Hearts Set Free, I didn’t exactly know what
I’d gotten myself into. I’d never produced an
audiobook before, but I had a studio
microphone I’d been using for my podcast, a
love for reading out loud, and a delusional
mindset that I could do anything I wanted,
regardless if I’d been trained to do it or not."
This all happened because one day I was listening to an audiobook and wondering, “How does
someone get this job? How does the author find them? Where do I sign up?” Since I was young,
I’ve always dreamed of getting paid to read. I would call reading my favorite pastime, but its really
been more of an addiction of mine since probably 4th grade, maybe earlier. So I googled how to
become a narrator.
someone get this job? How does the author find them? Where do I sign up?” Since I was young,
I’ve always dreamed of getting paid to read. I would call reading my favorite pastime, but its really
been more of an addiction of mine since probably 4th grade, maybe earlier. So I googled how to
become a narrator.
I immediately found Amazon’s website, Audiobook Creation Exchange - or ACX.com - and made a
narrator profile, just to check out the scene. I was amazed to find loads of books in all different
genres posted there, open for narrator auditions. This was literally five minutes after I asked myself
these questions! I read a few descriptions and decided I might as well audition for a few. Again, I
was just trying it out, testing the waters!
narrator profile, just to check out the scene. I was amazed to find loads of books in all different
genres posted there, open for narrator auditions. This was literally five minutes after I asked myself
these questions! I read a few descriptions and decided I might as well audition for a few. Again, I
was just trying it out, testing the waters!
One audition I submitted, on that first fateful day, was for a novel called Hearts Set Free by
Jess Lederman. I downloaded the audition script and enjoyed what I read, so I turned my mic on,
gave it my all, and after a few audio tweaks, sent it over. I guess I wasn’t paying too much attention
to the audition requirements, because Jess Lederman was looking for a male voice. Oops. I also saw
that the estimated length of audio was about 11 hours, but I didn’t think much of that. I can read for
11 hours if I split it up between a few days/weekends, I thought. It shouldn’t be that hard! Oh boy…
If I’d known how long production would take…
Jess Lederman. I downloaded the audition script and enjoyed what I read, so I turned my mic on,
gave it my all, and after a few audio tweaks, sent it over. I guess I wasn’t paying too much attention
to the audition requirements, because Jess Lederman was looking for a male voice. Oops. I also saw
that the estimated length of audio was about 11 hours, but I didn’t think much of that. I can read for
11 hours if I split it up between a few days/weekends, I thought. It shouldn’t be that hard! Oh boy…
If I’d known how long production would take…
But I didn’t! So I happily auditioned! And when I woke up the next morning to an email from
Jess Lederman, I was ecstatic. He was very pleased with my audition, surprised that he’d liked it
so much since he was originally looking for a male, and wanted to hear more! It turns out there was
a pretty important character in the book from Belgium, who spoke in a French accent, and he sent
me some dialogue and asked if I’d be able to perform it.
Jess Lederman, I was ecstatic. He was very pleased with my audition, surprised that he’d liked it
so much since he was originally looking for a male, and wanted to hear more! It turns out there was
a pretty important character in the book from Belgium, who spoke in a French accent, and he sent
me some dialogue and asked if I’d be able to perform it.
Ok, so this is my… second day? As an accidental audiobook narrator?... I don’t speak French, but
again, I have a delusional mindset that I can do anything. So I set about doing some research about
how to do a French accent. After a couple hours, I read the script and sent it back. I had an offer by
the end of the day. And that's when I became a real-life, contracted audiobook narrator.
again, I have a delusional mindset that I can do anything. So I set about doing some research about
how to do a French accent. After a couple hours, I read the script and sent it back. I had an offer by
the end of the day. And that's when I became a real-life, contracted audiobook narrator.
Jess was great to work with, he knew it was my first project and that didn’t bother him. He never
doubted my skills and he supported me however he could. He sent me detailed character descriptions,
overviews of each chapter and the mood/style he’d like it read in, offered to reimburse me for
additional equipment I needed, and communicated with me every step of the way. I really had no
idea how long this project would take; I thought I would be able to finish it in a month’s time, but
there was a huge learning curve for me. I learned only through trial and error how to set up a
makeshift recording studio in the house I’d rented a room in. I moved it at least three times, in that
house alone. I would end up working from multiple makeshift recording studios. I lost count of how
many. I lived in two different countries over the five month period, and moved three different times.
I’m a traveler, so it’s not that odd, but I had run into some unexpected events that changed my plans
and ultimately prolonged the process. Jess was incredibly understanding and supportive throughout.
He insisted it was more important to have a great performance than to have it done quickly, and so
we worked together to create an audiobook we were both proud of.
doubted my skills and he supported me however he could. He sent me detailed character descriptions,
overviews of each chapter and the mood/style he’d like it read in, offered to reimburse me for
additional equipment I needed, and communicated with me every step of the way. I really had no
idea how long this project would take; I thought I would be able to finish it in a month’s time, but
there was a huge learning curve for me. I learned only through trial and error how to set up a
makeshift recording studio in the house I’d rented a room in. I moved it at least three times, in that
house alone. I would end up working from multiple makeshift recording studios. I lost count of how
many. I lived in two different countries over the five month period, and moved three different times.
I’m a traveler, so it’s not that odd, but I had run into some unexpected events that changed my plans
and ultimately prolonged the process. Jess was incredibly understanding and supportive throughout.
He insisted it was more important to have a great performance than to have it done quickly, and so
we worked together to create an audiobook we were both proud of.
As the project unfurled, I learned a lot about editing audio and producing high quality recordings.
I scrapped hours worth of audio learning that I could tell a huge difference in my reading voice if I
wasn’t present, hydrated, and in the right mindset to effectively create an imaginary world with my
voice. I spent hours researching how to pronounce words, perfecting my French accent, trying on
different voices (Spanish, Southern, a man on his death bed, a Native American, and countless more).
What I also hadn’t realized when I’d accepted this contract is how many characters and how
complicated this historical fiction book would be. At one point, I counted how many characters it had,
because they just kept coming. It was something like 35, not counting extras that only showed up for
a few lines of dialogue, and they originated from all over.
What made this novel different and added another challenging element is that with each of these 35
characters, their story lines intertwined and came full circle, sometimes way later. This meant that I
might read something in a character’s voice in chapter 3, and they wouldn’t show up again until
chapter 35. I would have to go back and listen to the audio recording I’d done months prior and try to
do the exact same voice. It was amazing because when I listened back, I could see a definite
difference in quality. It was clear how far I'd come, but I couldn't listen to that knowing it wasn't the
best I could do and not remaster the audio, so I found myself also working backwards in this way.
characters, their story lines intertwined and came full circle, sometimes way later. This meant that I
might read something in a character’s voice in chapter 3, and they wouldn’t show up again until
chapter 35. I would have to go back and listen to the audio recording I’d done months prior and try to
do the exact same voice. It was amazing because when I listened back, I could see a definite
difference in quality. It was clear how far I'd come, but I couldn't listen to that knowing it wasn't the
best I could do and not remaster the audio, so I found myself also working backwards in this way.
I also had to keep all the character voices separate enough that they could be told apart. This novel
flips between time periods and character point of views and place setting. I had no idea what I’d
gotten myself into! I was frustrated with it many times, but being a perfectionist and a highly motivated
individual, I kept at it and eventually produced the book in its entirety. There were a few parts I was
only 99% happy with, but after extending the deadline by months I owed Jess a finished product,
so we worked together to tie the ribbon on an audiobook we were both proud of.
flips between time periods and character point of views and place setting. I had no idea what I’d
gotten myself into! I was frustrated with it many times, but being a perfectionist and a highly motivated
individual, I kept at it and eventually produced the book in its entirety. There were a few parts I was
only 99% happy with, but after extending the deadline by months I owed Jess a finished product,
so we worked together to tie the ribbon on an audiobook we were both proud of.
When this all ended, I told myself I’d have to take a few weeks off before I even looked at another
audition. Eventually, I felt rested and recovered enough to take on another project. Now, I have two
more, I’m planning to continue with my audiobook producer career and even come out with an online
course and mentorship program later down the road. Hearts Set Free is the only reason I have the
skills to consider this. It really gave me a crash course in narration technique, because it contained
an impressive array of characters and moods for me to perform, all with the support and constructive
criticism of the author, Jess Lederman. Thank you, Jess!!
audition. Eventually, I felt rested and recovered enough to take on another project. Now, I have two
more, I’m planning to continue with my audiobook producer career and even come out with an online
course and mentorship program later down the road. Hearts Set Free is the only reason I have the
skills to consider this. It really gave me a crash course in narration technique, because it contained
an impressive array of characters and moods for me to perform, all with the support and constructive
criticism of the author, Jess Lederman. Thank you, Jess!!
Cheers,
Alison
You can find Hearts Set Free on audible here
Find my professional Facebook Page here
