A curious reader wrote in to ask if The Great Betrayal will be launching in audiobook as well as e-book.
It’s a valid question, and one I am sure others are keen to learn.
The short answer is no.
The slightly longer answer is:
It WILL come not long after its release.
Instead of simply leaving it at that, I want to explain why.
Producing audiobooks with digital voice (even the premium ones like what I am using) is a painstakingly monotonous process. You have to go line by line, ensuring things like pronunciation and tone are correct, which even the non-techies of the world can appreciate isn’t the easiest of tasks when it’s a fantasy book with fantastical names and beasts.
While I’m sure lazy producers in my shoes would simply click the “Export All” button and take whatever the tool narrates in 5 minutes, I would be far too distrustful of its output.
Quality takes time, so time is what I shall give it.
Even if it ends up burning a greater hole in my wallet (which it will as I’ll need to extend my subscription with ElevenLabs).
But you know what?
I’m more than fine with that.
My readers deserve the best possible product these tools can produce, so if that requires having a numb arse a while longer and shelling out more coin, then so be it.
Now for a little update:
I’m more than halfway through narrating my catalogue with only One True King, The Great Betrayal, and Tiny Epics: Vol. 1 left to be produced. I decided to wait until all audiobooks are done, complete with their covers, before making them available at the Storehouse.
Those who pre-purchased the new editions will get access to them first June time (such are the perks of patronage).
What’s that I hear? 🤨
A groan?
Well, if you had acted before the deadline, you might have also won yourself such privileges.
Better luck next time!
Anyway:
I’m still scheming on ways to get my books in paperback so that readers can adorn their bookshelves with my unruly wares, but I’ll admit I’m finding it somewhat challenging to source a Print-On-Demand service that can deliver them in a respectable time frame.
Which, I’ll admit, is a wee bit infuriating.
Amazon Prime has really turned us into impatient buyers, haven’t they?
Or maybe I am projecting my own bias onto my customers… 🤔
Maybe you value the smell of fresh parchment and a physical book in your hands more than the speed of delivery.
Reply to this email and let me know.
Should you prefer your bookshelf empty and your books delivered at the speed of lightning, then you’ll be pleased to know The Great Betrayal will be launching in e-book.
And if digital parchment is your thing, my Storehouse is stocked full of them here:
https://www.djjwatsonstore.com
DJJW