Joshua Gayou - Commune: The Complete Series: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Box Set (Books 1-4)

When Josh asked me to write the foreword to this Commune box set I said, Havent I done enough for you already? He then reminded me, in a very lady-like manner, that it was him and his story of Jake, Billy, Amanda, Clay, Gibbs, Blucifer, the SDFSB, and the rest that really put Blue Heron Audio on the map. We quickly agreed that each had a major hand in the others success, then sealed it with a very slow, very supple, embrace. Why, I can even still feel the tickle of But I digress.

How about we go back to how it all started.

I held a Reddit Ask Me Anything back in April 2017 to essentially talk about how great I am. Too many people to count attended and, like now, I was very humble in regaling my greatness.

As I was attempting to wrap up this highly successful (obviously) event, this clueless lowlife decided to attempt buttering me up to get answers his questions. Because I strive to be magnanimous with the inept, I took a moment to entertain his incessant rambling.

Heres the transcript of how it played out:

gayouj: Hey, man, thanks for taking the time. Having interacted with you online for a while, I see a lot of writers who have commented on the fact that they felt like they won the lottery when they learned that you would be narrating their work. So, having just published my novel, Im curious. Are there any specific things a writer can actively do to get picked up for an audio book deal outside of just sell copies/get noticed? Is there a reputable submission process? I see all kinds of services out there thatll take your cash up front. Im just wondering what the process has been for a lot of these guys who have struck it big. Also, Ill note (and Ive said this before) that if I ever get to a point where one of my books are narrated by you, at about that point Ill consider myself to have succeeded. Thanks again, man!

audbks: hey gayouj! this is a pretty deep question actually and one i cant really answer to the extent youd probably like. but i will say that getting an audiobook produced via ACX.com is the way to start out. it all depends on who you cast to narrate it though. ACX will put you in touch with a massive amount of narrators getting one who can gain attention for you depends on how much you want to spend on it. if you want to give me a shout at ill get back to you with a better answer after ive been able to rethink it for an hour or two. happy to do this with anyone here tonight as well. ill then put up a page with your question and my answer so everyone can see what i had to say about it. again so sorry this was a lame answer but it is a very deep one. when your books ready give me a shout!

gayouj: Not lame at all. Im a total freaking newb so any knowledge I get is more than what I started with. I think Ill take you up on that and send you an e-mail. I cant tell you how cool it is of you to be making yourself available like that to all here.

audbks: many folks made themselves available to me early on thats the beauty of this biz. EVERY narrator ive met is absolutely caring, helpful, honest, etc. Truly a wonderland to be a part of.

gayouj: Well, again, the effort youre going to for your fans is admirable. I shot you that e-mail (has my last name Gayou in the address in case I get spam filtered). It looks like youre getting nailed from all sides with a lot of great questions. Ill sit back and watch the party. Have a great night, boss.

audbks: thanks again and i see your email. ill be sure to delete it before i sign off tonight!

< Later that same night >

(Note: theres a three-hour time difference with me on the right coast, Josh on the wrong I mean left coast.)

On Apr 5, 2017, at 9:49 PM, wrote:

Mr. Bray,

You offered so Im taking you up on it. For reference, here is the original question and your follow up response:

< here, Josh copied in the two AMA paragraphs above, then continues>

Ive done a bit of looking into ACX.com and its definitely one of those things that might happen at some point in the future. As I noted, Im just barely starting out I dont have the money to get the ball rolling out of my own pocket. Its why I was curious about some of these guys who seem to have been picked up by audio publishing groups such as Podium and so forth. I actually went over to Podiums site to see what that looked like and it seems pretty clear that theyre not interested in random mucks like me throwing them a submission; theyre pretty explicit that they want to come find talent, not the other way around.

So Im guessing (and dont feel bad if you have nothing to add to this; sometimes the answers really are just that simple) the solution is just be patient, rack up notoriety, and revisit at a later time.

Having just published my book, Ive learned more about the business side of all this than I ever really cared to. One of the things that Im learning is that audio books now seem to be the big gatekeeper to that next level in self publishing. There is a veritable glut of ebooks out on the market since it has become so easy to produce them and thousands of writers out there just like me are all clamoring to get noticed. Its like holding a farting contest in a wind tunnel: youre pretty sure that youre making noise but its just impossible to tell for sure. Also, the whole experience stinks.

Audio books are this final hold-out for recognition because not many folks can produce them; the barrier to entry is simply too high and I imagine its hard to come up with a model where a studio goes in on the costs with a writer unless you have some sort of assurance that the finished work is actually going to sell.

You said, when your books ready give me a shout! I appreciate the encouragement, man, and thats sincere. Id like to say that I know the thing is worth your efforts; its the best anything Ive ever written. When I wrote it, I had your voice in my head as I was writing the character dialog wondering how it would sound. Youre a big god damned influence is what Im saying here.

But I also know the reality of the situation (its like that dream that aspiring actors have when they move to Hollywood with big plans to get noticed and they start slipping head shots into menus at famous restaurants). Look, I dont know how any of this works but I have a good idea that youve got people shoving stuff at you all the time saying, Read this! I know youll love it.

That isnt me. You said that youd be willing to give a deeper answer when you had some time to work it over. Im honored for any advice youre willing to take the time to share.

I also want to tell you that Im glad as hell you landed in the profession you did and that I ran into your work. It has been a hell of a ride, for you and me both. Im listening to Expeditionary Force, Book 1 right now. Youve outdone yourself again, man.

On Wed, Apr 5, 2017 at 8:47 PM, wrote:

Hey Josh,

Ill give you a shout tomorrow. But in the meantime get rid of the Mr. Bray shit and call me Bob

Thanks again for stopping in tonight!

On Wed, Apr 5, 2017 at 9:11 PM, wrote:

Hah! Bob, it is.

On Apr 6, 2017, at 12:35 AM, wrote:

I just finished reading up the rest of the AMA thread after getting home from work. It went really well, man. Im glad you went for it.

I also noticed how receptive you were to people contacting you for narration work, which I hadnt expected (I thought youd have an agent jockeying all that).

Im gonna say this right frigging now: if there were any way in hell that you believed in my book enough that you thought it was worth narrating, Id sign a contract making 100% of the royalties for the audio payable to you. No. Shit.