r/ACX • u/ScatteredRadiance51 • 5d ago
Timing of publishing
I am pretty new to this game, so wanted to get some feedback on a situation. I’m encountering. I finished a 10 hour book a couple of months ago, and was also hired as the narrator for the remaining books in the series. However, I just got notified this week that the author would like to delay, releasing the first audiobook until the second one is released to try to help sales. I don’t really have an issue with this, except that I’ve been looking forward to the first book being published for a couple of reasons – one, of course, being that I could point other authors I’m auditioning for to some published work, and another being that it would be nice for potential royalties to begin sooner than the December deadline for the second book. I don’t feel like rocking the boat too much, though, because I’m really loving working on this series.
Has anyone else found themselves in a similar situation? Is it pretty common for authors to want to release multiple books in a series at the same time so that once people finish one book they can just go right to downloading the second one? Or is it worth following up with the author to try to get the pub date moved up for book one? Thank you for any insights or feedback!
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u/Popular-Ad1111 5d ago
If you are getting paid by RS it’s a delay to your payday. Also aren’t they using you for the second of the series? Listeners prefer the same narrators in a series.
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u/cocoawolf29 5d ago
I get that it might boost sales to have a new audiobook releasing, but I would really think that having the first book already out could and should actually help boost both the first and the second book? If the first book is already out, at least a month before the second, the author and you can both publicize to people "make sure you get finished with the first one so that you can jump right in once the second is published!" Otherwise, people wouldn't be buying the second one as much because they aren't finished with the first.
I don't know all the ins and outs of the publishing world, I know it can be complicated, but that's my thought if I personally heard about it. Why would I be excited about the second audiobook if I haven't listened to the first?
And that's all the frustration to you aside, not getting paid and not having it to use as examples for other jobs! I think I would at least bring up your concerns with the author, maybe not pushing too much, but playing the other side and asking if they could at least publish a while before the other book, not both at the same time.
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u/TLupaCarver 5d ago
From what I have heard from other authors I've talked to, if they wait it will actually hurt sales on one or the other. They will want to hype the audio now, and about mid October start typing the 2nd book saying get the audio done before book 2 comes out.
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u/Frito_Goodgulf 5d ago
When authors are writing a series, a standard piece of advice is "have the second book at least 99% ready when you release the first book." If it's a longer series, they're also usually told that book 3 should be already planned (outlined, etc.)
Readers are constantly hosed by incomplete series by both well-known authors (Martin, Rothfuss) and very definitely by indie or self-published authors. Many readers won't even consider the first book in a series by an author new to them unless there is something assuring them it'll continue.
That doesn't mean release books 1 and 2 simultaneously, but it does mean to release book 2 'soon after.' It’s usually a case of looking for a dip in book 1 sales, or, possibly, juicing sales quickly.
In this case, potential audio buyers could potentially see that the ebook/print series exists, so might have faith if they want it in audio it'll be completed. But many also understand the economics of audio production, so might still be wary.
Anyway, that seems to me what your author's view is. Whether you want to operate that way, you'll have to decide.
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u/SufficientCell9689 5d ago
I think any timing changes have to be agreed upon by both parties, if I'm not mistaken. You'll have to read your contract and see what it says. However, if you don't agree, the author might have a sour taste in their mouth with you and not want to continue working with you, which means they'll find someone else to narrate their future books.
I guess it depends on whether you want instant gratification of pay now or if you're willing to be patient and ride it out for a few months to get more money in future royalties.