Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) is an Amazon company that provides a web-based interface for indie authors to hire professionals to narrate books or upload their own narrations for self-publishing on Amazon, Audible and iTunes. This post provides an overview of ACX, discusses hiring a narrator versus narrating your own book and concludes with a recommendation on self-publishing audiobooks for new authors.
What Is Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX)?
Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) is an Amazon company that allows indie authors to self-publish audiobooks for sale on Amazon, Audible and iTunes. Authors can either hire a professional voice-over artist to record their book or record their own audiobook. ACX provides a web-based interface used to both hire narrators and to upload audio recordings and self-publish audiobooks.
Visit the website to see what the site offers.
Note that audiobooks appear for sale on Amazon alongside your listings for the Kindle e-book and Print on Demand (POD) paperback versions. This increases the credibility and presence of your book in all formats.
Hiring an Audiobook Narrator
Use the ACX interface to audition and hire voice talent to record and upload your audiobook for you. I’ve hired two narrators to record two short books for $350 and $800. That’s a lot of money to later have to recoup in sales revenue. I find hiring professional voice talent to be way too pricey for my budget.
For those with some extra money, read the author’s introduction to ACX.
The alternative…
Narrating Your Own Audiobooks
Use the ACX interface to upload your own chapter recordings to self-publish an audiobook. I’ve recorded and uploaded two audiobooks via ACX and it took a lot of time. You also need to purchase and learn how to use recording equipment and software. Worst of all… it takes you away from writing and self-publishing books.
For those with time on their hands, read the author as narrator guide.
Would you like to know what I think?
A Recommendation to New Self-publishers
If you’re a new writer, new to self-publishing, then you should not allow yourself to be distracted with self-publishing audiobooks. Hiring a narrator is expensive and doing it yourself is time-consuming. In my experience, you will best spend your time writing and self-publishing Amazon Kindle e-books as quickly as possible.
I’ll see you in the classroom,
—Brian
