In a world where you hear of scam after scam, it becomes important to document interactions with various publishing companies, to help other Authors who may be looking to sign.
Signing is always a daunting experience, and seeing good reviews out there makes it A LOT nicer to put your name to the dotted line.
Podium Pulishing is known for producing the audiobooks for Andy Weir’s, The Martian (Bleepin’ loved the movie). And you will see this on their website – hey, if I’d produced them I’d want everyone to know as well.
Now, the thing about Podium is they approach you. Which immediately makes you feel like you’re in some kind of secret club. But Authors get requests every day….
Before Podium approached me, I’d had three audiobook companies contact me.
And I checked out each of them using the four criteria below.
You get an email through your contact page. They like the premise of your book, they’d love to talk to you further about making audiobooks for you.
What do you do?
1) Check out their website. Two of the four offerings I got had unprofessional websites. Which raises alarm bells of either a scam, or someone who isn’t willing to put effort into quality. Cut!
2) Check out some of their work – Don’t know a thing about Audiobooks? Send a few links to someone who does, or who listens to them frequently.
3) Check out their portfolio – another who approached me only had a couple of audiobooks under her belt. So no matter that I liked the works, and the website, I simply was not willing to sign with someone who, for now, has a small following and marketing pull. I’d be better to produce them myself.
4) Research the company, check the naughty lists for their name, read other author’s experience with the company. Ask around.
Podium Publishing made it through all the hoops.
Other factors which helped:
Good communication.A phone call with James, one of the co-founders. He was personable, and clearly passionate about his work. He had a solid grasp on the marketing aspects, while the other co-founded Greg handles the creative side.A rather long list of awards, as seen on their website.A good feeling.
Despite this, I still had two separate people with contract experience, and industry expertise look over the contract. It might seem like an effort, but do it now. I have Author friends who have been stung with publishing scams and it is a heartbreaking experience.
The contract was signed.
Have I said that I’m excited? I am. How awesome will it be to hear your characters come alive? Perhaps a little weird, too, but mainly awesome.
…And then there’s the fact that you’ll reach an entirely new market of readers. It is an industry which seems to be gaining momentum, quick! But the numbers of books on sites like Audible are still at low numbers – unlike Amazon where you compete with millions. Without meaning to sound cliché; the time is now.
After signing experience:
Communication has increased to impressive levels.The exchange was easy, and they were clear in their instructions. Remarkably little is needed of me, which is good, because I’d have no idea what I was doing. I think I’ll stick to the e-book/paperback world for now. I cannot wait to listen to The Tainted Accords in audiobook form.
There was nothing negative about my signing experience with Podium Publishing.
If you are approached by them, to enter the secret club, then I wish you well.
Happy Reading,
Kelly St. Clare
When Kelly St Clare is not reading or writing, she is lost in her latest reverie. She can, quite literally, drift past a car accident while in the midst of her day dreams, despite the various police sirens and chaos.
Books have always been magical and mysterious to her. One day she decided to start unraveling this mystery and began writing. Her aim: To write stories she would want to read. As it turns out, this failed miserably. Do you know what it is like to read something you’ve written? Impossible. Not to mention, the ending is ruined before you’ve begun. Never-the-less, Kelly loves it and spends every free moment crafting new stories.
Fantasy of Frost, the first title in The Tainted Accords, is her debut novel. Two of the three sequels, Fantasy of Flight and Fantasy of Fire, are now available.
A New Zealander in origin and in heart, Kelly currently resides in Australia with her soon-to-be husband, a great group of friends, and some huntsman spiders who love to come inside when it rains. Their love is not returned.
Follow her via Newsletter, and find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
If you would like to check out her books, you can do so here.