Another salvo in the changing battlefield of publishing shows that innovative and tech-saavy authors can win an audience and eventually a publisher. This article titled “Podcasting Your Novel: Publishing’s Next Wave?” reports on a fast growing trend that I have known about for a while.
I am addicted to audiobooks. If not for them I would never walk the dogs or go to the gym. I discovered Podiobooks when they first came on the scene. In the beginning there wasn’t a lot of selection, mostly scifi and some of that pretty awful. As they grew in public awareness they drew new authors too and began to post more books in many genres, and some of them really good. All of them were by novice authors, or authors completely unknown to me. Most probably never published traditionally.
Two authors really stood out though, J.C. Hutchins with 7th Son and Scott Sigler with Infected and Earthcore. J.C. Hutchins in particular produced an audio drama that rivaled anything Hollywood might produce, and a darned good thriller. All for free. Why give it away? Well, read the article. These two have a loyal “listenership” and now are on the bestseller list for real money. Kudos and congrats to them both.
Incidentally on the article the writer asserts that the audience is/was mostly young male scifi geeks. I’m not sure that was true, after all I’m an older woman. I’ve listened to books on tape on car trips and when walking or exercising for years and years. By the way you can also listen to many many old books that are now in the public domain also for free on Librivox. These books are recorded by volunteers so the perfomance quality varies, but it’s painless way to catch up on those classics of literature you’ve always meant to read.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think the audiobook will completely supplant the ink and paper book anytime soon… at least I hope not. But, I am in favor of authors getting their work out there and finding an audience. It’s a moment of change, and change can be scary. It will all shake out in time and anything that helps authors and readers connect can’t be bad.
Sue Campbell Writes 
February 1, 2009 at 12:39 am
How do the authors handle the audio production? Do they just read and record each chapter themselves?
February 1, 2009 at 12:46 am
Well, I think they use Garageband or SoundForge or some other recording software. They do it by chapters. It’s pretty simple really.
February 1, 2009 at 7:45 am
Hi, Sue! Thanks so much for the kind shout-out regarding the TIME article — and for the kind words about 7th Son. You rock! We really appreciate the support!
–J.C.
February 1, 2009 at 11:16 am
I’m not worthy! I’m not worthy! Thanks for the comment J.C. I’ve just looked at your site and your new book, Personal Effects: Dark Art looks awesome! I’m definitely going to order one. I like the cover too. Paricularly, I am intrigued with the Alternate Reality Game aspect. (Now I know there’s a name and an industry around this phenomenon.) I’m not a gamer; never have liked “shoot’em up” games. But I did love Myst, and mysteries. I’ve had for a long time an idea for a story/game based on artifacts. Something more artsy and alt/historical like Griffin & Sabine by fantastic artist storyteller, Nick Bantock. I’ve thought about it a long time, though concluded it would be too expensive to produce in an actual physical form. So, I’ll be most curious to see how your book, artifacts and the ARG all come together. How does one person do that? Surely a gaming company is putting the game together… well I am in awe and even more excited for you. Thanks sir for the comment.
February 1, 2009 at 11:26 am
You are right: that won’t happen. I see lots of arguments as to which is “better”, reading a print-version or listening to an audiobook. To me, it’s a silly comparison. I can’t read a book when driving in the car, but I can listen to an audiobook. Conversely, I can’t sit in a chair for an hour listening to audio. But I certainly can do that and read.
Fast-forward a few years: there will be LOTS of ways to enjoy a “book”. Audio. Video. Print. Electronic. Retinal projection. Video games. The mind boggles at the options. And all of it will be about the STORY. The medium? Well that’s up to the receiver to choose. And why not?
Thanks for spreading the word on the story. And I’m glad you’ve been with us from the early days!
E.
February 1, 2009 at 11:32 am
Thank YOU. I am humbled, two greats leave comments in one day. Keep up the good work!