LATEST FROM MICHAEL’S BLOG
AUDIOBOOK NEGOTIATIONS
Michael Wisehart
6 February 2017
For the last month and a half I have been in negotiations with Podium Publishing, a prominent audiobook publisher in the fantasy and sci-fi genres. They contacted me back in December after seeing the overwhelming number of reviews my book was receiving, especially considering it was from a first time published author. They were excited by the fact that this would be a long-running series with books ranging from 600-700 pages in length.
After some steep compromises on both sides, we have signed contract in order to begin work on The White Tower: the first book in The Aldoran Chronicles series.
I am very excited with the prospect of publishing with a company who prides themselves on their quality.
One of my first assignments is to finish building an in-depth glossary of terms for the books. With this being epic fantasy, there are more than a few uncommon names and phrases that I will need to help a narrator pronounce.
One of Podium’s first goals is to see if they can land my first pick for narration. I had voiced my desire to see Tim Gerard Reynolds narrate, but with such an established name it can often prove difficult to impossible. – FINGERS CROSSED!
Hi Michael,
I just finished the audio of street rats. Wow! I could not stop listening. Think I’m going to give White Tower a try now. Give a ball park timeframe on the next street rats book please! I need more
Glad to hear you enjoyed the Street Rats audio. Tim Gerard Reynolds does a fantastic job with the narration.
I have recently re-written The White Tower. In fact I spent most of last year with a team of editors working on it. The second edition is out in ebook and paperback, and Tim Gerard Reynolds is scheduled to start re-recording the audiobook in March. If I were you, I’d wait to grab it until then. If you’ve already purchased it, there will be a free update once the book is completed.
If you don’t mind reading, I strongly suggest grabbing the ebook.
Sorry to say, but I don’t have a time frame for the next Street Rats book. I’m busy trying to finish up the second in the Aldoran Chronicles saga, which takes place roughly 20 years after the Street Rats.
If you don’t mind, don’t forget to leave a rating/review for the Street Rats on audible.
Much appreciated!
Have a great weekend,
Hey Michael,
I really enjoyed the first edition of White Tower and have been thinking about it quite a bit since I finished it several months ago. You have built a fascinating and believable world, great characters, and a unique magic system.
I’m curious why you felt like you needed to publish a second edition? My only critique might have been the very long and painful to read torture scenes. But those really only served to make the payoff that more satisfying.
I also just finished Street Rats so now sitting here with 2 Aryion cliffhangers!!
Hey Aaron,
I’m glad you are enjoying the story and that the world building made an impact. I’m getting very close to a locked script for the next Aldoran Chronicles book: Plague of Shadows.
The reason for a second edition was that when I first published The White Tower, I didn’t have the budget to actually have the book properly edited. All I was able to afford was a single copy editor, whose job it is to try to clean typos. But once I had the money, I put together an entire team of editors, including: content/developmental editor, line editor, and 3 copy editors. The second edition has smoothed out the writing, making the characters stronger, more consistent, their interactions more realistic.
Tim Gerard Reynolds is scheduled to start production on the second edition of TWT this month and it will be sent out as a free update in June. Also, he is scheduled to start recording Plague of Shadows in July, and it is set to launch in October.
Michael I just finished white tower on my audible books list. When is book 2 going to be on Audible? Very anxious to continue your Series
Hi Jan. Thanks for reaching out. There are some big things coming. The first two books in my Street Rats series, featuring Ayrion, will be out in audiobook next week. (Nov. 20th) Narrated by the wonderful Tim Gerard Reynolds.
Also, now that I have spent the last 7 months with a team of editors, re-editing The White Tower, Tim will be coming back on board to re-record the entire book.
I am also working on the second draft of the second book now, entitled Plague of Shadows. No set date for release.
If you haven’t yet done so, please consider leaving a quick review of The White Tower on audible. Every review makes a difference.
Have a great week!
Any idea where the 2nd one is on audible? The only 2 I see published by you on there are “The White Tower” and “Street Rats of Aramoor”
Hi Logan,
Are you referring to book 2 of the Street Rats of Aramoor? If so, my audio publisher decided because of the size that they would combine the first and second book together into one audiobook.
So, if you get the Street Rats you will be getting both Banished and Hurricane in one package.
Hope that helps.
I just listened to the first book street rats of aramoor and the second one isn’t combined with the first. How can I go about getting book 2 on audible?
Hi Keith,
As you know the Street Rats audio is the combination of the first two books, a decision by my audio publisher and completely out of my hands.
The audio combines Book 1: Banished and Book 2: Hurricane.
Banished is the story of Ayrion’s life in the Lost City and his journey down the Shemoa River to Aramoor.
Hurricane picks up from when he first arrives in Aramoor, and ends after his fight in the Pit. So if your audio starts with Ayrion climbing Howling Gorge and ends with him outside the Granary in Aramoor, then you have the complete audio.
There is only one audio file, which means there is no way to only get part of it. Let me know if that helps.
Thank you for your time that does help. Will there be a book 3?
I hope to see at least 6 books in this series.
Hi Michael, Wondering where things are with this? I am really excited to get this book in audio. I have not yet read it but loved some of the series it is compared to. Also wondering if you have heard of graphicaudio.net They produce books in a format that is as there tagline says, “a movie in your mind.” I just got the ebook shacled so am really wanted to get into the main series. Thans for the great work! Mike
Hi Mike. The audiobook is contracted and Tim Gerard Reynolds has signed on to narrate. His schedule is booked through June, however, so the finished product more than likely won’t be completed and launched until this fall.
I’m extremely happy you got Tim Gerard Reynolds to narrate your books! He does such an amazing job. Looking forward to everything. It’s very inspiring. Keep up the good work.
He’s the best!