keep you down, in ignorance of the truth!

A Million Dieters Can’t be Wrong!

Every day the emails pour in:

“Thank you, Dr. Robert Jones, MD, PhD, DDS, ODD! Oh, thank you! I’ve eaten nothing but air for the last two months and I’ve lost eight hundred pounds! My husband says I’ll make a fine skeleton! I can’t wait!!!”

“Damn this air is tasty.”

“Dear Dr. Jones, What a discovery! You make Einstein look like an ignoramus. We hereby award you the Prizes for Medicine, Chemistry and Peace.” –the Nobel Committee

Also in This Groundbreaking Diet Book:

Lunge and Chomp — Learn the Secrets of Air-Eating Technique!
The Twelve Steps to Food Freedom — Anyone Can Do It!
The Hidden Menace in Our Society That Can Prevent You From Eating Air — and How We as a Nation Can Overcome It!

About the Author

An acclaimed pioneer in the field of Airitarianism, Dr. Robert Jones, MD, PhD, DDS, ODD has dedicated his life to freeing food-eaters from slavery to addictive caloric substances. That’s why he wrote Food-Free at Last–to expose the truth the agro-business special interests don’t want you to know. And that’s why he’s running for President in 2013. It’s time to put this country on a diet–the air-only diet, the only diet proven to work. It’s time to cure our great nation of the Obesity Epidemic sweeping from coast to coast. It’s time to end the oligarchy’s influence on our political process and bring true freedom back to America. Go the Power of Air!

Targeted Age Group: all
Genre: political satire

What was your inspiration for this book?
After completing my novel, The United States of Air: a Satire, my editor suggested I write this spin-off title as a way to promote the book. But Food-Free at Last has taken on a life of its own, and has become more popular than The United States of Air! When you wrote the book did you know you were going to offer it as an audio book?
No.

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
As a self-published author, it is very difficult to compete in a sea of a million other self-published titles. A quality audiobook, however, especially author-narrated, has the potential to lift me out of the Churning Amazon Sea and gain visibility.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
Recording and producing an audiobook at home is not for everyone. It requires a blend of acting and technical skills that not every author possesses.

In my case, I’ve trained and worked as an actor, and love spending time in front of the microphone. Plus, I worked as a computer programmer for many years, and have strong technical aptitude, so it was not terribly challenging for me to learn how to use all the requisite software.[/gravityforms]

If someone is thinking about creating an audio book, what advice would you give them?
Recording and producing your own audiobook is a labor of love. It’s also a massive time sink. Don’t do it unless you love it. If it starts to feel like work, stop. Better to hire someone else than to produce a bad audiobook. What else would you like to share with readers about your audio book?
This is a fun little satire with a serious message behind it. It will–I hope–make you laugh out loud. But it should also make you think.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon
Link to Audio Book for sale on iTunes
Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible

Online Samples
Link to Book on PodioBooks.com

Social Media:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91611.J_M_Porup

http://twitter.com/JMPorup

Audio Book: Cherries – A Vietnam War Novel by John Podlaski @pdoggbiker

Posted By Audiobook Librarian

“Cherries” is a story about a young, naive, teenage soldier who is sent to Vietnam, with others his age, to fight in an unpopular war. Dubbed “Cherries” by their more seasoned peers, these newbies suddenly found themselves thrust in the middle of a nightmarish scenario for which not even their worst dreams could prepare them; as such, they were hardly ready to absorb the harsh mental, emotional, and physical toll that the conflict would eventually take on them. Literally forced to become men overnight, the Cherries had to learn quickly to make life-or-death decisions, the consequences of which not only impacted their own lives – but also those of their fellow soldiers. This is a story about their rite of passage

Targeted Age Group: 13+
Genre: Historical Fiction / Military / Vietnam War

What was your inspiration for this book?
In 1985, I joined the local chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America. During family functions, members congregated and shared stories about their tour of duty. Wives often felt out of place during these discussions and soon migrated to other areas to discuss issues they had in common – leaving the men to talk about war. At that time, “Cherries” was a rough, first-person draft, and I donated a copy for the wives to read and pass around. It was a learning experience for all of us, and wives soon returned to our story telling sessions – having a much improved understanding of the jargon and acronyms – no longer feeling like outsiders. Many war veterans keep their experiences buried deep inside, either unwilling to share or unable to do so. I have received numerous accolades from veterans – thanking me for putting into words a story they’ve been unable to tell. “Cherries” has become a conduit for many veterans and their families…allowing them to come out from the dark and heal. This was my motivation for writing this novel. When you wrote the book did you know you were going to offer it as an audio book?
Not at all!

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
I had traveled a lot for my employer a couple of years ago and got interested in listening to audio books on these lengthy trips. I thought it would be fun to create an audiobook version for my book and have it available as an MP3 vs. CD’s so listeners can easily download it to their portable players. When I held auditions for a narrator, I was in awe when listening to these various people reading my novel…it sounded like a brand new story and much more intense than reading the book. So began my quest to create an audiobook version.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
I signed up with a company called ACX, which is owned by Amazon and sells audiobooks on Amazon, Audible and I-Tunes. Their step-by-step process is easy to follow and allows an author to put our samples for narrators to audition for. We listened to at least a dozen different narrators and had a couple that we were interested in following up with, but then when we listened to Michael Sutherland, we instantly knew that he was the one. We signed an individual contract between the two of us and proceeded with recording, editing, etc. I was amazed how Michael was able to have distinct voices for 23 different characters throughout the recording process. We worked closely for the next three months along with my book editor and finally uploaded the completed product to ACX for sale and distribution.[/gravityforms]

What else would you like to share with readers about your audio book?
I have provided the first six chapters – both written and in MP3 format on my website. I have heard back from followers that when listening to the MP3 and then reading along, the book takes on a whole new aspect. The audiobook is unabridged, which means that the reading is word for word from the book…it is a treat to hear the different characters speak or to hear the emotion during the dialog. Try it and let me know what you think. See my link below.

Question to ask: How long is your audiobook? 13 hrs and 31 minutes.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon
Link to Audio Book for sale on iTunes
Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible

Online Samples

Link to other online sample

Social Media:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4034899.John_Podlaski
http://www.facebook.com/cherriesnovel
https://twitter.com/pdoggbiker
http://pinterest.com/johnpodlaski/

Audio Book: LYCCYX Episode 2: Rise of the Hyans by Brian Barber @lyccyx

Posted By Audiobook Librarian

The highly-anticipated sequel to an Amazon Top 10 (Military Science Fiction) is finally here. The Battle for New Earth breaks out into a full-scale war and introduces upgraded technology on both sides.

Will the Resistance succeed in delivering the cure or will humanity finally embrace the inevitable?

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime and remember: nothing grows unless it dies.

Targeted Age Group: all
Genre: Action Adventure, Science Fiction, Dystopian

What was your inspiration for this book?
I had a dream about a wolf-like creature sitting on a cliff. He appeared to be upset about his current state and wanted to change. I began writing down the story and also began working on a game based on this scene. After several years, I decided to write the story down in book format and publish it as an eBook.

Now in eBook, audiobook, and paperback, LYCCYX Episode 1 has been downloaded thousands of times in more than a dozen countries. Episode 2: Rise of the Hyans has recently been released and Episode 3 is on the way. When you wrote the book did you know you were going to offer it as an audio book?
Yes, although I did not know that until after I published the first episode as an audiobook.

Why did you decide to produce an audio book?
ACX made it easy to locate a professional narrator to produce my audiobook. I now have a total of five audiobooks based on my LYCCYX Trilogy and my short stories.

How did you choose the reader for the book and the production company?
Everything was done in ACX (Auidiobook Creation Exchange) so the process was very streamlined. All you do is search for the books you have already published on Amazon and set up a listing for each one. You can search for a narrator or set criteria and wait for voice actors to find you.

If someone is thinking about creating an audio book, what advice would you give them?
Try ACX at least once. They offer different distribution models with varying royalty rates. I chose exclusive and my books are on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.

Be sure to listen carefully to each chapter your narrator uploads. You might be surprised to find a few errors your editor may have missed or some areas that may need to be reworded. What else would you like to share with readers about your audio book?
I would encourage everyone to check out the sample on the books Amazon page. Even if you are not a sci-fi fan, LYCCYX has something for you. There is action, adventure, romance, political intrigue, environmental themes and much more.

Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Buy Audio Book On Amazon

Link to Audio Book for sale on Audible

Online Samples

Link to other online sample

Social Media:
http://goodreads.com/lyccyx
http://facebook.com/brianbarberbooks
http://twitter.com/lyccyx

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