"IS IT LIVE OR IS IT MEMOREX?"

             

                                         THE RISE OF AUDIOBOOKS

IT COMES AS NO GREAT SURPRISE TO ME THAT AUDIOBOOKS OR NOT ONLY TRENDING BUT APPARENTLY HERE TO STAY. BOOK SALES OR DOWN BUT AUDIO BOOKS ARE THRIVING PER CNBC.COM DUE TO THE RISE OF EBOOKS AND E-READERS. ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SMARTPHONE’S HAVE PROPELLED THE RISE OF AUDIOBOOKS AND GUESS WHAT ELSE? THEY ALSO HELP PODCASTS AND PODCASTERS. 

ALSO ANOTHER INTERESTING ARTICLE, A PUBLISHED INTERVIEW FROM WNYC, STATES THE POWER OF LISTENING: EXAMINING THE RISE OF AUDIOBOOKS. BEFORE I RESEARCHED ANY MATERIAL FOR TODAY’S SHOW, I ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS BEFORE I READ WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT.

THE TRUTH IS MOST READERS PREFER OPTIONS, THE SAME AS WITH EVERYTHING IN LIFE. 

WHO GOES TO A RESTAURANT AND DOESN’T EXPECT TO FIND A VARIETY OF ITEMS LISTED ON THE MENU, FAST FOOD OR FANCY ESTABLISHMENTS? THE SAME THING APPLIES TO GROCERY STORES, CLOTHING, MOVIES MUSIC, ETC. WE CRAVE DIVERSITY WHETHER WE UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OR NOT. THUS IS WHY TODAY’S DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS THE TOPIC OF AUDIOBOOKS. DON’T TUNE ME OUT YET BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. 

THE SURGE IN POPULARITY OF THE AUDIOBOOK HAS SEEN A RISE OF ABOUT 19.5 CENT PER UNIT SALES ACCORDING TO AMERICAN PUBLISHERS. THIS TRANSLATES TO 1.77 BILLION IN DOLLARS. WOW! YES INDEED.

THERE IS A REASON FOR THIS PHENOMENON FOLKS AND I’LL TELL YOU WHY. NOT EVERYONE HAS TIME TO ACTUALLY PICK UP A  BOOK AND READ DURING THE WORK DAY OR WEEK FOR THAT MATTER. HOWEVER, THEY LOVE READING AND INTERMITTENT OR SPORADIC READING DOESN’T WORK FOR EVERYONE. THAT INCLUDES ME

AN AVID READER MYSELF WHO IS EMPLOYED FULL-TIME, PRIOR TO THE EVOLUTION OF AUDIOBOOKS, I FOUND MYSELF BINGE READING EVERY CHANCE I GOT. AS MUCH AS I LOVED BOOKS AND READING THEM, I HATED THIS METHOD. NOT ONLY DID I FEEL RUSHED BUT ALSO IT TOOK THE ENJOYMENT AWAY FROM ME. A FEW YEARS BACK I DISCOVERED AUDIOBOOKS, PRAISE THE LORD!

NOW I HAVE A CONVENIENT TOOL IE… A DOWNLOADABLE APP TO MY SMARTPHONE, TABLET, OR COMPUTER THAT ALLOWS ME TO LISTEN WITH EASE. 

PERSONALLY, I LOVE THIS FEATURE BECAUSE I CAN LISTEN ON THE GO AND DO MOST DAYS. I AM A COMMUTER SO I RIDE THE BUS, AND IT IS THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR READING AND TUNING OUT THE WORLD AND TUNING IN TO AN AUDIOBOOK.

 JUST ABOUT EVERY NEWS OUTLET IS TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS WAY OF READING IS TAKING OVER AND IS EFFECTING PUBLISHING IN GENERAL.

 I’VE TOLD YOU ABOUT HOW I LOVE READING AND GETTING FREE BOOKS. WELL MOST OF THE BOOKS OFFERED ARE NOT ONLY MULTI-FORMATTED, IE..EBOOKS, PAPERBACK AND MY FAVORITE, AUDIO. SWITCHING OVER FROM AVID READS TO WRITERS,

THIS IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL FOR INDIE PUBLISHERS. NOT ONLY CAN YOU PUBLISH ON YOUR OWN, BUT NOW CAN ALSO RECORD OR HIRE SOMEONE TO DO THE NARRATION FOR YOUR BOOKS. AUDIOBOOK CREATION EXCHANGE BETTER KNOWN AS ACX CATER TO AUTHORS WHO WANT TO SELF-PUBLISH THEIR AUDIOBOOKS. 

THE DEYAN INSTITUTE, WHICH OPENED IN 2014, OFFERS TRAINING FOR AUDIOBOOK PERFORMERS. AND AUTHOR’S REPUBLIC, OWNED BY AUDIOBOOKS.COM LAUNCHED LAST NOVEMBER TO HELP SELF-PUBLISHED AUDIOBOOK CREATORS DISTRIBUTE THEIR WORK.

IF YOU EVER CONSIDER THIS OPTION THEN I INVITE YOU TO CHECK THEM OUT.

    I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS FORMAT OF READING, WELL LISTENING WHILE BEING READ TO. BUT FOR ME IT HELPS TO BRING THE STORY TO LIFE. MORE SO THAN IF I READ THE ACTUAL BOOK. I’VE LISTENED TO HUNDREDS OF TITLES AND WHAT I FOUND IS THAT I’M ENTERTAINED BY THE NARRATORS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE GOOD ONES. I KNOW WITH THE STEADY RISE OF AUDIOBOOKS, THERE REMAINS A SKEPTICAL FEW. MAINLY BECAUSE THEY CANT GET PAST FIRST OF ALL BEING READ TO, AND SECONDLY HEARING A MALE PERFORMING A FEMALE PART OR VICE VERSA. MY ADVICE TO THESE SKITTISH READERS IS TO GET OVER YOUR HANG-UPS, DOWNLOAD AN AUDIOBOOK, AND ENJOY A GREAT STORY.

YOU ARE SO MISSING OUT, LIVE A LITTLE; I PROMISE YOU WILL LOVE IT.

I REALIZE SOME PEOPLE MAY STILL WANT TO ARGUE THE POINT THAT PAPERBACK SUPERSEDES A RECORDED BOOK ANYTIME. WELL I DISAGREE, BECAUSE WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNG THEY ENJOYED BEING READ TO. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO LOVED LISTENING TO RECORDED STORIES AS WELL. 

TEDDY RUXPIN, AN AUTOMATED BEAR WHO’S MOUTH AND EYES MOVED AS HE READ TO YOUR CHILDREN WAS VERY POPULAR BACK IN THE DAY. I BOUGHT MY KIDS ALL TYPES OF BOOKS AND ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS PUSH A BUTTON OR PULL A STRING TO ENJOY COUNTLESS HOURS OF THEIR FAVORITE STORIES. 

NOT ONLY WAS I ENRICHING THEIR LIVES THROUGH BOOKS BUT FREEING UP TIME FOR ME TO READ ALSO.

FOR ME, LISTENING TO AUDIOBOOKS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF WATCHING A GREAT MOVIE WITHOUT VIDEO. I HAVE A SELECTION OF HUNDREDS BUT MY FAVORITE IS THE OUTLANDER SERIES NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE AUTHOR, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE NARRATOR AS WELL. 

DAVINA PORTER A VERY TALENTED ACTRESS, WHO PERFORMS TO PERFECTION. IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE OUTLANDER, SERIES THEN YOU ARE AWARE OF HOW MUCH OF HERSELF SHE LENDS TO THIS SERIES AND BRINGING THE BOOKS TO LIFE. THESE BOOKS ARE SO DEEPLY SEATED IN THE SCOTTISH CULTURE AND HISTORY. EACH PART IS ACTED OUT FLAWLESSLY, MALE AND FEMALE PARTS. THE NARRATION IS SO GREAT THAT NO DETAIL OF THE STORY IS LEFT TO CHANCE. THIS IS WHY I LOVE AUDIOBOOKS. IT’S LIKE WATCHING A LIVE STAGE PERFORMANCE IN STEREO. IT’S BETTER THAN READING THE STORY YOURSELF. 

NOW I’M NOT SAYING NOT TO BUY OTHER BOOK FORMATS, SIMPLY BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS. COME ON NOW, WHEN YOU WERE IN GRADE SCHOOL AND IT WAS READING TIME, WHO DIDN’T LOVE TO HAVE THE TEACHER READ AND ACT OUT ALL THE PARTS OF THE CHARACTERS? RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU AGREE. WELL AUDIOBOOKS IS LIKE THAT. AND YES I AM TRYING TO SALE YOU ON THIS TYPE OF FORMAT BECAUSE I LOVE IT AND WANT YOU TOO AS WELL.

YOU MIGHT THINK MY ENTHUSIASM IS DUE TO A HEAVILY INVESTED INTEREST OR STOCK IN ONE OF THE COMPANIES. TRUST ME I AM NOT NOR DO I HAVE ANYTHING TO GAIN BY BEING THE PERSONAL SPOKE PERSON FOR AUDIOBOOKS OR OTHERWISE. MOREOVER, IT’S ONLY THAT WHEN I REALLY LIKE ANYTHING I WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO TRY IT AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN.

 I AM A HUGE PROPONENT OF READING BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, AUDIOBOOKS IS MY WAY OF PROMOTING LITERACY. IT MIGHT BE HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE EVERYONE IS UNABLE TO READ. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES THEREFORE MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP IN BECOMING INTERESTED IN READING ANYTHING. FOR INSTANCE, A PERSON WHO HAS LIMITED SIGHT ABILITY, THIS IS THE PERFECT READING TOOL FOR THEM.

I HAD A FAN ASK ME WHO SUFFERED FROM THIS DISABILITY, IF MY BOOKS WERE AVAILABLE IN AUDIOBOOK FORMAT, AT THE TIME I HADN’T TRIED THEM BUT HAD HEARD MUCH ABOUT THESE TYPE’S OF BOOKS. I’M IN THE PROCESS NOW OF AUDITIONING PRODUCERS FOR MY TWO EARLIER BOOKS, “ROOM IN THE ATTIC,” AND “LOVE UNREQUITED.” ALSO MY LATEST “IF TOMORROW COMES, REQUIEM BOOK 1”) NOT THAT IT'S FINALLY RELEASED.

GETTING BACK TO THE POINT I’M TRYING TO MAKE, WHICH IS SHE AND ANYONE ELSE NO LONGER HAVE TO STRAIN THEIR EYES TRYING TO READ, INSTEAD CAN NOW LISTEN AND ENJOY THE BOOKS THEY LOVE THROUGH NARRATION. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS A PERSON WHO ISN’T GREAT WITH READING COMPREHENSION. THEY CAN READ, BUT DON’T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHEN READING THEMSELVES. AUDIOBOOKS IS ANOTHER WAY FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN BOOKS BY LISTENING. YOU KNOW AUDIOBOOKS MIGHT BE WIDELY POPULAR DUE TO SMARTPHONE’S BUT HAS BEEN AROUND IN OTHER FORMATS FOR A LONG WHILE. 

WHO REMEMBERS AUDIO TAPE RECORDERS? I KNOW THEY ARE OBSOLETE NOW WITH ALL THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS REPLACED THE TAPES AND COMING OUT DAILY. BUT AT ONE TIME AUDIO CASSETTE BOOKS WERE THE COMPANIONS OF PAPERBACK BOOKS.

YES IF THE BOOK WAS LENGTHY IN PAGES THIS MEANT THE NUMBER OF CASSETTES WOULD BE MULTIPLIED AS WELL. I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY WHY MANY PEOPLE LOST INTEREST IN THEM.

NEVERTHELESS, AUDIOBOOKS OF TODAY RANGE FROM A FEW HOURS TO FORTY-FIVE HOURS, OKAY I DO REALIZE THIS IS A STRETCH FOR MOST READERS BELIEVE ME I KNOW AND I LOVE IT. 

I WORK IN FINANCE FOR A MAJOR HOSPITAL AND MY JOB IS SORT OF MONOTONOUS AND LISTENING TO AUDIOBOOKS HELP TO KEEP ME FROM BECOMING BOARD. I DON’T MIND THE REPETITIVENESS OF MY DAILY OCCUPATION SO MUCH, AS LONG AS I’M ABLE TO LISTEN WHILE I WORK. IT’S NO DIFFERENT THAN LISTENING TO MUSIC FOR SOME PEOPLE. INSTEAD I LIKE BEING ENGAGED IN A GREAT STORY WHILE I’M POUNDING THE KEYS.        

AUDIBLE- A PARTNER OF AMAZON HAS SO MANY BOOKS AVAILABLE IN EVERY GENRE IMAGINABLE. NOT ONLY THIS BUT OFFER A THIRTY DAY FREE TRAIL FOR EAGER READERS. WHO CAN AND SHOULD NOT PASS OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY LISTEN FOR FREE BUT TO THEIR FAVORITE AUDIO COMPANION BOOK. 

AMAZON KINDLE UNLIMITED IS ANOTHER WAY TO ENJOY UNLIMITED READING FOR ONLY 9.99 AN MONTH. THIS INCLUDES UNLIMITED BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS ON ANY READING DEVICE. THIS COMPARED TO AUDIBLES MONTHLY PLAN IS A BETTER DEAL MONEY WISE AND THE AMOUNT OF BOOKS YOU’RE ABLE TO READ.

LISTEN FOLKS THERE IS JUST NO EXCUSE WHEN IT COMES TO READING OR THE EASE OF AUDIOBOOKS. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I AM NOT SURPRISED BY IT’S POPULARITY OR HOW IT IS STEADILY GROWING AS THE LOGICAL CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO BOOKS. WE’VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE ON AN EARLIER EPISODE “PAPER VERSUS PLASTIC” WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF EBOOKS OVER PAPER BACK BOOKS. WELL AUDIO BOOKS IS EVEN BETTER! EVEN FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T FOLLOWED TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE THEY THINK IT’S THE DEVIL. YOU STILL HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THE PORTABILITY IS HANDS DOWN THE BEST THING SINCE YOUR MAMA’S SWEET POTATO PIE. OKAY JUST KIDDING, NOTHING IS BETTER THAN THAT. 

BUT IF YOU’RE COMMUTING OR ON A LONG DRIVE, INSTEAD OF POPPING IN A CD OR LISTENING TO SATELLITE RADIO, HOW ABOUT SWITCHING OVER TO YOUR SMARTPHONE AND ALLOWING AN AUDIOBOOK TO TAKE YOU ON AN AMAZING JOURNEY.

 WHATEVER YOUR FAVORITE GENRE MIGHT BE, SIT BACK AND ENJOY BEING ENGAGED IN A BOOK FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR TRIP.