Karen@KarenCommins.com

Karen Commins

Award Winning

Atlanta Audiobook Share-rator™

Karen Commins

Recaps From 5 APAC 2017 Sessions

APAC 2017 logo on a phone screen

 

Each year, the Audio Publishers Association hosts an informative conference for its members. I was unable to attend this year due to family concerns. However, thanks to the many tweets from ACX.com and other participants today, I almost feel like was there!

Using Storify, I chronologically sorted all of the #APAC2017 tweets about these 5 sessions of interest to audiobook narrators:

  1. APAC 2017 Keynote with Tom Webster + Bonus Content
  2. Getting to the Next Level
  3. Marketing Techniques
  4. Ask A Casting Director
  5. Building Your Brand

Technology is such a wonderful thing! 🙂 Enjoy!

 

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3 Reasons Authors Shy Away From Audiobooks

It was exciting to attend the RT Booklovers’ Convention here in Atlanta last week with over 25 of my fellow audiobook narrators from across the country. Several members of the group organized and participated on educational panels about audiobooks, and we all contributed for a booth in the Bazaar.

 

Romance Narrators' booth at the Bazaar featured a variety of items from over 20 audiobook narrators.
The Romance Narrators’ RT Bazaar booth was feast for the eyes and a smorgasbord of swag!

In talking with people who came to our booth, I noticed 3 reasons authors shy away from audiobooks.

1) Authors aren’t sure about consumer demand for audiobooks.

One person who never listens to audiobooks asked me the average price for one. When I said it might be $15-$20, the astonished reply was, “for a BOOK?” I explained that many options exist that enable listeners to acquire audiobooks at cheaper prices, including free ones at the library.

More importantly, an audiobook isn’t just a book. It is its own performance art.

You could look at it this way: you could spend $15 for a movie ticket that gets you about two hours of entertainment. You don’t own that entertainment and can’t enjoy it again without paying the additional money. With an audiobook, though, you could pay the same or less amount of money for 6, 10, or more hours of entertainment that you’d be able to revisit as often as you like.

Audiobooks are a $1.2 billion industry that has experienced double digit growth for the past 2 years. That trend isn’t likely to stop anytime soon. Both production and consumer costs have come down dramatically as technology has streamlined the process.

2) Authors aren’t already audiobook fans.

A few authors told me that they don’t have a commute and therefore didn’t have time to listen. I know I sure appreciated hearing a good book last week while I sat in abysmal Atlanta traffic going to and from the convention.

While audiobooks are popular companions during commutes, you don’t need to travel to listen to an audiobook. I listen every day while walking my dog. I also listen on the treadmill and while swimming. Audiobooks complement almost any form of exercise! I’ve also been known to listen while eating my lunch. You could listen while you’re in the shower. In fact, there’s no end to the variety of things you could do and hear a great book at the same time.

Once you start listening, not only will you get through more books each year, but you may also start planning your own audiobook. You’ll find that writing for audio will make you a better writer.

3) Audiobook production is too complicated.

Some authors were very interested in creating audiobooks but don’t have the time to learn how to do it. The good news is that you don’t have to spend time and energy to figure it out! The narrators who attended the RT Convention have our own studios and are experienced in working with authors to create independent audiobooks. We know how to get an audiobook done through ACX and other distributors, and we would be more than happy to assist authors with the steps.

You’ll find samples and contact information for over 30 professional narrators on the boutique site RomanceNarrators.com. Don’t worry if you don’t write romance. Most narrators work in a variety of genres.

I hope I’ve gotten you thinking differently about audiobooks and that you’ll soon contact me or one of my fellow narrators about starting production.

 

 

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Outsourcing From a Narrator’s Perspective

In 2013, I heard client attraction specialist Fabienne Frederickson talk about determining your “Quadrants of Brilliance”. It’s a thought-provoking and highly revealing exercise that requires some reflection about those things in your business that you like and excel at doing versus things that you don’t enjoy and/or don’t do too well.

[Read more…] about Outsourcing From a Narrator’s Perspective

7 Players on Your Audiobook Production Team

Audiobooks team shirt with 7 on it

 

Since many indie authors and smaller publishers are new to the world of audiobooks, I thought you might like to have a quick overview of the 7 players on an audiobook production team:

1. Rights Holder
2. Producer
3. Director
4. Narrator
5. Sound Engineer
6. Audio Editor
7. Proof Listener

One person may be responsible for several phases of the process. For instance, on ACX.com, Audible’s marketplace connecting rights holders with narrators, I’m the audiobook producer in addition to being the narrator.

My husband Drew serves as both the director and sound engineer in all of my recording sessions. Most narrators working in their own studios don’t have the luxury of a second set of ears listening as they record. When I’m the producer, I hire the audio editor and proof listener, so all aspects of production are included in my fee.

[Read more…] about 7 Players on Your Audiobook Production Team

4 Keys to Becoming a Successful ACX Audiobook Producer

Last updated 8/24/19

 

One of my friends is a well-established and highly successful audiobook narrator with years of experience working in commercial studios for traditional publishers. For the longest time, he had absolutely zero interest in setting up a studio and recording at home, largely because he is not comfortable with technology.

I often talked with him about the many merits of using ACX, including the:

Futhermore, traditional publishers are increasingly employing narrators who are experienced in home recording.

Once he was finally convinced that establishing a home recording studio would be an empowering career move on all levels, he decided to create one and asked many questions while implementing his plan.

The thought occurred to me that anyone who is new to home recording and working through ACX might benefit from the 4 key areas of practical advice and information that I gave to my friend about becoming a successful ACX producer.

 

4 keys in locks that look like puzzle pieces

[Read more…] about 4 Keys to Becoming a Successful ACX Audiobook Producer

Press Page

Last updated 19 January 2024

 

 

Interview Key on computer keyboard

 

To learn more about me, my narration, and audiobook production, please check out my comments and interviews on other sites:

 

Narrators Cup of Joe with host Daniela Acitelli

1/18/24 If Not This, What Else? You Never Know How Close You Are To What You Seek! with Anne Flosnik

10/5/23 10 Minutes with Joc with Jocqueline Protho

Audiobook Lovin’ Podcast with host Viviana Izzo

9/29/23 Season 5, Ep 3 Narrator Karen Commins

Narrators Cup of Joe with host Daniela Acitelli

12/8/22 People Spend More Time Planning Their Vacation Than They Do Planning Their Lives!

Clubhouse Narrator Focus with hosts Danielle Gensler and Alex Picard

10/27/22 Time Management

 

 

The Audiobook Club podcast with host John York

10/22/22 Karen Commins, Chief Cartographer of Narrators Roadmap & Audiobook Narrator

 

 

Clubhouse 

9/16/22 My Ask Me Anything

 

 

Audiobook Reader’s Review podcast with host Sarah Bacaller

8/1/22 Episode 2

 

 

Clubhouse Audiobook Industry Chat with hosts Stephanie Németh-Parker and Amanda Stribling

6/21/22 Public Domain Audiobooks

 

 

Clubhouse Ask an Audiobook Pro with hosts Hillary Huber and Vikas Adam

3/14//22 Narrator’s Roadmap

 

 

Narrators Cup of Joe with host Daniela Acitelli

10/5/21 What You Focus on Is Important So Focus On What You Want, Not What You Lack

ACX blog

6/8/21 Celebrating 10 Years of Storytellers: Narrator Karen Commins

 

The Journal

12/11/20 I was mentioned in the article Instructional writer reads, reviews all 940 bestselling novels of 20th century.

 

 

Wall Street Journal

11/1/20 The Secrets To Success as an Audiobook Narrator by Kate Murphy
The journalist quoted producers, publishers, and several narrators in this piece. Since I’m not a WSJ subscriber, I can’t see beyond their pay wall. I therefore researched ProQuest at my library and saved this PDF of the article.

 

VoyageATL 
4/29/20 Meet Karen Commins

 

Audiobook Narration For BeginnersAudiobook Narration for Beginners Podcast
Fellow narrator J. Rodney Turner hosts this podcast to help newcomers learn about audiobook narration. Audiobook narration is my favorite subject!

 

7/1/19 Episode 26: Karen Commins – Part 1
7/8/19 Episode 27: Karen Commins – Part 2
7/15/19 Episode 28: Karen Commins – Part 3

Georgia Radio Reading Service
4/17/19  I’m honored to be highlighted in the April 2019 newsletter as Volunteer of the Month.

ACX University
11/2/18 Acting With Intention
In this 16:31 video, I talk about setting career goals and staying motivated as you continue on your path. In the concurrent chat, I offered resources and answered many questions. You can find all of that ancillary material in this post.

The Audiobook Speakeasy Podcast

7/23/18 Episode 26: Karen Commins
Host Rich Miller is also an audiobook narrator, so it was a special delight to have a drink together and discuss all things about audiobooks in this 1:03.51 show.

The Postcardist

The Postcardist Podcast

6/22/18 Episode 22: Greetings From Karen Commins
In this fun and interesting 59:11 show, host Frank Roche and I talk about how I use postcards in marketing my business and so much more!

Build Book Buzz
4/4/18 How To Promote Your Audiobook
In this guest post, I answered 8 questions about audiobook marketing.

Spin Sucks
12/18/17 The Big Question: Audiobooks vs Reading
I explain 2 factors I use to determine whether I listen to or read a book for pleasure.

Animatron
11/29/17 4 Awesome Examples Of Social Media Contests (+ Tips How To Run Your Own Contest)
Hint: I entered a contest for a reason other than the prize.

Acuity Training
9/12/17 Adobe Productivity — 69 Experts Reveal Their Top Tips
I always say technology is my friend, and I offer 2 tips here: 1 on Photoshop, and 1 about Adobe Export PDF

Business News Daily
6/15/17 Evernote: 7 Features You Should Be Using

FanGirlNation Magazine
5/24/17 Interview With A Narrator: Karen Commins

The Author Biz podcast

1/30/17 Marketing and Promotion for Audiobooks, episode TAB104
Author and host Stephen Campbell and I talk about ways authors can promote their audiobooks.

Stacy Juba, author of Fooling Around With Cinderella
1/5/17 Part 1 about me as a person
1/7/17 Part 2 about the audiobook production process

The James Altucher Report, Dec. 2016 (private subscription)

Amy Metz, author of Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction
10/14/16 part 1 about me as a person
10/20/16 part 2 about the audiobook production process

East-West Audio Body Shop webcast with hosts George Whittam and Dan Lenard
6/22/15 EWABS Episode 193 Audiobook Roundtable

Wendy Pitts, fellow narrator
3/5/15 Monthly Mentoring column

April Holgate audiobook listener/reviewer
12/30/15 Update
12/28/14 Original Interview

Advertising Age Magazine

2/15/10
I responded to an editorial about Super Bowl ads and noted that those without voiceover were not as effective.

LibriVox Community Podcast

12/19/08 Episode 93  Starting at :28, I talk about getting started as a volunteer reader.

The Publicity Hound blog

1/28/07
I advised a voiceover talent who wanted to know actions they could take to market themselves.

 

Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine

June 2006
I was profiled in a story about home improvements after we learned some hard lessons about contractors in building an addition on our house for my studio.