What was the question again?
I mean, this topic could be do we listen to them or do we like to have the books we write in audiobook format?
My answer to both: YES!
(By the way, the awesome pic above is my superheroine alter ego, provided to me by sister Word Whore, Linda Robertson. Isn't it PERFECT?)
Okay, back to the topic at hand. I love listening to audiobooks. They make doing housework actually pleasurable. I'm always looking for more opportunities to fit in reading time, so being able to listen to a book while I take care of necessary chores is awesome.
I also love that my books are sometimes converted to audiobook format. I wish they all were! So far, of the eighteen books I have out (as of July 13, with the release of my latest erotic romance UNDER CONTRACT), five are available in audio format. I particularly love the cover they made specially for the audio version of THE MARK OF THE TALA. Because I'm working primarily with traditional publishing, whether to produce an audio version of my books is not up to me. I've never gone that way with any of my self-published books, but I'm considering it. At a signing for the THE TALON OF THE HAWK, a faithful reader asked if there were plans to put the other Twelve Kingdoms books in audio. She's already read them all, but she likes to listen to her favorites while walking. I had to tell her "not yet," which is all my publisher will tell me. If they don't do it, I might see if I can get the rights to do it on my own. One thing I notice about my audiobooks, however, is that reader ratings are significantly lower for them than other formats - by pretty much an entire star. I think this is related to the impact the narrator has on the experience. Jen Twimom has a great series on her review blog called Listen Up! where she specifically reviews audiobooks. She tries to split out the story from the narration, which I appreciate. The biggest error in all of my audiobooks - which makes me cringe every time I think about it - is with RUBY. My New Orleans chef hero calls the heroine "chère," which is a common endearment in that region. But it's pronounced like "share," and the freaking narrator pronounced them all as "sharee." Which is French (though it would be spelled "cherie"), NOT New Orleans.
Alas. So it goes.
What do you all think? Do you like audiobooks? Any cringeworthy tales to tell?
Gah. You'd think audiobooks would have pronunciation style sheets. Also, what narrator could possibly read a book about NOLA without having watched The Big Easy? I mean. C'mon.
ReplyDeleteright?? I kind of wanted to crawl through the internet and throttle her. They sent me a list of words to guide them on with THE MARK OF THE TALA, but none of the others. In FIVE GOLDEN RINGS, they pronounced my name wrong! >_<
DeleteI really should try audio books, I spend enough time in the car I could get a book or two done in a week that way. And yes, Linda nailed it!
ReplyDeleteI ask for birthday/Christmas for the Audible membership. It's $150 and gives me 12 credits - one per month - it's about the right pace for me.
DeleteInteresting that they released MARK with a cover different from the book. I do like the audio cover, just a...curious marketing decision on the publisher's part.
ReplyDeleteI found it curious also - and I was not consulted on that in any way shape or form. Tantor bought the audio rights and, much as in a foreign rights sale, did as they liked with the packaging.
DeleteAh! I didn't realize it wasn't Kensi that had produced it. Makes sense now.
Deleteah, yes. Harlequin, however, is starting in-house audiobook production, which ought to be interesting.
DeleteYea! Thanks for the shout out!! I do love me some audiobooks.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed reactions with audiobooks when compared to written word. In a few cases, I've actually preferred the audio version over the written version. This was most recently true with the latest Charley Davidson book. Sometimes, when I'm really into a book, I switch between audio and kindle version while reading/listening - listen in the car, pick it up and read in bed at night, and start listening again the next day. But generally, the narrator will have the biggest impact on whether or not the book is "as good" in audio as it is in written format.
I love talking audiobooks!! Thanks for the post.
I've done that, too - switching back and forth - and I agree that I can have a significantly different experience with the same book, depending on format. I loved listening to Tina Fey's Bossy Pants, much more than reading it.
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