This is a continuation of my previous blog, My Audio Book, in which I shared with my readers what it was like to record my book Superstition Murder Club for the Arizona Talking Books Association. This was my first audio book. Soon I will be recording the sequel, Too Soon for Sunset.
I thought it would be easy, but my first session took two hours to read three chapters.
Right at the beginning I made the mistake of adding an “and” in the listing of “other works by” section in my book. The program director stopped me and told me that by agreement with the Library of Congress, I must not add or subtract any words from the printed material. It must be exactly as printed.
This amused me because I am forever adding and subtracting my words. I have yet to find a sentence I have written that I cannot improve—even in already published works. Through the years, I have learned to let well enough alone or perish. My infernal internal editor is a cruel mistress.
While I read my book out loud with the monstrous microphone pointing at me, my mind criticized the use of a word, the placement of a comma, the awkwardness of a phrase. My reading falters and the director stops me for a retake. I had to learn how to muffle the infernal internal critic so I could read without a mistake.
Now that I am a “seasoned” reader for audio books, I am excited to bring Too Soon for Sunset to my visually challenged audience.