Audiobook Connection
Behind the Scenes with the Creative Teams
Host: Becky Parker Geist
Engaging conversations with Authors, Narrators, Post-production audio engineers, Marketing teams as well as audio book listeners and fans. Go behind the scenes with audiobook creators as host Becky Parker Geist guides the conversation to discover the surprises, victories and challenges in publishing and producing audiobooks. Ideal for indie authors, small publishers, audiobook fans, and anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes peek into the audiobook world – as well as authors and publishers looking for tips from the pros on production and marketing. Behind-the-scenes interviews with audiobook creators as well as audiobook production and marketing tips – with episodes every other week.
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Podcast Episodes
In this second episode in the Audiobook Distribution Shakeup Series, Becky dives deep into the recent changes announced by ACX. As the audiobook industry shifts, authors are facing new contractual models that demand quick decisions. Is the new "member value" calculation actually working in your favor, or is it just another way for the Amazon ecosystem to capture more revenue?
Becky breaks down the complexities of the new ACX model, including:
- The "Member Value" Mystery: What does the new royalty calculation actually mean for your bottom line?
- Exclusivity vs. Freedom: The pros and cons of the 50% exclusive royalty rate and the new 90-day minimum rule.
- Discovery and Promotion: Decoding WhisperSync, built-in discovery, and the costs of Amazon advertising.
- Better Alternatives: A comparison between ACX and high-control platforms like AMPlify Audiobooks, where authors earn significantly higher royalties and maintain total control over pricing and marketing.
Whether you are a seasoned author, a narrator, or a publisher, this episode provides the clarity you need to navigate the changing landscape of audiobook distribution.
Resources Mentioned:- Amplify Audiobooks: amplifyaudiobooks.com
- Contact Pro Audio Voices: proaudiovoices.com
- View the video of this episode
#Audiobooks #SelfPublishing #AuthorTips #AudiobookDistribution #AmplifyAudiobooks #PublishingIndustry #IndieAuthors
The audiobook landscape is shifting under the feet of authors, and staying informed is no longer optional—it's essential for your success. In this episode, Becky breaks down the major industry changes hitting platforms like ACX, Spotify, and InAudio, and explains why the old rules of distribution no longer apply.
In this episode, we dive into:
- The ACX Royalty Shift: What the move from "retail price" to "member value" actually means for your bottom line and why the math might be working against you.
- The Findaway/Spotify Split: Navigating the transition from Findaway Voices to the new landscape of Spotify for Authors and InAudio.
- The Power of Direct Engagement: Why traditional retailers prioritize transactions while new models prioritize connection.
- AMPlify Audiobooks: An inside look at how the new version of AMPlify Audiobooks is changing the game by offering up to 4x higher royalties, complete pricing control, and community-building tools designed to turn listeners into fans.
Whether you are an indie author trying to earn back your production investment or a narrator looking to understand the market, this episode provides the clarity you need to navigate these massive changes.
Coming Up in This Series:
- ACX Decoded: Why the math still favors direct platforms.
- Going Wide vs. Going Direct: Weighing your distribution options.
- Building a Winning Distribution Strategy: A roadmap for your audio career.
Resources & Links:
- Amplify Audiobooks: https://amplifyaudiobooks.com/
- Pro Audio Voices: Schedule a call with Becky: proaudiovoices.com
- Authors Republic: For broad distribution alternatives: https://www.authorsrepublic.com/
View the video of this episode
#Audiobooks #IndieAuthor #AudiobookDistribution #ACX #AmplifyAudiobooks #AuthorTips #PublishingNews
In this episode, Becky concludes her series on the Ultimate Audiobook Launch Strategy. Moving beyond the initial setup, Becky dives into how authors can move from "selling" to "storytelling" by activating their existing audience ecosystem.
Learn how to leverage your current following—from friends and family to mailing lists and social media—to build genuine momentum. Becky shares actionable strategies for marketing your audiobook without being a "bullhorn," including:
- Activating Your Ecosystem: Using newsletters, guest blogging, speaking engagements, and podcast interviews to share the "behind-the-scenes" journey of your production.
- Building Strategic Partnerships: How to collaborate with aligned communities, non-profits, and niche groups (like book clubs or advocacy organizations) using targeted discount codes.
- The Power of Storytelling: Moving away from hard sales by sharing the emotional impact and accessibility benefits of your audio content.
- Maintaining Momentum: Strategies for post-launch engagement, including responding to listener reflections and hosting live events.
- The AMPlify Advantage: A deep dive into why launching on AMPlify Audiobooks provides higher royalties, direct listener connection, and unique tools like "Marketing Quests"—gamified, step-by-step guides designed to take the guesswork out of your marketing journey.
Whether you are a new author or an established creator, this episode provides the roadmap to stop whispering into the void and start building a thriving community around your voice.
- AMPlify Audiobooks: AmplifyAudiobooks.com
-
Watch the video of this episode!
If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe and share it with a fellow author or book lover!
#AudiobookMarketing #AuthorTips #AudiobookLaunch #AMPlifyAudiobooks #SelfPublishing #PodcastForAuthors #Storytelling #BookMarketing
In this episode, Becky sits down with award-winning writer, filmmaker, and solo performer Skylar Lyralen Kaye (fae/they). We dive deep into the complex creative process behind their recently released non-binary memoir, Bachelorx.
The audiobook is a feat of vocal storytelling, featuring 47 distinct characters—including 18 of Skylar's own inner voices. Skylar shares fascinating insights into the technical and emotional challenges of narration, including:
- Mastering Accents: How they utilized mimicry and digital tools to tackle everything from Puerto Rican to Russian-British accents.
- The Recording Journey: Moving from a DIY apartment setup to professional studios in Portugal and the importance of vocal pacing.
- Acting Techniques: Applying the Meisner technique and "Internal Family Systems" to bring authenticity to personal, often painful, memories.
- The Power of Humor: Using comedy as a survival muscle to navigate the heavy themes of a 35-year marriage and the vulnerability of dating in mid-life.
Whether you are an author considering narrating your own memoir or a listener interested in the artistry of voice performance, this episode offers a profound look at how we use art to process trauma, find compassion, and reconnect with ourselves.
Lyralen Kaye: https://lyralenkaye.com/
AMPlify Audiobooks: https://www.amplifyaudiobooks.com
Pro Audio Voices: https://www.proaudiovoices.com
Audiobook Connection: https://audiobookconnection.com
Watch this interview on YouTube
#AudiobookConnection #Bachelorx #Memoir #AudiobookProduction #NonBinaryVoices #Storytelling #VoiceActing #MeisnerTechnique #AuthorLife #IndieAuthors #AudiobookNarration
In part three of our deep-dive series on mastering your audiobook launch, Becky explores how to transform a simple release into a deep, transformative experience for your listeners. Moving beyond the basics, we discuss how to leverage bonus content and strategic partnerships to build credibility and drive sales.
In this episode, you will learn about:
- Listener-First Bonus Content: How to use "deleted scenes," author notes, discussion guides, and even curated playlists to create a more immersive experience through platforms like AMPlify Audiobooks.
- The Power of Reviews: Why human-written reviews provide essential social proof and how to effectively use snippets from professional organizations to build your credibility.
- Podcast Guesting & Influencer Outreach: Strategies for identifying the right podcasts (even those outside the book niche!), how to prepare as a guest, and the importance of offering value—like exclusive coupon codes—rather than just a sales pitch.
- Creating Short-Form Content: How to repurpose podcast appearances and behind-the-scenes studio moments into engaging social media clips to maintain momentum.
Whether you are a fiction author looking to escape into a new reality or a non-fiction expert aiming to solve real-world problems, this episode provides the tactical roadmap to ensure your audiobook isn't just heard, but remembered.
AMPlify Audiobooks: https://www.amplifyaudiobooks.com
Pro Audio Voices: https://www.proaudiovoices.com
Audiobook Connection: https://audiobookconnection.com
#audiobookproduction #indieauthors #audiobooklaunch #audiobookmarketing #amplifyaudiobooks #selfpublishing #AmplifyAudiobooks
In this episode, Becky talks with Brian Brady, author of the Fog City Stories series, beginning with Oh What a Tangled Web, and Hiding in Plain Sight. As a former police officer and corporate security executive, Brian brings a lifetime of real-world experience into his gripping tales of crime, suspense, and moral complexity.
Together, they explore how Brian’s background in law enforcement shaped his storytelling approach, the real-life themes his books tackle, and what draws him to write about the darker corners of human nature. Brian opens up about the inspiration behind his characters, the social and ethical questions woven throughout his plots, and the impact he hopes to make on readers who love smart, character-driven mysteries.
The conversation also delves into the audiobook production process, including how collaboration plays a crucial role in transforming written thrillers into immersive listening experiences.
If you’re a fan of crime fiction, thrillers with depth, or the creative process behind turning novels into audiobooks, this episode delivers an insider’s look at what makes Fog City Stories both authentic and unforgettable, available at AMPlify Audiobooks and anywhere you listen to audiobooks:
Fog City Stories Book 3: Greedhttps://amplifyaudiobooks.com/book-preview?product_id=20925
https://www.goldengatetales.com/#AMPlifyAudiobooks #ProAudioVoices #BeckyParkerGeist #AuthorInterview
In this episode, Becky sits down with Nancy Regas, author and former educator, to discuss her journey from nursing and perinatal education to finding her true calling in high school counseling.
Nancy shares profound insights into the role of a school counselor—not just as a scheduler, but as the "hub of the wheel" connecting students, parents, teachers, and administrators. We dive into the essential life skills students need to navigate adulthood, the importance of building sacred, private spaces for communication, and how Nancy's passion for helping students through their most challenging years inspired her to write and narrate her book, The Art of Being a School Counselor.
Whether you are an educator, a parent, or a professional looking to improve your communication and listening skills, Nancy’s reflections on authenticity and passion offer valuable lessons for any career.
OutskirtsPress.com/TheArtofBeingaSchoolCounselor
Watch the video interview on YouTube
#Audiobooks #SchoolCounseling #AuthorInterview #Podcast #Education #Storytelling #SelfNarration #ProfessionalDevelopment #AudiobookProduction
Join Becky for the second installment in a series about mastering your audiobook launch! Dive deep into the practical tools and tactical moves you need to turn a simple release into a major event. Building on the foundations laid in Part 1, this episode focuses on driving urgency, rewarding your community, and maximizing your reach through strategic marketing.
In this episode, you will learn about:
- Pricing Strategies: How to use limited-time launch pricing and early bird offers to create excitement and reward your core supporters.
- Email Marketing Mastery: How to build an effective email sequence, use coupon codes strategically, and leverage personal storytelling to engage your subscribers.
- Social Media Engagement: Tips for creating high-impact content, including audio clips, behind-the-scenes production stories, and narrator spotlights.
- Leveraging Community: How to use the Amplify Audiobooks platform to invite your inner circle and participate in real-time audiobook clubs to spark word-of-mouth recommendations.
- Direct Connection: The importance of tagging collaborators and using direct purchase links to make the journey from discovery to listening seamless.
Whether you are an indie author or a small publisher, this episode provides a roadmap to stop "whispering into the void" and start building real momentum for your audiobooks.
AMPlify Audiobooks: https://www.amplifyaudiobooks.com
Pro Audio Voices: https://www.proaudiovoices.com
Audiobook Connection: https://audiobookconnection.com
#audiobookproduction #indieauthors #audiobooklaunch #audiobookmarketing #amplifyaudiobooks #selfpublishing
In this episode Becky sits down with Butch Meily, the author of the powerful new memoir, From Manila to Wall Street: An Immigrant's Journey with America's First Black Tycoon.
Meily shares his incredible personal journey—from a young immigrant in the Philippines to reaching the highest tiers of corporate public relations in New York City. He offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at his time working alongside the legendary Reginald Lewis, America's first Black tycoon, providing a complete portrait of the man behind the business empire.
Listeners will explore the complexities of success, the personal sacrifices made during high-stakes corporate life, and the importance of staying grounded in one's core values. Butch also discusses his experience transitioning from author to narrator, the creative process of recording his audiobook, and why he believes the audio format is a vital tool for preserving legacy.
#Audiobooks #Memoir #Entrepreneurship #ImmigrantStories #ReginaldLewis #Podcast #AuthorInterview #AudiobookProduction #BusinessHistory #AmplifyAudiobooks
Join Becky for the first episode in a series about launching your audiobook! Learn why starting with your why is crucial, how to build anticipation, and why launching on AMPlify Audiobooks can maximize your revenue and connect you directly with listeners. Discover the benefits of hosting launch events, involving your narrator for a unique listener experience, and get tips on building anticipation and engaging your audience.
AMPlify Audiobooks: https://www.amplifyaudiobooks.com
Pro Audio Voices: https://www.proaudiovoices.com
Audiobook Connection: https://audiobookconnection.com
#audiobooks #indieauthors #booklaunch #audiobookmarketing #amplifyaudiobooks #proaudiovoices #audiobookconnection
