First Things Got Really Good

Hello! It's been 2 months since my last post, but it feels like its been years. I've learned and grown so much since then. The last time I posted I talked about my new dreams of recording audio-books. I had just gotten my equipment in the mail 3 weeks before, a sensitive microphone and headphones made for audio production, and started putting out auditions for books on ACX. In retrospect I knew NOTHING and had no business auditioning for anything. I had no idea about the ACX requirements. I didn't even understand what producing an audio-book entailed. I thought I was simply recording myself and turning it in...was I ever wrong.

Nevertheless, I was offered a contract on my 9th audition and I was stunned. Inexplicably excited. My friends and family will tell you that I could be handed $1,ooo,ooo for my birthday and answer with a somber "Thank you." Excitement is not my thing, certainly not showing it. But I was on top of the world.

I immediately started my new business. Yes, I got one book offer and decided I was accomplished enough to start a business. I swear my ego is not usually this big, but this was the first time I had put myself out there and had been accepted. What was more important...that I had not been rejected. I wasn't laughed at, called names, or put down. I set out to do something and I had accomplished it for once. I wasn't the failure I believed myself to be my entire life. At the age of 45 I had a new beginning, some kind of hope. And I hadn't had that in a while. What I didn't know was how much there was left to accomplish.

The Sky is Falling

So, I set out to recording Exploring Vermont: A Journey Through History and Must-See Destinations by Brian Armstrong. I figured out many of the ACX requirements and how to manipulate audio in order to meet them with ChatGPT as my guide and mentor (A wonderful tool, but how I felt this would be enough to teach myself how to produce an audio-book I am unsure to this day). Keep in mind, at this point I had just started using an audio editor ( Audacity. Amazing stuff for free!), microphone, and sensitive headphones. No classes. No one I know to ask for help except for my husband who had recorded music in the past, but did not edit audio. In addition to my glaring lack of experience there was also my lack of self-confidence to deal with. In high school I took an F on my 3rd year French project because I refused to watch or listen to myself on tape like Mrs. Seth wanted us to. That woman was furious. I was an A student who chose to take an F because I could not stand to look at nor hear myself. How sad.

I've done a lot of work on my mental health since then, but listening to myself and picking myself apart brought up so many old insecurities and it was really rough. Not only that, but when I got to chapter 4 of 16 I learned of a requirement I had missed before and had to start over again and a week or so later developed bronchitis from severe allergy issues. I was devastated, just completely and utterly devastated. I didn't think I was going to finish the project and I was going to be nothing but a failure again.

Dust Yourself Off

After crying, yelling, and generally just feeling like a total piece of trash I re-centered myself. I meditated. I prayed. I read my tarot cards. I listened. And then I came to my senses. I messaged the author, one of the kindest people I have had the pleasure of working with, and explained this was my first audio-book, I was sick, and things were just not going well. He responded by telling me that I could have as much time as I needed. He had been listening to the MP3 files I had been uploading to ACX and he said everything sounded great.

Back on track, I dug in. I found 2 courses online that really helped me with my audio editing and things sped up. Why did I not do this in the first place? Believe me, I really wish I knew. I recorded and edited the audio and, in the end, turned in Exploring Vermont 2 weeks late but complete. Now the waiting...

The Suspense is Killing Me

Another thing that I learned is that just because the author approves your audio files it doesn't mean the book is automatically live. The files must be reviewed, tested, and approved by ACX editors. This was not what I wanted to hear. I thought that I was done. That was it. The author approved everything and the files all passed the Audio Lab check on ACX, a very handy tool that makes sure your files meet all requirements except ground floor noise requirements of -60db or less, so what else would I be waiting for? It turns out that they check the audio for consistency in tone, pacing, clarity, etc. and after taking one of the online ACX classes the instructor specifically said "Do NOT audition for a book over 3 hours for your first audio-book." She explained that too much could go wrong in a longer book, especially for someone new at the profession. Exploring Vermont, when finished, was over 7 hours long! What was I thinking?! Now I was afraid that I would be rejected because of lack of consistency in such a long audio-book.

So, I went back to meditating, praying, reading my cards, and listening to the subtle spiritual cues around me. The message that I got was to remain positive and believe in myself and so I did. I focused on starting a YouTube channel with the guided visualizations that I develop and use to overcome things that hold me back in life. I used them throughout this process to stay positive and focused on my end goal. I have always made up my own guided visualizations and used them ever since grade school when a man on Oprah said he beat cancer by visualizing himself killing the cancer everyday. I really believe in the power of visualization and if you would like to join me on a healing journey please subscribe to my YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/@DarlaForadora-Panic
I also share nature videos that I record and produce.

After the 14 day wait I received a message on ACX that Exploring Vermont was live! I produced my first audio-book!

Overall, this experience has been such a roller coaster but one that I would ride again and again. Thank you for reading this. If you have any interest in doing a review for Exploring Vermont please message me. I have codes for free listens in exchange for good-faith reviews.
If you'd like to preview or buy the book you can do so here:
https://www.audible.com/pd/Exploring-Vermont-Audiobook/B0FWM975N5?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

If you want to see anything that I'm up to check out my website:
https://darlaforadora-panic.carrd.co