#TuesdayBookBlog #Audiobook ‘I Love Your Cupcakes’ now available in audio. Would you like a complimentary copy? Just ask! And, if you blog about books on Tuesdays, you might be interested in this.

Hi all:

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will remember that I have featured audiobooks before and also talked about the possibility of using ACX to create an audiobook version of your book (if you’re a writer. Or if you are a narrator you can also advertise your services there. See here my previous post).

Since I wrote that post, I’ve been lucky enough to have been picked up by Marie and Tim O’Dell at Red Rose audiobooks, and the fantastic Gwyn Olson has narrated my book. And now, is live!

I Love Your Cupcakes, audio with Gwyn Olson as narrator

A reminder of what the book is about:

Dulce, Adelfa and Storm, the protagonists of I Love Your Cupcakes are business partners, friends and share some “interesting” family connections. All the men Dulce meets only want to talk about her cakes and she’s tired of it. Her friend Adelfa, although she’s a Chemistry Professor, can’t manage to find the recipe for the perfect relationship. And Storm, the third of the partners of their bakery/coffee shop/bookshop/art gallery and ex-fire station, is an artist who is not a master in the art of love. How could they imagine that at the studio of the contest “Do You Have What it Takes to Be the Next Baking Star?” they’d find sexual harassment, cheats, fights and also love? Recipes included (only for cakes, not love!)

Tag line: I Love Your Cupcakes is a “sweet” romance, a virtual fantasy high in calories and a fun adventure. Dare to give it a bite!

Here the links:

In AUDIBLE (UK) AMAZON.COM    AMAZON.CO.UK     i-TUNES

You can get a sample at all the links mentioned but also here in Sound Cloud.

ACX always provides complimentary codes for Audible (although if you’ve never bought an audiobook through them, you have the first one FREE). At the time of writing this I have received codes for the Audible.co.uk site and have requested some for Audible.com (that I hope they send me. They have done in the past). If you’d liked to get one, please leave me a comment and I’ll need your e-mail address (normally WordPress provides that for people leaving comments, although it doesn’t always work). And I’d be very grateful if you found it in your heart to leave a review once you’ve heard it. And feel free to share this post with anybody who might be interested.

By the way, do you prefer this modified cover, or the original one?

I Love Your Cupcakes by Olga Núñez Miret. Cover by Lourdes Vidal

And, this is especially for all of you BLOGGERS and REVIEWERS who blog about books and writing. I’ve mentioned before that now I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. Rosie and her collaborators have been exploring the use of HASHTAGS especially in Twitter, and now have a new tag for those of us who blog about books. It is: #TuesdayBookBlog.

A bit more on the subject of tags, from Rosie’s mouth (or pen):

Most Twittering bloggers know about the benefits of ‘blog share’ days; it all started with Rachel Thompson and her fabulously successful #MondayBlogs.  Now, there is also #wwwblogs on Wednesday (Wednesday women writers), #SundayBlogShare, #ArchiveDay on Saturday, and probably others, too.

Since Rachel started #MondayBlogs, she’s been battling against people using it for book promotion; her view is that you have six other days of the week to promote your books, but #MondayBlogs is about the writing itself ~ in other words, blog posts about anything other than your book!  She now states that there should be no book promotion of any sort on #MondayBlogs, not even third party reviews, which is understandable as there are so many ways in which her guidelines can be abused.

Because there are so many avid readers, writers and book bloggers who understand the benefit of blog share days, Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team is introducing a new hashtag on Tuesdays, for book posts only: #TuesdayBookBlog.  The first day this will be used is Tuesday, November 3rd.

As anyone who starts a hashtag knows, the main difficulty involved is dealing with ‘hashtag abuse’ ~ tweeters who spot a popular hashtag and add it to any tweet, whether relevant or not.  We will do our best to limit this; please feel free to point someone in the right direction if you see this happening.

So what are the guidelines for #TuesdayBookBlog?

DO post:

Blog posts only!

Book reviews ~ either for your own books, or other people’s, or book reviews you’ve written on your blog.

Author Interviews ~ yours or others’.

Cover reveals ~ yours or others’.

Upcoming/new releases ~ yours or others.

Articles or guest posts about books/writers ~ you/yours or others’.

DO NOT post:

Anything that isn’t a blog post

Blog posts that aren’t about books/writers.

Porn.

Blatant promotion of an existing publication that isn’t a proper article – in other words, we don’t want to see a blog post that consists of nothing but the cover of your book, Amazon blurb and buy links.  This was one of the ways in which #MondayBlogs was abused, after people were told they couldn’t use the hashtag for tweets with Amazon links.

To get the most out of #TuesdayBookBlog:

Retweet others on the hashtag and spread the word.  Hashtags work best when you do your bit, too.

The power of Twitter is in the retweet, more than the tweet.  Hashtag retweets are never guaranteed, but do remember that the more you do, the more you are likely to get back.

We hope you will achieve good results from #TuesdayBookBlog, and look forward to seeing you there!

Thanks to Rosie for her hard work to promote books, thanks to the team behind the audio, and thanks to you all for reading. Remember to like, share, comment and if you want, CLICK. Ah, let me know if you’re interested in a code to download the audio, and don’t forget to use the tag #TuesdayBookBlog if appropriate. 

 

 

 

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#Audiobooks feature. Pauline Baird Jones (2)

Hi all:

As you will remember I started doing a special post featuring audiobooks a few months back. And my first post was dedicated to Pauline Baird Jones, as I was impressed by the variety of her writing and the amount of books she had available in all formats, but particularly in audiobooks.

Author Pauline Baird-Jones. Don’t mess with her!

Just in case you missed the first post, this is the link:

https://olganm.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/do-you-like-audiobooks-try-pauline-baird-joness/

I told you then that one post wasn’t enough to bring you all her audiobooks, and I would be back with more. When I was checking to create this post I realised that not even two post would be sufficient, so I might come back with a third one in the future (one more focused on the sci-fi side of things). But first, some more intrigue and a bit of love…

Relatively Risky: The Big Uneasy

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Kevin Scollin (Narrator)

When an aspiring illustrator attracts the attention of a New Orleans mob family, and secrets long hidden are unearthed from the past, a handsome homicide detective may be her only chance of surviving the Big Easy.

The oldest of thirteen, Alex Baker does two things: he solves murders and avoids children. Until the day Nell Whitby foils a carjacking, knocks Alex off his feet and turns his life upside down. When the shots start flying and every rock he turns over reveals another wise guy, Alex decides he needs to stick close to the quirky yet captivating children’s book author while he discovers who is behind a series of mob hits. But can he resist the urge to kiss the kid magnet now in the crosshairs?

A relative newcomer to New Orleans – with no family but her college friend Sarah – Nell spends her days in seeming obscurity, sketching tourists in the French Quarter and serving canapes for Sarah’s catering business. When a chance encounter makes Nell the target of a mob hit, the only silver lining is meeting the cute cop who is determined to protect her. But when she finds herself at the head of a second line made up of goons and gangsters, and secrets start bubbling up out of her own past, Nell must figure out what she’s made of so she can live long enough to kiss the cop again.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Relatively-Risky-Big-Uneasy-Unabridged/dp/B00DU55TP8/

http://www.amazon.com/Relatively-Risky-The-Big-Uneasy/dp/B00DTV9O72/

 

Family Treed by Pauline Baird Jones

Family Treed: The Big Uneasy Volume 1.5 (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Leah Frederick (Narrator)

“Family Treed” is 1.5 in my Big Uneasy series. This short story is my amuse bouche, a taste, a quick bite for my readers, a chance to check in on Nell and Alex (from Relatively Risky).

Nell’s not sure why the mob wants to have dinner with her. She is sure she wants a cop at her side.

Alex wouldn’t let Nell dine with the mob without him, despite much unease from his many siblings.

But as the dark and stormy night’s dinner progresses, Nell wonders if she’s putting Alex’s life in danger.

Can they survive dinner with the killing cousins?

This short story is about 13,000 words or 33 printed pages.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Treed-Big-Uneasy-Unabridged/dp/B00KR4TZBO/

http://www.amazon.com/Family-Treed-Big-Uneasy-1-5/dp/B00KSBTYO4/

 

Out of Time by Pauline Baird Jones

Out of Time

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Becky Boyd (Narrator)

What happens when a 21st century woman on a mission to change the past meets a thoroughly 1940s man trying to stay alive in the hellish skies over war-torn Europe?

Melanie ‘Mel’ Morton is an adventure reporter, who lost her grandfather in World War II. Enter Jack Hamilton, sexy octogenarian, genius/scientist, and former WWII bomber pilot. What he tells Mel sends her on the craziest adventure yet – straight into the past. All Mel has to do is outmaneuver the entire German army and not fall in love with Jack.

Eluding the Germans will be the easy part….

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-of-Time-Unabridged/dp/B00AQK7MH8/

http://www.amazon.com/Out-of-Time/dp/B00AQD9S2W/

Do Wah Diddy Die by Pauline Baird Jones

 

Do Wah Diddy Die 

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Lucinda Gainey (Narrator)

Luci Seymour, sexy and free spirited, returns to steamy New Orleans in search of the father she’s never met. She finds murder, mayhem, love, and adventure when her timing puts her directly in the sights of an elderly hit-couple and a con man’s last scam.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Wah-Diddy-Die-Unabridged/dp/B00APT3HMY/

http://www.amazon.com/Do-Wah-Diddy-Die/dp/B00APPY07E/

 

Mystery Collection by Pauline Baird Jones

Mystery Collection 

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Lucinda Gainey (Narrator)

This collection contains two stories involving the characters from Do Wah Diddy Die and one stand alone short that was originally published in an anthology.

“Do Wah Diddy Dead:” If Miss Weena can put off dying to solve Miss Gracie’s murder, then Luci can’t play the pregnancy card to get out of playing her sidekick. It’s not like it will be dangerous. Afterall, Miss Gracie has been dead for decades…

“Do Wah Diddy Die Already:” Luci Seymour is out of the murder business and in the mom/wife/B&B business. Until the morning she sees a body in the new freezer. But when she goes to call in her homicide detective husband, she sees the dead guy walk in the front door. Not dead… Not even chilly…

“Deleting Dennis:” Capri Hinkenlooper thought her name – and Monday mornings – were the worst things in her life, but then her fellow editor, and all around slimy guy, gets deleted with her letter opener. On the upside, the two homicide detectives investigating the murder are seriously cute…

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mystery-Collection-Unabridged/dp/B00DL4TK7G/

http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Collection/dp/B00DL6VU68/

The Spy Who Kissed Me by Pauline Baird Jones

The Spy Who Kissed Me (Unabridged) 

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Leah Frederick (Narrator)

Isabel ‘Stan’ Stanley’s mother has been hoping a man would fall in Stan’s lap. But when a handsome spy dives through the sunroof of her car in a hail of bullets, Stan’s sure this wasn’t what momma had in mind.

Bad guys beware. Stan’s packing a glue gun and she knows how to use it. Sort of.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spy-Who-Kissed-Me-Unabridged/dp/B00B4EHZUO/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Spy-Who-Kissed-Me/dp/B00B47H6TG/

 

A Dangerous Dance by Pauline Baird Jones

A Dangerous Dance (Unabridged)

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Kelly Klaas (Narrator)

Dorothy returns to Oz for a dangerous dance….

His whole career, Remy Mistral has fought for reform in a state where corruption is an art form. Now is his chance to quit talking about reform and make his move to change things, but two things stand in his way. One is a woman; the other a killer.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Dangerous-Dance-Unabridged/dp/B00AQSERSM/

http://www.amazon.com/A-Dangerous-Dance/dp/B00AQLFKXK/

And Romances:

Take a Chance on Me by Pauline Baird Jone

Take a Chance on Me: A Romance Collection 

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Leah Frederick (Narrator)

This collection includes:

“Second Chance for the Sheik” – Ellie fell in love with the son of a sheik and he broke her heart. Now he’s back, but it’s not just her heart at risk this time… (Formerly “Son of a Sheik”, Romance Collection, L&L Dreamspell)

“Give Love a Chance” – A Trapini and a Maloney have as much chance of getting together as a Hatfield or McCoy. But the heart wants what the heart wants… (Formerly “Getting a Clue”, Romance Collection, L&L Dreamspell)

“Chance Encounter” – What if you meet the right man at the wrong time? Lily was engaged and Theo was a stranger. Only, he didn’t feel like a stranger… (Formerly “Sunbeam”, Romance Collection, L&L Dreamspell)

“Last Chance for Love” – For Ric Hamilton, business came first, until he saw his beautiful PA dance the samba. And suddenly his first order of business was capturing his PA’s heart… (Formerly “Dance with Me”, Romance Collection, L&L Dreamspell)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Take-Chance-Me-Collection-Unabridged/dp/B00NERJLP6/

http://www.amazon.com/Take-Chance-Me-Romance-Collection/dp/B00NFV922I/

 

Let’s Fall in Love (A Romance Collection) by Pauline Baird Jones

Let’s Fall in Love: A Romance Collection (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

by Pauline Baird Jones (Author), Kamryn Russell (Narrator)

An all-new short story and three previously released short romance stories. This collection includes “Let’s Fall in Love”, “Falling for her Alien”, “Almost Over You”, and “Wanting Willa”.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Fall-Love-Collection-Unabridged/dp/B00LMXGZWQ/

http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Fall-Love-Romance-Collection/dp/B00LMLSUY4/

As I was saying this is only a sample, and if you don’t believe me, I invite you to visit Pauline’s Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pauline-Baird-Jones/e/B000APFS0M/

Thanks to Pauline Baird Jone for this amazing collection of audios,  thanks to all of you for reading, and you know what to do, like, comment, share, and of course, CLICK! And remember, if you’re new to Audible, the first audiobook is free!

Do you enjoy audiobooks? Check out ‘My Prison Without Bars’ by Taylor Fulks (narrated by Elm Elridge)

Hi all:

You’ll remember that last month, after some posts about audiobooks I decided to try and feature them once a month in my blog. Although we’ll come back to the rest of Pauline’s audiobooks (people were very taken with her stories), I thought I’d bring you something quite different, for those of you interested in memoirs and true stories. I’ve heard lots of good things about this book (by all descriptions is a hard read, but some things must be said and talked about, no matter how hard) and I knew you’d be interested. Here is Taylor Fulks and her book My Prison Without Bars.

My Prison Without Bars by Taylor Fulks

My Prison Without Bars: The Journey of a Damaged Woman to Someplace Normal [Audible Audio Edition]

by Taylor Evan Fulks (Author), Em Eldridge (Narrator)

My Prison without Bars: The Journey Of A Damaged Woman To Someplace Normal is a novel based on a true story…Taylor’s story. My Prison without Bars is a courageous and harrowing journey through the catacombs of hell, from the mind and voice of a little girl, living with her own monster underneath her bed. Written in first person, this novel is not a memoir, but more a psychological thriller based on true events; chronicling one woman’s attempt to claw her way out of the darkness of Child Sexual Abuse, while struggling to find normal, in a not-so-normal world. It is poignant, dark and graphic; not for the faint of heart. This novel will make you feel… *Warning* this novel is graphic and disturbing. It may trigger csa victims. It is intended for 18+ readers.

Here I decided to leave you a couple of reviews that you might find illuminating:

5 Stars Deneale’s Book Buzz

ByDeneale K. Williams “Deneale”on October 25, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition

When I went to Taylor about reviewing her book, she warned me about it first. Giving me an escape: should I want or need one. I assured her I didn’t, and decided to read it, and also found a real soul Sister along the way as well.

Through out Twitter, as well as email, Taylor and I chatted as I read. We opened up to one another and found a lot of similarities. But, that’s not what you’re here for is it?

This book is eye opening. I have underwent so many emotions as I read, I couldn’t keep up with myself. If anyone had been watching me read, they would’ve thought I was insane. Not only do I read abundantly faster then most, I talk to myself out loud. Especially when characters um…. (How to word this professionally) irritate me. I was laughing at her word choices: “ass crack of dawn” and the fact that Taylor speaks just how she would in person as she does in this book. She holds back nothing. You can tell, your opinion, my opinion? It doesn’t matter. She just wants to teach others not to suffer as she has, to learn from her mistakes; (not that the mistakes were hers in the first place!) I also feel, that as Taylor wrote this, somehow she was hoping; like a journal “God willing” maybe it would or could help her to move on. Whether it has or not, only Taylor knows.

Taylor is a survivor. Whether or not her Mother truly even “wanted” her as a Child, only God and her Mother know, but with these words and life lessons that Taylor has and had endured, it shows us: she survived and so can we! She went through terrible things, many of them. Always surviving and striving to succeed.

In the end, at the very last chapter and the Epilogue I was crying profusely. Before that, I was dumbfounded to learn that all along, her Mother knew she was being raped and molested. In so many ways, I found it hard to contain my anger and upset with the “people” who had been in Taylor’s life.

I will tell you this: I do give the book five stars. I wish I could give it more. It was a deep and painful read. But very close to my heart. And I am truly grateful that Taylor Fulks was born and is alive today to educate us and share with us, so that others will stand up and speak out against their attackers, even if they are: “family!” Family or not, that is not love!

To Taylor: You have survived for reasons and sharing your story was and is one of them, to teach others that where there is a will~there is a way.

5 STARS WHAT A TERRIBLE AND YET WONDERFUL STORY

By WILMA CONLEYon October 9, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

MY PRISON WITHOUT BARS by author Taylor Fulks is a *****5 Star “or more” read.

Taylor Fulks bares her heart and soul here readers!!

She is an excellent writer able to take you to the depths of despair, and the heights of joy.

What a story!! I am at a loss for words.

What a woman!! Please read MY PRISON WITHOUT BARS.

You will not view the world as you did before this experience.

Thank you so. Much Taylor Fulks. Job very well done!!

http://www.amazon.com/My-Prison-Without-Bars-Someplace/dp/B00PCSR1Z2/

Just in case you prefer the Kindle Edition:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Prison-Without-Bars-Someplace-ebook/dp/B00AKKMDIM/

Author Taylor Fulks

Here a little bit about Taylor Fulks and her Amazon page:

Taylor Evan Fulks is a native Texan transplanted years ago to southern Ohio, on the banks of the Ohio River. She is a wife, a mother of two “almost grown” daughters, and does open heart surgery to help pay the bills. Always an avid story-teller, Taylor decided to put her pad and pen where her mouth is. “My Prison Without Bars” is her debut novel. Her writing genre of choice is mystery/romance. Even though her debut novel doesn’t fall into that category, she felt compelled to start with this one, find peace, and put it on the shelf.

http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Evan-Fulks/e/B00ACWUKM4/

Thanks so much to Taylor Fulks for sharing her book with us, thanks to all of you for reading, and please, like, share, comment, and of course CLICK!

Conocéis a algún narrador o productor de libros en audio? Y qué os parecen los audiobooks? ACX, audiobooks y un proyecto.

Hola a todos:

Como recordaréis hace unos meses os comenté que uno de mis libros en inglés Escaping Psychiatry (Una vez psiquiatra en versión española) estaba por fin a la venta en audio.

Escaping Psychiatry audio. Portada de Ernesto Valdés, narración de Alan Cooke

La historia de cómo creé este audio es un poco especial. Lo cierto es que no sé que os parecen los audios a vosotros. Yo en mi vida he escuchado unos cuantos, tanto de ficción como de otros temas, varios educacionales, y aunque me han parecido interesantes, me gusta mucho  leer así que…

Hace un tiempo hay muchos artículos sobre los audios, diciendo que representan el futuro (no sé), que el mercado no está tan saturado como de libros (en papel y electrónicos. Eso es cierto). Yo me metí en eso porque conocí a Alan Cooke a través de Facebook. Él es un actor, escritor y director que ha ganado un Emmy, y que se dedica, entre otras cosas, a crear y compartir versiones en audio de sus propios libros y de obras muy conocidas, que me encantan. Una autora y buena amiga mía, Martie Preller, acababa de publicar una colección de relatos The Seventh Sheep (sería la Séptima Oveja, si lo que contáis al iros a dormir son ovejas, o corderos, como queráis) y me pareció que quedarían muy bien en audio. Le encargué a Alan que le pusiera voz a uno (el que da título a la historia) y me gustó tanto que lo hizo a todos. A Martie le encantaron también, y me entró la curiosidad por oir la versión en audio de una de las historias de Una vez psiquiatra que estaba preparando para publicación. Y naturalmente, al final no nos paramos en una historia e hicimos todo el libro. (Por cierto, si os gustan las historias en inglés, las de The Seventh Sheep no están a la venta por dificultades técnicas pero las podéis escuchar en el blog de Martie, aquí).

Distribuir un libro en audio no es tan fácil como un libro electrónico. En aquella época (y creo que no ha cambiado mucho) ACX (hoy en día una empresa de Amazon) era la que se dedicaba a distribuir a las compañías más importantes (Amazon y i-Tunes de Apple). Pero si no eras residente en los Estados Unidos o tenías una cuenta bancaria allí, por cuestiones de impuestos no podías distribuir tu propio audio. Podías crear uno a través de sus servicios, pero a mí que ya había pagado el mío, no me servía esa opción. Les envié un correo y me contestaron que planeaban expanderse y que me tendrían al tanto. Y efectivamente, en Abril de este año me informaron de que aceptaban proyectos del Reino Unido. El proceso fue de lo más simple, ya que habíamos seguido los pasos que recomiendan para la creación de un audio, y ni siquiera hace falta crear una cuenta específica si ya tienes cuenta con Amazon.

Aquí os dejo los enlaces por si os apetece echarle un vistazo:

En Amazon:

http://bit.ly/1rMoqtz

En i-Tunes:

http://bit.ly/1rU3KSG

Por si os apetece escuchar una muestra, aquí os dejo el enlace a un video con un fragmento de narración de la primer historia ‘Cannon Fodder’ (Carne de cañón):

http://youtu.be/oZyVpOdgqtc

Las ventas…No he roto ningún record del Guinness, pero considerando que lo he promocionado poco y que solo está a la venta desde Junio, ha vendido más que el libro en otros formatos, aunque como los demás las ventas suben y bajan.

Con respecto a las promociones, no hay opción como en KDP a darlo gratuito (es costoso enviar ficheros tan gordos) pero sí que Audible envía una serie de códigos de regalo (normalmente 25, y cuando yo los pedí me enviaron 25 para .com y 25 para .co.uk) que podéis usar para promocionar. Y si alguien no es cliente de Audible, el primer audio les sale gratuíto (y si tenéis la suerte de ser el autor de uno de estos libros os dan un  bono de $50. De momento solo me ha pasado una vez, pero se todo se agradece).

En ACX, aparte de poder subir un audio que hayáis creado vosotros mismos (y mucha gente hace sus propias narraciones. Hay muchos consejos sobre cómo hacerlo, pero sobre todo os recomiendo que sigáis las pautas que ellos recomiendan para no tener problemas luego), también podéis buscar un narrador y/o productor y crear vuestro proyecto con ellos, y también tenéis la opción de ofrecer vuestro libro como proyecto de audio para narradores y productores a los que le pueda interesar, a cambio de la mitad de las regalías (o derechos de autor).

He decidido probar suerte con mi novela I Love Your Cupcakes (Me encantan tus cupcakes). Así que si conocéis a algún (preferentemente alguna) narrador/a o productor/a a quién le pueda interesar, o me podéis recomendar a alguien, ya lo sabéis.  Os dejo el enlace al proyecto, por si acaso:

I Love Your Cupcakes (Me encantan tus cupcakes) de Olga Núñez Miret. Portada de Lourdes Vidal

https://www.acx.com/titleview/A2NCGYHKZ0DC0S

¡Gracias por leer, y si os ha interesado, ya sabéis, dadle al me gusta, comentad, compartid, y haced CLIC! Y si conocéis a alguien, pasadle al información. (Y si se os da bien el inglés y os apetece uno de los audios de regalo…pues decídmelo).

What do you think of audiobooks? Do you know any narrators? ACX, audios and a Cupcake project.

Hi all:

I don’t know what you think about audiobooks. Over the years I’ve listened to some, fiction and non-fiction but probably love reading so much that I’d miss it. But the best audiobooks can be amazing.

I have had one of my books turned into an audiobook. Escaping Psychiatry.

 

Escaping Psychiatry audio. Cover by Ernesto Valdés, narration by Alan Cooke

The process how it became an audio was not your usual way (this being me). I met Alan Cooke, an Emmy Award winning writer, actor and director, through Facebook, and became fascinated by his work, films, videos, and also his readings and audios, both of his own books and of well-known stories. Another writer and good friend of mine, Martie Preller, had published a book of short tales/stories, The Seventh Sheep, and I thought they would sound fantastic narrated by Alan. It first started with one of the stories, but I liked it so much that as a surprise, I got the four stories done for her. The results were amazing although due to technical difficulties (and the peculiarities of the system) it is not on sale as an audio. But you can listen to them in Martie’s blog, here.  Then I thought I’d like to have one of the stories of Escaping Psychiatry in audio format, and one thing let to another.

One of the difficulties at that time was that ACX (now owned by Amazon) was the main option to distribute audios to the big players, including Amazon and Apple’s i-Tunes. And unfortunately you needed to be a resident in the US (for tax reasons) to be able to distribute your audio through ACX. And I wasn’t. I queried this, and in April this year they e-mailed me to let me know that now residents in the UK could also use their services, and I did. Having followed their instructions into how to record the audio, downloading it wasn’t a problem and it all went pretty smoothly. (You don’t even need to have a separate account with ACX if you already have one with Amazon.)

Here are the links in Amazon:

http://bit.ly/1rMoqtz

And i-Tunes:

http://bit.ly/1rU3KSG

Just in case you fancy a sample, this is a video I created sharing some of the narration of the first story:

http://youtu.be/oZyVpOdgqtc

Most of the posts about audiobooks suggest they are up and coming, they are going to boom soon, and the market is not as saturated as it is for either paper or e-books. Yet.

Although you don’t have access to promotions KDP style, and the prices are higher due to technical constraints, Audible sends you up to 25 free codes (in my case I got some for .com and .co.uk) that you can use to promote the audio, and if somebody is not already an Audible Client, they get the first audiobook free (and you have a bonus if this happens with one of your audios, or $50).

What has my audiobook done so far? Well, I can’t say it’s been a roaring success, although it has sold more (especially considering that I haven’t promoted it much and it has only been on sale from June) than the actual book, and I got one of the bonus sales. The sales pattern seems similar to standard books. It peaks when it is new on sale and then it goes down.

In the case of my audiobook I got it done and paid for it myself. You can do the same through ACX too, rather than having to find your own by your own means. But ACX offers  you the chance of posting your book as a project and then partnering with a narrator/producer, and splitting up the royalties. That shares both the risks and the benefits. Of course, depending on the interest generated you might get many offers or not.

I’ve decided to give it a go, and here is my project for I Love Your Cupcakes.

I Love Your Cupcakes by Olga Núñez Miret. Cover by Lourdes Vidal

https://www.acx.com/titleview/AJXZ5XZSZ0XTH

If you know any voice artists, narrators or producers who might be interested (or you do narrations), or you can recommend somebody, let me know!

Ah, and I still have some of the free codes for my Escaping Psychiatry audio, so if you’d like one…just ask. If many people are interested…I’ll think of something!

‘Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer: And Her Parable of the Tomato Plant’ by Marsha Roberts. Now in audiobook! Narrated by Della Cole

Hi all:

You’ll remember on Tuesday I was telling you about the audio version of my book ‘Escaping Psychiatry’.  Due to my personal interest in the topic of Audiobooks I’ve been talking to other authors and reading information about it wherever I could. Marsha Roberts is one of the authors of the group ASMSG that I mention quite often (and I also belong to). She has also recently published her very successful book ‘Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer: And Her Parable of the Tomato Plant‘ (What a title, eh?) in audiobook format, narrated by the fabulous Della Cole, an actress Marsha and her husband and fellow-author Bob Rector know quite well. As I’ve never brought you her book before, I thought I’d take the chance to introduce you to it. And to Marsha.

Author Marsha Roberts

Biography

After years of producing Corporate Theater for clients such as IBM and Coca-Cola, Marsha Roberts developed, produced and marketed Letters From The Front, the only professional theatrical production to tour military bases around the world. This heartfelt show touched hundreds of thousands of lives, toured stateside and abroad for fifteen years, was the first play ever to perform at the Pentagon and became known as The World’s Most Decorated Play.

The daunting process of getting this never-been-done-before production off the ground and onto a worldwide stage gave her a keen awareness of what it takes to overcome life’s obstacles and find the miraculous in the commonplace. She shares many of her experiences in her inspirational memoir “Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer and her Parable of the Tomato Plant” which Kirkus Reviews says is “An optimistic look at the magic of life.”

Confessions of an instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer audio

“Anyone who has wondered whether God or miracles are possible in our lifetime will want to read this uplifting book.” ~ Anne Holmes, CEO Natl. Assoc. of Baby Boomer Women

“Confessions belongs on the nightstand. When hope is not at hand, it can be.” ~ Dianne Harman, Author

“You feel after reading that the writer is now your friend and you know her so well! Fantastic.” ~ Duncan Whitehead, Author

“So entertaining and full of faith, I had tears streaming down my face… only to find myself laughing a few pages further.” ~ Simon Okill, Author

 

An optimistic look at the magic of life.” — Kirkus Reviews

Goodreads Listopia Voted #1 Must Read Memoirs ~ #1 Most Inspiring Books ~ #1 Best Happiness Books

An unflinching look at the life of a Baby Boomer woman told with heart, humor and charm. Roberts grapples with the question: how do you keep the twinkle in your eye and the sass in your walk as you get older? The unique way she finds the answer has been described as “Funny, touching and inspirational” ~ “Heart tugging and heart warming” ~ “Delightful”

Roberts takes the reader on a captivating journey where real life collides with real miracles. With stories ranging from candidly intimate to wonderfully adventurous, each chapter or parable uncovers a piece of the puzzle. And as it comes together, the picture that emerges reflects Roberts’ life-affirming belief in God, the essential ingredient in her secret formula for happiness.
A charming and uplifting read, Marsha’s style of writing makes you feel as if you’re with a trusted friend, sharing life lessons over a cup of coffee.

http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Instinctively-Mutinous-Baby-Boomer/dp/B00KIYA5FS/

Thanks for reading and if you’ve enjoyed it don’t forget to like, share, comment, CLICK and of course LISTEN!

Ah, and I thought I’d leave you a link to Bob Rector’s great article on the process, steep learning curve and difficulties of creating an audiobook for those of you who might be thinking about it.

http://rectorwriter.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/so-you-want-to-make-an-audiobook/

Review of The Spirit of Ireland — An Odyssey Home —Ireland Memoir. Audiobook by Alan Cooke (a.k.a Irish Wild Poet: http://wildirishpoet.com/). A truly inspiring voyage

I recently finished listening to the audio of The Spirit of Ireland by Alan Cooke. I had listened (and read) Naked in New York where the author explores his adventures and experiences in New York, that I’ve reviewed in the past and again recommend. I’ve also watched his movie Home that I feel is a good companion piece of Naked and has the advantage of documenting Cooke’s personal journey whilst incorporating the views of New Yorkers old and young, famous and unknown, native and immigrants. He well deserves the Emmy for his writing in the film and I am at a loss to account for the lack of distribution for it.

The author, an Irish actor, now turned writer, voice coach, and creator of audio and video sketches, returned to Ireland after his visit to the US. The Spirit of Ireland is his memoir of the process of rediscovering his country, his nation, his culture, and himself. In some ways it picks up from where Naked left, but in my opinion it goes further and deeper than the previous book.

Mr Cooke combines purely autobiographical episodes (I find his remembrances of childhood scenes particularly touching) with passages where he sets his spiritual/real travels. In his trips to places known (his parents’ house, villages they used to visit when he was a child) he notes the changes experienced, the contrast between his expectations, built through years of dreaming about “home” from afar, and the sometimes stark reality. He also observes the changes inside, and  how he sees and feels differently now.

In his travels to new places, places that call to him, he feels at times a communion with the elements, with the spirit and soul of Ireland that he embraces fully.

His descriptions of quasi-mythical animals (the horse that visits his house and seems to symbolise the untamed Celtic s spirit of the island), of primeval landscapes (that reflect the magical and ancestral power of the land), of people and faces will touch you, even if you, like me, have not a drop of Irish blood running through your veins. The author seems to tap into something that is at the same time profoundly personal but also universal, and through his voice he takes us to a place that is wondrous, exhilarating, frightening and raw. A place where we have to confront ourselves, and if we survive, we’ll finally be Home. I wonder if this is what Carl Jung was talking about when he referred to the Collective Unconscious.

The collective unconscious – so far as we can say anything about it at all  – appears to consist of mythological motifs or primordial images, for which reason the myths of all nations are its real exponents. In fact, the whole of mythology could be taken as a sort of projection of the collective unconscious… We can therefore study the collective unconscious in two ways, either in mythology or in the analysis of the individual. (From The Structure of the Psyche, CW 8, par. 325.)

Carl-Jung-mod (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Having visited a tiny bit of West Ireland a few months ago I recognised some of the descriptions (loved the Isles of Aran and adored CD 4). I could also identify with some of the experiences (I remember my thoughts during my First Communion too). I gladly accompanied him on his visits and would love to meet the many characters he comes across, that always have stories to tell and help create a quilt of experiences and voices to illustrate the nature of the place and its people. The author, a bard and raconteur, is narrator, protagonist, interpreter, and performer. He has said in interviews that above all he is a performer and he can connect and communicate with people live in ways he feels is not possible by writing on the page. I feel he is too modest, although I must admit that the combination of the words with his voice and reading makes it irresistible. (And I take the opportunity to recommend some of his other audios too [A Christmas Carol, De Profundis, Oscar Wilde’s Fairy Tales…]. You might not want to listen to anybody else’s work after that but…).

The memoir genre has become oversubscribed. Sometimes it feels as if everybody wants to write one or has written one. Don’t worry, though. This is not your standard memoir. Although the author shares very personal and even intimate experiences (the image of his mother’s reaction when she heard of the death of her own mother, the author’s grandmother, run over by a lorry will stay with me forever), it never becomes an exercise in self-indulgence. He is the consciousness of that spirit, and you won’t get any gossip or know the everyday details of life in the Burren. I leave you a link to an interesting article posted at BerkeleyUniversity on memoirs. According to Christopher Booker’s seven basic plots, The Spirit of Ireland probably falls within the plots of ‘quest’ (Odyssey being a very apt word), ‘voyage and return’ and ‘rebirth’. And if we look at William Grimes’s article: ‘We All Have A Life. Must We All Write About It?’ it would probably fall somewhere between ‘the spiritual-journey memoir’ and ‘the spirit of place memoir’. It is all of that and more. If you want to go to places you haven’t been, get in touch with your own spirituality, and connect with collective myths, whilst listening to a beautiful and engrossing voice, I recommend you the audio of The Spirit of Ireland.

Mr Cooke sells all his work through his own website, here:

http://wildirishpoet.com/

There you will also find links to his Facebook pages (where you can follow his posts, including samples of new work, photographs, etc.), his e-mail address if you want to contact him, and you can also access updates on his projects.

Thank you for reading and as if you’ve enjoyed it, remember to like, comment, share and of course CLICK!

This is the link to the article on memoirs:

http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~kihlstrm/memoir.htm

Related articles

• The Spirit of Ireland – An Odyssey Home – Audio Book Launch and live performance with Alan Cooke (celticmusicfan.com)
• Psychology in Writing: The Collective Unconscious – Introduction (wtjowett.wordpress.com)