Your opinion, please: audio books / podfics etc.

[joyful_molly]

Edited to add: the audio version of that one story won't be for sale; it will be available as a freebie on my website.

With the release of "The Radiant Boy" just around the corner (or two corners, considering there will be a print and an e-book version), I'd like to ask for your opinions, input and feedback regarding audio books / podfics.

I don't

Comments

[esteven]

Do you like them?
I see a reason for audiobooks to exist and I am glad they become more and more popular for anyone who has trouble or has not got the time to read. But...I only ever really listened to one...until I finally had the book. I also tried Patrick Tull reading O'Brian and *blasphemies* he irritated me no end.
So I guess my completely biased opinion is No

What do you expect?
That the story is read to me without trying to 'enact' the characters.

Hate?
see. What do you expect?

Do you prefer some music to go with it, or rather not?
Rather not, unless it comes in the form of an audio dramatisation, an audio play, which I like as long as they are not too long.

What format would you prefer?
Simply a CD

[joyful_molly]

Thanks a lot for your feedback! I see a trend for "just read it, don't act it" in the replies here, which is what I prefer as well.

Simply a CD

I'll burn you one. ;) It's not something I intend to sell; it will be a freebie on my website, an extra teaser. :)

[esteven]

I see a trend for "just read it, don't act it" in the replies here, which is what I prefer as well.
*nods*
I do not mean 'drone away to your heart's desire', reading with a certain emphasis to keep the listener awake will be fine. :D

I'll burn you one. ;)
You're such a gem. Thanks in advance.

[anteros_lmc]

Your post has made me realise that I have never listened to an audio version of a book before although I do listen to a lot of radio plays.

Like esteven I suspect I would prefer the text to be read rather than enacted but the narrator still needs to be engaging. However I probably wouldn't be averse to subtle use of music if appropriate. In terms of format I'd go for mp3.

[joyful_molly]

I prefer "just reading" as well, though I have to say that I loved Jack Davenport in the Kydd-series. I might be biased there, though...

Thanks a lot for your reply. The audio version of one story won't be for sale, by the way; it will be a freebie available on my website. :)

[anteros_lmc]

Well I will look forward to telling you what I think of my first audio book once it's on your website then! :)

[joyful_molly]

Deal! :-D

[chrisisthelawr]

Audio books have no use to me at all. Won't understand half of it, am not English, and I prefer reading it myself.

[joyful_molly]

Thanks a lot for your input. :)

[izodiea]

Dito what feroxargentea said. I used to listen to audio books while driving to school everyday, and I really preferred it to the radio.

I found I liked it best when music was only at the beginning and end of the disk/tape etc. Sometimes if it played between chapters and there was a long pause (I have a Hobbit tape that has a random 1 minute pause) I'd get confused and thick it was the end :(

[joyful_molly]

Thanks a lot for your feedback, especially about the music.

Sometimes if it played between chapters and there was a long pause

I can see how that would be distracting. I didn't think of that; if there should be music, it won't be right in the middle of the story.

The audio won't be for sale, btw. It will be available as a freebie on the website.

[joyful_molly]

Thanks so much for your feedback!

Audiobooks are a lifeline for blind/partially-sighted folk

That's one of the great advantages of audio, absolutely. If I had the voice to read, I'd do podfics of my fanfics for that very reason.

Yours is another voice in favour of "just reading, not performing"; I think that's the direction we'll take. The reader is a pro and I'm sure she'll do a perfect job. :)

(The audio version of that one story won't be for sale, it will be a freebie on my website, an extra teaser.)

[joyful_molly]

Thanks a lot for your comments. Heh, yes, I know how you feel. The audio books I own are basically nothing but voiceporn (I do have my shallow moments, I admit it...)

The reading will be done by a professional voice artist, who I know for ages and who knows me very well, so she knows how my writing would sound if you read it out loud.

I'd very likely give any reader hell

"Last Service" wouldn't be suitable for audio, I think. One is the reason you mentioned, and the other that it's the only one of the four stories who'd need a male voice artist. And as Jack Davenport is not very likely to be available... no, seriously, I don't think that one would work if read by a woman.

(It's not something I intend to sell, by the way; it will be a freebie on my website, an extra teaser.)

PS: I left my mobile at the office, so I can't take pictures. Cursed I be! I'll mail you tomorrow. Sorry about that!