Thinkingdog Publishing

  Let’s rewind to about a year ago when I decided to dabble in audiobooks. You know, like a casual hobby—except nothing in my life ever stays casual. I either go all in or I abandon ship before even getting my feet wet. This time, I went all in. I got myself a fancy Zoom P4 deck, a solid Samson dynamic microphone, and a whole mess of software that I initially had no idea how to use. I figured, how hard could it be? (Spoiler: very hard ). But I wasn’t worried. Why? Because I know my learning style. Some people take courses. Some people hire coaches. Some people watch endless YouTube tutorials. And then there’s me—stubbornly determined to learn everything by trial and error. I prefer to tinker, to break things, to question my life choices when I realize I recorded an entire chapter with my mic turned off. "Why don’t you just take a course?" my brother, the actual audio engineer, asked repeatedly. (This is the same brother who once set up my first microphone and watche...

Dear Human Readers, Hi. It’s me. Pixie. The fluffy superstar of the Magical Papillon Mysteries —and the uncredited, unpaid, and completely underappreciated behind-the-scenes talent of this entire household. So apparently, this week’s blog post is “About the Author.” But really, who knows her better than me ? I see all. I hear all. I nap through most of it. So buckle up, because I'm about to tell you what it’s really like living with a writer who moonlights as an audiobook narrator—and spoiler alert: it involves a lot of dramatic whisper-talking and an unreasonable amount of “SHHHH-ing.” Let’s talk about the Little Room. No, not the bathroom. The other little room. The one filled with foam panels and wires and that giant puffy microphone that looks like it should be chasing Indiana Jones through a cave. This, apparently, is where “the magic happens.” I call it the Box of Solitude and Unjust Barking Bans. Every day, Mom walks in there with her mug of tea (that I’m not ...

If you're the kind of person who breaks into hives at the mention of AI, I have one gentle suggestion for you: maybe go pour yourself a cup of tea and skip this post. No hard feelings—I’ll see you next week when I’m talking about Papillon dogs or haunted attics or something wholesome like that. BUT… if you’re curious about what happens when an indie author who usually handcrafts her audiobooks like they’re artisanal sourdough decides to flirt with artificial intelligence… well, pull up a chair. It all started when KDP (that’s Kindle Direct Publishing for the uninitiated—Amazon’s indie author arm) invited me into a beta program to test their brand-new virtual audiobook creation tool. You read that right: AI voices reading your book aloud . It’s like giving your manuscript to a robot and asking it to sound dramatic, heartbroken, or mildly sarcastic. Now let me preface this by saying—I DO record my own audiobooks. I have a cozy little studio set up, microphones that cost more th...

You ever listen to Audiobooks? I sure have - while walking the dog, folding laundry..... We are all super busy - and audiobooks are quickly becoming a cornerstone of the literary market. For authors—fiction writers included—embracing this medium is no longer optional; it’s essential. Here’s why audiobooks matter and why you, as the author, should consider narrating your own work. Why Audiobooks Are Vital 1. Expanded Audience Reach Audiobooks attract readers who may not have time to sit down with a physical book. Commuters, gym-goers, and multitaskers love the convenience of listening while on the go. By offering your book in audio format, you tap into an entirely new demographic. 2. Enhanced Reader Engagement Hearing a story creates an intimate connection with the audience. For fiction authors, this means readers can experience your characters’ emotions, voices, and nuances in a way that’s truly immersive. 3. Market Growth Potential The audiobook market is booming, with global sales...

  Guest post by CraveBooks.com The Future of Reading: How Technology is Changing Our Reading Habits Books have always been a window to the world, offering us glimpses into different lives, adventures, and ideas. But in recent years, the way we interact with books and reading has undergone a significant transformation. Technology has not only changed the way we read but also the way we access and engage with stories. From eBooks to audiobooks, to interactive book giveaways, the future of reading is more dynamic and accessible than ever before. The Rise of best reading apps for Android One of the most notable changes in our reading habits has been the rise of eBooks. With the emergence of digital readers like Kindle, Nook, and other e-reading devices, books are now more portable than ever. In fact, the convenience of carrying an entire library in one lightweight device has made reading on-the-go a norm for many. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, about 30% of A...