Talking Books for the Impaired

by C. Hope Clark
As the traditionally published author of eight novels, I’m periodically asked to do podcasts, radio shows, and online classes for Writer’s Digest. Turns out I have a decent speaking voice (though I hate to hear myself). Then out of the blue, the South Carolina State Library contacted me after hearing one of my appearances and asked if I wanted to read my own books into their Talking Book Services for the impaired.
Rights ran through my head. Would my publisher agree? How much would I make from the commission? “Oh, we have the legal right to publish audio books without a publisher’s permission,” he said. “And it doesn’t pay anything.”
My publisher confirmed those facts and was thrilled I’d been invited to include my mysteries in this state and national system. Ever open to any method of broadening my platform, I delved further into this book-delivery system I’d never heard of.
Before 1996, blind individuals, especially students in dire need of access, were able to read maybe five percent of books published. Not many publishers wanted to print braille or large-print books, and e-readers hadn’t been perfected yet. So the National Federation of the Blind and the Library of Congress worked with the Association of American Publishers to amend copyright law. The bill was signed into law by President Clinton on September 16, 1996, allowing The Library of Congress to orchestrate this program.
The result was the National Library System for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Its mantra is “That All May Read.” Through a national network of cooperating libraries, they offer books in braille or audio, mailed to individuals for free or instantly downloadable.
Four of my books are available in the database known as BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) for patrons approved for the program. I’m currently reading a fifth into the system, and my state library has agreed to do all of my books.
I’m addicted to the process. Once a week I drive to the state library in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, and step inside a soundproof booth, don headphones, face the mic, and start reading. My advisor and producer, Ron Whitten, manages the myriad equipment and computer necessary. He’s full of patience and has a remarkable ear for mistakes.
I’ve evolved from making a mistake in every paragraph to reading as many as four pages without a glitch. Over time, a narrator learns how to acclimate voice to various characters, perform the right length of pause between scenes, and end a chapter on an ominous note when necessary.
Inside that booth I’m whisked away into my books. It’s private, secluded, and I’m allowed to read my books as if I’m there, as if I’m each and every character. Frankly, it’s soothing and meditative, and I totally forget that it takes us about 16 to 20 hours to record a 90,000- to 110,000-word book that will take a patron about 11 hours to “read.”
As stated earlier, I earn no royalties from this method of book delivery. However, I’ve determined that the Talking Book Services, as it’s called in South Carolina, is so valuable to me as an author.

1. While the service is free to qualified patrons, their non-impaired families and friends learn about C. Hope Clark as well, introducing them to my print and electronic books, as well as other audio books.
2. The patrons develop a love for certain authors like any other reader, and there’s currently a backlog of requests for my books. Their word-of-mouth is just as effective as that of people reading regular books.
3. Being able to read my own books into a professional system is exciting and satisfying. My publisher hires professional narrators and doesn’t let authors read their own work. In my work with the Talking Book Services, I’ve evolved from being a novice to becoming a more professional narrator under the tutelage of a professional producer.

The most common questions asked of me about volunteering to this service are:
Question: Do you read each character with a different voice?
Answer: No. That comes across as more amateurish. Over time, you learn to simply fluctuate your voice in minor increments, just enough for the reader to tell that more than one person is speaking.
Question: How long does it take to read a book?
Answer: Sixteen to 20 hours, but we rarely read more than two hours at a time in order to maintain a solid, consistent voice. After more than two hours, the voice starts to wane.
Question: What if you make a mistake?
Answer: The producer is listening to my every word while following along in the book. Sometimes I catch myself misspeaking, but more often he catches me. With a keen hand, he backs us up to the precise place of the error, and I reread the phrase or sentence. Some of the mistakes are quite funny!
Question: How do I get my books accepted?
Answer: Contact your state library and inquire as to whether they record books, then ask if they’ll consider recording yours. If they accept your books, they might already have regular narrators they prefer to use.
Question: Can I read my own books?
Answer: If you wish to be considered as a reader, be prepared to lead them to podcasts, online shows, or other recordings of your voice. Realize that not all authors have narrator voices. The producer will recognize a strong, steady voice most suitable for audio books, and please be accepting of their decision. Also, be prepared to volunteer several hours per week to the service. This is not a fast process.
Not every state records books, and some states are more active than others. South Carolina is a leader in the nation in providing books accepted at the national level, which means any patron in any state can access my recorded books.
But if nothing else, be aware of the service. There are so many visually and physically impaired people who might appreciate this free service. They can sign up in ANY library and have the books mailed to their home, free of charge. Or they can use their home computer and download books directly to mobile devices through the BARD app.
Being unable to read would be a nightmare for me, and being able to assist others in accessing books is a wonderful volunteer experience.

C. Hope Clark is author of the Carolina Slade Mysteries and The Edisto Island Mysteries. She is also editor and founder of FundsforWriters.com, selected by Writer’s Digest for its 101 Best Websites for Writers, and by The Write Life for its 100 Best Websites for Writers.