Getting Your Book into Audio

How much does an audiobook cost?

Generally, audiobooks are going to be paid either Per Finished Hour or Royalty Share.How many words make up a finished hour of audio?Roughly 9300 words equals a finished hour. Keep in mind, a particularly complex book might result in less words per finished hour, but 9300 is a good rule of thumb.

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What is the typical rate PFH?

The ACX minimum rate starts at $250PFH, this is the SAG-AFTRA minimum for ACX. On top of that, expect another $100 PFH for proofing, editing and mastering of the final audio.My rate starts at $375PFH total, however it will be going up in 2025 to $385PFH.

 

Reach out to me now with the words “AuthorNation24” to secure my current rate.

 

The other option is royalty share. To be clear, I only accept Royalty Share plus. This means royalty share plus a minimum $100PFH to cover my expenses. The benefits to a royalty share option is it lowers the risk for authors. However, through ACX it requires exclusive distribution via Audible, Amazon and iTunes.

 

How much can I expect to make in royalties for one audiobook?

Roughly $4 if you’re doing PFH, or $2 for RS.

 

Can I afford to do audio?

That’s a question only you can answer, but audiobooks roughly sell about 10% of the amount an ebook does.

 

Why does audio cost so much?

To answer that question, let me explain the process a little.When I start a book, I read the book once, making notes on accents, characters, pronunciations etc I then reach out to the author to discuss any questions I have regarding those notes.

 

Typically, I will record what’s known as a “15 minute sample”. Although it doesn’t have to be one 15 minute sample, it could be a couple of shorter samples. Whatever section the author most wants to hear. Whether it is certain characters, or something that best reflects the tone of the novel. I then send that to the author for approval. The author may, at this time, ask me to make changes. This is the only time the author gets to provide input regarding direction and tone. Once the author has approved the 15 minutes, I send over an invoice for 25% of my fee. Once that is paid, it is into the booth to record the book. It generally takes 2 hours to complete 1 finished hour of audio. Usually it will take me a little over a week to complete a 10-hr (90K word) book.

 

On completion, I send the book to my editor. My editor will be listening for any misreads or other noises in the recording that will need to be re-recorded, as well as editing and mastering the audio. They will send me back a list of errors which I will then have to re-record.This process can take 4-5 weeks.

 

At which point, we have a finished audio book which I will provide for the author. I encourage the author to listen to the book and check for misreads which I will correct. At which point the book is complete! As you can see, a lot of hours go into a finished hour of audio.

 

Okay, so what happens now that you have the completed files?

 

You choose a distributor. There are a number of distributors you can use, the most well-known being ACX.

 

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Another option is Spoken Realms, a narrator-owned boutique company which requires that you use an audiobook narrator on their list (like myself). They allow for more creative royalty share splits. For instance, if your book requires dual narration, you can do a dual narration royalty share. They also work with Blackstone Audio/Downpour for physical CD’s, and also have a streaming/podcast option.

 

Why should I go with you over AI?

That’s a decision only you can make. However, storytelling is a human art form. AI still can’t replicate the humour and emotion that happens in the moment I am performing. It’s important to also keep in mind that despite the leap in technology there is still an uncanny valley issue with AI audio.Thanks for making it this far.

Remember, if you want to work with me, be sure to mention “AuthorNation24” in your email to secure 2024 rates.