Audiobook Publishing Services From Narration to Release

Our audiobook publishing services turn your finished book into a professional audiobook, from narrator casting and recording to editing, mastering and store-ready files. We manage the production and the publishing, so listeners hear a polished book and you keep your rights and royalties.

Audiobook listeners are a growing audience, and many of them never buy the print or eBook edition. Producing an audiobook is a project of its own, with its own technical standards. This service is part of our book publishing services.

Audiobook narration services: choosing a narrator

The narrator is the biggest decision in an audiobook. You can narrate your own book, which suits memoir and personal non-fiction, or hire a professional narrator. We shortlist narrators whose voice, accent and style suit your genre, and you listen to audition samples before you choose. Fiction with many characters usually needs a narrator who can voice them clearly.

The audiobook production process

1. Preparation. We review your manuscript and note names, pronunciations, numbers and anything that needs special handling.
2. Casting. You hear audition samples and choose a narrator.
3. Recording. The narrator records the book, chapter by chapter.
4. Editing and mastering. The audio is edited, cleaned and mastered to the technical standards audiobook stores require.
5. Review. You listen and flag corrections before the files are finalised.
6. Publishing. The approved files and cover are uploaded to the stores you choose.

Convert your book to an audiobook: preparing your manuscript

A book written for the page needs small changes to work for the ear. Charts, footnotes and links have to be handled, abbreviations and numbers need decisions, and the opening and closing credits are added. We guide you through these choices so the narrator can record smoothly. Length matters too: a finished hour of audio is roughly 9,000 words, which helps you estimate the cost and the run time.

What audiobook publishing costs depend on

Cost depends mainly on the finished length of the book, the narrator’s experience and whether you narrate it yourself. Editing and mastering, the cover and the number of stores add to the total. Your quote lists each item, with a fixed price before any work starts.

Audiobook publishing and distribution

Once the files are approved, we publish the audiobook where listeners are. Some stores and platforms ask for exclusivity and others do not, and the terms affect your royalties and your options, so we explain them before you choose. For the stores and libraries, see our book distribution services and our Amazon book publishing services.

Narrating yourself or hiring a professional

Some authors narrate their own books, especially memoir and non-fiction, because their voice adds authority. This needs a quiet space, decent equipment and stamina, since an hour of finished audio takes much longer to record. Professional narrators bring technique, consistency and speed, and they can voice characters well. We help you listen to samples from both routes and choose what fits the book, the budget and the way you want readers to hear it.

Preparing your manuscript for audio

Audio changes how a book reads. Footnotes, tables and images need to be handled in the script, abbreviations spelled out and unusual words checked for pronunciation. Chapter openings and closings often need small additions, such as an introduction credit. Finalise your text first, because changes after recording are costly. We create a production-ready script and a pronunciation guide, so the narrator can record correctly the first time.

Beyond one platform: where audiobooks are sold

Audiobooks can be sold through large retailers, library services, subscription apps and direct sales from your own site. Each route has its own terms, pricing and exclusivity rules, which affect how much you earn and where listeners can find you. For example, some programmes require exclusive distribution, while wide distribution reaches more places at different royalty levels. We compare the options with your goals. See also our ACX audiobook service.

Related services

• Book publishing services
• Book distribution services
• Amazon book publishing services
• Book cover design services