Dear friend and colleague,

If you’re not offering your book in an audiobook format, you’re missing out on sales… chances for media exposure… and one of the best ways to reach and help your ideal audience.

That’s because audiobooks are the fastest growing format in publishing today.

Now, sure: You could hire a professional narrator to record your audiobook…

But that’s far from ideal, right?

Your audiobook buyers want to hear your information and wisdom from YOU.

They want your firsthand knowledge, hard-won life lessons, and unique insights “straight from the horse’s mouth!”

As they listen to you tell your stories and share your message, they’ll think, “Wow, she's just like me.” “I can relate to that.” “He really knows what’s what.”

Your book becomes more entertaining, more compelling, and more inspiring when YOU read it aloud.

No matter how good any given professional voiceover artist may be, they simply can’t match the authentic power of YOUR voice for forging an intimate, unshakeable connection with your listener.

What Do Michelle Obama, J.D. Vance & U2's Bono Have In Common? Each One Of Them Narrated Their Own Audiobooks

Celebrities and political leaders are super-busy people.

But they often narrate their own audiobooks, even though hiring a professional narrator would save them time.

Michelle Obama (The Light We Carry), J.D. Vance (Hillbilly Elegy), Bono (Surrender), Liz Cheney (Oath and Honor), Jimmy Carter (A Full Life)… they all chose to read their own books as audiobooks.

Why?

They know only their voice can convey the lived experience, earned authority, conviction, and passion behind the words they wrote.

And even if you’re not a politician or a celebrity, the same is true for YOU.

Whose voice is going to best persuade listeners your message deserves a hearing?

Someone getting paid to read the words, no matter how well they’re being paid to do it? Someone who may not have even met you, for whom your book is just another gig?

Or YOUR VOICE—because you’ve poured your heart into your book’s pages, and you’ve chosen your words with care to communicate EXACTLY what you know your audience needs to hear?

When you read your own audiobook, listeners feel they know you and have a relationship with you.

Your voice is more likely to move your audience to do what you’re teaching, because we’re all hardwired to respond to people who read aloud to us.

You Don't Need To Be A Polished Public Speaker To Narrate Your Own Outstanding Audiobook

Some people don’t like public speaking. Maybe you’re one of them.

But even if you hate the idea of giving a presentation at work – or even making a toast at a dinner – you can have an incredibly positive experience narrating your book in your own voice.

The situations simply aren’t the same.

For one thing, you’re going to be reading your own words – words you already care deeply about, or you wouldn’t have gone to the effort of putting them in your book.

For another, the only “crowd” involved is the crowd of people who could buy your audiobook after you’ve recorded it. You’re not on stage in front of them all at once.

Ideally, only one other person is present when you’re recording your audiobook – to keep you on track, to give you some helpful feedback and practical pointers as needed, and to encourage and motivate you.

You’re not going to be anywhere near as nervous as you would be in a public speaking situation.

You may find, very quickly, you’re not really nervous at all!

You’re reading your story and sharing your message.

And if you’re not totally slick and smooth in your presentation – it’s actually to your advantage.

Your listeners value authenticity and honesty over perfection.

If you’ve got good, important, inspirational material to share, and you’re sharing it from your heart, that’s all going to come through in your voice.

People will listen, take what you have to say to heart – and then take the action you want them to take.

WARNING: Don't Believe These Common Myths About Creating Your Audiobook

Now, even though you don’t need to sound like a perfectly polished pro speaker, your audiobook does need to sound like a professional production.

In 30+ years of helping non-fiction authors write and/or promote their books, I’ve heard some “horror stories” about audiobooks gone wrong.

What happened? The authors fell for one or more of these all-too-common myths…

Audiobook Myth #1: "I'll Do It in One or Two Days"

If you try to record your book reading in one or even two “marathon” sessions, your voice is going to give out. You’re going to start to sound tired.

If YOU don’t sound engaged when talking about your topic, why should your listeners feel engaged?

The better plan is to think in terms of two- to three-hour recording sessions.

On that schedule, you can record your book in about five days in a row – just one work week.

Audiobook Myth #2: "I'll Just Pick Up My Book and Start Reading"

Ever seen a musical score? All around the notes, there are phrases and markings that mean things like, “Faster,” “louder,” “softer,” “slower.” These notes tell musicians how to play the notes so they sound great and communicate the composer’s intent.

You need to treat your book or manuscript like a musical score. Mark it up. Give yourself some directions.

What are the things you really want to emphasize?

Where do you want to speed up or slow down?

Which words do you want to raise or lower your voice, to make sure your audience catches your meaning?

The decisions may seem small, but they can make a big difference in how effectively your audiobook gets your message across.

Audiobook Myth #3: "I Don't Need Much to Get This Done Well"

Too many authors think all they need to create their audiobook is their book, a microphone, and a comfy chair in front of their computer.

But to do your audiobook the right way, you need quite a few elements in place:

• Your finished book.
  
  Naturally, you do need your book, but it’s got to be done. You don’t want to release an unfinished audiobook into the wild! Your manuscript needs to be finished or have been published, or must be ready to be published.

• The audio rights to your book.
  
  If you signed a deal with a publishing company in which they own rights to it and are paying you royalties, you'd want to make sure you still own the audio rights to it. If you have published or will publish your book yourself, I’ll assume you own the audio rights.

• An audio file that meets Amazon and iTunes specifications.
  
  If the recording of your book doesn’t meet the professional standards of Amazon and iTunes, those companies will reject your recording. You could spend a lot of time recording, only to have them say, “The noise level, the bass level—all these things aren't quite right.” You don’t want that to happen! You want to make sure your file meets their standards.

• Coaching to help you sound your best.
  
  You want some coaching so you can “amp up” your natural reading style. Again, the goal isn't for you to become a professional voice narrator, but simply to get you at your best. Having someone listen to you and give you a few pointers goes a long way.

• A compelling two-minute sample.
  
  When people consider buying your audiobook, you want a two-minute sample they can hear that makes them want to buy the book. You don’t want to choose 120 seconds of audio at random – you want a coherent excerpt that makes both you and your content shine.

• A great microphone and great recording software.
  
  You can’t expect your audiobook to deliver the best results for your listeners if you don’t sound your best when you record it. Relying on your computer’s built-in mic and whatever free audio software (if any) came with the device when you bought it just won’t cut it – not when people are used to hearing expertly produced audio all the time, and when the tools you need to produce it are getting more available and affordable all the time.

• A director.
  
  You need someone to listen to you and give you guidance—a professional director who’ll say, “Hey, can we come back? You dropped your voice too many times,” or, “Your energy lagged, can we just pick that up again?” And also to say, “That was great, we're doing well here”—because as you're reading, you’re wondering, “Is this any good?” You need someone to encourage you, to “pump you up,” to be in the thick of the process with you.

• A professional audio editor.
  
  Editing audio is a specialized skill, requiring exceptional attention to detail and the ability to make changes – often very small and subtle ones – with precision.

• A professionally designed cover.
  
  Even if you’re going to use the same image your book has in other formats, you need to make sure it fits the dimensions Amazon and iTunes specify for their websites.

And…

You do need a lot of time if you're planning on doing this all by yourself.

Let’s say your book is 60,000 words long. Once it’s all recorded, it'll be an eight-hour audiobook. It will take 10-16 hours to record. If we think in two- or three-hour sessions, that’s about five or six days. And the editing, typically, is going to take 40 hours.

If all this sounds like a lot of work – that’s because it is!

But our audiobook creation service takes all the tough stuff off your plate!

Introducing Your Audiobook Made Easy –
Read Your Book Aloud From Your Home or Office... We’ll Do the Rest!

Fortunately, my team and I had already been thinking along these lines…

And we do have the technical know-how and expertise needed it takes to record, edit, and publish first-rate audiobooks.

So we're thrilled to announce our special audiobook creation service: Your Audiobook Made Easy.

This is a one-stop, all-inclusive service.

We do everything for you except read your book!

That’s right. All you do is show up online, ready to record your book, in four or five sessions lasting two to three hours each.

• You don’t have to leave your home or your office. We record you using a high-def audio software that is as easy for you to use as Zoom is, but yields a much better, professional-grade recording. You don't have to leave your home or office to travel to our studios, or to any studio—you get a professional-caliber recording from your own familiar and comfortable surroundings!

• You don't have to have a perfect voice. We'll make sure you sound your best when you record, and tweak the audio once you’re done so it sounds great.

• You don’t need ultra-fancy, high-priced audio equipment. We’ll assign you a director who will help you set up your home studio microphone. You can get one for about $150.00, or even a little less. We’ll make sure you get the right one and get it set up properly.

Then we’ll coach you and prepare you. We're fortunate to have several team members who've done audiobooks. They’ll share professional “tricks of the trade” with you.

We’ll be with you during all your recording sessions to ensure you’re doing your best.

Once you’re done recording, our professional audio editors will edit your files.

Our professional cover designer will create your audiobook’s cover, formatted according to the professional specifications required by Amazon Audible and iTunes, and submit it to you for your final approval.

Finally, we'll upload the finished audiobook to Audible and iTunes for you—completely ready for your audience to find, buy, listen to, and take to heart! 

What Does It Cost To Have My Team Produce Your Professional Audiobook In Your Voice For You?

(Not much compared to what NOT having this profound connection with your audience could cost you!)

Save $1,000.00 When You Grab One of Just 15 Spots 

What would it be worth to you to have a professional audiobook in YOUR voice?

To be making the sales… making the impact… making that priceless, powerful connection with your audience?

To know people can hear your voice… your telling of your story… your sharing of your message… in your own voice—now and, really, forever?

An audiobook in your own voice could even be the most powerful legacy you leave… what should that be worth?

When we produce online courses for people, we charge just under $13,000.

But we regularly sell this audiobook creation service for just $5,997, and it's a bargain at that price.

But you won't pay even that much.

Currently, we only have capacity to work with 15 new audiobook clients. 

Once those 15 spots are filled, or after Monday, December 30th at 6 pm Eastern (3 pm Pacific)—whichever comes first—the price is going back up... but you can lock in your $1,000.00 savings right now when you take advantage of this special offer.

So even if you're not quite ready to get started, now is the right time to enroll!

YOUR NO-RISK REFUND GUARANTEE – We're convinced doing your audiobook in your own voice can make a huge difference to your success... but if, within 30 days of your order, you change your mind, we'll refund 100% of your purchase price. (After 30 days, we can't offer refunds, because you've claimed a spot that could have gone to one of your fellow author-experts). 

Frequently Asked Questions... Answered!

Q. I’ve tried reading aloud in public in the past, and it hasn’t gone well. What’s going to make this time different?

A. Reading your audiobook is totally different! These words are words you wrote. You’re going to re-experience them as you read them. It will be a wonderful experience.

Q. I’m still working on my book—what if I’m not ready?

A. No problem! Again, you can lock in this special pricing and we'll begin working with you when your book is finished and you’re ready to record.

Q. I write books for high-achieving professionals. Shouldn’t I hire a professional narrator so my audiobook is free of embarrassing mistakes?

A. Even professionals make mistakes when they narrate audiobooks. The reason you don’t hear those mistakes in the finished product is because the pros have directors and editors working with them – and, in our program, you will, too!

Q. Wouldn’t I save money by hiring a professional narrator, instead of joining this program?

A. Well, maybe time… but not necessarily money. Hiring a professional narrator could end up costing you a LOT over the long run. They often charge a percentage of every book sold. One of my clients is Glenn Livingston, a coach and psychologist. He paid somebody to narrate his book, and later regretted it. When he sold a lot of books, he ended up paying the narrator $60,000 in royalties – even though he didn't feel the narrator brought that much to the table. He thought, “Gosh, I really should have done that myself.” Plus, he missed out on letting the power of his voice create strong connections with his audience.

Q. I speak English with a non-native accent. Should I still create an audiobook in my own voice for an English-speaking audience?

A. I believe you should, absolutely! Plenty of other successful author-experts who work in the English language have “foreign accents.” (Remember: Everyone’s accent is “foreign” to someone somewhere!) Deepak Chopra has an Indian accent. Dr. Ruth Westheimer had a German accent. If your accent is so thick other English speakers routinely have trouble understanding you, then go ahead and hire a narrator. But don’t discount how an accent can be a valuable part of your brand. It’s part of what makes you you, and your voice, your voice!

Q. I’m a novelist. Shouldn’t I hire a professional voice actor who can give all the characters in my story distinctly different voices?

A. If you decide that’s what you want. But think about it: How strong a connection did you feel when you were a kid, listening to someone read you a story? We are hardwired to “click” with storytellers. Even novelists can make a stronger connection to their fans by narrating their own novels in audio form. Louise Erdrich, Barbara Kingsolver, Dona Tartt, Khaled Hosseini, and the late Toni Morrison, among others, have all narrated their own novels.

Q. I don't like how my voice sounds on Zoom recordings. Won't my voice sound bad if I don't record from a professional studio?

A. We won't be using Zoom to record you. We'll be using a professional virtual audio recording software. It's just as easy for you to use as showing up for a Zoom meeting, but the results are far superior. Your audiobook will sound as though you went to a professional studio to record it, even though you didn't.

Q. I live in a big, busy city. Won’t the microphone pick up street noise if I record from home?

A. Today’s microphone technology is surprisingly good at filtering out noise from the outside. Plus, the audio pros on my team have lots of experience adjusting the sound until it’s right where it ought to be.

Get my team to make your professional audiobook in your own voice for you

So... Are You Ready To Make YOUR Own Voice, In YOUR Own Audiobook, Heard?

Imagine your beautiful, professional audiobook available for people to order, generating passive income for you.

Imagine people telling their friends and family, “Hey, I just heard this great audiobook today—you should check it out!”

Now, more people are talking about you.

You're getting requests for interviews because people heard you.

People who bought your book in another format are now getting your audiobook, too.

This is an investment that could set you up for years.

You do the work once, and it could pay off for a long time to come.

Your work is all about making a difference.

An audiobook is a tool you want so you can make even MORE of a difference.

Take this step for making your voice heard in the hearts and minds of listeners, potentially worldwide.

Steve Harrison

PS #1 - Remember, when you narrate your own audiobook, you're in very good company with busy celebrity authors like Michelle Obama, J.D. Vance, Bono, Liz Cheney, Jimmy Carter, and more, all of whom read their own books aloud to maximize the powerful connection it makes with their audience. Have our team make your professional audiobook in your voice for you

PS #2 - This special $1,000.00 discount goes away once the currently available 15 spots in our audiobook creation service are spoken for. Act now to get your discount on one of these spots before Monday, December 30 at 6 pm Eastern (3 pm Pacific).

Steve Harrison's Your Audiobook Made Easy
is a custom service offered by Bradley Communications Corp.
390 Reed Road, 2nd Floor, Broomall, PA  19008
484-477-4033
CustService@AuthorSuccess.com
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