Hi werewolf lovers and vampire venom addicts! It’s been a while since I checked in with all my lovely readers of the ALMOST HUMAN series, and I thought we should catch up 😊
Honestly, I was in a bit of a funk for a while. As I mentioned earlier, I was working on audiobook versions of the series. I was doing the books in full sound production with correlated music and sound effects – I think it sounds pretty great! I had finished book 1 and done part of book 2…but… Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be able to release them as they are.
Although I thought they sounded good to my ear, the Audible check says the sound isn’t clean enough. I’m having a really hard time getting rid of ambient room noise. While I know other authors and podcasters who use simple home studios, mine must not be up to snuff. On top of that, many in the business are advising me to do a straight narration without all the bells and whistles, saying my audience will find the music and sound effects too distracting. As much as I loved my finished product, maybe they’re right. What do you think? Let me know in the comments! In the meantime, I think I have to shelve what I have and start over with a simpler version. Perhaps in the future, I can release special editions with the extras.
So, I was really bummed that I spent so much time on something I can’t use. The upside – now that I am resigned to putting it on the back burner, I have been writing up a storm for the 4th trilogy! While it is not ready for release, I can confidently say that I will be finished writing Book 10 by the end of May! It still needs a title, a cover, and editing, but the story has flowed beautifully, and I am really excited for you all to read it!
If you aren’t caught up on the series, now is the time, because you won’t want to miss what’s coming next 😉 Check out all of the available sequels in the “Books” tab of my website.
That’s all for now. I’m going to get back to buttoning up the latest book, and I will let you know as soon as I have a release date. A huge thank you to all of my loyal readers. I can’t wait for you to read what adventures Cain, Felicity, and all of their friends: vampires and werewolves, humans and those who are almost human, have in store!
Stay tuned!
* Edited to add:
I have a 1 hour sample chapter from book 1, if anyone is interested in giving it a listen. I am still a novice at this, and doing everything on my own, so I am sure there is plenty of room for improvement, but this is a taste of what I was doing. It is Chapter 8 from FATAL INFATUATION. I think it’s a good sample because it has a bit of everything: music, a bar fight, a kiss, and a zombie, among other things 😉
It’s better heard through headphones so you can really hear everything.
(Audio sample) FATAL INFATUATION – CHAPTER 8 – I Got You Something
~ Melanie Nowak
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Melanie Nowak 
Hi Melanie! It’s lovely to have an update from you. I love the dedication to your books and your vision for the audiobooks. I’ve recently taken to listening over reading directly and although I haven’t listened to anything with music etc I do know that I love a production with a cast. So each character has a different voice. That’s all I can really input. I bet your ideas for sound etc were incredible knowing your attention to detail. Can’t wait for the next book and a whole new trilogy!! As ever- lots of love from Wales UK 😘
Thanks, Tracy! I edited the blog post to add a sample chapter of the audio I was working on if you’d like to give it a listen!
I will say I only do audiobooks that have more than one narrator or multiple sound effects. I really hate hearing one person trying to sound like multiple people. I find it hard to get into the story and actually picture it. Its like having someone just sit there and read the story to you with no emotion.
When you run the HP full cast editions books they don’t sound clean at all in an audiobook check but IMO are some of the best audiobooks I have ever heard. Its like hearing a movie. I would seriously consider doing a test audience and speaking to people in the business who have experience with full cast/sound effects audiobooks. There are not that many out there so of course people would think that single person no sound effects books would sell better.
Thanks, Meg! I considered casting different characters for the voices, but I have been speaking my character’s lines aloud as I write dialogue for them for over 22 years now. I would terribly micro-manage any voice actor for every inflection to be just right. I really like the idea of doing it myself, but I know some readers might rather have a man speak Cain’s lines. I’ll have to think it over.
I’m obviously a novice at recording for audiobook, but I’ve added a sample chapter to the original blog post for you to listen to, if you’re interested in hearing what I was working on 😉
I really like the music and sound effects too! I’m sure I’ll put out editions with them eventually 😉
Have you looked at audible options on Amazon? When you publish there you can use their audible options and pick out a voice that you like for narration. It’s not as cool as an author read version, but it is an option.
Thanks, Linda! I’ve been voicing these characters while writing dialogue for over 22 years now. I can’t imagine letting someone else speak their lines, LOL. I’ll take a look and revisit all my options, though.
I totally understand. I tried doing my own voice, but it was too shaky, and I kept stumbling over words. So another voice doing it worked very well.
I actually just posted a sample chapter on the original blog post if you’re interested in giving it a listen. I’m not sure what people will think of my narration, but I gave it a shot, Lol.
Loved the sample of Ch. 8. Your voice is very clear and precise. Great job! Congratulations!
Thanks for listening! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
I can’t remember the last one I read but was the beginning series so long ago
I need to try to remember
Hi Bear! It has been a long journey 🙂 Book 1 was published in 2008. Now there are 3 trilogies available. Here’s the list:
ALMOST HUMAN Series
1st Trilogy: (red covers)
Fatal Infatuation
Lost Reflections
Evolving Ecstasy
2nd Trilogy (purple)
Born to Blood
Descendant of Darkness
Destined for Divinity
3rd Trilogy (blue)
Vampiress Reigning
Bewitching Werewolves
Almost Human Nature
I had always envisioned the story as a series of 4 trilogies/12 books. I’ve had much of the story planned out from the beginning, and knew it would take that many books to tell it all. There have been some fun detours from my original outline along the way, but I feel they made the saga even better, and it is so gratifying to see it all coming to fruition!
Personally, I love to re-read favorite books and refresh my memory before beginning a sequel. Sometimes you notice details, layers, and foreshadowing on a re-read that you may not have picked up on the first time around. (Plus, I just love revisiting with characters like old friends!)
I hope you’ll dive back into the story. There have been so many juicy developments along the way, and surely Cain & co. have missed you 😉
Thanks for reading!