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Summary: By itself, chapter 13 would be worth the cover price.
Review: After my company produced three audio books, I found Words On Tape. I learned many of Judy Byers' tips the hard way. I wish I had found this book 2 years sooner. Even with my production experience, the new information I got from this book will save me lots of time, money and headaches on our next audio project. The chapter titled "Selling to Bookstores and Libraries" by itself is worth the cover price.
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Summary: Best toolkit I've found for successful audiotape development
Review: an excellent unique resource for developing and marketing your audiotape, lots of nuts and bolts how tos that I couldn't find anywhere else. From one who's been there myself I would highly recommend this. A real bargain!
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Summary: Self-Publishing Spoken-Word Audio
Review: Authors should spin off their books into audio products to wring maximum value out of their work. You will discover how easy it is to create and sell your own spoken-word audio tapes, CDs and downloads. Words on Tape guides you from initial planning through production to selling your new product. Judy Byers has been in the business since 1987. Prior to that she was a radio producer/commentator; she has a gorgeous voice. This is the only book on the subject and it is an outstanding step-by-step guide. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com
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Summary: Good book
Review: I am creating an audio version of my book "Futures For Small Speculators". I didn't know where to turn and various engineers were charging prices that were all over the board.I didn't know where to begin, then I found Ms.Byers book. It was a God send. The language is plain and concise. The chapters are broken down in such a way that you immediately understand the logical progression of how to make a Spoken Word Audio Cassette or CD. I would recommend this book to anyone.If there is one detraction, it is the fact that she doesn't go into too much depth on how you can create your own audio cd's from your computer. With technology developing as fast as it has, this is becoming more of a reality.
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Summary: Good start
Review: I am in a group with over 4,000 people and frequently record tapes for my downline. These include many how to's on sponsoring, training, attitude etc. Many people have suggested that I go national and offer these tapes to the masses. Judy Byers book was recommended to me as the resource to use. The book is a little dated but still offers powerful information. I had a basic understanding on what to do before reading Byers book but came away with much information. My only question is why Ms. Byers does not offer this program on audio?
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Summary: A must-read if you want to enter the audio publishing arena
Review: I received the book on a Friday and could not put it down until I finished it on Monday; cover to cover. It was the most information on the audiobook industry that I have found in one place since I began my research 6 months ago. Actually, it contains more information than all the other resources I have been able to locate combined. I especially like the Resources Section at the end of each chapter. It is a wonderful reference for neophytes like myself. It clearly presented the publishing process as well as the obstacles that a start-up audio publisher will encounter. Although the focus seemed to be toward the self-publisher, it was still extremely informative for me as a future (hopefully!) publisher of fiction written by others.
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Summary: Great Book--Could Be Updated
Review: If you're contemplating entering audio publishing--creating audio books-- and you're not sure where to start, I'd recommend "Words On Tape." The book discusses the basic steps to create an audio product--preproduction (creating the script), production (recording), and postproduction (editing and mastering the tapes, duplication, and packaging). Byers emphasizes the need to plan. Lack of planning leads to higher expenses. She advises creating a solid script and rehearsing it before entering the studio. Many publishers of audio books will hire professional voice talent to read. Byers discusses hiring union or non-union voice talent. And, she provides a very basic contract that a small audio publisher can use which states that talent allows his/her voice to be used. (However, the contract could be significantly improved. For example, the contract should also read that the rights conveyed would also apply to any assigns of the publisher. So, for example, if the publisher sold the audio rights or his/her company, the purchaser wouldn't encounter any potential problems. For anyone working with publishing contracts, I'd also recommend the books by Jonathan Kirsch about publishing law.) Using 1997 values, Byers says the typical audio book might cost about $2,000 per finished hour, with a big chunk of that going to studio recording time and professional voice talent. Maybe, $70 per hour for studio time, and, maybe, $200 on up for voice talent per hour. And, Byers says to typically allow two to four hours of recording time for each hour finished product. Although not a technical book, for people who might try this themselves, Byers says a high-quality condenser microphone and DAT (Digital Audio Tape) should be used to make the recordings. Byers warns that recording directly to cassette creates too much hiss. (For the compulsive technology do-it-yourselfer who wants to know more about sound for advanced recordings, I'd also recommend "Audio in Media" by Stanley Alten.) Byers also discusses packaging of audio products, including vinyl cases and Norelco boxes (those little fold-out boxes that come with many audio cassette tapes). Also, Byers tells us a few interesting stories about creating audio. For example, Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen, creators of the "Chicken Soup For The Soul" Series have long been speakers and creators of audio. After telling us that Canfield earned over $100,000 a year from royalties from a self-esteem program long before he got into the soup, Byers relates a story about Canfield and Hansen trying to make a recording when things weren't going so well. They recorded into the night trying to get it right. Quoting Canfield, Byers relates: "But, when it really got funny was after dark. A cricket had somehow found its way into the wall in the studio, and began to chirp. We'd already been at the microphones for hours, so we were tired, but we only had three more pages to go. Our schedules were too tight to come back, so we'd say a couple of sentences, the cricket would CHIRP. Mark would run over and pound on the wall. Then, run back, we'd do another few sentences. CHIRP. Run to the wall, pound, back, record, CHIRP again. It went on like that until we finished...." (Can't blame the little cricket for wanting to break into the biz, I guess.) The book also lists many resources, although I didn't see as wide a selection of duplicators and equipment suppliers as might be desired. And, some of the resources are dated. Peter Hupalo, Author of "How To Start And Run A Small Book Publishing Company"
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Summary: Need to know People, Process, Profit? It's all here
Review: Judy Byers has developed Audio Book 101 class. This is the place to start if you are looking to start your business or take it to the next level. She names names and phone numbers too! Guess what, the contacts will even take your calls. Good luck..
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Summary: Excellent guide to producing books on tape
Review: Judy Byers is a nationally known consultant to publishing companies. She has specialized in spoken-word audio since 1987. Prior to that she was a radio producer/commentator for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and worked for U.S. radio and television stations. She owns Audio Cassette Producers in Denver, Colorado. The audio-cassette market collects over $4 billion a year in sales, and Words on Tape is an invaluable, fact-filled resource for anyone who hopes to insert themselves in this market. This 230-page trade paperback has a table of contents, an index, and offers multiple appendices, including a comprehensive list of resources, fill-in forms for audio production, and templates to use for audio cassettes. The subjects covered in the main body of the text include the following (with each chapter providing its own particular list of resources): (1) the market for audio publishing; (2) what sells and steps in production; (3) planning your project; (4) copyrights, contracts and ISBN's; (5) budgeting your time and money; (6) scripts and narrators; (7) choosing the right packaging for your audio book; (8) how the production studio works and how much time it takes to record a tape in the studio; (9) what happens at the time of recording; (10) editing the audio tape; (11) duplication and labeling; (12) marketing and sales; (13) selling to bookstores and libraries; (14) information on CD's. This book is a fascinating, extremely practical guide for anyone who has ever wondered what would be involved in getting their words on tape, from self-publishers, to mainstream-published nonfiction writers, to companies offering business seminars. In addition, many authors who have published fiction through mainstream publishers have found that it is an excellent marketing and promotion method to tape their own audio how-to-write-fiction lectures and market them to would-be fiction writers and fans. You can't miss with this book. Highly recommended!
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Summary: An invaluable resource for the Spoken Word Industry!
Review: Judy Byers' WORDS ON TAPE is an invaluable resource for anyone attemping to enter the spoken word industry. At first reading most of her information seemed obvious, at least that's what I thought, being a "know it all". It was only after I got into production difficulties that I went back and started rereading. Her book clarified my thinking, saved me money and when I got to the manufacturing and distribution phase of my project I knew to pay careful attention. I would have been lost without Judy. She's got the dope, she knows who is who in the business and she spared me weeks if not months of wandering around lost in the wilderness. M.D. Baer President/AUDIO MOVIES
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