Audiobook Empire is a new, but forceful presence on the audiobook production scene. The Empire's master puppeteer is Jess Herring, but you may know her as Jess the Audiobookworm. Jess has run Audiobookworm Promotions for nearly 5 years where she has gained a thorough understanding of the audiobook industry and its beloved community.
The Empire is her newest adventure. How far will it reach? Let's find out!
The Empire is open to all. We aren't genre-specific, although genre imprints may form in the future.
Our Talent Legion application form usually opens up about twice a year. Because of the number of Legionnaires already with the Empire, we only accept a few new members each time. You're certainly welcome to apply more than once!
An alternate way of gaining acceptance into our Legion is to bring us a project. If you're working with an author and think they would be a good fit for us, get in touch and we can help you formalize things.
Yes! If you have an author wanting an audiobook, but you don't have post-production personnel, contracts, etc., we've got you covered. Drop your author off with us and we'll take care of them, so you can get back in the booth and record.
The first step is to reach out to us so we can make sure the project is a good fit. We can also assist in bringing the author onboard. If you think you may have an author "on the hook" for the Empire, let us know and we can load you down with resources to help "reel them in"!
This is true for most of our à la cart stages of production as well as full-service production. For example, if the audiobook has already been recorded, but you need post-production, distribution and promotion, we can still absorb the project, even though it was recorded before joining the Empire. The only thing we can't do is promote a project that we didn't have a hand in producing. Our marketing resources are reserved for Audiobook Empire clients. In other words, marketing is the only stage of production that is not offered à la cart.
Your standard rates. You know what rates are fair to you and the Empire respects that. Simply tell us your rates and we'll send you appropriate projects in that range.
It's that straightforward.
As a rule, narrators will not be expected to do their own post-production. The Empire has its own post people waiting in the wings.
The only things you are responsible for are narration and pick-ups. Because of this, you may want to consider charging a 'narration-only' rate for Empire projects, rather than a 'full-production' rate.
Not just yet, although we have met with union representatives to discuss that. As of right now, we use Skywire Paymaster services for our union projects.
In general, yes. Live streaming of recording sessions can be a great (and fun!) promotional tool. However, permission will need to be obtained from the rights holder if anything is to be recorded. In fact, it's probably a good idea to get permission whether streaming or recording.
Promotional support will always be part of the deal at Audiobook Empire. With or without review codes (but hopefully with), blogger outreach and social media campaigns can happen. When review codes are available, blogger outreach becomes blogger + reviewer outreach. With Jess's promotional contacts, a virtual army can be raised to support the Empire, its Talent Legion, and its titles.
We make a point to promote all of our projects on social media and provide a certain amount of promotional support to all of our authors. We also have more robust marketing packages available to them (and you!).