What's Happening ?

It's been a while since I had an update but behind the scenes here a lot has been going on.
The self-publishing industry has expanded so much this year that some of the major companies are merging their services, others are introducing new ones, and a few are closing down.

For me, as an imprint owner of Gizzard publishing, I've been reading manuscripts, doing some editing, and giving feedback to a group of first time Authors who have signed up to Gizzard Publishing and I am humbled to have the trust of these talented, amazing Authors. Towards the beginning of next year you will all get to read some of the wonderful, hilarious, often sad, works these Authors will bring to you.

My next Nick Benson novel hit an issue when my Mac died. I'm wise enough to know to back up everything, and I have moved my home office to another room now, and everything feels fresh, and invigorating.
Having taken a break from writing to focus on others, it has stirred up my imagination,  and I have generated a few more outlines for future books I hope to offer you next year.
For now, my plan is to finish 'Rogue' and bring it to market by the end of the year.

Thanks for subscribing, and following, and G+1's - I really appreciate you all.

Congratulations to Allure Magazine !

Allure Magazine has won this year's coveted award in publishing; Magazine of the Year - as voted by Adweek, With Editor Michelle Lee also bringing home the award for Editor of the Year.

Lee is the champion of the magazine's positive agenda to improve representation in magazine media; promoting how diversity can help heal divisions in society, and opportunities around new media.

Taking care to avoid accusations of tokenism, Allure is now one of the most racially diverse magazine brands in the US after its cover recently featured three Asian models.

Allure is a brand that represents beauty in every hue and is helping to frame the narrative of what people consider beautiful by broadening that exposure to all hues.

The Podcast interview with Michelle Lee is available here at SoundCloud

Read the full article here

OUR LATEST BOOK

Due to popular demand the After Dark series is now presented in a box set! 

What do you get up to After Dark? 

Women are more sexually liberated than ever before, in our lifetime. 

Women are at last confident enough to be able to sexually express themselves within the confines of the law, and without concern for any negative consequence of their actions. These short and sometimes incredibly graphic fantasies appear in random order. 
 We hope you enjoy them. 

More info here

WHAT OUR READERS SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK

 "Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. A really good, well-written book." Michelle Dean

"Have recommended this book to friends, I like how the stories are so varied." Dianne Gaskin

"Found this on an off chance - glad I downloaded a sample, I bought the book as it was really good." Sarah Lawrence

"When you want something to escape into, without too much to digest, this is one of those easy to read quick page turning books." Jane Green

"Never read anything like this before, gave it a try after downloading a sample. Others recommended to read after this box set look just as good." Anthony Charles

"Did the trick. If you want something erotic to read, this fits the bill." Dean Granger

Smashwords: Smashwords Enters Audiobook Market with Findaway Voices

Smashwords: Smashwords Enters Audiobook Market with Findaway Voices

Smashwords today entered the audiobook market via a partnership with Findaway Voices.

Over 100,000 Smashwords authors and publishers now have convenient access to audiobook production and distribution services.  The agreement gives authors and publishers greater control over audiobook pricing, rights, and distribution, and all without exclusivity or lockups.



Effective immediately, you'll notice audiobook creation options integrated into multiple stages of the Smashwords publishing workflow.  The new feature is visible in the Smashwords Dashboard, and also accessible at https://smashwords.com/audiobook. 

Start Your Audiobook Production Today

With a single click, you can instantly deliver your ebook and metadata into the Findaway Voices platform, at which point you’ll choose a password for your Findaway Voices account and begin the audio production process. 



Your first step is selecting a professional narrator.  You'll answer a short questionnaire at Findaway Voices about your audiobook’s desired emotional tone; the accent, dialect or gender preference for your narrator; the voice style; the heat level of the book; and information about the book’s main characters. 



The Findaway Voices casting team will then use this information to recommend a curated list of six to ten professional voice actors for your consideration.  Recommendations will include audio samples and hourly rates for each narrator.  From this list, you can request audition samples where narrators submit sample readings of your book.



There is no cost or obligation during the audition process. 



Production begins after you select your narrator and sign off on the production contract.  You will pay production fees directly to Findaway Voices.



To assist your budgeting, here are some rough guidelines:  Fees are based on the number of hours and minutes of the finished production.  Each hour of recorded content comprises roughly 9,000 words, which means a 26,000-word novella might run about three hours and a 100,000-word book would run about 11 hours.  Narrators typically charge between $150 and $400 per finished hour.

Global Audiobook Distribution

When production completes, you'll control all rights to the audiobook.  You'll also have the option to distribute your audiobook to Findaway Voices’ global network of over 20 sales outlets including Apple iTunes, Audible, Scribd, Kobo, OverDrive and Google Play.



Findaway Voices will pay you directly. 



If you already have a professionally produced audiobook, you can visit https://smashwords.com/audiobook to transmit your title's metadata to Findaway Voices, and then you'll see the option to upload your audiobook files to Findaway Voices for distribution.

No Exclusivity or Lockups

There’s no exclusivity or lockup period.  You'll enjoy full control over your choice of distribution outlets. 



You can remove your book from Findaway Voices’ distribution network at any time, and can also sell your audiobook anywhere else you please.



You set the price for single copy sales.  The various outlets operate under different sales models (single-copy sales, subscription listens, pay-per-use, etc.), which means the calculation for royalty rates will differ from one channel and sales model to the next.  

When Authors and Publishers Gain Control, Readers Win

When authors and publishers gain greater control over pricing and distribution, new opportunities arise to serve readers.



Audible, the dominant audiobook subscription service, provides subscribers one download credit per month with its $14.95 monthly subscription.  This credit system incentivizes value-conscious subscribers to download longer and more expensive books.



This credit system has the unintended effect of creating a void in the audiobook market for shorter or lower-cost audiobooks. 



Thanks to our partnership with Findaway Voices, it’s now more economically feasible for authors and publishers to invest in audiobook production for shorter books, or books that might carry lower prices.



I think this could be a boon for authors, publishers and consumers alike who want to enjoy lower-cost audiobooks, whether we’re talking novellas, shorter non-fiction, free series starters, or erotica. 

Why Audiobooks are Exciting

Audiobooks are the fastest-growing segment of the publishing market today.



I’ve long been a fan of audiobooks because they free up more hours in the day to enjoy books.  Unlike printed words on paper or screens which require the reader’s undivided attention to read, audiobooks can be enjoyed while the listener performs other tasks, such as when they’re driving their car, cooking a meal or taking a walk.



For the last few years, audiobooks have been the fastest growing segment of the book industry.   Sales for 2017 were up about 20% over the prior year.

Get Started Today

Smashwords authors and publishers can launch audiobook production today by visiting their Smashwords Dashboard or going direct to https://smashwords.com/audiobook.



If you’re not yet publishing with Smashwords, visit our How to Publish and Distribute Ebooks with Smashwords page to learn out our free book publishing and distribution services.  The moment you upload your ebook to Smashwords, you’ll see the option to launch audiobook production.



Happy listening everyone!