Over the past few weeks I have been busy making hardback and audio versions of all my books. I began with Attack in the Attic, and I must admit it gave me a rush to see my creation as an audio book. As for the hardback, I ordered a copy for my book shelf the minute I completed it. Hard backs say serious author, so I have already created a place to display them on the chest of drawers by my desk. Death of a pilgrim isn’t there yet as I only just finished converting it, but it is available on Amazon. I plan to convert Mass Murder once I have finished the first draft of “Corpse in the Cafe”, the next book in the browns books series.
When Amazon first gave me the opportunity to take part in their Beta trial to make audio books with AI, I was doubtful. For a long time I did nothing about it. The voice was AI generated and I though it would sound mechanical, and what about writers using artificial intellegence? It is so controversial, was I in favour or not? My mind went backwards and forwards, this way and that, everytime I read something new I changed my mind again.
Then I discovered I had a problem with my eyes and that I was gradually losing my sight. The thought of not being able to read was devastating. I joined the hospital waiting list to have my eyes operated on. The problem was They could only do one eye at a time with a six month recovery time for each eye. That’s a long time go go without a book to read.
After the first operation I discovered what at blessing Audio books are. As I recovered from my first operation I listened to several Audio books with computer generated voices and realised how important accessibility is and it convinced me.
When I started on Attack in the Attic, I spent a long time editing, adding pauses and correcting pronunciation. The result was good but not yet perfect, it’s difficult to get the correct inflection. Of course a good narrator would be better, but also would be outside my price range. I liked the result better than some of the shockingly bad human narrations that I had heard and decided that although human can be better it isn’t always, once or twice I couldn’t tell the difference and had to read the credits to check. Amazazons Virtual Voice isn’t quite that good but it is much better than I expected.
Since I started the program has improved and I am exited about having all my books in an Audio format.
I created hard back versions at the same time, or rather Amazon did with a bit of help from me.
It all takes time, or should I say it takes time if you want them to be as good as possible. I am still learning every time I try something new I have to learn a whole new process. I know that in theory you only have to push a button but it never happens quite like that for me. Even finding the right button to push is sometimes an obstacle.
The biggest problem is that if you get it wrong you are in trouble because they no longer have people to help you put things right. AI Strikes again! Trying to convince and computer that you are not very good with buttons is impossible.
So is it a brave new world? I want offer a cautious yes, but we might have to wait a while for a definitive answer.
In the meantime try one of my audio books and see what you think, I’m rather impressed with the result and will be well pleased if it makes my stories accessible to people who are partially sighted. If you only have the time to listen in the car or on the train then it would work for you. At the moment they are only available from Amazon but who knows what the future will bring now I have the bug. There are links on my book page.
Abigail Thorne 