When I published What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting in March of 2023, I really hadn’t thought about an audio version. The entire process of writing, re-writing, editing, re-writing, querying, navigating the “find a publisher” minefields, editing, re-writing, proofing…well, it was all A LOT and filled any crack of free time I had for nearly three years. Once on the shelves, I had to dive into all sorts of pimping in order to get the book seen by all the right people.
In summary, I was exhausted and never wanted to see the book again.
And yet there I was, one month later, considering an audio version. I poked around at fees for narrators and put that thought quickly to bed. And yet there I was, hearing a voice (or two) in my head saying, “Oh, no, if there’s an audio version, you have to be the one who records it.”
Eight weeks after my book hit the shelves, my husband built a recording booth in our at-college-daughter’s closet and I went to work reading each and every blessed word in that memoir. You can read more about that process here and reaching the end of it here:
Last week, that project I was NEVER GOING TO DO finally came to fruition by landing on Audible, Amazon, and iBooks. Admittedly, I felt so much more proud of this checkmark than I did when the original, written book was published.
Why? Loads of reasons starting with the much greater appreciation I had for the publishing process. Yes, audiobook publishing is different than when written but, this time I felt like I was in the driver’s seat and not a naive first-timer. I knew what the path would look like.
The most important reason and the one I am most proud of? Working so closely with my husband on the audio version and still being married at completion. We have only recently started tapping into success while working together. Previous attempts were often filled with arguments as we both had the best ideas, modes of operation, timelines, and what counted as a victory.
We did have some, ahem, frustrating moments during this project, but we carried on like the mature adults that we are.
I’ll give you a moment to stop laughing.
In all seriousness, we each learned a whole lot about “how we work together” while engaging our individual superpowers. Rich has ADHD, and I lean toward OCD…we’re a match made in heaven…usually. What I did not know is that when his superpowers are fully engaged, he can sit for 27 hours straight. I thought the whole point of ADHD was frequent breaks?!?! What he did not know that when my superpowers are fully engaged, I require frequent breaks to release the perfect-focused tension that creeps into head.
Anyhoo, we did work out the kinks and carried on like the mature adults that we are.
It’s an odd feeling to know that one’s voice is now a permanent part of Foreverville. Our children’s children and their children and maybe even their children will have access to our voices and the tale of our blending. How weird cool is that?
Finally, as noted before, I did not sing loudly enough when I published the written version. I shied away from singing at all, actually and again, for a lot of reasons.
This time? I’ll sing when I win.
I promise not to drive you bananas forever but, for today, yes. Pick up What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting (Parenting Tales from the Most Unqualified (Step)Mom Ever)…click your preferred link below.
Oh, another fun find in this process? Turns out my husband has an amazing narrative voice.
I may just have him read all my books in the future.