How to Create an Audio Book Podcast

Many published books have an audiobook version that publishing companies sell at bookstores or on iTunes. However, if you don't have the resources and are more concerned about getting your work out there, you can always create a podcast of certain chapters of your book, and allow subscribers to enjoy your work for free.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• microphone
• computer
• podcasting software
• web server
• some sort of literature
• someone to read it

1. Decide how you want to organize this podcast. Do you want all of the chapters read, or do you want to just provide part of it, so people can get a taste of your book, and ideally go out and buy it.

2. 

   Think about who you want to read it? Do you want to read it yourself, or do you want to pick out someone who's voice embodies the narrator of your story? Pick someone who is more fitting to the sound you want your novel to take on in audio format.

3. 

   Once you've prepared all the details, you are ready to record. Hook up your microhpone to the computer, choose a means of recording (software such as Audacity or GarageBand are simple to use), and go for it.

4. Convert your recording into an mp3 file, if it doesn't do so automatically.

5. 

   Use a podcasting software program so you can edit your podcast and add features. You can use art or background music to contribute to the mood, if you'd like.

6. After you're done, put the file onto a server, and then you can take the links and publish them onto your webpage.

7. 

   If you choose to separate the podcast episodes into chapters, you can RSS feed for your listeners so they can conveniently subscribe to your podcasts.

Tips & Warnings

• A nice feature to add to a book podcast is an interview/discussion/conversation with the author. It'd be an extra incentive for someone to listen to the podcast, because it'd give a behind-the-scenes peak to the production of the book.
• Use this to promote your work. You can submit your podcast into the iTunes store or other places. Make sure you craft a simple but compelling description to intrigue people into listening. Also, fill out your ID3 tags, so that people can search for your podcast online.
• If you decide to use background music or jingles, make sure you don't use copyrighted music. There are plenty of legal, royalty-free music sites that you can use, and many software programs have their own free sound effects you can use as well.