Audiobook Empire's Narrator Summit is a virtual conference taking place in June and October each year. Started in 2023 (as the Workshop Rewind) and re-branded in 2024, and expanded in 2025, the Summit is a bi-annual "meeting of the minds", bringing together narrators, authors, producers, publishers, coaches, and specialty experts from all over the audio industry to share, learn, encourage, uplift, and celebrate.
Ready to join the #SummitSquad?
About the Summit
June 22-27, 2026
What is the Narrator Summit?
Audiobook Empire's Narrator Summit is a virtual conference taking place in June and October each year. Started in 2023 (as the Workshop Rewind) and re-branded in 2024, and expanded in 2025, the Summit is a bi-annual "meeting of the minds", bringing together narrators, authors, producers, publishers, coaches, and specialty experts from all over the audio industry to share, learn, encourage, uplift, and celebrate.
The guests for each Summit are handpicked by the Empire, not only for their knowledge and expertise, but also for their "vibe". No Negative Nellies or Chicken Littles allowed. The tone of each Summit should be one of shared optimism and growth. Each Summit, we raise the bar. Onwards and upwards!
Who can attend?
The current Summit is specifically crafted for an audience of narrators, but we aren't ruling out an Author Summit in the future. Let us know if you'd be interested in attending!
Does it matter how many books I have?
Yes and no. Any and all narrators can attend this year's Summit, but certain sessions may be more or less relevant to where you are in your career.
We're using the following labeling system, where necessary, to indicate which sessions are appropriate for which audiences:
Squires: 1-29 books
Knights: 30-70 books
Landed Gentry: 71-100 books
Nobles: 100+ books
What if I can't attend live?
The Summit will be most beneficial to those who are able to attend live, but we realize that's not realistic for everyone, so all sessions will be recorded and available for those who've purchased tickets.
What's the State of the Empire address?
The State of the Empire address is an annual presentation occurring each June that details the Empire's accomplishments over the past 12 months and gives a sneak peek into what we have in store for the future. It's also a celebration of the audiobook industry, the Empire's place in it, and the people that have helped us along the way.
The Imperial Address usually runs about 20 minutes and precedes a special guest presentation or event.
Why can't I attend the Saturday events?
Saturday's events are reserved for members of our Talent Legion (roster) and those who have purchased full access for the week ($99).
Access to these events is not included with the purchase of individual sessions. If you would like to upgrade to full access, pleaseĀ contact our treasury department.
Can I sponsor an event?
Absolutely! Sponsorship opportunities for individual sessions or for the entire Summit are available upon request. Please email our treasury departmentĀ for more details.
Ā I signed up! What now?
Awesome! You'll be sent information and your ticket/access pass for the Summit in just a few weeks. Don't forget to mark your calendar!
Not Finalized
ā June 22nd: Day 1
Canva 101 with Emma Faye (1pm ET)
Nervous System Regulation for the Narrators with Meg Runyan (4pm ET)
Narrator and Massage Therapist Meg Runyan will lead you in simple, easy somatic exercises to help you feel confident, calm and creative while you are recording, reaching out to authors and producers, or any activity that makes you feel itchy, agitated or like crawling in a hole.
You will come away with simple, easy techniques to feel calm & grounded in your body no matter what youāre working on (or avoiding). You'll also come away feeling calm, capable, bold, energized, empowered, and tapped into your creativity.
ā June 23rd: Day 2
Narrator Publishing with Jess Herring (1pm ET)
It's becoming increasingly popular for narrators to take the reins (and royalties) and publish audiobooks for themselves. Whether doing so by acquiring rights from authors, narrating public domain titles, or narrating their own work, it can be a bit of a learning curve for first-timers. In this workshop, Jess demystifies the publishing process for you and arms you with tools to strike out on your own as a publisher. Who knows where that road may lead?!
From Arthurian Legends to WhodunIts: Creating Your Publishing Empire With Public Domain Books with Karen Commins (4pm ET)
Having a dry spell? Want to work in a new genre? Would you like to earn asynchronous income? Karen Commins guides you in picking, producing, and publishing public domain audiobooks.
ā June 24th: Day 3
Finding Your Social Media Audience with Emma Faye (1pm ET)
If you're struggling to gain traction on social media, it may be because you're posting for the wrong crowd. Narrator, Publisher, and Social Media Extraordinaire Emma Faye will help you identify your audience and the type of content that reaches them.
(4pm ET)
ā June 25th: Day 4
Riding the Words with Linda Jones (1pm ET)
Award-winning narrator and vocal coach Linda Jones teaches us to open up the voice to discover and connect more physically and to engage more fully with the language of the text.
Voicing Gender for Narrators with Amanda Quaid (4pm ET)
Did you know masculine-cuing speakers may hold their tongues farther back in their mouths? Or that making more facial expressions can affect how your voice communicates gender? Weāll look at how to change your vocal patterns to span a spectrum of masculine and feminine-perceived gender cues, based on research and norms in American English.
ā June 26th: Day 5
Website and Bio Audits with Jess Herring & Emma Faye (1pm ET)
A favorite from October's 'mini Summit'!
Join Jess and Emma as they audit your online presence (website + social media) and offer constructive, actionable feedback.
Elevating Your Elevator Pitch with Erick Black, Jesse Bickford & Jess Herring (4pm ET)
Every narrator needs an 'elevator pitch' in their back pocket! It's important to be able to effectively pitch yourself to authors and publishers in situations like the APA's Quick Pitch or while attending conferences and conventions. Join Erick Black, Jesse Bickford and Jess Herring as they discuss subtle, yet impactful ways to elevate your pitch. And come prepared to pitch yourself in 30 seconds or less! We may just call on you...
ā June 27th: Special Events
State of the Empire with Jess Herring (5pm ET)
The 2026 Summit concludes with the annual State of the Empire address in which Jess details what the Empire has been up to over the last 12 months and where it's headed in the next year.
Imperial Gathering & Celebration (8pm ET)
A social event to reflect on Summit sessions, ask any final questions, and chat with other attendees.
Jess Herring
Jess Herring is the founder and CEO of Audiobook Empire, a full-service production house catering to independent authors and producing in four languages. The Empire has since grown to includeCats MeowProductions and Lunar Audiobooks.
Audiobook Empire is the culmination of her years of experience within the audio industry. Its primary goal is to help indie authors navigate the production process with ease, from start to finish. As the Empress herself says, "We're not just a production house, but a powerhouse!".
Meg Runyan
Meg is a Chicago-based audiobook narrator, massage therapist, coach, and artist who revels in telling soul searching stories full of adventure and a bit of mischief.
Karen Commins
Karen Commins is a professional audiobook narrator who has given voice to over 50 audiobooks. In addition to earning a BA in broadcast journalism and MS in computer information systems, Karen has completed extensive specialized training in voice-over and audiobook narration technique, as well as digital audio production. She's also the chief cartographer of NarratorsRoadmap.com.
Emma Faye
Emma Faye is an award-winning audiobook narrator and digital marketing coach. Known as The Clean Reads Queen, she has narrated over 100 titles and loves to help other narrators grow their online presence. She also runs Cats Meow Productions, a production company focusing on clean reads. When sheās not working, sheās a proud cat mom, theatre nerd, and cookie dough connoisseur.
Linda Jones
Linda Jones is an award-winning audiobook narrator in both fiction and non-fiction recording from her home studio in the wilds of Brooklyn, NYC. She is also an award-winning actor, an accomplished coach and āVoiceographer,ā with a background in theatreāsheās performed off-Broadway and regionally in everything from Shakespeare and restoration comedy to a host of premieres (NYC, West Coast, US & World). She loves nothing more than to dig into new work by exceptional writers. Still and always a voracious reader, she has narrated more than 170 titles for publishers including Penguin Random House, Harper Audio, Macmillan, Recorded Books, Audible Studios, Blackstone, Brilliance, Dreamscape and Tantor, as well as a variety of independent authors and publishers. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, PANA, NAVA and the APA. She has a BFA in Acting from Ithaca College.
She and her husband, noted horror writer John C. Foster, and their rescue dog Coralineāa Dutch Shepherd/Pitbull mix, live in an apartment filled-to-bursting, floor-to-ceiling, corner-to-absolute-corner with books.
Amanda Quaid
After working in theater for most of her life, Amanda Quaid began writing poetry in 2023 as a way to work creatively with illness. That same year, her poem āPatient and Daughter Appear Closely Bondedā was awarded the Bridport Prize, selected by Roger Robinson.
Subsequent poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Bellevue Literary Review, Rattle, Poetry Is Currency, Mom Egg Review, Broadsided, LONESOME, Book XI, DMQ Review, Bombay Gin, and Tendrils. Her debut collection, No Obvious Distress, a finalist for the Jake Adam York Prize, is out now with John Murray Press and was named one of the Best Books of 2025 by The Independent.
She was raised in New York City, where she works as a dialect coach, teaches at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, and lives with her husband, daughter and chihuahua. She co-edits the ekphrastic poetry zine Metphrastics.
Erick Black
Jesse Bickford is the senior audio producer for Blackstone Publishing, and has been with the company since 2008. A life-long lover of storytelling, with a background in stage management and literary theory, the world of audiobooks and the community that surrounds it is the perfectĀ home for this self-proclaimed "book dragon." Finding just the right voice for a book or short story is the type of magic she loves to dip her toes into, and delights in connecting an author's words with a narrator's voice. Jesse also moonlights as a narration coach under her company, Book Dragon Coaching, and enjoys working with narrators of all skill levels. When not audiobooking, Jesse can be found playing with her two delightful-yet-unmannerly dogs, exploring the offerings of southern Oregon with her family, or just cozied up on the couch with a book in one hand, and a glass of something delicious in the other.
Jesse Bickford
Jesse Bickford is the senior audio producer for Blackstone Publishing, and has been with the company since 2008. A life-long lover of storytelling, with a background in stage management and literary theory, the world of audiobooks and the community that surrounds it is the perfectĀ home for this self-proclaimed "book dragon." Finding just the right voice for a book or short story is the type of magic she loves to dip her toes into, and delights in connecting an author's words with a narrator's voice. Jesse also moonlights as a narration coach under her company, Book Dragon Coaching, and enjoys working with narrators of all skill levels. When not audiobooking, Jesse can be found playing with her two delightful-yet-unmannerly dogs, exploring the offerings of southern Oregon with her family, or just cozied up on the couch with a book in one hand, and a glass of something delicious in the other.
About the Summit
October 24-26, 2025
What is the "Autumnal" Narrator Summit?
Audiobook Empire's Autumnal Narrator Summit, orĀ "October Summit", is a virtual conference now taking place in late October each year. After years of hosting the traditional Narrator Summit each June, the demand for additional events finally necessitated an expansion and the Autumnal Summit was born.
The original Narrator Summit started in 2023 (as the Workshop Rewind), re-branded in 2024, and expanded in 2025. The Summit is a bi-annual "meeting of the minds", bringing together narrators, authors, producers, publishers, coaches, and specialty experts from all over the audio industry and beyond to share, learn, encourage, uplift, and celebrate.
The guests for each Summit are handpicked by the Empire, not only for their knowledge and expertise, but also for their "vibe". No Negative Nellies or Chicken Littles allowed. The tone of each Summit should be one of shared optimism and growth. Each year, we raise the bar. Onwards and upwards!
How is it different from the June Summit?
The Autumnal Summit is not a total recap of the event in June. The goal is to bring you fresh topics from new voices, while realizing that classics also have value and some people learn best by repetition. The majority of the autumn classes will be new topics to us, but we may occasionally sprinkle in some throwbacks for reinforcement or those who couldn't join us in June.
The Autumnal Summit also takes place over a shorter timeframe, usually a weekend. Internally, we like to think of it as a "mini-Summit". Because who doesn't like things that are "mini"?
Who can attend?
The current Summits are specifically crafted for an audience of narrators, but we aren't ruling out an Author Summit in the future. Let us know if you'd be interested in attending!
Does it matter how many books I have?
Yes and no. Any and all narrators can attend a Summit, but certain sessions may be more or less relevant to where you are in your career.
We're using the following labeling system, where necessary, to indicate which sessions are appropriate for which audiences:
Squires: 1-29 books
Knights: 30-70 books
Landed Gentry: 71-100 books
Nobles: 100+ books
What if I can't attend live?
The Summits will be most beneficial to those who are able to attend live, but we realize that's not realistic for everyone, so certain sessions will be available for purchase from the Imperial Marketplace after the Summit has concluded.
As a rule, we never record sessions from guest speakers, which is how we keep getting guest speakers! You can usually bet on the recorded sessions being those conducted by Jess and those that are interactive (like roundtables or directorial sessions).
The sessions we plan on recording will always be specified in that Summit's schedule. If you purchase access to a particular session, but if you find yourself unable to attend live, let us know and we will provide you with the recording. Otherwise, they will likely be available in the Marketplace.
Can I sponsor an event?
Absolutely! Sponsorship opportunities for individual sessions or for the entire Summit are available upon request. Please email our treasury departmentĀ for more details.
Ā I signed up! What now?
Awesome! You'll be sent information and your ticket/access pass for the Summit shortly. Don't forget to mark your calendar!
ā October 24th: Day 1
How to Work With the Empire with Jess Herring (1pm ET)
Learn how to bring your authors to the Empire, from the Empress herself. With a bit of fun role-playing, this session is a natural progression from the popular Cold Calling workshop featured during the June Summit. It's not necessary to have taken the Cold Calling workshop to attend this one, however. Jess will also take some time to talk about what you should expect when narrating for the Empire.
Breaking Down the āToSā with Rich Palmer (4pm ET)
Let's decode the terms of service from popular websites frequented by narrators. The Empire's favorite "tech guy", Rich Palmer, will guide us through the legalese to discover exactly what websites like SoundCloud, Instagram, and TikTok can do with the information (and voice clips) you upload to their platforms and teach us how to use them safely.
ā October 25th: Day 2
Branding with Emma Faye + Website Audits with Emma & Jess (1pm ET)
The 'Clean Reads Queen' is back to talk about branding basics and audit your online presence!
Auditioning Techniques with Tanya Eby (4pm ET)
Tanya Eby will discuss auditioning for audiobooks including best practices and approaches so you can highlight your talent. What are casting directors listening for and how can you appeal to them? Questions are welcome and encouraged.
ā October 26th: Day 3
Demo Prep with Shannon Parks (1pm ET)
From making a selection and editing it down to the performance and finding your target audience, Coach Shannon Parks is here to help with all things demos!
Reading Roundtable (4pm ET)
Interactive Panel
Volunteer narrators read prepared pieces in front of coaches and directors in breakout rooms and receive feedback on their performances. You may volunteer to participate when signing up for the Summit.
*Due to time constraints, it's possible that not all who volunteer may be able to participate. Volunteers are chosen in order of sign-up.
Gratitude Gathering & Social (7pm ET)
A social event to reflect on Summit sessions, express gratitude, ask any final questions, and chat with other attendees.
Jess Herring
Jess Herring is the founder and CEO of Audiobook Empire, a full-service production house catering to independent authors and producing in four languages. The Empire has since grown to includeCats MeowProductions and Lunar Audiobooks.
Audiobook Empire is the culmination of her years of experience within the audio industry. Its primary goal is to help indie authors navigate the production process with ease, from start to finish. As the Empress herself says, "We're not just a production house, but a powerhouse!".
Tanya Eby
Tanya Eby is an award winning narrator of over 1200 titles, a sometimes casting director, and a USA Today Bestselling writer. When not narrating or writing, she forages for mushrooms, bakes and cooks, and watches murder shows.
Shannon Parks
Shannon Parks (aka Marguerite Gavin) has been a professional audiobook narrator for over twenty years with over 500+ titles, numerousĀ Audie nominations andĀ Earphones awards, and a devoted fan following. She has been described as aĀ āgenre-defining narratorā by Audible.com; having aĀ āsonorous voice, rich and full of emotionā and as having theĀ ācoveted ability to disappear as the narrator, letting the story take the limelight it deservesā inĀ Audiofile Magazine.
Emma Faye
Emma Faye is an award-winning audiobook narrator and digital marketing coach. Known as The Clean Reads Queen, she has narrated over 100 titles and loves to help other narrators grow their online presence. She also runs Cats Meow Productions, a production company focusing on clean reads. When sheās not working, sheās a proud cat mom, theatre nerd, and cookie dough connoisseur.
Rich Palmer
Rich's career has allowed him to do many things that benefit a voice actor and narrator. He has shared information, stories, and lessons as a public information officer, an agency spokesperson, an educator, a curriculum developer, a podcast host & producer, and a mental health advocate. He has been a government supervisor, a firefighter/paramedic, and a musician.Ā These experiences help him understand the needs of many types of projects.
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