I often think how nice it would be if the only thing an author had to do was to write. But in this day and age, being an author means doing your own publicity and promotions, finding an editor and proofreader, getting your covers designed, maintaining your website, keeping up your blog and mailings, and updating Facebook, Twitter, and any of the other social media sites you choose to play with. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something. Oh yes … and write!

Just when I thought I had it all down, along comes Audible. The company has actually been around for a while. I’m just catching up. Remember the days of Books-On-Tape? As a long-time bookseller, I was always getting free copies sent to me by the publishers, but in all honesty, I never listened to them. I preferred to read and, unlike many people, I didn’t have much of a commute, so I didn’t need something to take up my attention while stuck in traffic. But wait. I did listen to a Louis L’amour western once (yes, I like a good western). Or I should say I tried to listen to it. It was horrible. Instead of one narrator, they tried to make a production out of it using multiple voices and sound effects (“Watch out, Clem, they’re comin’ at ya.” Pow Pow. “I’ve been hit.”). Yikes! I was pretty sure even then that that wasn’t the norm though. Most are pretty well done.

Well, times have changed. Audible is the new generation of Books-On-Tape. Now you can read OR listen and switch between them. You can buy a Kindle book, then buy the Audible recording at a reduced rate, and be able to listen when you can’t read. And it will never lose your place on any device. You will always be right where you want to be. Read one minute, listen the next.

Which, of course, just adds yet another component to my already busy writing life. It is time to get my books onto Audible. Which means I have to audition narrators. My wife is holding out for James Earl Jones. Good luck with that.

Anyway, the auditioning is underway and I’ll let you know how it goes.