From Manuscript to Mic: Everything you neeed to know about Audiobooks with MaryCatherine Jones {ep. 179}

Audiobook producer Mary Catherine Jones (The Audiobook Experience / VoiceOver Vermont) joins Alexa to demystify audiobooks—costs, timelines, who should narrate, distribution choices (exclusive vs. wide), library access, marketing ideas, and realistic budget paths (from pro narration to ACX royalty share to AI). She also shares how she built a boutique studio around a love of books—not gear.

In this podcast, Alexa and Mary Catherine discuss:

• Mary Catherine’s book-first origin story and why love for stories drives better production choices
• What truly drives audiobook cost (6–7 production hours per finished hour) and practical budgeting
• Whether authors should narrate (nonfiction/memoir often yes; fiction usually a pro)
• Recording options: in-studio retreat in Vermont, partner studios near you, or last-resort home setups
• Distribution strategy: exclusive (Amazon/Audible) vs. wide (e.g., Author’s Republic, Findaway) and how that affects library access
• Library sales: why “available” ≠ “ordered” and the marketing authors still need to do
• ACX royalty share pros/cons (and the seven-year exclusivity)
• AI narration: where it fits (accessibility/low-budget nonfiction), clear limitations, and ethics
• Making your audiobook a marketing asset: audiograms, behind-the-scenes, chapter teasers, bundle/discount tactics
• Practical tip: enable the ebook → audiobook “add-on” discount to boost attach rates
  
  

Sponsor Offer
Members of the Women in Publishing Summit community receive 10% off with The Audiobook Experience. Mention it in your intro inquiry.

Call to Action
Ready to plan your audiobook the smart way—on your timeline and budget? Listen to the full episode, then map your ideal path.

Key Quotes

• “It takes six to seven human hours to create one listening hour—and that’s before the emails.”
• “Nonfiction and memoir often shine in the author’s own voice; fiction usually needs a trained narrator.”
• “If libraries are part of your plan, don’t go exclusive with Audible.”
• “Make your audiobook a marketing asset—clips, audiograms, and behind-the-scenes go a long way.”
• “Availability in library systems doesn’t mean orders. You still have to market.”
  
  

Mary Catherine Jones is the owner and executive producer of The Audiobook Experience at VoiceOver Vermont, an award-winning boutique audiobook recording and production studio. A lifelong book lover, she helps authors bring their stories to life—either in their own voices or with the perfect narrator. theaudiobookexperience.com