ACX authors Sandra Edwards and Regina Duke understand the impact a mentor can have on a writer’s career. A chance meeting at a local writers’ luncheon turned into an opportunity for Regina to learn from the writing, publishing, and marketing knowledge Sandra gained over her nine ACX productions. They join us today to explain how they both benefit from their mentor/mentee relationship and share some tips they’ve learned along the way.
ACX: Regina, how did you and Sandra first meet?
ACX Author Regina Duke
Regina: I went to a luncheon to talk to another writer who was quite popular with the group. But other authors immediately surrounded her, so I sat next to a friendly looking lady with the hint of a southern accent. Within half an hour, she was doing all the talking and I was taking notes on every piece of paper I could find…a flyer, a napkin, and an envelope. She outlined for the group, step by step, what she had done to get her books up for sale on Amazon. I couldn’t believe it. Here was a successful indie author outlining what steps to take. Near the end of our luncheon, Sandra leaned over and said to me, “Email me if you need a formatter.” I was thrilled.
Sandra: Romance writers are incredibly generous. Find one who knows her stuff and let her lead you.
ACX: How did this relationship lead to publishing your audiobooks through ACX?
Regina: I’d decided that 2015 was the year I would get into audio, but the prospect was daunting. Sandra told me of her experiences with ACX, and that helped make up my mind. I bought her first audiobook and absolutely loved hearing it “read” to me. It was a short hop from Sandra’s success to my decision.
ACX: Sandra, what aspects of publishing and marketing have you helped Regina with?
Sandra: There are a few areas where I think I helped Regina. Here are some specific pieces of advice:
- Work on your craft. Everyone says this, but its importance cannot be overstated. Even now, we read writing books between projects. Never stop improving your writing.
- Hire a cover artist. Once you are ready with the best book you can write (after proofreaders and editors have done their jobs), seek out a professional cover artist. Writers often think covers don’t count, but on a site such as Audible or Amazon, a compelling, professional cover is as important as the quality of your content.
- Take your time reviewing the auditions you receive on ACX. Don’t rush to hire someone. It takes voiceover artists time and effort to submit an audition. Listen, listen, listen. Make notes to yourself about what you like or don’t like in an audition. Listen to samples and read reviews on Audible to get a sense of what listeners like and don’t like.
ACX Author Sandra Edwards
- Include your audio version in every bit of marketing and promotion you do. Don’t let your audio version languish as a stepchild. Promote it as vigorously as you promote your Kindle books. And make sure your audio version qualifies for Whispersync, because that makes it even more desirable for your readers.
- Budget your time between writing and marketing. Many writers love the writing process to the exclusion of all else. If you want to sell your audiobooks, you will need to parcel your time to include marketing. “No, no! Not the M word!” There’s a lot to learn when it comes to marketing. It’s been a “trial and error” thing for us. What works for some may not work for others.
- Don’t wait to publish (in audio or otherwise) until you’ve written five books. We hear this advice at every conference and it astounds us. Some successful authors are telling newbies to wait until they have five books written before publishing. We respectfully disagree. What are you waiting for? There is so much to learn about being an indie author. Get that first book out there. Do it right: hire an editor, proofreaders, cover designer, formatter, and start learning.
ACX: How can ACX authors go about finding a mentor themselves?
Regina: I would turn that question around and first ask what I can offer someone who might, in turn, have information they’re willing to share with me? I call Sandra my mentor in the Romance category, but she has frequently assured me that our friendship is very give-and-take. I share any and all marketing opportunities I run across, and we both share learning opportunities.
Sandra: This is where conferences and writers group meetings come in handy. Let’s face it, you’re not going to be able to email a New York Times Bestselling Author out of the blue and ask them for advice. Well, I guess you could, but it’s unlikely that you’ll get very far.
Sandra and Regina can be found online at: SandraWrites.com and ReginaDuke.com. Sandra and Regina’s collaborative efforts can be found at: www.LoversLaneRomance.com.
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