Audiobooks are Coming to ShelteringTree.Earth

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According to Amy Watson, 

“In 2020, audiobook sales revenue in the United States reached 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, continuing the upward trend which began in 2018… The growing demand for audiobooks is evidenced by the number of audiobook titles published each year, which has increased tenfold over the last decade. At the same time, audiobook consumption is rising, with the latest figures showing that the share of U.S. adults who reported listening to an audiobook in the last year is now close to double the percentage recorded in 2011.”[1] 

ShelteringTree.Earth is one year old! As such, it is time to expand a little. We are now going to offer audiobooks as a separate contract with three options.

Children’s books in audio format were wonderful tools during my 38 years in education; now even toddlers have their own tech devices and access to audiobooks. Poetry is often best savored in auditory form. My colleagues and graduate students often rely on audio versions of textbooks to help keep up with the demands of their courses. Who hasn’t zipped through what would normally have been boring hours by being enriched, educated, and entertained by a great audiobook?[2]

Please look at the three options provided below and do your own research.[3]I have considered the issues of control, finances, and time-on-task. Options B and C will distribute and promote your audio book linked with your Amazon books. Option A’s distribution will depend on the company chosen. Options B and C will have a contract to go with them. Option A does not need an additional contract since it is covered under your trade paperback, kindle, and hardcover contract under Conditions item 5.

You do not have to have your book developed into an audio version, but I hope you will consider doing so. 

    FOOTNOTES

[1] https://www.statista.com/topics/3296/audiobooks/#dossierKeyfigures

[2] Benjamin Franklin said, “Lost time is never found again.”

[3] Consider https://scribemedia.com/audiobook-production-companies/, https://writingtipsoasis.com/audiobook-publishing-companies/, https://publishdrive.com/best-audiobook-services.html, https://www.crunchbase.com/hub/audiobooks-companies, and other search results

Author goes through a reliable, established audiobook company such as FindaWay Voices[1]or Audible[2]to develop their own audiobook. (The audiobook company is responsible for distribution[3] and royalties.[4]) Author tasks include submitting 500-700 word audition request, either narrating the version oneself or overseeing auditions and choosing an appropriate narrator, proofing narrations, overseeing production stages, providing cover design, providing the book in pdf or hard copy, providing notes on character’s accents and tonality, pronunciation of unusual words and names, setting up a financial partnership with the company according to their regulations (bank checking account route, US tax information, etc.), paying the voice actor per hour fees[5](most books take 9-10 hours to narrate and accommodate for corrections[6]), paying for the production fees (dependent on features such as credits and beginning/ending music, etc.), setting retail price of audiobook according to industry standards,[7]and paying ShelteringTree.Earth 25% of all author-royalties earned for the audiobook in perpetuity (see trade paperback/kindle/hardcover contract #5).

    FOOTNOTES

[1] https://findaway.com/

[2] https://www.audible.com/

[3]Findaway has 75+ vendors plus libraries and institutions. Audible is a solitary seller through Amazon and the consumer must pay a monthly fee.

[4]ranging anywhere from 12% to 90% depending on the company

[5] Dave Chesson stated, “But many narrators prefer to do things on a per-finished-hour (PFH) basis. This cost can range from as low as $50 PFH to as much as $500, although both these extremes are somewhat rare. You'll likely find that good narration comes at a price of around $250 to $350 per finished hour.” https://kindlepreneur.com/audiobook-narrators/

[6]Piotr Kowalczyk stated, “An average novel contains 80,000 words. It translates to about 9-10 hours of narration. The cost per finished hour ranges between $100 and $500. So, the cost of producing an audiobook of a 100,000-word novel narrated by a recognizable voice can easily exceed $5,000.” https://ebookfriendly.com/audiobooks-price-comparison-ebooks-print-books/

[7] Piotr Kowalczyk stated, “The usual price of an audiobook edition is between $20 and $30. It’s twice as much as the cost of a Kindle or paperback edition. Both formats are usually priced below $20.” https://ebookfriendly.com/audiobooks-price-comparison-ebooks-print-books/

ShelteringTree.Earth goes through a reliable, established audiobook company such as FindaWay Voices[1]to develop an audiobook from author’s book. (The audiobook company is responsible for distribution[2]and royalties.[3]) ShelteringTree.Earth tasks include submitting 500-700 word audition request, overseeing auditions, choosing an appropriate narrator (the author may provide input as to gender, voice quality and accents for each character or section), proofing narrations, overseeing production stages, providing cover design, providing the book in pdf or hard copy, providing notes on character’s accents and tonality, pronunciation of unusual words and names, setting up a financial partnership with the company according to their regulations (bank checking account route, US tax information, etc.), paying for the voice actor per hour fees[4](most books take 9-10 hours to narrate and accommodate for corrections[5]), setting retail price of audiobook according to industry standards,[6]paying for the production fees (dependent on features such as beginning/ending music, etc.). Copies of the audiobook will be available to author at discounted price. ShelteringTree.Earth will garner all royalties collected for this project until the cost of such has been fully recovered. After that time, ShelteringTree.Earth will keep 35% of all author-royalties earned for the audiobook in perpetuity.[7]

    FOOTNOTES

[1] https://findaway.com/

[2]ShelteringTree.Earth will not use Audible but will use a company which can insure a wide distribution and trustworthy financial relationships. For example, Findaway distributes through 75+ vendors plus libraries and institutions.

[3]Findaway promises 80% royalties which comes to about $1 per audiobook

[4] Dave Chesson stated, “But many narrators prefer to do things on a per-finished-hour (PFH) basis. This cost can range from as low as $50 PFH to as much as $500, although both these extremes are somewhat rare. You'll likely find that good narration comes at a price of around $250 to $350 per finished hour.” https://kindlepreneur.com/audiobook-narrators/

[5] Piotr Kowalczyk stated, “An average novel contains 80,000 words. It translates to about 9-10 hours of narration. The cost per finished hour ranges between $100 and $500. So, the cost of producing an audiobook of a 100,000-word novel narrated by a recognizable voice can easily exceed $5,000.” https://ebookfriendly.com/audiobooks-price-comparison-ebooks-print-books/

[6] Piotr Kowalczyk stated, “The usual price of an audiobook edition is between $20 and $30. It’s twice as much as the cost of a Kindle or paperback edition. Both formats are usually priced below $20.” https://ebookfriendly.com/audiobooks-price-comparison-ebooks-print-books/

[7] Consider: Kiah Treece stated, “Personal loan rates currently range from around 4% to 36%, depending on the lender, borrower creditworthiness and other factors.”  https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-loans/personal-loan-rates/

ShelteringTree.Earth goes through a reliable, established audiobook company such as FindaWay Voices[1]to develop an audiobook from author’s book narrated by the author. (The audiobook company is responsible for distribution[2]and royalties.[3])  Author’s tasks include providing an appropriate audio rendition of the book which meets the company’s specifications, is professionally proofed and edited, is true to the book copy, and has consistent character’s accents and tonality, pronunciation of unusual words and names, provides professional beginning/ending music, credits, etc.). ShelteringTree.Earth’s tasks include overseeing production stages, providing cover design, setting up a financial partnership with the company according to their regulations (bank checking account route, US tax information, etc.), setting retail price of audiobook according to industry standards,[4]paying for the production fees. Copies of the audiobook will be available to author at discounted price. ShelteringTree.Earth will garner all royalties collected for this project until the cost of such has been fully recovered. After that time, ShelteringTree.Earth will keep 30% of all author-royalties earned for the audiobook in perpetuity.[5]

FOOTNOTES

[1] https://findaway.com/

[2] ShelteringTree.Earth will not use Audible but will use a company which can insure a wide distribution and trustworthy financial relationships. For example, Findaway distributes through 75+ vendors plus libraries and institutions.

[3] Findaway promises 80% royalties which comes to about $1 per audiobook

[4] Piotr Kowalczyk stated, “The usual price of an audiobook edition is between $20 and $30. It’s twice as much as the cost of a Kindle or paperback edition. Both formats are usually priced below $20.” https://ebookfriendly.com/audiobooks-price-comparison-ebooks-print-books/

[5] Consider: Kiah Treece stated, “Personal loan rates currently range from around 4% to 36%, depending on the lender, borrower creditworthiness and other factors.”  https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-loans/personal-loan-rates/