Note to Audiobook Fans

There have been a few challenges to continuing the audiobook series for the Silver Ships.

The first issue was that Grover Gardner accepted a full-time senior producer position with Blackstone Audio. He can no longer continue to read the series.

However, I’ve found a narrator who I believe rivals Grover’s style. Her name is Susanna Burney. She has finished the work on the “SADEs” audiobook and will complete the series. I truly enjoy her voice.

The second challenge was that ACX, the back end to Audible, had a “glitch,” as I was informed by support. It took me twelve days to find someone to correct the error so that I could begin the upload of the completed audio files. To be fair, the continuing effects of the pandemic on businesses has forced the ACX support team to work from home.

You’d think that would be the end of it but no. Amazon, ACX, and Audible, like all businesses, are suffering the ramifications of the pandemic. Today, I was told by support that the processing time for the “SADEs” audiobook files to be available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes will take approximately thirty days.

I’ll keep you informed. Stay safe out there!

16 thoughts on “Note to Audiobook Fans

  1. als parker

    thanks for th info, I really must try an audio book and where better to try than the silver ships series

    Reply
    1. Scott Jucha Post author

      Personally, I’ve never listened to one. Now, I’m so busy creating my own stories, I wonder if I’ll ever have time to listen to another author’s. Maybe in my retirement? Oops, I’m already there!

      Reply
  2. Bob Runk

    Thank you Scott for your sharing the complexity in the backend of making an audio book AFTER you have done your magic of creation of the continuing the classic series. I am sure your choice of narrators will be just as stellar
    As always I/ we look forward to what looks to be the best book of the Silver Ships treasure chest!
    Bob R

    Reply
    1. Scott Jucha Post author

      You’re welcome, Bob. I found out a lot more about ACX than I wanted to know, but I hate being left in the dark. And thank you for your support and generous comments.

      Reply
  3. FluffyCloudCake

    Worst April Fools joke ever. πŸ™

    Oh well, at least the audio version will continue. 30 days processing sounds ridiculous, though. πŸ˜€

    Reply
    1. Scott Jucha Post author

      I wish it was a joke, Renk. I’ve done my best to resolve the issues and keep the audiobooks flowing. As for ACX, I had to ask the tech twice to clarify what he’d said. I was sure he was giving me the worst case scenario. No, he pointed out that many people were staying home due to the pandemic, and it was giving them a great deal of time to record audio books and submit them. ACX is short staffed and the submissions they’re reviewing are more than double the weekly amount. Such is the world we inhabit at this time. πŸ™

      Reply
  4. Phil Picc

    So sorry so say that while the story was your usual excellence the narration was not. I almost stop listening. I beseech you to look for a story teller , not a narrator. I know I could not do as good a job as Sussana but please find someone with better voices and emotion.

    Reply
    1. Scott Jucha Post author

      Nicole Poole, who narrated the Pyrean series, has read the “Earthers” manuscript and will finish the Silver Ships series. Having some training/experience in sound engineering, I’m handling the audio editing of the files for upload to ACX, the back end of Audible. Processing the files will save me half of the usual $8.8K costs of an audiobook. The audiobooks for “Earthers” and “Talus” should be available in mid-September and mid-October, respectively.

      Reply
  5. Julius Chisolm

    I have been following both series from the very beginning and love them.
    I am eagerly looking forward to your next contribution to my joy keep up the good work. Thanks

    Reply
    1. Scott Jucha Post author

      Thank you for your support, Julius. At this point, listeners are at the mercy of ACX. The back end of Audible, ACX, has had the β€œEarthers” files since August 31st. I’m waiting for the ACX processing team to either approve and publish the audiobook or notify me of file errors. According to my contact with them, processing times are elongating because of a greater number of audiobook submissions. Obviously, Amazon isn’t expanding the size of the support team.

      Reply
  6. Jason Sutton

    Scott, its great to know that “Earthers” is with Audible already. I’m sure you are receiving more messages from your Reader/Listener base than usual, and may be finding yourself progressing with the series a little faster than expected due to the current climate; so have some form of appreciation of the additional submissions that Audible are receiving.

    Keeping my fingers crossed that the ACX backlog will get cleared sometime soon, keep up the good work.

    Reply
    1. Scott Jucha Post author

      Apparently, ACX insists on using their “30-business-days” review period. For “Earthers” that period is up this Friday or next Monday, 10/12/20, depending on how you count the days from my submission. If ACX consumes the full 30 days for “Talus” that audiobook should be released by 11/3/20. Of course, if ACX goes past their 30-day review period, an indie, such as myself, has no other option but to wait, as do my listeners.

      Reply
      1. Craig

        That’s a shame, just binged all the audiobooks and would have loved to jump into “Earthers” and “Talus”, but there’s still no sign on Audible,

        To be honest, I really didn’t like Susanna Burnley’s reading, it felt very rushed and it was much harder to distinguish the characters. Some of the character’s statements came across as ‘snider’ (particularly Miranda) than previously, and it really felt like it was being “read out” rather than “told”. I appreciate it’s hard to follow Grover Gardner for many (I highly recommend his reading of “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”), but I found Nicole Poole to be my favourite of all three by far.

        As such, I’m delighted you’ve decided to go back to her for the next books!

        Reply
        1. Scott Jucha Post author

          For indies, audiobook are nothing simplistic like the launching an ebook or print book on Amazon. At this time, it’s unfortunate that Amazon hasn’t added more staff to ACX’s review process. The company has had “Earthers” files for a month and a half, and “Talus” files for three weeks. πŸ™

          Reply

Leave a Reply to Scott Jucha Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *