Category books

Feb 28 2016

TSK’s next step AudioBooks :)

Last few days to get in as early bird members to the TSK website! come on I know you want in!

members image

It has been a busy week and I’m posting this side of today first. I did blog about my personal life earlier, but I’m scheduling that post for later.

The title really says it all, and as director of TSK Productions,  I’ve been looking for the right people to bring onboard for us since the beginning of January. They say good things come to those who wait and it’s so true. At first I was a little over excited about the possibilities of hearing TSK read by someone else. Then the task of finding that voice overwhelmed me.

The world of Audio Book is so different I hadn’t expected any of the process.

So for those who don’t know anything this was my journey to now. My friends pointed me at first in the direction of ACX. This is part of Audible and Authors (Rights Holders) can post their projects for potential Narrators to Audition for.

Here’s where I got a little lost. ACX ask you to fill in your profile and ‘sell’ yourself. I’m not very good at that but I tried my best, then they suggest you try and find a voice you like. I tried that and found someone, send them an offer and it lapsed without even a reply. I guess that is the nature of hunting for any partnership.

I didn’t seem to be getting anywhere and one of my friends pointed me to a facebook group. Which I joined and have been so happy with, I’ve learned much more about not only the process of ACX but also more about Narrators and how the system works. How they essentially do their job.

On ACX you can post your work with two options-

1 – A royalty share deal where the author and narrator split the profits.

2 – A PFH rate system which can range from anything like $100 – 400 an hour.

Now we RH’s don’t know how long it take for one person to get to that ‘finished hour, and the confusion seems pretty wide spread from chatter in the facebook group and amongst some of my Author friends.

The fact is it can take 10 hours to make 1 finished Audio Hour and although some narrators do all the work themselves, the fact is getting a producer to do the work frees time and means two ears are on the project not just the narrator and RH. A better win. But, narrators can’t pay for a producer out their own pocket, no matter how much they love a novel. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and so a lot of narrators try and negotiate for a Hybrid deal. Which ACX at the moment doesn’t have as an option for.

I was very lucky to start talking to a wonderful guy, Steven about the whole process, and we talked about what I needed for TSK and of course budget etc. I’m a big believer in paying people but I’ve personally only got so much cash coming in. And it’s taken me time to get that together with my savings. TSK’s been growing in a huge rate this last few months, in design and in everything we as a team do. I’ve backed everyone as I know I should and I will continue to do so.

Sorting out payments in advance for things like editing on book 2 trying to get ahead of the game and not worry about suddenly having to find a huge wad of money when I need the job done. I try and have a business head on, at all times, but yes of course I get excited and spend stuff I shouldn’t. lol

This last two weeks we’ve had Steve find and start negotiating with two very talented narrators. Of which I’m totally excited to say have now joined with us as Team TSK’s voice.

More than excited to welcome Greg Tremblay, who is taking on Book 1 and our short snippets. 🙂

His Audio books can be found at if you want to listen to his amazing voice –

http://www.audible.co.uk/search/ref=a_listener__cco_1_1_1_n?searchNarrator=Greg+Tremblay

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GTremblayVoice/posts/1224970447520737?fref=nf&pnref=story

and Holly Adams –

Audible link for her sweet voice is – http://www.audible.co.uk/search/ref=a_search_tseft?advsearchKeywords=Holly+Adama&filterby=field-keywords&x=0&y=0

and her facebook fan page

https://www.facebook.com/hollyadamsnarrator/?fref=ts

 

I know this project has a lot coming up.  We could keep these guys nice and busy for a bit, with book 2 set for release (sept, I’m hoping) our short snippets live each month and three of our writers working on other stories and novels set in the TSK world, we’ve lots to do in the next year or so.

Greg and Holly were both honest with me, and that little bit of ‘RH and Narrators’ don’t mix kinda thing I found wasn’t true. Greg told me that he found the language side of things exciting and daunting at the same time. I contacted Trent and they had a chat, which really helped, and I’ve since heard Greg’s proof for the story,  and so has Trent. Greg’s fantastic and Lacria sounds just fabulous.

I can’t wait for you guys to hear these two amazing voices, TSK will be brought to life on a whole different level. Which has left me totally awestruck this week.

Nothing else to do but, squeeeee.

🙂 talk later.

Feb 22 2016

Discovering Audible!

Okay, okay, so I’ve had my Audible account since like last year, and whispersync and ‘read aloud’ on my kindle since I broke my arm in 2013, but I have only recently discovered that I can actually LISTEN while I’m driving.

At work, I get these spates where, to and from the bigger sites, I have 20-30 mins to listen straight.

I gotta admit, the first full book I listened to was – Constitution written by Nick Webb and Narrated, by Greg Tremblay.

My review of this is here – http://www.audible.co.uk/listener/kanundra/A17DGMWIBKQAZC/ref=a_pd_Sci-Fi_c9_1_2_rwTtl?asin=B013S27Y2I

But, the fact remains, I’d never done it before, and now I’m hooked. I got through a couple more books this week, and I’m onto the next. This is going to get pretty darned expensive. lol

What I’ve found more relaxing and exciting than anything is I’m also discovering new stories and ‘sub’ genres that I might not have even looked at. I don’t get anywhere as much time as I used to for reading. And my reading lists now consist more of helping out ‘other writers’ in The Ubergroup on scribophile or my other writing friends with projects they’re working on.

Of course, TSK takes a lot of my time, and so does promoting, organising things and other people. Time is so darned precious at the moment. I have to use it the best way I can, for everyone I’m involved with.

So, I’ve also just finished, Silicone Dawn, written by William Massa and narrated by Joe Hempel. Another book, I just couldn’t put down. the review of that one is here.  http://www.audible.co.uk/listener/kanundra/A17DGMWIBKQAZC/ref=a_pd_Sci-Fi_c9_1_2_rwTtl?asin=B013S27Y2I

I’m telling you, if you travel or do anything where you can listen to a book. Audible, and these guys rock.

Love it!

 

Feb 14 2016

Result! squee!

So yes, Bolton Comic Con was awesome, and seeing Andrew Dodd once again, was awesome… loved it.

In all a fab day out, but a long one, boy was I wiped out after all the walking about. In a good way. Enjoyed it that much, seeing all the characters, talking to the stall holders, bought some books, and some comics… and I booked to go to the Birmingham one. (though much bigger and more walking for sure) lol excited. and very excited for us to do one…. : )

I have so many ideas now, and so much to get together, but it was really good. I think TSK will do fab in that area, we’ve so much to give, great stories, characters, and art… squeeee……………

The sun is out today…. Bobby’s being hormonal…. spring is here I hope….

Back to work it is for us…. just wanted to squeee really.

Dawn

Feb 9 2016

Feeling better :)

After being so wiped out with a chest infection last week, I am feeling much better. This is great for me because even looking back on last year, I hit Feb and was ill… then it got better, much better.

Contains triggering talk below…. just fair warning to some of my followers.

I made the similar decision to get back on top of me, like I did last year. But in a diff way. I don’t have 5 stone to lose anymore, but I do need to cut out the crap again, almost 12 mths off Lipotrim and I’ve put a little back on, my main concern is I’m still not technically in the healthy bracket according to my doc. Sigh. But, that means I can be.

I went back on Lipotrim on Monday, to shift that last bit of weight hanging about. Get myself back in the right frame of mind and to detox after Xmas etc. Don’t think I’ve been a week without drinking so I know that will do me good. I’m not going to be on it long, maybe 4 weeks. That’s just because of how strict the diet is and that I really don’t have much to go. I’ve got to be careful I don’t upset my family after all. Even if this is for me and for my health. Hubby’s been great, he understands, so fingers crossed. If I do drop too much, I have to come off, simple, but we’ll see how it goes. Talking to lots of people this is harder the second time around, so I’m not expecting the same results at all, only time will tell.

I will admit, it’s still very difficult. But once over the first week, I’ll be fine I’m sure of it.

In regards to my projects. Things are moving along well. I got a really good review this week on TSK, the reviewer really took the time to say everything and in my mind she really understood what I was going for in writing it.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3LFDC9NDCWA6R/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0149F9NQI&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text

I’ve gotten the first set of script pages off to some friends on another collab project I’ve been helping on. That was a good move as I really love this gal and her work. So fingers crossed the pages are well received and we’re on the right path with it.

In regards to the TSK website, yey, it’s well underway now. The members only section has it’s first short published, and I’m excited to share the rest, as they’re just fab, not all written by me  (I might add) and that is really one of the best things about being and managing TSK now, it’s such a project that other people can write, draw, etc etc and it still fits into place, just like it was meant to. I love reading work that I didn’t write and it follows exactly those characters and how they could and would react in certain situations. It’s just amazing.

The artwork is really steaming ahead. Andrew’s just fantastic and I am thrilled to see them come together with the shorts. They show everyone visually what I see in my head and then some!

All in all it’s been a roughish start to the year, but it will be a very good one!

Keep dropping in, I’ll keep you guys posted. Book 2 is in final stages of editing! Squeee…. and working on cover ideas right now!

Love and hugs.

Dawn

 

 

 

Jan 23 2016

Hard but exciting week.

TSK banner advert

This week has been just as tough as others. I don’t know sometimes how I fit everything in, but I really do try my best, it just ain’t easy!

Progress on the script editing has been okay, despite a full on cold and meetings Tuesday through Friday. So, I’m pleased with that side, of course the day job gets in the way of everything, and time zone issues. Everyone in the US is wide awake as I’m going to bed. Nightmare.

But, the exciting part for me is seeing our vision of how TSK’s world can come to life in the physical and audio side of things. Meeting with creative people like mums lifelong friend, Pat Howard of WudStock, a wood design expert to a talented audio artist who I met this week, Steven Jay Cohan of Listen 2 a Book. It’s been worthwhile.

I’m quite the believer of the right people will come along when timing is right for things to move forward. So keep everything crossed for us, with the hard work I’ve put in this week, there will be some very exciting prospects for TSK coming. Keep checking out our websites and facebook page for up to date info. 🙂

As for the House and DIY, well hubby put a screw through our new electrics… and has now destroyed our loft hatch. hehehe. I don’t know. Life is full of so many little ups and downs.

It’s exciting, daunting and yet amazing all at the same time. lol

Have a very happy saturday, I’m off out tonight with my dad for a few, and I’ve a team meeting later, midnight my time. I love my second job!

Hugs

Dawn