The Day (Connecticut paper) had a recent article about the company Tantor Media, which produces audio books. In ten years, they’ve gone from a three-person start-up to a company that employs 75 people, produces 50 titles a month, supports 70 narrators across the country, and can print 15,000 CDs daily. Plus, they don’t just do the recordings. They do the artwork for the audiobook cover and the marketing.
Unabridged books, which represent the narrator reading the full work, not an edited version, make up nearly 85 percent of the audiobook market. That's good news for Tantor, which only publishes unabridged, original works.If you’re hungry for audio book news, click over to read the full article. Do any of you have out audio versions of your books?
I know some people love audio books but it wouldn't work for me personally. I'd love to have my books available in that format though.
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for a post on audio books, Helen. I prefer audio books before e-books. I used to listen to a lot of audio books when my boys were babies and I walked around with the stroller for hours every day. Also, I listen to audio books (or black metal) in the car when I'm driving, since driving and reading books at the same time is kind of challenging. My favorite audio books are in the form of radio plays. I've got 15 plays by Henrik Ibsen on my iPod and listen to them over and over.
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My attention span doesn't adjust well to audio novels. I do enjoy anthologies of short stories and poetry in that form.
ReplyDeleteMy dad enjoyed them when his sight gave way in later years.
I like audio books when I'm driving on a long trip. We have quite a few of them, but I need some new ones.
ReplyDeleteMy husband drives 60 miles one way to work...he lives by audio books. I however, tend to fall asleep while listening to them so could never dare in a car. I think it's a great market for those who drive...or for kids who struggle with processing issues and learn better through listening than reading.
ReplyDeleteI'm always saying I love the feel of a good book in my hand when I'm reading. However, I'm a huge fan of audio books too. I have some books both in audio and print versions. Audios are a wonderful way to 'read' a book while doing housework, yard work or driving. It makes the time more enjoyable.
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Thoughts in Progress
My book isn't available as an audio, but I do own some books on CD - and on tape!
ReplyDeleteI'm sad to say I've never listened to an audio book! Now I'm motivated to take one out from the library and give it a try.
ReplyDeleteNot at the moment. :)
ReplyDeleteMy dad ADORES audio books. He drives around a lot, so that's how he keeps caught up on his reading.
I used to read books aloud and tape record them for my students with learning disabilities. I'm so glad audio books have increased in popularity. It makes a big difference to me!
ReplyDeleteWhen I had a 90 minute commute from the 'burbs to downtown Atlanta, I began listening to the book channel on XM. It got me listening to books I never thought I would enjoy; and I usually bought the book because I missed parts of it and my intrigued mind wanted to know what happened! Now I'm driving ATL to Asheville weekly and buy audiobooks for the road. I would love to be able to put them in a sort of pool that we could swap and share.
ReplyDeleteNone of my books are on audio. I still own a stack of Anne McCaffrey books on tape though.
ReplyDeleteLiza, when I was ED of the Writers' League of Texas, I listened to tapes on my way to and from work. It took my mind off the traffic!
ReplyDeleteI agree Mason. If there's anything that could make housework and yardwork more enjoyable, it'd be a book.
Go for it, Joanne. Snap on the headphones while vacuuming, doing the dishes, pruning the trees or driving.
Jemi, when I'm writing, I will read the book out loud then listen to it. It's a good way to see where sentences need to be adjusted so they flow more smoothly.
JP, for a short while we had a neighborhood audio book swap. Via email, anyone interested in sharing made a list of their audio books and posted the list. Then others could borrow. Sort of a neighborhood library.
I've never listened to an audio book. I've found that my mind wanders all over the place and can't still to the story unless the words are in front of me. I hope we'll get a chance to bump into you at the Austin Book Festival next week-end.
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I love audio books. We spend a lot of time and the road and have listened to and discussed many books on those trips.
ReplyDeleteThere is a small local company that records audio books here and puts out collections of shorts that you can buy on site. Very handy.
Hi Ann. Both days I'll be in the Austin Museum of Art. If I can get there waaay early on Sunday, I might get to take a fast run through the exhibitors' tents to say hi to friends before I have to get to AMOA.
ReplyDeleteOoh, that would be handy, Laurita.
I signed a contract with Books in Motion over a year ago for the audio version of One Small Victory, but it has not been produced yet. They are incredibly slow, and now I am wishing I had not signed with them.
ReplyDeleteAudio books are growing in popularity along with the e-books. Some people with the Kindle reader are listening to books with the Kindle while they do something else. I hope not while they are driving.
A year does sound like a long time, Maryann.
ReplyDeleteIf the audio book is on the Kindle, does the listener have to turn each page? That would definitely be a distraction while driving.
More than half of the reading I do these days is by audio and I love them. The narrator, though, is critical and can make it or break it. I buy some audiobooks based on the narrator more than the author or title. Example--I'll listen to anything done by Jayne Entwistle and it just so happens she's done some of my favorites, like the books by Alan Bradley.
ReplyDeleteI commute to town and to other places around the province and couldn't do it without audio books. I love them. I get them from the library as I don't really need to own them or from people who have owned them and lend them to me. I wouldn't randomly buy them unless I knew of the reader. The reader is key to me - a bad reader and I don't care how good the book is. I love this way of 'reading' books but it doesn't take the place of reading them in my bathtub or in the waiting room or in bed in the morning before rising to attend my day. no.
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