The Publishing Performance Show

Robert A. Lane - Why You Should Narrate Your Own Audiobook (And How to Do It in 6 Weeks)

• Teddy Smith • Episode 98

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Robert A. Lane is an audiobook producer, coach, and author with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, including 14 years at 20th Century Fox. After his entertainment career ended when Disney acquired Fox, Robert founded Robert Lane Coaching and created the "Your Book, Your Voice" program, which helps nonfiction authors narrate and produce their own audiobooks in just six weeks. With his extensive audio background starting in radio, Robert specializes in helping authors overcome their voice insecurities and create compelling audiobook narrations while handling all the technical editing and publishing aspects.


In this episode:

  • Robert's transition from 30+ years in entertainment to audiobook coaching
  • Why nonfiction authors should narrate their own audiobooks for authenticity
  • The "Your Book, Your Voice" six-week DIY audiobook program
  • Essential equipment needed for professional-quality home recording
  • Overcoming voice insecurities and building narration confidence
  • Recording process: timing, preparation, and best practices
  • Distribution strategies for ACX, Audible, Amazon, Apple, and other platforms
  • Common recording mistakes and how to avoid them
  • Step-by-step process from consultation to published audiobook
  • Audiobook launch strategies and marketing approaches


Resources mentioned:

  • Shure MV7 microphone (recommended equipment)
  • ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) for Audible/Amazon distribution
  • Authors Republic for wider distribution to 40+ platforms
  • Sound-accurate headphones for monitoring
  • Robert's "Your Book, Your Voice" coaching program: https://calendly.com/yourbookyourvoice/audiobook-onboarding


Book Recommendations:

  • "Purgatory to Paradise" by Malwish Syed: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFTMJJK3?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
  • "Lights Action You" by Robert A. Lane: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX6BD2?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl


Connect with Robert A. Lane:


Connect with Teddy Smith:

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[00:00:00] Teddy Smith: Hi everyone. Welcome to the Publishing Performance Show. Today I'm delighted to be joined by Robert A. Lane, who is a audiobook producer, a coach, and a author himself. So thank you for joining the show, Robert. 

[00:00:11] Robert A. Lane: Glad to be here. Thank you, Teddy. 

[00:00:13] Teddy Smith: No problem. Well, why don't you give us a bit of a background into how you first got into audiobook narration.

[00:00:19] Robert A. Lane: Sure. Well, let's step back a little bit, farther back. I. Spent 30 plus years working in the entertainment industry in a variety of facets of the business. My last 14 years or so was, working for 20th Century Fox in Los Angeles on the studio lot. Now, when Disney bought Fox, there was a lot of change that happened at that time, to say the least.

[00:00:43] So, and. That affected me directly. So that ended my entertainment career when Disney came in. But that's okay. It was actually a blessing in disguise. So then I started Robert Lane Coaching and first started out, doing, coaching for career coaching, life coaching, and then I ended up writing a book called Lights Action New, which.

[00:01:05] Shares experiences about what I was doing in the entertainment world, some of the behind the scenes, but with each story I tied in a tool or technique or a life lesson dealing with life coaching. And of course, audio's always been my thing. When I started out in the business, I was a, I worked in radio, so it's just been a thing I've always been doing.

[00:01:24] So, of course I had to turn my book into an audiobook. Yeah. And after I did that, I had authors approaching me saying, Hey, you know, I got my book and I wanna do an audiobook. You know, can you help me? So I decided to create an audiobook coaching program, which is called Your Book Your Voice, which helps nonfiction authors go through the process of.

[00:01:43] Setting up their own recording space and then coaching them on how to do a great narration, how to be compelling and engaging and bringing that emotion and you know, all the things to, to make a great audiobook. And then part of the program, of course, is, since I have all the audio background that I've been doing for years, is as they record their audiobook.

[00:02:03] I do all the editing for them, clean it up, make sure it meets the exact specifications for publication, and then upload their files for publication into Audible, Amazon, apple, and any other distribution platform that they need to be published on. And this is a program that was designed, to help these authors go through it by six weeks.

[00:02:25] By the end of the six weeks, their audiobooks recorded. Ready for upload and then about 10 days after that they're published. 

[00:02:33] Teddy Smith: Yeah. 

[00:02:33] Robert A. Lane: So that's how that started. So now I do one-on-one coaching for authors, taking 'em through the program. And then in the regards to the career coaching and life, coaching aspect of it, I don't really do, group or one-on-one coaching with that anymore.

[00:02:46] That's where I do speaking engagements 'cause I feel I can reach more people. And hopefully, inspire more people doing engagements. So that's what I do with the career coaching and life coaching. But audio books love working with authors one-on-one. 

[00:03:00] Teddy Smith: Yeah. Amazing. So your, your main thing is helping people to do DIY audio books, as it were, so they can read their own books themselves.

[00:03:08] So tell me about some of the books you've worked with. 

[00:03:11] Robert A. Lane: Oh. Most of the books that I've worked on so far have been, personal stories, memoirs, some really great stories. But I also have worked with, with coaches who have, coaching programs and they've written a book or, or maybe entrepreneurs or, educators, teachers, even poets.

[00:03:30] Yeah. Having, helping them do a great job in narrating their audiobook. So. That, that's really the bulk of it. And I do nonfiction mainly because it's, it's a personal story. For the author and it just makes sense to have them narrate their own audiobook. Now I'll do fiction. That's not a problem.

[00:03:49] It's just that some fiction stories are, are really involved, you know, the galactic you knowledge story and space or something. And, and there's, you know, people from other planets and voices and characters and dialects and all that thing. So, if you wanna bring a book like that to life, you know, you should hire a voiceover person who's an expert in, in Doing Voices.

[00:04:09] Teddy Smith: I was good. that was gonna be one of my first questions actually, because, uh, one of my, me and my wife, we listened to a book, a series by, it's a fantasy book series by a guy called Joe Abercrombie and there kind of a bit like Game of Thronesy kind of books, but really good. I really, really enjoy them.

[00:04:25] But the person that narrat him is an actor called Steven Pacey. And now we just basically try and find any books that he's narrated. 'cause he is that good. He really brings the book to life. But if you're doing the DIY, how, you know, people have to do all these different characters and like bring them to life is that if you're doing a DIY, that might be quite a difficult thing to do.

[00:04:45] Do think. 

[00:04:46] Robert A. Lane: Yeah, I mean, again, you know, for fiction and you have a lot of characters and dialects, it really is, uh, more conducive for that author to have a voiceover person. But, uh, you know, for nonfiction or if it is a fiction book, but it's written more like a memoir type style where there's not a lot of characters, then sure.

[00:05:02] The author can definitely, uh, narrate the Yeah, the audio book for sure. 

[00:05:06] Teddy Smith: Yeah. Makes sense. So for people who are thinking about, starting and doing DIYing their own book, especially if it's a nonfiction. Let's just start there now. Where, where's the first place where they should start? Like what are the, what's the first step in the process?

[00:05:19] Robert A. Lane: The first step in the process would be to, uh, don't cut corners. I always say don't cut corners. And that means, uh, in regards to getting right equipment to record yourself. In my audiobook coaching program, uh, I do provide the equipment for them. So, you know, stuff like, you know this Sure MV seven, great mic podcasters use it.

[00:05:42] You know, but that's the type of quality that you need to have, you know, you don't wanna buy a cheapy, you know, 50 or a hundred dollars mic. You, you want to get the good stuff. Yeah. And you want have great headphones too. You wanna have headphones that are sound accurate, so not heavy on the base or, or too trey sounding.

[00:05:58] You need to be accurate so you can really hear. What you sound like. So getting great equipment is definitely the, the first start. Um, the second thing, which is just as important is really more of a mindset thing. And what that is, is, and I experience this with a lot of authors, they'll come to me and they'll say, you know, ah, I just hate my voice.

[00:06:19] I don't like how I sound. I don't think I have what it takes to, you know, to do a great narration and, and you've honestly, that's a false belief. 'cause your voice is part of who you are. Yeah. You, author brand is everything that encompasses who you are, how you were brought up, your habits, your belief systems, your sense of humor, your personality, and especially your voice.

[00:06:41] That's all what makes you so unique, which is why I'm a big advocate of, of nonfiction authors. Narrating their own audio book because it's, it's their story. No one can replicate them. No one can tell that story better than the author. You know, even you could have the best narrator in the world. You know, I would've loved to have, I always say, you know, Morgan Freeman for a great actor to narrate my audio book.

[00:07:05] But the thing is, it's still their interpretation, so they may not present it in a way that I would've said it. Same thing with, with any nonfiction author. They experienced it, you know, for example. I just finished working on a book, from an author who, was, pulled into a religious cult and there was a lot of, you know, mental abuse, physical abuse, you know, things that they experienced personally.

[00:07:29] No other, uh, narrator who hasn't gone through that will be able to express it in a way that that author did. So that's why it's so important for the author to narrate their own audiobook. 

[00:07:41] Teddy Smith: Yeah. Nice. Now. How long does it usually take to narrate an audiobook if you're doing it yourself? So say for example, the book is 80,000 words, just as a, as a typical sort of nonfiction type book.

[00:07:52] Robert A. Lane: Yeah. You know, it, the program is designed that I teach is designed for six weeks. So set up and preparation, narration, all the editing, all the files, audio files are ready for publication by the end of the six weeks. Um, but when it comes to the actual recording time and that, a really great question.

[00:08:10] I think probably an average book can be maybe, oh, let's say 40,000 words. Yeah. So if you have a 40,000 word book, you can narrate in an hour, roughly about 9,300 words. So if you take that 40,000 divided it, you know, by 9,300, you get about, uh, 4.3 hours worth of actual. Time that you've recorded and when you're recording your audio book.

[00:08:42] I tell authors, you gotta at least double that time because you have to, you know, make 

[00:08:47] Teddy Smith: mistakes. You gonna have off 

[00:08:48] Robert A. Lane: days, you're gonna make mistakes. You can feel like, ah, I don't feel like doing it today. It happens. and that's natural. It's part of the process. That's totally okay. So, so for a 40,000 Word book, give yourself.

[00:09:01] Uh, nine hours, let's say. Yeah. To, to record. And that that's, you know, again, just an estimate of time. But that gives you an idea of, of the actual recording time. Now, I do it in six weeks because I don't wanna rush the author. I don't want them to feel pressured. And the beauty about recording an audio book is that it is done in sections.

[00:09:19] You don't have to sit there and just read the whole thing because that's not the way to do it. And you, you're gonna get tired, you're gonna get fatigued and your voice is not gonna sound so good. So, so we do it in sections and it's just a lot easier that way. 

[00:09:32] Teddy Smith: Yeah, of course. So past that six weeks process, you're talking about, I guess some of the first parts are helping you practice finding your voice and your speaking style a little bit.

[00:09:40] So, uh, for nonfiction authors. Maybe they're not used to speaking to a microphone or speaking, maybe they haven't done any public speaking at all before. Uh, what are some tips you can give people to help them to firstly stay sounding authentic but still sound engaging when they're, when they're doing something brand new like this?

[00:10:00] Robert A. Lane: No, that's a great question. Well, the first thing again is, is confidence. You know, like I say, mindset, matter of fact, one of the first lessons I go through with the authors is a mindset lesson, and that's really just. Be focused. Get yourself focused, get yourself grounded. Be in the present moment. You can't worry about the past, you can't worry about the future.

[00:10:19] But the most important thing is just love and embrace this wonderful sound that comes out of your body. You just love your voice because that again, is part of who you are, and that allows you actually to stand out in a crowd because. No one is can replicate you that your uniqueness. So building confidence and believing and loving your voice is one thing, but to really tap into, getting the emotion, getting that energy of what your book is about, always be tapped in.

[00:10:50] To the core reason of why you wrote that book in the first place, why was it so important for you to write that book and, and publish it for the world to read? You know, there's, there's obviously a, a very important reason to share your story, so you always wanna be tapped into that because that comes through in your delivery when you're doing your narration.

[00:11:10] So that's one of the biggest, things that are pieces of advice that I could give authors. Yeah. You know, remember that? Why? Remember that core reason? 

[00:11:19] Teddy Smith: Yeah. do you work with any people to change their voice in any way at all? So, I know you say, okay, you gotta keep your natural voice.

[00:11:26] It's part of you. But the reason I was asking, I was just talking about. Chatting to you with my wife earlier today, and she reminded me of Margaret Thatcher when she like changed her voice to try and sound a bit more like masculine in like a, in a masculine dominated world and get a bit lower. Do you ever work with people to make any changes at all to their voice that they need to do or is it just, just keep it natural?

[00:11:46] Robert A. Lane: I think, well, I believe keeping it natural is key because honestly, authenticity. Is, is a crucial part of who you are, and that's what you wanna present. You want to be your true, authentic self because if you try to sound like somebody else, if you try to act like somebody else, that's not who you are. And it's a misrepresentation of your author brand.

[00:12:11] Uh, the other thing is. You've written this book, your voice technically is in your written word already. style is, and your personality is already in your written word. You're just bringing it to life when you do your narration. So you wanna be your true, authentic self. 

[00:12:27] Teddy Smith: Yeah, of course. Now, when you are preparing to read out the manuscripts into the microphone, is there any particular format that you find works better or is it generally just a case of just reading the book that you've made?

[00:12:40] Robert A. Lane: I highly advise authors just to do it in linear fashion, to start from the beginning and go through each chapter at a time, and practice. Just like with, you know, if you're a guitarist or a singer or or an athlete, you, you should practice. You, you need to practice. So, if you know, let's say I'm gonna record chapter three today.

[00:13:01] Okay. Great. Go over it. Get your re-familiarize yourself with that. Maybe read through it until you, you feel comfortable because you wanna get into your, your mental zone before you hit that record button and then hit the record button. So that's really the, the best way is just. Practice 

[00:13:19] Teddy Smith: now, once that narration is complete, does where, where are the typical places where you find people should be uploading them?

[00:13:25] Because obviously you've got, you want, you want to get them on Amazon if you can. So I'm guessing you would use something like a CX, but are there any other platforms that you use to get that book in front of as many people as possible? 

[00:13:36] Robert A. Lane: Right. So the first thing that I do with, with any author is that we have a meeting first.

[00:13:41] I always talk to every author before enrolling anybody, for a couple of reasons. One is, you know, I wanna find out more about their book. I wanna know what their marketing goals and what their strategies are. What do they want to do with their, their book and their audiobook. Maybe just being on Audible, Amazon and Apple, is all they need because that's where their audience is then great.

[00:14:01] Then we just. Go with a CX, be exclusive with them and, you know, it's a done deal. Now if they, want to be on other distribution platforms, 'cause there's, you know, at least another 40 other platforms that are out there, that's fine. So then we'll talk about that and if it works for them, then you know, I still highly recommend that they still get on Audible, Amazon, and Apple because most people do go there, especially Audible.

[00:14:27] But maybe you want to be. You know, on Barnes and Noble, or maybe in libraries or maybe, I mean, there's just a whole ton of other distribution platforms. Then we'll look at other distributors like Authors Republic, and then have them get their book uploaded to Authors Republic, and then they can go ahead and distribute to all the other distribution platforms.

[00:14:50] Hmm. But it really, depends on what the author. Wants to do and I, and I recommend that you just don't put yourself anywhere and everywhere just because like you should have a strategy. 'cause sometimes just throwing it out there and just seeing what sticks isn't such a great marketing plan because maybe that, be confusing for people.

[00:15:11] Where do I find you? what? You know when you can just say, grab my book on Amazon? 

[00:15:16] Teddy Smith: Mm-hmm. 

[00:15:16] Robert A. Lane: You can get my audio book on Audible. You know, it's real simple, direct, and people know exactly where to go. So it depends, but we have this conversation beforehand just so that I know, what it is that they want to do.

[00:15:28] The other thing, that I wanted to say in regards to having a meeting before I enroll anybody, is that we're gonna be working together and I wanna make sure that, you know, the author resonates with me. I resonate with the author because this is a, a business relationship and I want them to feel comfortable.

[00:15:43] And I'm not, you know, I'm not a big fan of. Big landing pages where you scroll, gimme your credit card. There's no personal interaction or anything, you know, so, you know, I feel it's just really important to have that human interaction. 

[00:15:56] Teddy Smith: Yeah. Yeah. Of course. When you are uploading your books to places like a CX and stuff like that.

[00:16:02] are there any restrictions on the types of books you can put up? Just, uh, just so for example, I work a lot of Amazon ads and there are restrictions on some things you can advertise. Like you can't really advertise gambling books or anything that is too sexy. Um, so are there any restrictions on the type of books you can DIY and upload to Audible?

[00:16:20] Or is it just you do whatever? Um, 

[00:16:22] Robert A. Lane: yeah, there, there are, you know, there are some restrictions, obviously if it's, if it's filled with, hate and, you know. You know, may, if you're a, you know, a Nazi lover or something, or just, you know, something really crazy and just, well, first of all, I won't, I won't do the book.

[00:16:39] Yeah, no, that's against my standards. 

[00:16:44] Teddy Smith: But it might not be, um, that you, it might not be that controversial, the book, you know, for example, I worked with a, uh, someone who is a professional poker player, and he's written a book about how to get good at poker. It's not particularly a controversial book, it's just Amazon doesn't allow you to advertise it because it's.

[00:16:58] Technically it's gambling, so Yeah. Are there any restrictions like that about the books? I, I don't mean, it's like, is it mind camp? I mean, right. Yeah. I mean, you know, it could be like gray, a gray area, you know, it could be a book. Right. And it's about sex work, or it could be a particularly like, erotic book maybe.

[00:17:15] Are there any restrictions like that, that you know of? 

[00:17:17] Robert A. Lane: You know, I think there is a fine line. You're right, there is a gray area. If I feel that the content, it's not, you know, offensive. Yeah. To a point to where people, you know, where it's like, you know, a sex book or, you know, but, you know, but if it's, if it's a, a great story and, it may seem like it's a little bit in the gray area.

[00:17:42] I mean, I'll do some extra research just to make sure. Mm-hmm. I'll even contact a CX. And, double check if, if there is, if there may possibly be, be an issue. But, usually they're pretty good about that. You know, like you're, you're able to upload stories that may be a little risque or, or, you know, like you say, you know, how, how to play poker.

[00:18:06] I don't see that as being, an issue, but I would definitely. Reach out to a CX just to double check to make sure that it's not violating any other, guidelines. But yeah, for the most part they're pretty open. 

[00:18:20] Teddy Smith: Yeah. I mean, 99% of nonfiction books are like. Self-help and things like that.

[00:18:24] Yeah. You know, they're not really difficult, but there's one or two cases where it's like, it is not, I always get you, when I work with people, I always say, I'll just double check before you do any advertising, whether you're allowed to. Right. With that sort of thing. When people are doing the DIY books and they're actually doing the recording, are there any common mistakes you see people make, for example, saying, um, a lot or, uh, that, that sort of thing?

[00:18:45] Robert A. Lane: That's, yeah, that's a really good question. The, the thing that, I really. Talk to authors about is, first of all, physically from a physical standpoint, be hydrated. You know, put, make sure you're healthy. Because if you're, if you have dry mouth, that's when you get a lot of mouth noises and that, and that can be very, very distracting.

[00:19:07] Now, as they send their audio files to me, I go through everything. I edit everything, and I'll pull out a mouth noise. If I, you know, if I can remove it and I find it distracting, I'll get rid of it. If I can't, then what I do is I, you know, after I go through a chapter, I'll send the author a list of.

[00:19:24] Maybe a few sentences that need to be replaced for a variety of reasons. It could be mouth noise, it could be, maybe a slurred word or a mispronunciation, or maybe there was some weird sound in the background that happened that I'm not able to edit out. So the author will just redo just those lines, those sentences that that, I send them and they send that back to me.

[00:19:44] I insert 'em in and, and we're all good to go. but yeah, posture, you know, good body posture. Hydration. If you feel fatigued, if you're not feeling well, take a break. If you're making a lot of mistakes, you know, maybe you just, you know, mentally it's just a tough day and that's just human nature. I.

[00:20:03] Step away. Take a break. It's okay. You don't want to put that extra pressure on yourself to say, oh, I gotta get this done. Because when you do that, that's gonna come out in your narration. 

[00:20:13] Teddy Smith: Yeah, no, of course. So let's just, before we finish off, I just, it'd be great to just go through like the step-by-step process of what it looks like, what working with you from, you know, coming to you to having your idea, to getting your book uploaded.

[00:20:28] Robert A. Lane: Sure. Okay. So obviously the first step is we have a conversation. So we'll book a, you know, book a Zoom meeting with me. We'll talk about your book again, like I mentioned. Let's find out about your marketing strategies. And then I go over the process of the, your book, your voice audiobook coaching program.

[00:20:45] So once they enroll, I ship them out the equipment that they need. So while they are waiting for their equipment, they have access. 'cause I have some video lessons as well that go very, I'm very methodical. So it goes very step by step. This is how you set up your equipment. This is how you set up your account in, in a CX to be published on Audible, Amazon, apple.

[00:21:07] This is the file naming convention you need to know to name your files. You know, and then, there's also, again, mindset exercises as well. So there are a lot of videos that, that they can watch just to get familiar and be ready. So when their equipment arrives, they can just get it set up and they're good to go.

[00:21:23] So on our, and I consider our first official meeting after they have their equipment. So we go every, over all the setup and preparation and then. They will send me a sample of, could be, you know, just a paragraph just so I can hear how is their delivery, what's going on in the silence, is there noise in the background?

[00:21:44] Is there a lot of mouth noise or whatever it is. And then I'll listen to the sample. I. If there's things that need to be corrected or fixed, maybe their mic positioning is not good. Maybe they're too far away or maybe they're too close. So we'll go over all of that and then once they, resend me a sample.

[00:22:02] If it sounds great, I. I give them the green light. Go for it. Let's start recording. So, you know, by, in the, in week one, they should be, starting to record and then again, just go in linear fashion. It's just, it makes it so much easier to do that. And then do your opening credits and your, you know, forward or whatever you have in the book.

[00:22:23] And then start with, you know, chapter one and continue on. And as they record. They will be sending me those files, so, because I don't wanna wait till the last minute and then get a whole ton of files. 'cause I have a lot of editing to do. 'cause 

[00:22:36] Teddy Smith: yeah, I 

[00:22:37] Robert A. Lane: listen to everything in real time and, you know, I probably spend 50 to 70 hours per audiobook and that's just editing.

[00:22:44] And, but that's, that's what's needed. To do it right? Yeah, of course. Yeah. So as they record, they'll send me the files. I do the editing for them. I do the uploading for them. If there, if there is any issue with uploading, I know immediately what the problem is. I can, I. Fix it, re-put a new file, re-upload, make sure everything is fine.

[00:23:04] And then once I have those final mastered audio files, they all go back to the, the author because it's theirs. They own everything a hundred percent, of course. And, and then of course, during the process we do talk about marketing strategies. Doing a launch for your audiobook, just like you would for your paperback and your hardcover and your ebook.

[00:23:26] Do a launch, put together a launch team. Let's do some marketing. You know, let's get it out there. What is your marketing plan after you? Do your audiobook, you know, have, have you thought it out, you know, what are you gonna, you know, for the next year even? and figure out where do you want to be?

[00:23:40] What do you want to do? So we talk about those things as well. But that's basically, an overview of what the program is. And then, and then they, they get published by the end of the six week program. 

[00:23:51] Teddy Smith: Awesome. And you just mentioned about the launch process. How, what does that launch process look like and is it different to launching a normal book?

[00:23:58] Do you have any particular, are there any things you need to particularly know, for example, about a CX or about launching a book, on the, an audio book versus audio? A normal book. 

[00:24:06] Robert A. Lane: I think the launch process is. Pretty similar to, launching a books. The only difference is that it's just a different format.

[00:24:15] You know, it's an audiobook, so you would send people to your, your audiobook page as opposed to, where you can get your ebook paper back in, hardcover, put the launch process is the same. Put together a launch team promote your book. Matter of fact, I, I really, encourage authors to.

[00:24:31] Give them behind the scenes post about it on social media. As you're recording your audiobook, show them the behind the scenes people Love that. You know, people, I love watching, bands recording their album, right? Or, or it's the same kind of thing. And, and utilize your social media to your advantage and get the word out.

[00:24:50] You can be doing all this promotion before your, your launch date and then. Get people together, do put together a launch team, have them, uh, purchase your audiobook and, and give them something, you know, for their efforts. You know, do something nice for them, whether it's a, I mean, if you're a coach, give 'em a free coaching session.

[00:25:08] You know, if, if you, if they do that, maybe give them a signed copy of your book, uh, if they buy your audiobook. I mean, there's so many things that, that you can do. Uh, but. Know, prepare, think about it, prepare. And then on launch day make a big, big deal about it. You know, just like you, your printed book.

[00:25:24] Teddy Smith: Yeah. Amazing. That's such good advice. It's really interesting to hear the step-by-step process for doing all your book. 'cause it is a bit different to, to writing a book and I think it's probably quite daunting for a lot of people to do it, DIY because they've got those hangups about their voice or, yeah.

[00:25:38] Not knowing whether they want to be speaking in public and all those sort of things. So it's great that you can work with someone to. Get help with that, 

[00:25:44] Robert A. Lane: right? I mean, once you get over the fear, uh, or, and it is, and then the confidence thing. I mean, I, we all, we all do deal with it. I've, I've dealt with it all, you know, all my life.

[00:25:56] But you, but you do get over it. And once you build that confidence, I tell you authors just, they get so into. Doing their audiobook. And the best thing about it is, now, of course I hear this all the time, and when I'm in editing mode, I'm focused on editing. But when it comes to like the final output, when I'm doing my final quality control pass, that's where I really get to listen.

[00:26:17] And I tell you, Teddy, every time they do such a great job, I'm sucked into their story. And I hear this all the time, you know, and I'm like, Hey, when are you sending your next chapter? I wanna know what happens next. This sounded great. Yeah. So it, it is a testament to, the ability of, of any nonfiction authors.

[00:26:36] You can do it. You really can and you will sound great. You just, you just, 

[00:26:42] Teddy Smith: yeah. That's really good advice and a bit of enough uplifting end for people to, to give them the inspirations. Go and do it themselves. Well, thank you so much for coming on. It's been great chatting to you. If, if people wanna get in touch with you, where's the best place to do that?

[00:26:53] Robert A. Lane: The best place is just to go to my website, Robert Lane coaching.com. It talks about the audiobook coaching program. I have samples of authors who've been through the program. You can hear what they sound like or how they narrated their audiobook. And of course, you know, my social is on the website as well, so you can follow me.

[00:27:11] There. 

[00:27:12] Teddy Smith: Great. We've got links to the show notes there as well with a little discount code for everyone as well. So. That's, if you wanna go and catch that, you can go and grab that in the show notes. And yeah, thank you very much for coming on, Robert. It's been great chatting to you. Oh, its fun. 

[00:27:22] Robert A. Lane: I love to appreciate, you having me on your show, Teddy.

[00:27:25] No problem. 

[00:27:26] Teddy Smith: Now just before we go, there's a question we always ask everyone and that's what's the book you recommend Everyone should be reading? 

[00:27:31] Robert A. Lane: You know, I have one book that comes to mind. It, it's just, it's a great story and a great audio book, and it is a, an author that I worked with, it's called Purgatory to Paradise, and in the author's Malish Sed, and she talks about her journey of, of being diagnosed with breast cancer and the whole journey of defeating and getting over, this,

[00:27:55] horrible disease and she, she conquered it. But her story, the way that she wrote her book and the way that she narrated her book, she's very visual. So you see it in your mind. You really see everything that, that she talks about it. It's, it's just a riveting story. And the beauty about. What she's done now is she does speaking engagements at hospitals and cancer treatment centers, so that that book and that audiobook has really helped, her get her story out and now allowing her to help other people.

[00:28:27] Teddy Smith: Yeah. Amazing. Well, it sounds like such an interesting book. We'll put link to that in the show notes as well so people can go and find the audiobook version of it and also the, uh, the regular version of it. Well, thanks for coming on, Robert. It's been great chatting to you and we'll speak in soon.

[00:28:39] Alright, thank you so much. Thank you so much for tuning into the publishing performance podcast. I really hope you found today's episode inspiring. I love chatting to authors, writers, and people in the publishing world. Now, just before we wrap up, let me tell you about publishing performance, the number one platform for authors who want to increase Amazon book sales, but I'm not really sure where to start.

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