Oh yes, an audiobook

I am delighted to report that yesterday my first audiobook, Bummer at Luna Beach, was released on Spotify and elsewhere. This is my SoCal eco-cozy beach mystery, the first featuring silver sleuth Rosie McMahon.

I recorded the audio myself, for several reasons. First, the writing adventure has cost me far more than I have earned doing it, and I refuse to use AI. Also, I really enjoy audiobooks read by the author, so why not me?

For those interested in the technology, I used Audacity, which is wonderful and free, for recording.

The microphone was worth ordering. It was a Tonor USB microphone, about $35.

My “studio” was a table with the computer, padded all around with blankets. While recording, I put a quilt over my head to block sound and prevent echo. I put foam around the microphone to prevent sibilance. (Decades ago, my first job in the theatre was sound board operator, so I enjoy this stuff.)

Between the scenes, I wanted a sound. At first I found some recorded seagulls at freesound, and contacted the person who created it for permission. But after the first two chapters, I found the sound squeaky and annoying. So I played a few notes on the piano into my phone, and used that instead.

Audacity let me smooth out the sound for even volume, using the Normalize feature. I was also able to edit out some unexpected noises, though it’s possible there’s a cuckoo clock in there somewhere!

Findaway Voices was my choice for distribution, although I did consider others. As it happened, Findaway Voices sunsetted on the same day of my release, and became Voices by INaudio. To get my audiobook on Spotify, which had been a distribution outlet for Findaway, I just had to click a permission.

Audible, although an option, wanted 7 years of distribution even in the non-exclusive contract. So for now, the book isn’t on ACX.

Spotify gives you free promo cards, which is nice but I can’t say I’m impressed by the design. I might jazz it up in Canva.

Wonderfully, however, the audiobook is already in libraries because of Overdrive. I am ridiculously pleased to see it listed at the Beverly Hills Library, where I once spent an afternoon writing.

Is it a super-smooth, professional, glitzy recording with a famous actor doing the narration? No. But I think it’s pretty good anyway.