Producing an Audiobook

Maria Issaris of Audiobooks Radio is offering an insight into the intricacies and challenges of audiobook production via a zoom session. She says that “Audiobook production is exciting and intense, technical and emotional, all at once. Each production team (and that includes the authors and publishers!) become immersed, experiencing the 'storytelling' version of their work as it emerges from the hard page and onto an audio-platform.”

As a format, the audiobook is experiencing dramatic growth, but the process of producing a compelling audiobook is quite complex and technically challenging. It is great to see some emerging Australian players in this field.

Maria Issaris: “So here we are. We want listeners to have a profound experience when listening to audiobooks. We developed cost-effective, absolutely high quality, global standard audiobook production for small publishers and individual authors. We want books to be disseminated on global platforms. We don't take royalties. audiobookradio uploads and cross‑promotes, but does not collect royalties, nor charge ongoing fees.And we love it!”

Draft2Digital: a good idea for independent authors?

Draft2Digital offers a very cost-effective distribution route for ebooks (print on demand also, but that service is still in beta, for various reasons). Its sale channels cover all of the large ebook retailers. It has a very simple and attractive service proposition:

We are Self-Publishing with Support. Your book is your priority. Our priority is you. We build tools and services that let you focus on writing while we take care of layout, publishing, distribution, print-on-demand paperbacks, and more. Keep writing. We’re here for the rest.

In a long and very informative blog post, author services firm Reedsy describes them as “The gold standard for self-publishing aggregators, Draft2Digital distinguishes itself with excellent customer service and a user-friendly interface. They’re the best way to sell your book with dozens of retailers without tearing your hair out.”

Kindlepreneur also has a largely positive review that dives into the details of uploading a new title and how the royalty payments and update fees work.

Users discuss vcry specific pros and cons of the service on a reddit thread. Important note: the 10% Draft2Digital fee is charged on retail price, not on profit, and comes on top of the share taken by the end seller.

Writers Weekly has published a number of very negative user reviews that indicate some administrative problems.

• Plenty of users had complaints about the non-payment of royalties.

• Draft2Digital books cannot access Amazon advertising or other Amazon sales tools.

In summary, a service that will be useful to many authors, but go in with your eyes open and aware of the moderate drawbacks, especially the Amazon advertising issue.

No More Cookies for You (Or Anyone Else)

Google is gunning for cookies — those intrusive and unloved snippets of code that track your browsing habits and transmit said data to unscrupulous marketers. Cookies also allow other bad actors to snoop on your privacy and form a pretty good personality profile of any given web user. But being Google, and living on advertising dollars, they are still going try mightily hard to keep advertisers happy by building in more privacy-friendly settings. One suspects much of this zeal for privacy is driven by the European Union’s much more stringent privacy regulations. Falling afoul of the EU can be an expensive business.

“As we work to make the web more private, we’ll provide businesses with tools to succeed online so that high quality content remains freely accessible — whether that’s news articles, videos, educational information, community sites or other forms of web content. With Tracking Protection, Privacy Sandbox and all of the features we launch in Chrome, we’ll continue to work to create a web that’s more private than ever, and universally accessible to everyone.”

— https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-googles-plan-end-cookies-chrome-browser-2024-1

The Library of Lost Horizons by Trevor Hay: a review

Local author and academic Trevor Hay’s book The Library of Lost Horizons has been reviewed at some length in Quadrant magazine (subscription). Two brief excerpts:

“Hay speaks fluent Mandarin and since 1975 has journeyed widely to study Chinese literature,
theatre, and folklore. A compulsive collector, his library holds a multitude of forgotten stories from
travellers along Silk Roads in remotest Asia. In The Library of Lost Horizons, Hay recounts stories
garnered from the many archeologists, ethnographers, scientists, historians, anthropologists, and
inveterate dreamers who passed through deserts and harsh mountain passes to the soaring peaks
and mysterious valleys of Tibet and on to fabled Shangri-la. He adds reflections arising from his own
last trip to Dunhuang and the remarkable ‘Caves of the Thousand Buddhas’ on the edge of the great
Gobi Desert.
”

— David Walker, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne

“Hay was soon captivated by China, a country that haunts him still. As he
notes,’…for nearly fifty years I have been in love with a much older woman. She likes to be called
Han. Sometimes she will answer to Tang’. He continued to be drawn to her languages and cultures
as he collected books ‘in English or in translation about the places that have contributed to the
formation of her character’. The Library of Lost Horizons takes you into the world of these books.”

— David Walker, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne

The Library of Lost Horizons is available from Australian Scholarly Publishing, along with several of Trevor’s other titles.

Rules for Reading

Author Ryan Holiday details his down-to-earth reading habits/strategy.

“If you see a book you want, just buy it. Don’t worry about the price. Reading is not a luxury. It’s not something you splurge on. It’s a necessity. Even if all you get is one life-changing idea from a book, that’s still a pretty good return on investment.”

— Ryan Holiday

Music and cultural critic Ted Gioia outlines his lifetime reading plan, and it is very impressive and inspiring.

“When I was 18, I tackled War and Peace. When I was 19, I did Don Quixote. The next year, I read The Brothers Karamazov, and after that it was Moby Dick and The Tale of Genji and The Magic Mountain. And I’ve kept doing this for decades. The cumulative impact of this is life-changing.”

— Ted Gioia

Doing Your Comp Research

Serious independent authors spend time checking out their competitors, the so-called ‘Comps’ or comparable titles. It is a great way of getting a sense of a particular genre, prevalent trends, the key cover design elements that signal a particular fictional niche. A writer should have a good idea of their specific target readers — and, spoiler alert, it is not ‘anyone who can read’. If you have read a lot in the genre you are writing in (always a good idea), you will already have a fairly good idea of how your title/s relate to the existing literary landscape. Making a list of comparable titles, whether bestsellers or midlist, can also be helpful for book cover designers looking to get a more specific feel for your title. At the same time it gives the author a better sense of the overall commercial literary landscape.

IngramSpark Drops Setup Charges But Adds Another Fee

In welcome news, IngramSpark have dropped their excessive new title charges, and also removed revision charges if corrections are made within 60 days. This aligns them better with their competitors at Kindle Direct Publishing. The revision fees were particularly egregious — one of the advantages of Print On Demand is the ability to correct and update when necessary, unlike long print runs, and IngramSpark were effectively penalising people for doing so.

Of course, what one hand giveth, the other hand taketh away — a new ‘Global Distribution Fee’ has been added:

Effective July 1, 2023, a market access fee will be charged for every print book sold through Ingram’s Global Distribution network, reaching 40,000+ bookstores, retailers, libraries, and schools. The fee will be 1% of the list price of the title sold. For example, if your book has a US list price of $20.00, the market access fee will be $0.20 cents. 

Value of Book Cover Design

Author services site Reedsy conduct a semi-scientific test into the relative marketing merits of a better designed cover. The signal seems pretty clear, though one would want to make such tests on a much larger scale to fully quantify the effectiveness. But of course there is a reason mainstream publishers invest a lot of effort into eye-catching genre-appropriate cover designs — it very much works, and catches the segment of the buying public interested in that specific kind of title.

Typographic Illusions and Type Design

A very interesting article on the optical illusions that type designers must take into account when designing a new typeface. Written by Jonathan Hoefler, type designer extraordinaire, designer of superstar typefaces such as Gotham, Archer and Sentinel.

Hemingway Award for Kathryn Gauci

Kathryn Gauci writes gripping historical novels set in Europe, with a particular focus on Greece, France and Turkey. She researches her work in great detail, often travelling to the regions in question, and picks up many online awards. She posts regularly on Facebook and Instagram, and has racked up thousands of reviews and ratings on Goodreads. She is an excellent example of the value of persistence, networking, participation in the online communities relating to her genre and cross marketing of her books.

Tips for Building an Effective Website (guest post)

 Unveiling the Blueprint: Crucial Tips for Building a Stellar Website

 In the dynamic landscape of online presence, building a website that captivates users and performs exceptionally well on search engines is a multifaceted task. The journey from conception to a fully functional website involves strategic planning, technical finesse, and a deep understanding of user behavior. In this comprehensive guide, we'll uncover pivotal tips that will serve as the backbone for constructing a website that not only stands out but also thrives in the digital realm.

  1. Strategic Planning: Define Your Purpose and Audience

 Before diving into the intricacies of web development, embark on a strategic planning phase. Clearly define the purpose of your website and identify your target audience. This foundational understanding will shape every subsequent decision, from content creation to design aesthetics. Knowing your audience ensures that your website resonates with the right people, leading to enhanced engagement and conversions.

 2. Thorough Keyword Research: Fueling SEO Success

Keywords are the building blocks of SEO, and their strategic integration is paramount. Conduct exhaustive keyword research to identify terms and phrases relevant to your niche. Utilize tools such as Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush to uncover search volumes and competition levels. Infuse these keywords organically into your content, meta tags, and headers, providing search engines with valuable context and enhancing your website's discoverability.

 3. User-Centric Design: Navigating the Digital Landscape with Ease

User experience (UX) is a critical aspect often underestimated in website development. Craft an intuitive and user-friendly design that facilitates seamless navigation. Prioritize responsive design to ensure a consistent and enjoyable experience across devices. Incorporate clear calls-to-action (CTAs) and minimize clutter, guiding users effortlessly through your digital space.

 4. Effective Content Strategy: Quality Over Quantity

 Content is the heartbeat of your website, and a strategic content plan is key. Prioritize quality over quantity, delivering information that is valuable, relevant, and engaging. Regularly update your content to reflect industry trends and user needs. Consider incorporating various content formats, including text, images, videos, and infographics, to cater to diverse audience preferences.

  5. Optimized Page Speed: Swift Loading for Enhanced User Experience

 Page speed is not just a user preference; it's a critical SEO factor. Compress images, leverage browser caching, and minimize code to optimize your website's loading times. Users and search engines alike favor websites that load swiftly, contributing to a positive user experience and improved search rankings.

  6. Mobile Responsiveness: Adapting to the Mobile-First Era

 In an era dominated by mobile devices, ensuring your website is mobile-responsive is non-negotiable. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its rankings, making this aspect crucial for SEO success. Choose a responsive design that seamlessly adapts to various screen sizes, providing a consistent and enjoyable experience for users on smartphones and tablets.

  7. Technical SEO Best Practices: Lay a Solid Foundation

 Mastering the technical aspects of SEO is akin to building a robust foundation for your website's success. Create and submit an XML sitemap to guide search engine crawlers efficiently. Optimize meta titles, descriptions, and headers with relevant keywords. Implement clean and semantic HTML, and ensure your website adheres to best practices for canonicalization to prevent duplicate content issues.

  8. Secure Hosting and SSL Certification: Safeguarding Your Digital Presence

 Choose a reliable hosting provider to ensure your website remains accessible and performs optimally. Additionally, prioritize security by obtaining an SSL certificate. Secure websites not only instill trust in users but are also favored by search engines, positively impacting your rankings.

  9. Regular Monitoring and Maintenance: Keep Your Website in Prime Condition

 Building a website is not a one-time task; it requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Regularly check for broken links, update content, and ensure that all features are functioning as intended. Conduct periodic SEO audits to identify and address any issues that may arise, ensuring your website stays in peak condition and continues to attract and retain visitors.

 Embarking on the journey to build a website is an exciting venture laden with opportunities. By following these crucial tips, you'll be equipped to navigate the complexities of web development with confidence. Remember, a successful website is a dynamic entity that evolves with user needs and industry trends. Stay committed to delivering exceptional user experiences, staying on top of SEO best practices, and consistently refining your digital space. With these tips as your guide, you're well on your way to crafting a website that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of your audience.

You can learn more here.

Recent Cover Designs from the House of WorkingType

Using Fiverr to Promote Your Book on Amazon

If learning and managing all the intricacies of Amazon’s advertising engine in order to promote your book/s seems just too hard, perhaps you might consider hiring a consultant through the outsourcing websites Fiverr and Upwork. You can check reviews of each consultant’s work in order to see if any of them might be a good fit. Packages start at quite low rates, so you could experiment without committing huge amounts of money.

Bush Tragedies

Author Bill Poulos has been getting plenty of press for his excellent new book Bush Tragedies. Bill has been using Facebook and Instagram to good effect and tapping into his community connections.

https://arr.news/2023/09/01/new-release-bush-tragedies/

https://www.nswcountryandpicnicracing.com.au/former-racing-writer-launches-new-book/

https://www.netimes.com.au/2023/08/20/new-crime-book-from-moree-author-accidental/

The Science of Filenames....

Sent to me by a client…

My own experience is that adding “final” to a filename is an invitation to create at least twenty more versions….

Frank Burkett, The O'Connor Protocol and author websites

Author Frank Burkett has set up a simple, effective long-scrolling author wordpress website. The site includes a blurb, book thumbnail, author bio, an order form and some local context, and a comments capability. A navigation bar to go to different sections of the page abd back to the top would have been helpful, but perhaps was not an option for this build of WordPress.

Frank’s biography reads as follows:

Frank Burkett lives in tropical Queensland, which is the setting of his second novel, The O’Connor Protocol. His previous novel, View from the Clock Tower, was shortlisted in 2006 for the British Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger award. Although raised in Queensland, Frank has travelled extensively, including three years in the United Kingdom where he studied at the University of London for a Diploma in Dramatic Art. He spent three years in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where he worked in the field of land conservation. In 1980, back home, he completed a journalism major at the University of Queensland. Following a successful career in news media, he wrote and published The Tropical Son, a biography of country music singer Graeme Connors. Frank is now retired and working on his third book in which, once again, sugar cane, rainforests and coral reefs provide an exotic setting.

Available here and direct from the author. Published by Sid Harta Publishers.

AIs Move into Audiobooks...

A well voiced audiobook is a thing of beauty indeed — an exciting, immersive experience. And a very human one. But narrators are about to feel the cold digital breath of AIs trained to narrate with naturalistic, believable voices.

Risks abound:

“But despite the positive impact AI voice generation can make, the technology is associated with numerous risks as well. Some of them include misuse, fraud, impersonation, and even voice theft, which especially affects professional voice actors.”

— TNW

No doubt the initial results for multi-narrator audiobooks will be fairly primitive, but they will improve, and probably with startling speed. AI music is already flooding the streaming world, and real-life musicians aren’t getting much income out of that. Hollywood actors won some restrictions on the use of AI in their industry, but voice actors may not have quite as much clout.

Reedsy has a cheery article on optimal ways to use AI narrators. According to the writer:

“Also, it’s worth bearing in mind that the listener will get used to an AI voice after a few minutes and start accepting it as a real voice.”

— Reedsy

Choosing Amazon Book Categories

Uploading your book to Kindle Direct Publishing / Amazon is the beginning of a process rather than the end. The next task is to optimise your metadata for visibility / search. Reedsy is offering a free course on the basics of Amazon advertising.

“In this article, we’ll reveal the importance of choosing the right categories and provide you some practical steps to perfectly place your book on Amazon’s bulging shelves. ”

— Reedsy

K-Lytics

If you are serious about optimising your online presence as an author, K-Lytics is worth checking out. Their site asks the following rhetorical question:

“Do you want to sell more books, face less competition, and achieve a higher return on your publishing investments?”

— K-Lytics

Their paid market reports burrow into the details of hundreds of genres and micro-genres. Seeing the maths underneath the book markets is a bit disconcerting, but in a world governed by algorithms and visibility, these insights are essential. The specificity of some of the genres and sub-genres is almost comic: Scottish Romance (what about Scottish Time Travelling Romance?); Cosy Mystery; Urban Fantasy, etc.

“You do not have to be afraid of numbers. We will help you to understand and use them to your advantage.”

— K-Lytics

Learn about Amazon Algorithms for Free

“Amazon is more than just a retailer: it is a search engine as well as a book discoverability website. In fact, it’s the world’s leading search engine for books, where the majority of buyers go to find their next read.”

— Reedsy site

Reedsy is offering a short, free introductory course for those interested in using Amazon advertising for their books. The course covers the following topics:

• The fundamentals of how the algorithms work

• How to optimize your product page for the algorithm

• How to pick the right categories and keywords

• How to ascend the various lists on the Kindle store

• The right way to launch your book