After my six novels in the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series were published in paperback and eBook formats, I welcomed the opportunity to diversify. Armed with an equal dose of determination and curiosity, I looked into the production of audiobooks for my novels.
Data from retail bookstores and public libraries indicated that the number of people listening to the audiobook format of storytelling was steadily increasing. Since audiobooks allowed speedy download access and easy portability, you could listen to them on your iPod, tablet, or other device while multitasking, exercising, or relaxing at home.
Through Audible, a subsidiary of Amazon, I took the plunge into this new venture. I listened to sample submissions from narrators who auditioned for False Impressions, book 1 in my mystery series. Most candidates had years of experience in narrating books. Others had also performed on stage and in film and had done voice-overs for commercials. I was in awe of their extensive expertise and the diversification of their accomplishments.
Since my books are told in the first-person point of view of Megan Scott, my thirty-something main character, I wanted a narrator whose voice reflected her age and personality. The same person would have to narrate every character’s voice in False Impressions, including the male voices, and then refine the entire performance with the assistance of a studio engineer. When we’re talking about narrating a three-hundred-page novel, it translates to weeks of studio time—or longer. I commend narrators for their diligence and the long hours they spend in recording sessions.
After I’d listened to brief sample auditions from potential candidates, I dwindled my choices to a short list of narrators, then made my final decision. Selecting only one was the difficult part, but Kelli Tager’s smooth voice and experience simplified my decision. As soon as we’d agreed on the schedule and finalized the legal paperwork, Kelli began to work on the project.
A few months later, I received the finalized version of my audiobook. Goosebumps rose along my arms as I listened to it. Thanks to Kelli, I could hear all the characters I’d created in False Impressions, from the private thoughts voiced by an emotional Megan Scott to the blunt comments uttered by Detective Moreau and emphasized by his French-Canadian accent. Not only had Kelli enriched their personalities by giving each character a unique voice, but she’d also enhanced the original image I’d had of them.
If you’ve never listened to an audiobook, you’re in for a thrill. It’s the next best thing to watching a movie or TV show because it helps you to visualize the characters as they speak and interact. Their voices draw you deeper into the story, and you can’t help but feel as if you’re actually there with them.
Audiobooks for the other novels in my mystery series are scheduled for production over the following year. To keep things consistent, Kelli will be narrating them. You can bet they’ll be just as exciting!
To listen to an audio sample of False Impressions and find out where you can get the audiobook, visit this page on my website.