Category: Audiobooks

June 30 Ends Audiobook Appreciation Month! Did You Leap?
Audiobooks · My Thoughts · Self-publishing

June 30 Ends Audiobook Appreciation Month! Did You Leap?

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
June is Audiobook Month

June 30—hard to believe, but now we face the end of Audiobook Appreciation Month. Did you leap? Did you download an audiobook or two and try it out? Listening on a drive somewhere? Or on a walk around the neighborhood or in the park?

I’ve featured my three audiobooks this month and my adventure in this area of publication. Hopefully you have had plenty opportunity to look them up and download one or two or three!

I ended up featuring my newest audiobook, This Tumbleweed Landed, and my first one, Let Me Tell You a Story on Father’s Day this month, so I’m going to end with my Christmas audiobook. Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir.

June 30, 2024 Made Me Think of My First Audiobook Recording Experience

Interestingly, in 2015 after I self-published my first book, This Tumbleweed Landed, in 2104, my cousin called and asked me if I had plans to do an audiobook of this book. She wanted to share it with my aunt and thought hearing the book in my voice would be delightful.

So, I began researching. I bought an e-book, Audiobooks for Indies: Unlock the Audio Potential of Your Book by Simon Whistler. Looking back at his book now, he suggested a Blue Yeti for a microphone, but I bought a Blue Snowball. I ignored his other suggestions which looking back now at this book after my training with Derek Doepker, I missed a lot.

Blue Snowball Microphone

On February 8, 2015, when I was at my home in Branson, Colorado, I went into the bedroom and recorded one part. I thought I still had that recording and was going to share it with you and compare it with the one I did recently. But the folder is empty—I deleted it! I must have done that when I decided to record it a few months ago.

The sad part—that’s the only time I used that microphone. I stepped away from creating audiobooks—it seemed too much, too hard! I couldn’t do it! It just wasn’t the right time.

Fast forward to 2021 when I bought Derek’s training, “Audiobooks Made Easy,” and started recording my first audiobook! I released my first one in early 2022, my second before Christmas 2023 and my third in early 2024. I’m so glad June 30 came and I looked back on this adventure! My message to you authors out there—don’t give up!

Here’s the audiobook posts this month in case you missed them:

With us facing July tomorrow, enjoy Christmas in July! Here’s some samples from my Christmas audiobook, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir. Enjoy!

Finally,

I have plans for more audiobooks, so which one should I do next? Let me know!

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover - June 30

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Let Me Tell You a Story audiobook cover - June 30

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook audiobook cover - June 30

Enjoy my interview on the podcast, The Writing Table

Virtual Voice for An Audiobook—Yes or No?
Audiobooks · My Books · My Thoughts

Virtual Voice for An Audiobook—Yes or No?

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
Microphone to record - Virtual voice

Virtual voice for an audiobook of mine? Yes, or no? KDP, Amazon’s self-publishing branch, sent me an invitation in November, 2023 to participate in a Beta version to do my eligible ebooks. Finally, a couple months ago, I opted in to do it. Let’s talk about the process.

I have recorded three audiobooks myself, creating a home recording studio in a walk-in closet in our master bedroom. Those titles are Let Me Tell You a Story, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir and lastly, This Tumbleweed Landed, listed below to purchase. Also, in 2022 I recorded another book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, but have only seven of thirty-one chapters revised in a final copy. That’s the year shingles hit me and I stopped mid-stream.

Recording an audiobook - Virtual Voice

I thoroughly enjoy recording my own books because I love re-reading them, being surprised and thrilled at my words and thoughts.

So, the idea of having someone else record my books didn’t appeal to me at first, but I love to experiment and I have been a “technology nerd” for years, so I thought I’d give it a try. I selected When Will Papa Get Home?, a historical fiction I self-published in 2017. I planned to do an audiobook for this book after I finished my Bitter or Better audiobook.

In the process of using KDP’s offer of a virtual voice, I received no email or notification it was done. I just finished a promotional for this book for Father’s Day and noticed the audiobook was in “Draft” format, so I realized they had done it.

Pick a Voice

Next, I went into the audiobook setup and had eight voices to choose from: five feminine voices and three masculine voices. Two of the feminine voices had British accents, so they wouldn’t work. All choices ranged in age from thirty to forty which seemed to work. I chose the seventh voice.

Audiobook cover

KDP offers to create a cover for the audiobook, showing a sample of the e-book and the audiobook, but it doesn’t show you what your cover will look like—lots of free offerings that make me wonder.

KDP Select Enrollment

Because my book is enrolled in KDP Select, automatically they enroll my audiobook in Audible Plus.

Pricing and Royalties

Next, they talk money. They give you the choice of setting the price. With the other audiobooks I’ve created, they gave a suggested price—not here. But they do give a price for the audiobook as a Standalone and then an eBook add-on price with royalties for all. Here they list the Amazon.com royalties and the Audible.com royalties which is 40% of the price. ACX.com also offers 40% royalties for audiobooks they distribute. FindAwayVoices.com offers the best royalties—80%!

Virtual Voice Studio

Finally, I arrived at the heart and soul of this setup—listening to how the virtual voice sounds speaking my words. When I heard my name, Larada, read, I realized I had to edit the pronunciation. So, I typed in “La Rayda” for the edit and it seems to be close to how my family pronounced my name. I have the option of editing the “Voice speed,” also. Also, I can add “Pauses” if need be.

This book has Spanish sprinkled throughout, and I just listened to sections that have some Spanish to see how the virtual voice did. On some of it, the pronunciation worked, but the word “hijita” didn’t because the “j” in Spanish sounds like “h.” Also the “i” in Spanish sounds like the English “ee.” So I’m going to have to do some major editing of this audiobook because of the Spanish words.

Finally,

I listened to snippets of several chapters. Yes, the Spanish pronunciation creates some issues, but for the most part, the feminine voice I selected sounds great and uses inflection to emphasis crucial points in the story.

I’m still not sure about this because of ownership rights to the audiobook. I need to do some more research because I don’t want to give up ownership to the audiobook. Their contract says, “you retain all ownership rights in and to the copyrights and all other rights and interest in and to your Books, and we retain ownership in the AVV (Audiobook with Virtual Voice) Edition file.”

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GWHSFAK69P2537YR

That doesn’t sound good to me at all! What do you think? Would you do it?

My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Buy Let Me Tell You a Story Audiobook

Buy Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Enjoy my interview on the podcast, The Writing Table

My Dad, Harold Horner!
Audiobooks · family · My Thoughts · Ranching

My Dad, Harold Horner!

Larada Horner-Miller1 Comment
My Dad, Harold Horner on Rusty
My Dad, Harold Horner, on Rusty

Meet my dad, Harold Horner, this Father’s Day, 2024. He was a lifelong cowboy who loved his a job dearly. Also Dad loved to dance! Here are two of my poems about Dad in written format and in audio format from my new audiobook, This Tumbleweed Landed.

Dad’s Special Move on the Dance Floor

Dancing with my dad at his 75 birthday party!
No one did it his way!
He slithered into the next move 
with a step like no one else, graceful and fun. 

He said he got drunk one night, stumbled, 
liked how it felt,
and decided to keep it. 

I wish one of his male offspring had learned it; 
one of his dancers, Bub or Wade, 
but it’s gone now—with Dad. I dream about it— 
the illusive move that felt so good and united me with him. 

Mom and I can do it!
But it just was not the same.
 It was his move!

Larada Horner, This Tumbleweed Landed, (Horner Publishing Company, 2014), 21.

Listen to the audio of this poem:

Memories of the Ranch

East of Branson, 
one-half mile starts 
the Horner ranch! 

My granddad put it together 
in the late 1920s— 
quite a feat during the Depression. 

Granddad and Dad worked side by side. 
Many years of 
a teamwork so instinctual 
words were not needed. 

Dad gave it his life, 
a life full of 
potential bodily harm
and deep, deep joy and satisfaction. 

Warmhearted memories abound... 
memories of our land, horses, cattle. 

Time three generations spent together: 
My granddad, 
my dad,
and Sue, Bub, and me.

Larada Horner, This Tumbleweed Landed, (Horner Publishing Company, 2014), 65-66.

Listen to the audio of this poem:

Finally,

Last week I shared a story about a watermelon rind fight from my new audiobook. This week I wanted to feature poems I wrote about my dad, celebrating Father’s Day. When I remember Dad, I smell leather and sweat. I see a man who wore a long-sleeved western shirt, jeans and boots every day out to the ranch. In the summer, Dad wore a straw cowboy hat; in the winter, he wore a felt cowboy hat. He prided himself on old-fashion morals and standards: be honest, a handshake was as good as a contract and family came first, above all else.

Because he had asthma, during World War II he had a 4F rating and couldn’t volunteer or enlist. So he helped the different ranchers in the area who had sons who went to fight. He shared many stories about the Dick Louden ranch and the fun he had there—it was his favorite!

He absolutely loved his life!

Dad died January 6, 1996—that date altered my life forever. When Father’s Day comes up every year, nostalgia sets in and I remember Dad. These poems share some of my heartfelt memories and feelings! Many people romanticize cowboys—I actually lived with one and saw who he really was—my hero!

Buy Let Me Tell You a Story Audiobook

Buy Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

When Will Papa Get Home? Cover - My Dad

Grab When Will Papa Get Home? this week for $.99 until June 20 on Amazon. A great after-Father’s Day gift!

Enjoy my interview on the podcast, The Writing Table

Listen—The Joy of Audiobooks!
Audiobooks · My Books · My Thoughts · Self-publishing

Listen—The Joy of Audiobooks!

Larada Horner-Miller1 Comment
Listen to an audiobook

Listen—that’s the joy of audiobooks. Sit back, grab a cool drink and find a shady place to sit this afternoon for a fun-filled experience of a watermelon fight!

Listen To A Section Of My New Audiobook

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover meme - liste

Listen to a section, “The Sting of the Rind” in of my new audiobook, This Tumbleweed Landed, which will be available in the next couple weeks at many distributors.

Yes, what an experience that was for me! I had sticky, gooey watermelon juice all over, then a ride in the back of a truck with loose hay dancing around down a dirty country road—a formula for a mess!

Listening Not Your Thing—Read!

The Sting of the Rind

“My goodness! What happened to you? Hay?” exclaimed my grandmother as she circled us.

“We had a watermelon seed and rind fight at the picnic; we rode in the back of a truck—with hay,” I said, softly fighting back tears. My brother quietly ducked in the door behind me.

What a week! My dad had gotten bucked off his horse on Thursday preparing for fall shipping of calves and was in the hospital with a broken hip. My brother and I were staying with my grandparents. I desperately wanted to go to the 4-H picnic tonight at the Winfords’—the social event of the fall for this country community. My uncle and aunt agreed to take us along with their six children.

The problem at the picnic arose around my dad. He was our club square dance caller, and we were to have a barn dance. He didn’t make it, but the watermelons did.

When we arrived, everyone asked about Dad—how he was, how bad he was hurt, whether he needed help. 

The warm October evening invited all outside once plates were filled with the delicious food that our potluck offered.

Sitting under the table seemed to be hundreds of watermelons; ladies chuckled. Being busy shipping time, everyone had brought watermelon for dessert.

Questions arose about what to do for the evening. We had brought Dad’s records—we could dance, but the records stayed in the case. It wouldn’t be the same without Dad.

It was time! Dessert—juicy, red watermelon cut in quarter pieces—waited in stacks. No forks or spoons—we just ate with bare hands, juice dripping down to our elbows. A second piece, a third, and more!

One timely seed spit at an innocent passing victim caused a full-fledged war, escalating into rind-throwing. All of us—high school to elementary—ran, threw, hid, and got hit.

Have you ever been hit with a watermelon rind? It stings like a bee bite.

Where were the adult chaperones? They stood well out of our range, enjoying our freedom to create an enjoyable activity and relieved they didn’t have to entertain us.

This battle went on, and I managed pretty well, being hit enough to be thoroughly sticky. Everyone I looked at had plastered hair, faces, and clothes.

On the trip home we rode in the back of my uncle’s truck. The truck bed was covered with loose hay, and as soon as my uncle started up the ten-mile dirt road, hay danced around like it was a spirit.

As we sped down the lane, the dirt from the road swirled back into our faces and pelted us with grit.

When we arrived at my grandparents’ door, my brother and I looked tarred and feathered—only this time with sweet-smelling watermelon juice, pungent hay, and a light layer of dirt.

I stood tentatively in front of my grandmother, wondering if we were in trouble.

“You two need a bath” was her only response as she settled in her favorite chair.

A sparkle lit her eyes, and she giggled to herself. “Good, clean fun,” she said, maybe remembering a similar incident from her own childhood.

Larada Horner-Miller, This Tumbleweed Landed, (Horner Publishing Company, 2014), 129-131.

To this day, watermelon remains my favorite summertime treat. It cools me down and the sweet flavor gives me a pickup for sure, and I always chuckle with this memory in mind.

To listen or to read, that is the question! Because this is Audiobook Appreciation Month and I just finished and uploaded my book, This Tumbleweed Landed. I’ve become a fan of audiobooks. How about you?

If so, you can purchase and listen to my books at the following places:

Buy Let Me Tell You a Story Audiobook

Buy Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

When Will Papa Get Home? Cover - Listen

Here’s a FREE Father’s Day gift for you! June 11-15 my e-book, When Will Papa Get Home?, will be FREE! Click and download a copy for Dad at Amazon!

Enjoy my interview on the podcast, The Writing Table