Page Turning Books: Author Interview

Author Interview – Adele Park

You believe your company, Straight to Audio Productions, represents the “new wave” in the audio book industry. What do you mean by this? Today’s technology is so clean and affordable that a whole new wave of indie studios are washing ashore every day. In the past, sound was primarily manipulated through physical equipment such as mixing boards and consoles. Editing software such as ProTools helps audio producers accomplish the same goals at a fraction of the cost. This is enabling more studios to get in the game which equals more audio books for the public to enjoy.

You projects use satire to tackle sticky topics such as polygamy and marijuana. Why go there? I’ll admit I like to push the envelope. My definition of satire is to exploit the absurd so marijuana and polygamy are easy pickings! However, I do lapse into brief moments of serious debate by discussing the impact of racism, bullying and discrimination.

How do you promote your audio books? My websites, www.yikesaudiobook.com and www.jittersaudiobook.com, are my best sales tools. I produced YouTube videos for both projects which gives potential customers a visual image of my stories. Contests are another great way to get content introduced to people in the industry. One of the top competitions for audio books is the Audies sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association. I also reach out to bloggers and internet radio stations to help spread the word about my audio books.

You have engaged in some very non-traditional forms of marketing for your audio books. What are some of the tactics you’ve tried? I try to remember that publicity and word of mouth are far more effective than advertising. I donate tons of free audio books to libraries and non-profit organizations. My hope is that if people like one of my audio books, they’ll be more inclined to buy my other products.

I also developed some wacky YouTube videos to promote Jitters-A Quirky Little Audio Book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGGbatmaDeM and Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPotQyyPsuo&feature=g-upl.

You say that now is the best time ever for indie artists such as writers, film makers and audio book producers. What do you mean by that? The internet provides endless opportunities to share or sell your work. Writers can publish their novels as e-books and skip all the headaches and rejection letters from publishers. Film makers can post their “shorts” on YouTube. Independent audio book producers can sell their projects on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Artists can photograph their work and sell it on their own websites.

Who are there some business gurus who you follow? Russell Simmons – Do You: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

Simmons advocates using a spiritual element in the workplace to create an inspired sense of purpose.

Michael Hyatt – Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World

This book talks about the importance of social media and how to stand out in a media form where everyone is trying to get their message spread at the same time!

David Schwartz – The Magic of Thinking Big

Schwartz offers a lot of practical ideas for anyone in business. Schwartz covers a combination of good business practices along with advice on how to adjust your attitude to affect a positive outcome.