Collaborating with My Audiobook Narrator for Beautiful Wilderness

Bringing a novel to life through an audiobook is a new experience for me. At first I didn't know where to start and then someone suggested going through Audible to find a narrator and get my audiobook created for Beautiful Wilderness. What I didn’t expect was how enjoyably smooth the collaboration process would be.

Recording studio setup for audiobook narration

The Ease and Enjoyment of the Collaboration Process

From the very first audition, the narrator just clicked. They brought a genuine enthusiasm for Beautiful Wilderness that I knew would make its way onto the recording. What's even better is that both myself and the narrator are from Kansas! Now to maintain their privacy, I won't say where exactly, but they actually live in one of the towns that Jane passes through along the Santa Fe Trail to get to Garden City. The narrator has a smooth voice and is making each of the characters come to life.

Since I hadn't ever taken auditions before and am very new to Audible, when I asked the narrator to submit another few minute clip to see how they would voice each of the characters, they were happy to oblige. The back-and-forth emails feel productive and positive and I'm very happy to have chosen this narrator for this project. This kind of collaboration is valuable, especially since I want the audiobook to reflect my novel accurately.

Looking Forward to the Audiobook Release

The audiobook version of Beautiful Wilderness is scheduled to launch on Audible by mid-March if not April. Once time gets closer I'll have a more definitive date. I’m genuinely excited to share this new format with readers who prefer listening or want to experience the story in a fresh way. Audiobooks offer a different kind immersion and I believe this version will bring new life to the novel. I’m also eager to hear listener feedback once the audiobook is out.

Why Other Authors Should Consider Audiobooks

If you’re an indie author thinking about turning your work into an audiobook, I highly recommend it. Here are a few reasons why:

• Expands your audience: Some people prefer listening over reading, whether during commutes, workouts, or relaxing at home.

• Adds a new dimension to your story: A skilled narrator can bring characters and scenes to life in ways text alone can’t.

• Audiobook creation can be affordable: Now granted, I didn't have the funds to pay an independent narrator, and I'm sure many indie authors don't have the budget for one. What's great about Audible is that it allows for a royalty-share between the author and the narrator, so we're both benefiting when someone listens to the story.

  
  

Reflecting on this new creative path, my collaboration with the audiobook narrator has truly deepened my connection to Beautiful Wilderness and hopeful that the new readers it might gain will love the story as much as I do.