Ins and Outs of Audiobook Production

At the end of this presentation, authors will understand:

1. how to control the costs of an audiobook,

2. how narrators and authors are paid,

3. how and where to find talented narrators,

4. how to attract the best talent to their projects, 

5. how to appear most attractive as an author to potential narrators,

6. how to vet narrators beyond the audition sample, and

7. the Pros and Cons of AI narration.

Scott Ellis is a two-time Audiobook of the Year award-winning narrator with over 125 audiobooks under his belt—and somehow, he still has a voice left. He holds degrees in Theatre and Education, which means he can both perform Shakespeare and explain it with a whiteboard and dry-erase markers. His company, Ellis Audiobooks has produced over 300 books. Hey, he can't be the right voice for every project!

Scott spent nearly 30 years teaching middle school literature (yes, on purpose) and a few more years as an elementary school librarian—perfect training for character voices, managing chaos, and surviving on caffeine and patience.

All of that classroom time sharpened his storytelling skills and gave him a sixth sense for pacing, emotion, and when to throw in just the right dramatic pause.

When he’s not behind the mic, Scott can be found golfing, fishing, kayaking, camping, or biking—basically anything outdoors that doesn't involve grading papers. He lives in Massachusetts but escapes to Sanibel Island, Florida as often as possible, where the only thing better than the weather is the excuse to narrate in flip-flops.