Listening to and writing for audiobooks …

• Posted in About Books, Elemental Assassin series, On Writing

Note: This post first appeared last week at Magical Musings.

Do you listen to audiobooks?

It seems like audiobooks are becoming more and more popular these days. I’ve had folks tell me that they listen to audiobooks in a variety of places and ways — everything from while they are in the car or on the train commuting to work or even while they’re at home doing housework.

Out of my various books, the audiobooks for my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series are the most popular. They are narrated by the awesome Lauren Fortgang, who does a great job of bringing my heroine Gin Blanco to life. Instead of getting e-mails asking when the next book will be out, now I get e-mails asking when the audiobook will be out. LOL.

Spider's TrapThe audiobook for Spider’s Trap, Elemental Assassin #13, was released on July 28, the same day as the print and e-book versions. You can order the audiobook through Audible and Amazon.

I don’t usually listen to audiobooks, but I’m interested in trying them. But what has really impacted me is that I find myself writing my books with the audiobook version in mind.

When I’m writing a new character, I will ask myself questions like “What does this person’s voice sound like?” and “How can I make them sound different and distinctive from the other characters?” Then I’ll put in some tags for the audiobook narrator to pick up on and hopefully use. Here’s are some examples from Spider’s Trap:

“Well, Blanco?” Dimitri demanded in a low, gravelly voice.

“I can’t let you go anywhere, can I?” Owen murmured, a teasing note creeping into his deep, rumbling voice.

“But what about you, sweetheart?” Mallory said in a twangy voice that was far more hillbilly than high society.

I think adding the voice tags not only makes for a better audiobook, but that it is also a little bit of extra description for folks reading the print and e-book versions as well.

What about you guys? Do you listen to audiobooks? And for all the writers out there — do you describe your characters’ voices with audiobooks in mind?

GIVEAWAY TIME

Thanks to the folks at Audible, I have 3 download codes for the Spider’s Trap audiobook to give away. To enter, use the form below. Open to those 18 and older, worldwide. a Rafflecopter giveaway

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21 Responses to “Listening to and writing for audiobooks …”

  2. Hypathia says:

    I also listen to audio books while commuting 1.5 hours each day to work. The radio was too repetitive and new songs are over played easily. Audio books are a relief from the monotony. Plus I don’t end up with new song burn out since I usually catch them only once a day before I start the audio book.

  5. Cate aka absolutartist1 says:

    I’ve come to LOVE audio books. They let me catch up on my reading while driving or working. 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!

  7. Niki Gruneberg says:

    I’m a dog walker in the city and I start at 8am and usually do t end til about 4/5 and during busy season I’m going until 7 or 8pm. I’ve been almost exclusively audiobooks since last spring, but I do have to love the narrator if not the book will go on my vacation reads pile. I do love your narrator which I discovered your books first as audio thru my library app, which is now the only way I purchase the series!

  8. Ezinwanyi says:

    I listen to audiobooks 80% of the time and read the other 20%. I am listening to Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins right now. The narrator makes a BIG difference. I listened to Halfway to the Grave this weekend and the Bones voice was atrocious. I read the book initially and decided to try it on audio. Big mistake. So narrators can make a break a book for me.

  9. Jeff says:

    i have only just got into Audiobooks in the last couple of months, they allow me to listen to such great book series by authors that i wouldn’t probably read on my e-reader, i enjoy them so much that i will often listen to the whole series one after another, just finished book 5…..8 to go, keep writing please

  10. Karin Anderson says:

    For some series, I won’t even bother with the print or ebooks anymore. I go straight to the audio (as in the Elemental Assassin series). It’s not that the words alone aren’t fantastic, but I just associate the characters with the narrator. Lauren is Gin to me. Audiobooks are a bit like pop-up books. Instead of a flat image, you have texture and color with the extra stimulation.

  11. wkonsunshine says:

    I’m a huge fan of audiobooks, but with one rule. I only listen to books I’ve already read. I use audiobooks to distract me from my commute, doing laundry, running the vacuum, doing the dishes, so sometimes I need to refocus my attention. If I’ve already read the book, I don’t end up getting lost and having to re-listen to portions. I love the Elemental Assassins on audio. The narrator reminds me of Holly Hunter.

  12. Janine says:

    I love my audiobooks! There is nothing more than I love than sitting down to read a book but I just don’t have the time. My Husband & I have a small business so the hours are ridiculous, but I can listen to my beloved audiobooks while doing the book keeping, paperwork & while cooking at the shop. I do look out for and hope that my favourite Authors new releases are out on audiobook on the same day! Then I just have to ration out my Audible credits! I already have all of the Elemental Assasin Series on audiobook, Lauren is wonderful at bringing all of your characters to life! 🙂

  13. Anna-Lena says:

    Hi,
    I’m also listening to audiobooks, very often before going to sleep. Sometimes I get a new impression of the characters, that makes audiobooks interesting for me. But reading a book is still my favorite way to get to know new worlds and characters.
    I hope you can understand my English 🙂
    Is it true that you will visit the ‘Frankfurter Buchmesse’ in Germany this year?

      • Eleonora says:

        Such a shame that they don’t translate your books in Dutch yet. Than you could come to the Belgian one too :p

          • Eleonora says:

            Probably for the best. The Dutch translations are filled with bad grammar and so on. It’s the main reason I switched to English books.
            It would be fun though if I could suggest your books to others, most of them don’t care about the bad translations and read only Dutch. Such a shame because now they’re missing your books 🙂

  15. Breezy says:

    I love audio books! If available, I’ll listen to new releases from my favorite authors rather then read them (I do buy the ebboks too though).

    I’m a fast reader and audio books force me to slow down. The pace of the audio lets me savor each moment and I get completely absorbed in the book. And I can listen while doing productive things, which is awesome.

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