Followers of my blog on VG realize that last summer I embarked on a journey to learn how to narrate and produce audiobooks and make them available for sale through Audiobook Creation Exchange (“ACX”), Amazon’s portal for distribution on Amazon, Audible.com and iTunes.

Since then I have uploaded six novels through ACX. Presently I am working on the second book in Caleb Pirtle’s Ambrose Lincoln trilogy (Conspiracy of Lies) and have Sigmund Brouwer’s second book  in his Nick Barrett series in the wings. Soon I hope to get back to my own books and add more of them to the ACX catalog.

My recent experience on BookBub has reinforced for me the importance of having audiobooks live.

Readers are flocking to audiobooks now because they can easily download them on their smart phones and listen to them while they are commuting, on a long road trip, or just washing the dishes at home.

How does an author tap into the audiobook market?

The process at ACX is simple for authors in the U.S.

First the author creates an account on ACX.

Second he “claims” his book on Amazon.  In order to get to the creation phase of an audiobook on ACX, the author must first have the book for sale on Amazon. In other words, a standalone audiobook is not within the purview of ACX.  Although I see no reason why a person couldn’t produce her book only in an audiobook format for the time being if she wants to use ACX to distribute the book, she must have the book up on Amazon in print or eBook form.

Third, he requests auditions for the narration/production of the audiobook. The author provides a script for the narrator along with any notes about the nature of the performance of it. Then the author sits back and waits for narrators to send her auditions.

If the author puts her book up for audition on the royalty shares program, she incurs no upfront costs, and people auditioning will agree to accept as payment for their work a share of the author’s royalties. Or the author can specify an hourly rate she will pay per finished hour of the audiobook.  If she chooses this approach, the author receives her full royalty on the book, but must pay the narrator when he finishes the project, and before the book can go live for sale.

I see no reason why an author would not attempt to have her book narrated as an audiobook through the ACX shares program.

It’s a no-brainer.

The author cannot sell an audiobook until she has one. She can have her book available for sale in that format without spending a penny if a narrator agrees to work for shares.

If she puts her book up for audition on ACX, and no one auditions for the part, the author can reassess her options.

But she has no reason to reassess her plan until she gives the royalty shares program a try.

After all, there’s no harm in asking.