5 Resources for pharmacist authors who want to narrate their own audiobook
Imagine this. You’re a pharmacist, and you wrote a book. It’s published [hurray!], and you now want to reach a broader audience by publishing the audiobook version. You don’t want someone else to narrate it! YOU want to narrate it! But, you don’t know how to do it. You Google, “How do I narrate my audiobook?” Half a dozen ads pop up (for online courses that want to teach you how to do it or sell you the equipment they think you need), and the other search results make it sound easy! The next thing you know, you’re watching YouTube videos and shopping for microphones on amazon.com. About an hour into your research, you realize that there’s a lot more to it than you originally thought. In fact, the amount of information is overwhelming. You don’t know what to believe or who to trust, and you wonder how anyone narrates their own audiobook.
My name is Kim Newlove. I’m a pharmacist, voice actor, and podcast host. Among other things, I narrate audiobooks for women pharmacist authors. In this episode, I share 5 resources that will get you pointed in the right direction on your audiobook journey so that you feel less overwhelmed by online search results. All 5 resources are listed below.
Links from this episode
Indie (ACX and Others) Audiobook Narrators and Producers Facebook Group
The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 83: Interview with Sean Pratt, audiobook narrator and coach
Consultants
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- Sean Pratt https://www.seanprattpresents.com/
- Narrators Roadmap “Audiobook Village” https://www.narratorsroadmap.com/audiobook-village/
- Jeffrey Kafer https://www.audiobookmentor.com/
- Kim Newlove https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com
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Click here for ACX specs (accessed December 14, 2022)
“Now That You’re Here, Where Do You Start?” (Narrators Roadmap)
Sections to Record (Narrators Roadmap)
Audiobook Resources for Authors (Narrators Roadmap)
Audiobook Distributor Comparison Chart (Narrators Roadmap members only)
🖥Check out Kim’s websites, and connect with her on social media!
✅Business website https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com
✅The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast
✅Pronounce Drug Names Like a Pro © Online Course https://www.kimnewlove.com
✅LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnewlove
✅Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kim.newlove.96
✅Twitter https://twitter.com/KimNewloveVO
✅Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kimnewlovevo/
✅YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA3UyhNBi9CCqIMP8t1wRZQ
✅ACX (Audiobook Narrator Profile) https://www.acx.com/narrator?p=A10FSORRTANJ4Z
Highlights from this episode
Resource #1
https://www.narratorsroadmap.com
The Narrators Roadmap website is a great resource for audiobook narrators AND authors. It’s curated by audiobook narrator Karen Commins. I recommend you check this resource out first.
There is some free content, but some of the content is for members only. Membership is $7/month or $35/6 months or $70/year. Disclaimer: I don’t run this website, and I’m not compensated for sharing this information.
Things to look at on the Narrators Roadmap website:
- Under the “Knowledgebase” tab, click on, Now That You’re Here, Where Do You Start?
- While you’re in the Knowledgebase section, check out “Sections to Record.” Then, create your own production checklist.
- Click on the “Author Resources” link in the Welcome Center. Read the blog article by Karen Commins featuring Audiobook Resources for Authors and become a member so you can read the Audiobook Distributor Comparison Chart.
Resource #2
ACX stands for Audiobook Creation Exchange. If you publish your audiobook through ACX, it will be sold through three online retailers: Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. Start with the, “How it Works” tab. Go to “Authors as Narrators,” and watch the 6-minute YouTube video about narrating your own book. Make sure you read the Audio Submission Requirements in the “audio production resources” section. Meeting audio specifications is extremely important. Ideas for promoting your audiobook are also on this website.
Resource #3
Indie (ACX and Others) Audiobook Narrators and Producers Facebook Group.
This Facebook group is a place for people to discuss all things related to narrating and producing audiobooks on ACX, Findaway, Author’s Republic, Spoken Realms, and other platforms. To join this group, you need to be approved. If you are serious about using ACX to publish your audiobook, and you want to have access to the “hive mind” of thousands of audiobook narrators, join the group. It’s one of the first things I did when I was training to narrate audiobooks.
Resource #4
The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 83: Interview with Sean Pratt, audiobook narrator and coach.
Sean Pratt was my non-fiction audiobook narration coach. During our conversation, Sean gives tips for pharmacist authors who want to narrate their own audiobooks. Examples are below:
- Build your stamina. Read out loud [for increasingly longer periods of time].
- Get coaching with Sean Pratt or someone else.
- Work with an audio engineer and a director in a studio to get the highest-quality audio possible.
- Remember that your audiobook can affect your career in the long run.
- This could be your gateway to something else.
- Do the “gap exercise” to learn how your narrating voice sounds compared to your casual, conversational voice. (Then, try to close the “gap.”)
Resource #5
Consultants: If you need help narrating your audiobook, get a coach/speak to a consultant.
Who can help?
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- For non-fiction material, I recommend Sean Pratt. https://www.seanprattpresents.com/
- For a list of audiobook narration coaches, check out the “Audiobook Village” section of Narrators Roadmap. Note: This is a “members only” section.
- Jeffrey Kafer pointed me in the right direction in 2019. He may be able to advise you. https://www.audiobookmentor.com/
- If you need to talk to a pharmacist who knows how to narrate audiobooks, I can help. Contact me through my website: https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com. I charge $75/30 min or $150/60 min for consulting.
Why am I sharing these resources? Because, you’re busy. You’re a pharmacist. You wrote a book. You want to narrate the audiobook version, and you need to know what information you can trust online. Check out the resources I mentioned. They’re a great starting point. If you need someone to walk with you on your journey, contact me through my website. I can help.
Thank you for listening to The Pharmacist’s Voice ® Podcast Episode 190!
Good luck narrating your audiobook. You can do it!