Audiobooks
Around 1998, a friend gave me The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien on cassette. It was an excellent production, with many people voicing the characters, and I listened to the tapes during my commute. While this was a good experience, I have only listened to one other audiobook, Paul Stanley’s Face the Music. At the time, I was dreadfully sick and desperately needed a distraction—still, an excellent experience.
Last month, I randomly found that I Am Not Spock by Leonard Nimoy was available as a free MP3 download. Nice! So, I loaded it onto my phone and began playing it on my commute. After five minutes, I stopped listening. The problem was that the voice actor was not Leonard Nimoy, and he sounded like one of those whiny people at the end of a commercial trying to convey complex legal issues in a rush. Not cool.
Still, the experience inspired me to try two other free audiobooks from the same site, but I stopped after about five minutes with each. I think part of the problem is that I like to read at different paces and occasionally pause to reflect on the content. Related to this issue is that a book is complex, and I find it easier to visualize high-level topics in written form. Plus, I admit to having a short attention span, and an audiobook that is going nowhere will never have a chance to entice my bonkers mind.
Well, it sounds like audiobooks are not my thing. (Get the pun?) However, they are popular, and I certainly understand why. So, it is only logical for me to release audiobooks of my published books. After all, I know the topic, and it would be easy to set up a microphone. Plus, I am comfortable with public speaking; my voice is decent, and I perceive my personality to be engaging. If not, I could pay somebody, use a computer-generated voice, or ask a friend.
Yeah… I cannot imagine anyone listening to my words, because this conflicts with my primary publishing goal: to produce a product people enjoy. And if I cannot enjoy an audiobook, then why should I expect another to?
I know what you are thinking, “Fool! Push through your silly insecurities.” “Fortune favors the bold.” “Profit!” Yeah, not going to happen. Bummer.
What about other publishing options, like translating my book into another language? After all, that effort would open up an enormous market, and it would only require popping my words into a translation program. Umm, did I mention how badly my high school Spanish class went?
You’re the best -Bill
February 16, 2022 Updated June 13, 2026
Last month, I randomly found that I Am Not Spock by Leonard Nimoy was available as a free MP3 download. Nice! So, I loaded it onto my phone and began playing it on my commute. After five minutes, I stopped listening. The problem was that the voice actor was not Leonard Nimoy, and he sounded like one of those whiny people at the end of a commercial trying to convey complex legal issues in a rush. Not cool.
Still, the experience inspired me to try two other free audiobooks from the same site, but I stopped after about five minutes with each. I think part of the problem is that I like to read at different paces and occasionally pause to reflect on the content. Related to this issue is that a book is complex, and I find it easier to visualize high-level topics in written form. Plus, I admit to having a short attention span, and an audiobook that is going nowhere will never have a chance to entice my bonkers mind.
Well, it sounds like audiobooks are not my thing. (Get the pun?) However, they are popular, and I certainly understand why. So, it is only logical for me to release audiobooks of my published books. After all, I know the topic, and it would be easy to set up a microphone. Plus, I am comfortable with public speaking; my voice is decent, and I perceive my personality to be engaging. If not, I could pay somebody, use a computer-generated voice, or ask a friend.
Yeah… I cannot imagine anyone listening to my words, because this conflicts with my primary publishing goal: to produce a product people enjoy. And if I cannot enjoy an audiobook, then why should I expect another to?
I know what you are thinking, “Fool! Push through your silly insecurities.” “Fortune favors the bold.” “Profit!” Yeah, not going to happen. Bummer.
What about other publishing options, like translating my book into another language? After all, that effort would open up an enormous market, and it would only require popping my words into a translation program. Umm, did I mention how badly my high school Spanish class went?
You’re the best -Bill
February 16, 2022 Updated June 13, 2026
