Audiobooks

AuthorImprints™ specializes in author-narrated audiobooks

This includes recording, editing, mastering, metadata preparation, and distribution.

Should authors narrate their own book?

While having “the right voice” to narrate your own audiobook is an ability that not every author will have, here are three important reasons why authors should consider narrating their own book:

Narrators can be expensive. An average rate for a narrator on Amazon's ACX ranges from $200 to $400 per finished hour (PFH).
As the author, you may have a specific style and direction you would like the narration to take. Certain types of writing, such as poetry, may fall into this category.
Narrating your own audiobook creates a closer bond between you and your audience. Branding is about developing a relationship with your audience, and putting an authentic voice to your name, brand, and book will help to foster this relationship.

Want to learn more about the author-narrated process?

Take our free three-day email course! This course will cover every step of the audiobook recording process, including how to record, where to find editors and engineers to polish your raw recordings, and distributing and marketing your audiobook.

Also included are three free video lessons covering microphones, recording software, and setting up a recording environment.

Select audiobook projects

Recording

Non-local clients

AuthorImprints will provide guidance through the recording process, including equipment and home studio setup and narration technique.

Consider our Guided Audiobook Home-Recording Kit, which provides all the guidance you need to successfully record an audiobook in your home or office.

This kit is $47. If you choose AuthorImprints to handle your editing, mastering, and distribution needs, the price of the kit is deducted from your final bill.

Local San Diego area clients

AuthorImprints offers both in-studio recording, at a local Encinitas studio, and mobile recording, in which AuthorImprints will record book narration at the client’s home or place of business.

The rate for studio recording is $95/hour, while the rate for mobile recording is $55/hour.

Editing, mastering, metadata, distribution

Editing and mastering services are calculated at a per finished hour (PFH) rate, meaning the cost is the length of the final recording of the book. A good industry rule-of-thumb is 9,000 words PFH (plus or minus a few hundred words depending on the reading pace of the narrator).

This includes distribution to major online retailers including, but not limited to, Amazon, Audible, and Apple. AuthorImprints charges $150 PFH.

For example, the editing, mastering and distribution for a 54,000 word book would cost approximately $900 plus recording costs. (54,000/9,000 * $150)