Question 1

How do you match narrators to my book?

Accepted Answer

You hear three to five narrator voice samples matched to your book's genre, tone, and character demographics. We coordinate the casting, contracts, and scheduling. Most authors pick the right narrator within the first three samples. We re match if the first round does not produce a strong fit.

Question 2

Which platforms will my audiobook reach?

Accepted Answer

Audible (through ACX), Apple Books, Spotify Audiobooks, Google Play Books, Kobo, and institutional library systems including OverDrive and Hoopla. Distribution covers the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France markets through ACX, plus everywhere else through Findaway Voices when you choose non exclusive distribution.

Question 3

What is ACX exclusive vs non exclusive distribution?

Accepted Answer

Exclusive ACX distribution pays 40 percent royalty on Audible only and locks the book to Audible for 7 years. Non exclusive pays 25 percent on Audible plus full reach across every other platform. Most indie authors come out ahead non exclusive once total reach is factored in. Exception: deep Audible specific marketing strategies sometimes favor exclusive.

Question 4

How much does audiobook production cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing is per finished hour (PFH) which is the runtime of the final audiobook. Rates run 250 to 1,000 dollars PFH depending on narrator experience. A typical 60,000 word novel runs about 6.5 finished hours, landing the project between 1,500 and 6,000 dollars total. Royalty share with vetted narrators reduces upfront cost in exchange for a long term split.

Question 5

What is royalty share and when should I use it?

Accepted Answer

Royalty share splits the audiobook royalty 50/50 between author and narrator for 7 years on ACX. The narrator carries the production cost upfront. Use royalty share when upfront cost would otherwise stop the project. Most vetted narrators will not take royalty share on first time authors without an existing audience or platform.

Question 6

Can I narrate my own audiobook?

Accepted Answer

Yes, especially for memoir, business books, and certain nonfiction where author authenticity carries the genre. Author narration requires a home studio meeting ACX standards (treated room, professional microphone, post production engineering). Nova provides a narrator coach and audio engineer for author narrated projects. Plan an extra 2 to 4 weeks of training and recording iteration.

Question 7

How long does audiobook production take?

Accepted Answer

Realistic timeline from final manuscript handoff to live audiobook is 8 to 12 weeks. Week 1 is narrator selection. Weeks 2 to 4 are recording. Weeks 5 to 6 are review and pickup recordings. Weeks 7 to 8 are mastering and ACX submission. Weeks 9 to 12 are ACX review and live distribution.

Question 8

Do audiobooks really sell?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fast. Audiobook is the fastest growing format in publishing, up double digits annually since 2017. For commercial fiction, business nonfiction, and self help, audiobook now represents 25 to 40 percent of total book revenue. Whispersync (Amazon's feature that lets readers switch between Kindle and Audible) roughly doubles audiobook conversion for readers who already own the ebook.

Audiobook Production Services