The audio deals keep coming
(I'm still waiting on print news)
Today’s newsletter is all audio, except for the Finn photo at the end.
I’m really struck by how technology shifts reading habits. Back in the day, audiobooks, like print books, had to be recorded and then distributed on a physical structure—records, cassettes, CDs, etc. The extra cost of creating the physical item meant few books were deemed cost effective for audio recordings. For a long time I figured none of my books would ever get audio versions.
Then iPods and mp3s (etc) changed the landscape. Now audiobooks are a huge and still growing market for readers who either prefer to imbibe books aurally or for whom audiobooks work well when they’re driving or doing some kind of work that allows them to listen to something else while they’re working.
Now there are audio originals as well as audio versions of print/e-books.
What that means for someone like me is that slowly but surely the backlist I once thought would never have an audio version is coming out bit by bit in audio. It’s a little extra money for me, and also a great way for readers to either re-visit an old favorite or venture into my older work they’ve not read yet. It also means work for all these excellent voice actors. I’ve been fortunate with the wonderful professionals who’ve been assigned to record my novels.
PROMISING NEWS: I can’t confirm or deny because there’s nothing official yet but it looks promising that the four Jaran books as well as the Crossroads Trilogy may be coming to audio format. I’ll keep you posted.
MEANWHILE, as I’ve mentioned multiple times, CROWN OF STARS is in the process of coming into audio. Initially Tantor Media bought the audio rights to only the first three volumes, and it’s due to readers buying those audiobooks that they followed up by purchasing the rest of the series.
I’m incredibly excited that books 6 and 7 come out this year: 6 in April and 7 in September. I thought the series was too long, and me not quite visible and saleable enough as an author, to be of interest in the current marketplace, but here we are. I adore the narrator, Shiromi Arserio, and the incredible narration she’s doing with the series.
Obviously the audio versions can be purchased at Audible (Amazon) or via Libro, which is an indie vendor. Recently another vendor, Audiobooks, has been featuring sales.
Here’s what’s up on Audiobooks right now:
Child of Flame at 50% off until 4/20.
The Gathering Storm at 50% off until 4/20.
Pre-order In the Ruins (pub date 4/17) and get two audiobooks free.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!
My two novellas, The Keeper’s Six and Servant Mage, are coming in a bundled version from Podium Audio (narrated by Sharon Freedman and Kate Rudd, respectively). They release on 4/17, the same day as In the Ruins (go figure) and the day before the US release of Furious Heaven. I just mention that because it’s kind of a lot, but regardless I’m thrilled to see my books available in other media forms.
You can pre-order the novella bundle at Podium Audio directly or via your usual audiobooks vendor, and of course you can request that your library carries it as well. Libraries are excellent!
APRIL 11 Powells/Cedar Hills Crossing 7 pm Co-Launch with Fonda Lee
I’ll send another reminder closer to the date, but my first public bookstore event since before the pandemic is almost upon us. I’ll be doing a co-launch with the great Fonda Lee at Powells/Cedar Hills Crossing (not the Burnside store) in the Portland, Oregon, area on April 11 at 7 pm.
At this even I’ll be launching Furious Heaven (a week early) and Fonda is launching Untethered Sky, a wonderful fantasy novella that I highly recommend!
We’d love to see you in person but if you can’t make the in-person event and want a signed copy, you can order one via Powells.
It’s been sunny the last few days but before that we had a run of winter storms (wind, rain, clouds) and Finn got very grumpy about truncated walks.
As always, I could not do this without you. Thank you.
Kate Elliott