tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post8384437867922318684..comments2024-03-18T14:47:29.670-07:00Comments on JustJoshin Publishing, Inc.: Say it ain't so, ACX!Josh Lanyonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-14018961788582737882020-12-25T12:42:34.500-08:002020-12-25T12:42:34.500-08:00Amazon should be treating you better. I don't ...Amazon should be treating you better. I don't use the Whispersync thing because I like the quality of the Audible narrations more. And I don't go back and forth between the printed word and the narration. Personally, can't understand why anyone would. But the main thing here is Amazon should be giving you more money if they're going to undercut you on the narration side.Leigh Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08905380367664417764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-62387923044982073632019-03-31T14:56:35.427-07:002019-03-31T14:56:35.427-07:00I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally...I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-91186331304865146862019-03-21T16:44:57.191-07:002019-03-21T16:44:57.191-07:00Yep. Start writing at the point the main character...Yep. Start writing at the point the main character's life is going through a major change--fill in the backstory slowly, gradually as you go. Never start with a bunch of backstory. Never work your way into the story. Start a point of great interest and keep it going.<br />Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-39562143370883392392019-03-21T16:42:49.912-07:002019-03-21T16:42:49.912-07:00I've only started working with Findaway Voices...I've only started working with Findaway Voices, and I have mixed feelings. I've been thinking of doing an audio update in April, so I'll go more into it then. I do plan on continuing to work with them--in fact, I've started pulling my backlist from exclusive distribution with Audible.Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-61803198549648597972019-03-16T03:24:52.445-07:002019-03-16T03:24:52.445-07:00You've not mentioned Findaway Voices? Any thou...You've not mentioned Findaway Voices? Any thoughts or experiences you've heard about? Comment if you can.<br /><br />As an avid audiobook proponent—and I have several of yours and many others—I find them pure joy. Some stories get better. Only one audiobook disappointed me (not one of yours). I too produced two audiobooks and both professional narrator's improved my story and characters as if new to me. <br /><br />The Amazon/ACX unfair pricing policy denigrates narrators with their undervaluation and diminishes the author's ability to recoup expenses. Anyone old enough to have seen Lily Tomlin's Ernestine rift as an AT&T operator will recall her line, "We're the phone company, we're omnipotent." (Youtube) She could update substituting Amazon. Antitrust laws broke up AT&T into regional "Baby Bells." I doubt that will happen now, with Amazon dictating conditions to New York City.<br /> <br />FYI: For books that don't have audio, I use text-to-speech like others commenting here. It is comparing the uninflected computer voice to a BBC production of Dicken's Our Mutual Friend—defies comparison. Machine speak does not add value. I have heard authors read their books—dull with two exceptions—another reason to use professional actors.Carlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09014955688333697396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-32932971697780518652019-03-15T13:56:54.572-07:002019-03-15T13:56:54.572-07:00What's even harder to believe is that there ar...What's even harder to believe is that there are narrators willing to risk taking a royalty option!Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-47944405527982484242019-03-15T13:55:40.296-07:002019-03-15T13:55:40.296-07:00That's a great idea!That's a great idea!Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-84991340443438575362019-03-15T13:54:59.951-07:002019-03-15T13:54:59.951-07:00I sure do.I sure do.Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-88560804556719131502019-03-15T13:53:28.755-07:002019-03-15T13:53:28.755-07:00It's a useful option. Especially if price is y...It's a useful option. Especially if price is your only concern.Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-2880119180058623812019-03-08T21:58:15.824-08:002019-03-08T21:58:15.824-08:00P.S. I spent years down loading copyright free bo...P.S. I spent years down loading copyright free books on gutenberg and running them through a text to speech app onto cds. I never would have adopted the kindle without the text-to-speech option, just saying. Dickens was free, see?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14713747568713580417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-29064286642121362052019-03-08T21:52:13.950-08:002019-03-08T21:52:13.950-08:00I find this stuff all very confusing, as a poor li...I find this stuff all very confusing, as a poor little reader. I actively avoid audiobooks because of the enormous download and mainly listen to books using the text to speech option which is free and universal. Sorry?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14713747568713580417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-33115902612287821212018-11-19T11:16:56.724-08:002018-11-19T11:16:56.724-08:00As a voice narrator on ACX you spend at about a ti...As a voice narrator on ACX you spend at about a time and a half of the length of the audio recording. Then you edit and send away for the first 15 mintues to get approved by the author. Edit those and send back. Hopefully by then continue editing what is lacking. 20 hours later and after waiting at least a whole week, you get paid for 2 hours of work. It's insane I even entertained the idea! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-5372455556613482532018-08-25T15:24:49.963-07:002018-08-25T15:24:49.963-07:00Hi Josh--
For years my readers have politely aske...Hi Josh--<br /><br />For years my readers have politely asked when my work will appear in audiobook format, and now I am seriously looking into it. I'm not liking what I'm finding in the contract terms: 7-year commitment, 40% royalty with exclusive terms (down apparently from when you wrote this post in 2013) and 25% non-exclusive, and, of course, this Whispersync deal.<br /><br />Would you mind updating this post with a "Where We Are Now" post, as you suggested here last year? What solution have you found for your own titles? Thanks.David Marusekhttp://www.marusek.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-63733954901124858152018-06-17T08:33:14.144-07:002018-06-17T08:33:14.144-07:00First of all I want to say awesome blog! I had a q...First of all I want to say awesome blog! I had a quick question that <br />I'd like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested <br />to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to <br />writing. I've had trouble clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out.<br /><br />I truly do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or tips?<br />Kudos!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-13328709472854062052018-06-14T02:36:17.695-07:002018-06-14T02:36:17.695-07:00I like reading through an article that will make
...I like reading through an article that will make <br />people think. Also, thank you for allowing for me <br />to comment!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-31690343540896134702018-06-07T15:12:38.453-07:002018-06-07T15:12:38.453-07:00Hola! I've been following your weblog for some...Hola! I've been following your weblog for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Texas!<br />Just wanted to tell you keep up the great work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-23741844350655298392017-07-16T09:50:26.713-07:002017-07-16T09:50:26.713-07:00Well, here's the thing. The audio biz has chan...Well, here's the thing. The audio biz has changed a LOT in the short while since I wrote this post -- and maybe it's time for a Where We Are Now post. <br /><br />Where we are now is a glutted audio market -- glutted in the same way the ebook market is -- making it very difficult to be discovered as a new author entering the fray unless you resort to KU or extensive advertising campaigns, author co-ops, etc. If you don't already have a core readership, you're going to struggle to find your listeners. In this case, in the case of debut audio, it might actually be to your advantage to let Amazon/Audible link your editions and force sales prices onto your audio book.<br /><br />It's not ideal, by any means, to be unable to control your own product, and moving forward, you do want to consider whether you want your books whispersynced (which means considering adding additional materials, changing titles, using the print editions, etc. -- strategies for limiting which editions (if any) you wish to have whispersynced. <br /><br />I hope this helps! Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-39906795471553303612017-07-16T04:40:51.236-07:002017-07-16T04:40:51.236-07:00WOW! Same situation as Dianne. First Audio in prod...WOW! Same situation as Dianne. First Audio in production, for release in Sept/Oct. Any advice? Unpublished and republish with new Title and Pseudonym? I love your Audio and have always purchased with the Whispersync--I change devices for different circumstances (gym, walking, on the Metro, in the car.) Can you give a summary from other authors. Can we appeal to Amazon, saying we'll buy their fresh veggies at Whole Foods? Thanks from a desperate starving new author. Charles PucciaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150445347207620297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-83646082113561173872017-07-13T16:37:36.239-07:002017-07-13T16:37:36.239-07:00The book doesn't have to be an ebook, but it d...The book doesn't have to be an ebook, but it does have to be listed on Amazon in order to take part in the ACX/Audible arrangement. :-) Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-57478761137911039992017-07-13T16:08:00.375-07:002017-07-13T16:08:00.375-07:00I just read this. I am in the process of using ACX...I just read this. I am in the process of using ACX now, as I have one book in production. Now I'm worried. I could unpublish my book as an ebook with Amazon. I do have an ebook with IngramSparks. Perhaps that's the way to go. If the book isn't Amazon's published book, can they still do that?<br />DLGardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17186850765382086521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-7954695202951663922016-10-18T13:28:01.522-07:002016-10-18T13:28:01.522-07:00Yes, I can, and so far that seems to be the best w...Yes, I can, and so far that seems to be the best workaround. <br /><br />As a matter of fact, I offer a free and exclusive audio short story for people who join my mailing list, so I'm already experimenting beyond the boundaries of ACX. <br /><br />Slowly but surely I'm figuring this stuff out... ;-) <br /><br />Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-29574163334938826692016-10-18T13:09:03.354-07:002016-10-18T13:09:03.354-07:00I think the royalty rate is a problem compounded b...I think the royalty rate is a problem compounded by the fact that audio earnings are already down due to the torrent (soon-to-be glut) of audio books flooding the market--and by the fact that so many producers have upped their production rates.<br /><br />NOT that I blame producers. All artists need to earn a fair wage and a heck of a lot of work goes into producing audio books. But the painful reality is it's increasingly expensive to produce audio books and the earnings are smaller. It takes longer for books to earn out now. <br /><br />Having said all that, I'm delighted to see Author's Republic pop up and I might even try them out myself on a couple of projects if only to participate in keeping competition alive in the audio market. Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-58720913868879146102016-10-12T03:29:31.912-07:002016-10-12T03:29:31.912-07:00What do you think of Authors Republic?What do you think of Authors Republic?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222542062113852123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-51993545673555245002016-10-10T10:49:29.193-07:002016-10-10T10:49:29.193-07:00Can you do two versions like a director's cut ...Can you do two versions like a director's cut and budget edition on a dvd/blu ray? It would work best if you can release separately but could do a trial if have to. This might sound like a lot of work but it's only what you already do on your blog, just gathered together in audio. One version would be the equivalent of a gold edition with codas, audio interview with yourself and narrator about the book,recipes and anything else that would be cool like deleted scenes but professionally narrated and why you didn't include them. If you have time an audio exclusive short is always going to sell it and I mean 500-1000 words interlude sort of thing or as an answer to the type of questions you get on Goodreadsrather than a whole separate story because I In an ideal world you wouldn't release the other book until audio costs meet but then release the budget Whispersync edition, shade the cover black and white and hopefully everyone's happy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411894864312049426.post-60141605533704955082016-10-03T10:26:43.649-07:002016-10-03T10:26:43.649-07:00It's the lack of control that compounds the in...It's the lack of control that compounds the inherent problem. ACX is essentially a distribution exchange with all responsibility and risk on the part of the author/publisher/producer but ACX having all control and the majority of profits. Josh Lanyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944091956589831656noreply@blogger.com