Cool Things Authors Get to Do: Listening to Your Own Audiobook

I've been reviewing the audiobook of Tales of the Dim Knight recorded by Scott Wilcox. It's quite an experience. It's right up there with seeing your first book in print for coolness.

There are some things that I've written years ago that I'm hearing for the first time being read by someone else, as well as some gags originally written by Andrea and I'm chuckling at it. Yes, I wrote it, but someone else is reading it.

I also found that I sent a slightly outdated manuscript to the reader. The only big difference was that the older manuscript contained additional info in the final chapter and another of the epilogue, both of which have been cut. It was interesting to hear them, but I remembered why I cut them in the first place. It kind of slogged the ending down. In addition, I've written two complete novellas which make the delete portions non-canonical.

I also was very impressed with the amount of work that the producer put into it and it brought home a key point. It's two years after the release of the novel that I'm actually getting around to getting the audiobook out. The reason? I told myself that I could do it myself, but I never did. The time never appeared for it. I can read aloud fine (I frequently take the scripture readings at church), but doing the audiobook is more than that. It requires editing and getting everything into the right format and remixing. So, I appreciate Scott, and I would encourage writers to check out The Audiobook Creator's Exchange if they don't have another way to make an audiobook. It's a great opportunity.