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Showing posts from 2020

From Us To All Of You...

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A Thousand Pardons My Friends...

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Greetings one and all.  Sorry for the silence, but as you can guess I've been really busy on audio and writing projects.  Sadly, one of those projects will not come to light until this time next year. This would be the one I last posted about, namely "A Christmas Carol". Between trying to get the audiobook version of "Forever Haunted" completed, as well as a lengthy short story (I know that sounds weird, a short story being lengthy) over on our other blog "The Vampyre Blogs - Private Edition", as well as trying to deal with work and prepping for the holidays, time has not been very available for me.  So I'm planning on releasing my reading/performance of Mr. Dicken's classic for December 2021. It will be complete with voices and sound effects, along with royalty-free and public domain imagery from the internet. At the moment it seems to be coming in at a length of 5+ hours which is why I will be releasing it in staves (chapters) as Mr. Dickens

New Audio Project For the Holiday Season

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It's been a busy month for me, which is why I haven't been posting anything lately. Between editing "The Pass", my long-distance collaboration with my old friend Rich Caminiti and recording and editing Helen's 2nd book in her "Forever Detective Series", it's been hectic for me. On top of all that, I have been working on a new short story for our other site: "The Vampyre Blogs - Private Edition" (link:  https://www.thevampyreblogs.com/ ) The story will be a Christmas ghost story (an old English tradition), which I hope you will decide to check out when it is posted. (I promise to let you all know when that happens). Finally, as the title of this entry indicates, I've also started a new audio project that I hope to post on YouTube in December. What is it? Well, I'll be reading Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol".  Now I suspect some of you are already thinking "Oh great... ANOTHER production of that old story." So

"Forever's Too Long" Audible Now 1/2 Price at Amazon

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Hey Audiobook/Audible fans, Helen's first book "Forever's Too Long" is now on sale for 1/2 price (regular price $14.95 - now only $7.47) over on Amazon.  If you love vampires, noir/mystery detectives set in 1947, this is the one you've been waiting for. And a little FYI, I did the narrating and am recording on her 2nd book (coming this December) as we speak. So come and grab your copy, or gift one to a family member or friend. Just click on the link below to purchase: Link:  Forever's Too Long - Audiobook What listeners are saying over on Audible:  5 out of 5 stars Anonymous User 06-25-20 5 - Stars Good plot with smart characters Nice to have a story that isn't based on the inattention or inability of the protagonists.  Please continue releasing the series!

Blooper Reel Time

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As you all know, I've been busy recording audiobooks at home. I've already gotten "Forever's Too Long", my wife Helen's first solo novel, published on Audible where it received a 5-star review. So of course I was eager to turn another of her books into audio as well. So I began recording her second book "Forever Haunted".  Now having shared on this blog all the technical aspects that I use to record the books, I thought it might be fun to share one or two... um... a few? Oh hell, I make a LOT of mistakes and I run into some other 'obstacles' that I thought might help prepare you all for some of what you might encounter.  So, here's the first (of what I suspect will be a growing library) of my blooper outtakes... Now remember folks, "We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We

5-Star Review On Audible for "Forever's Too Long"

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5 out of 5 stars Anonymous User 06-25-20 OVERALL - 5 Stars PERFORMANCE - 5 Stars STORY - 5 Stars Good plot with smart characters Nice to have a story that isn't based on the inattention or inability of the protagonists. Please continue releasing the series! AMAZON LINK:  Forever's Too Long - Audio AUDIBLE LINK:  Forever's Too Long - Audible                                     And so it has finally happened, after months and months of researching how to make an audiobook, getting the equipment, rehearsing, learning how to control one's voice for quality, pacing yourself, being sure of clarity when you speak, consistency in volume, learning how to edit the recordings and meet ACX's requirements, and finally getting your work made available on Audible. This in and of itself is a huge achievement. But no one tells you about what comes next... Waiting to see the audience's reaction to your work. I don't mind

My First Narrator Performance Is Available Now On Audible

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Well, after all these months of posting about making an audiobook, it's finally happened... I am now the newest voice actor over on Audible! To be honest, the reality of it is still kind of sinking in for me. We got the word on Tuesday, the day before Helen's and my 31st wedding anniversary. And it just seemed so perfect in so many ways. As you all know Helen wrote "Forever's Too Long" as her first solo novel, and she had me do the artwork for the cover. We've always been a team and we've always support each other in so many ways, so seeing this culmination of her writing skills, combined with my penchant for voices become a reality on the eve of our wedding anniversary just seemed so appropriate. To be honest, I'm still in shock over here. The idea of being the voice for an audiobook had been simmering in my mind for about a year or two before I actually tried it. A co-worker of mine who knew and loved our Para-Earth books kept tellin

****RELEASE DAY - "Forever In Deep****

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Book 3 of the Forever Detective Series is now available Rafael Jones is always a little out of his depth in rural settings, but he's not just a detective, he's also undead. He can't ignore the call from the Saratoga County coroner when she mentions the bite marks found on several drowning victims during the spring and summer of 1947. However, he knows his weaknesses (sunlight, running water, and a woeful lack of country manners), so he isn't working alone. His slowly developing powers and quick wits may not be a match for something old, strong in magic, and completely cursed. Available now in all e-book formats for $3.99 at: Kindle link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0894513Y4 Nook:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-in-deep-helen-krummenacker/1137077012?ean=2940164087760 Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/forever-in-deep Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1024000 Kindle UK Link:  https://www.amazon.co.u

Blog Tour - Demon Tracker by A. J. Alexander

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Today we are proud to be part of A. J. Alexander's "Demon Tracker" Blog Tour, where we introduce you to the author and the third and newest installment to her 'Council of Twelve' book series. Let's start with getting to know the author herself, Miss Aurora Jean Alexander: Thanks for joining us today Aurora, tell me what is your e-reading device of choice? I'm reading on a Kindle Paperwhite Describe your desk what does it look like? I have a computer desk with a laptop and an extra monitor, a multifunctional printer device and books, papers, paper sketchbooks and pens, pens, pens. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing? My upbringing does not have any influence on my writing. I'm writing fantasy and paranormal romance. When did you first start writing? I’m not sure there ever was “a start”. I learned to write at the age of four and I remember developing little stories since I’m a Kindergarten kid.

My 1st 'Voice Actor' Performance Is Now Available...

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My first 'Voice Actor' performance "Forever's Too Long" is now available as an unabridged audiobook, exclusively through the author's webstore.  You have a choice between MP3 Downloadable Zip File for $12.99, or if you prefer available as a 4 CD set for $20.00 (which includes shipping).                        This book has already been earning rave 5 Star reviews both locally and internationally in audio, paperback, and e-book forms: 5.0 out of 5 stars - Well-crafted and hard to put down  Reviewed in Canada on November 12, 2019  Format: Paperback  "Relatable characters, evocative scenery, and engaging dialogue make this book a lot of fun to read..."  5.0 out of 5 stars - A Great Twist  Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2019  Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase  "This is an interesting take on both hard-boiled mysteries and urban fantasy..."  Diane Bouse rated it 5.0 out of 5 sta

ACX Results On My First Audio Submission

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Finally heard back from ACX. Two issues came up. I didn't leave enough "Room Tone" (silence) at beginning and end of every chapter. They want .5 to 1 second of silence before first word spoken, then 1-5 seconds of silence after last word spoken. Easy fix. The other issue, I included the closing credits and the last chapter in one file. They wanted them separated, another easy fix.  Otherwise, they had no other problems with the files. Volume, clarity, technical requirements of the audios themselves, all of that was fine.  I will be making these corrections, if I haven't already dealt with them on my own. After that... still going to follow our own path at this point and make CD's and downloadable MP3's from our websites.  and  Why? Because Audible has an "exclusive" clause that says only they get to produce the audios, and they do not make CD's. They only produce Audible versions, and as we've been told

A Tough Decision Being Made...

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After our last entry asking about making other options available such as CD's and downloadable MP3 files of our books for audio, we've learned that if we go with Audible they have the "Exclusive" right to produce the audio. It also clearly states in the agreement that neither we, nor anyone else, can create audios of the books in ANY format.                                     And this does not just apply to us. At our local library we found some of Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" on CD. However, it seems they were all made before the books were transferred to Audible. Since then no new CD's have been made. Allan even went as far as to check on Amazon and found the only  CD copies available are used ones for the earlier books. There do not appear to be any CD's for the more recent installments of that series, only the Audible version. So what does that mean for us? That is where the tough decision is being made. After much researching