First transistor portable radio
Recently, I wrote this blog for C.D. Hersh’s post at Soul Mate Publishing. The invitation to their blog guest spot came along at a perfect time, when my print book and audiobook are practically on my doorstep. Now, with the changing and the rapid growth of the book business, authors like myself, are looking for fresh ways to capture a new audience.
Headphones to listen to the books
Readers and listeners have been lured to audio books, but then so have narrators. It’s a, pardon the pun, novel opportunity for actors to perform. Audible.com, an audio company owned by Amazon, has a large pool of professional actors as narrators, and producers who are signing on more and more celebrities. Very often listeners buy based on who is performing. They follow a narrator, like readers follow an author. My actor, Jane Oppenheimer, has brought my book, Indigo Sky, to another level. I like her style and how she interacts with my characters. Here’s her website for your perusal and for contact: Janeoppenheimervoice.com.
Lone Ranger & Tonto
With the stirring notes of the William Tell Overture and a shout of “Hi-yo, Silver! Away!” The Lone Ranger debuts on Detroit’s WXYZ radio station, 1933.
Do you remember the old radio programs and the dramatizations, the stories, the mysteries, the comedies? We all sat around and listened. We used our imagination, we made our own visuals. Dagwood and Blondie (the Bumsteads). The Shadow Knows, Great Gildersleeve, Fibber McGee and Molly, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, and more. I even listened to tap dancing on the Children’s Hour on Sundays. Storytelling is older than Moses, you remember him, right? People were telling stories long before writing stories.
You can discuss finances with your narrator. You will need to discuss the time frame as well. The narrator provides a sample. It’s quite workable.
So how do you hire an actor to produce an audiobook? ACX.com has a great website with information and narrators. If you would like to work or interview Jane Oppenheimer, you can request her on Audible.
Here’s the direct link to the author page at acx.com.
http://bit.ly/29HNRJM
Print book, eBook, Audiobook
Indigo Sky, historic romance, now an Amazon eBook, will also shortly be available in print book and audiobook. Watch for details.
One liner: A dream marriage becomes a trap of addiction, lies and women
Back Cover Blurb: In a whirlwind romance, a lovely New York socialite marries a fêted, debonair author. But beneath the charm is a cheating husband addicted to hasheesh. Her dream marriage turns sour and the simplicity of her life runs amok when a handsome stranger, her husband’s business partner, threatens her staunch loyalty to her wayward husband. When she faces the ugly truth about her marriage, her need to finalize her divorce sends her on mad chase across the wilds of nineteenth century America with a handsome stranger—she learns hard lessons of murder, kidnapping and more that almost destroy her.
Get a taste of the story . . . check out the trailer.
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Visit C.D. Hersh on my blog post last week and discover their work as authors.
Growing up in the sixties and seventies I’m a generation behind on the radio programming that was popular before television took off, but I remember watching shows like the Walton’s that showcased the family entertainment value of listening to the old radio programs together. Simpler times for sure!
As you know, I’ve used ACX and found a wonderful narrator, Erin Mallon, for my contemporary YA romance, Heaven is for Heroes. It’s so fun to hear your story acted out in audio. I cry every time I listen to it!
Congratulations and good luck!
Paula, thank you for your comment. Radio was the only in-house entertainment in my youth. I loved my programs, especially the Children’s Hour on Sunday. Kids are mega talented. Did you ever watch kids ballroom dance. Hard to believe they could make all those moves look so easy. They have a willingness to practice for hours, it’s strenuous athletics.You, with your background, would appreciate how athletic it could be.
ACX worked out beautifully for my book. Jane Oppenheimer is a great actor. She raised the bar for merely reading my book. Tom and I listened to the draft that she sent me. It was thrilling, just like you said. We laughed, we cried, we looked at each other amazed at the story flowing like water. I just approved it on Saturday. Now it takes about two weeks until ACX releases the audio. My print book is in mail!!!!! They will be here any day now. Thanks again Paula, you are a champ!
I am an audiobook-aholic! Love listening so much I hardly ever read any more. I can well understand the allure of the old radio shows now that my mother used to talk about. As a kid who grew up with TV, I’d been skeptical, but now I get it. Totally.
Thank you for sharing your info about ACX, narrators and audiobooks.
Stephanie, thank you for your comment. In my youth there was no other in-house entertainment. My programs were precious to me. I listened at home, and in the car too. I just recalled the car being another place to listen. We, everyone, were addicted to the radio shows. I loved Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, Fibber McGee and Molly, but my favorite was The Children’s hour. Can you imagine listening to tap dancing. Little did I know that one day I would learn Clogging from one of those tap dancers. Isn’t it a small world? I Clogged with a group in Madison, taught and led by Barbara, a tap dancer. She told me about her experience on that program. Wish I could remember her last name. So at the moment, music is streaming into my ears from my quality ear plugs, ‘listening.’ Radio is really still part of our lives, in a different format. Don’t you think?
Have you had any of your books narrated? It’s a great experience, my actor, Jane Oppenheimer is amazing.