Everything Fred is New Again: The Fred #1 Graphic Audio Release
At long last, I can finally talk to you all about my newest release from Graphic Audio! It’s been a heck of a year sitting on that tidbit, but that’s the way these things go sometimes. Since we’re breaking into a new form of the medium, this also seemed like a good chance to explain a lot of the details you folks might be curious about.
For any who missed the announcement, The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred the Vampire Accountant has been released in a new audiobook version from Graphic Audio. While there is, of course, no replacing the incredible work done by Kirby Heyborne, this is a different type of audiobook than the ones most of us are familiar with. It would best be comparable to an old-time radio-drama, one with a full cast of characters, sound effects, and even small touches like background music.
The cast does a great job, and it’s definitely a different experience than a traditional audiobook, but whether it’s your cup of tea is something you’ll have to see for yourself. For now, I wanted to take on some the questions that people have sent or posted during the preorder/release.
Will this come to Audible? Yes, eventually, and that is just about the extent of the information I have on that front. Graphic Audio publishes this version of the series, and has the associated rights that go along with that, including what platforms it’s hosted on and for how long. All those choices are in their hands, so I’m largely along for the ride with y’all on that part.
Are any other books getting this treatment? As a matter of fact, the series that you might expect would go very well with this format is already in development. Super Powereds: Year 1 is currently in production, and in fact there is a pre-order up for the first part already. Fred #2 has a page up as well, so we’ve got a couple of these coming down the pipe.
That said, this is a new business venture. Much as I would love to declare that those who enjoy this format will get it as an option for all my works, that’s not a choice I’ll be the one to make. How many more get adapted in this manner will largely depend on the sales of these first few endeavors. I don’t mean that as a “go buy now!” guilt-trip, it’s just the realities of the industry. You have to earn more than you cost for the people running stuff. Fingers crossed though, I’m hoping we’ll get quite a few more of these.
Why not feature Kirby Heyborne again? I don’t really have an answer here, as it once more involves the side of the business I have no say/involvement in. While I have always loved Kirby’s work and will use him on the main audio series so long as he’s interested, evidently things just didn’t line-up for this particular project. On the upside, the new cast does an excellent job, and it is interesting to hear a wider range of tones than any single voice could physically produce.
Are you doing these in place of the old audiobook versions? Since we were already on the topic of Kirby’s work, this seemed like another to tackle quickly. I’m genuinely not sure where this idea even comes from, as there’s no sound business reason I can conceive of why it would be viable. This is just another format for people who enjoy a different kind of listening experience. Obviously the existing audiobooks will stay available, and I fully intend to keep making new ones with Audible and Tantor as I have for years.
What’s it actually like to listen to? Graphic Audio uses the phrase “a movie in your mind” which does encapsulate it well. There’s also the similarities to classic radio shows that I mentioned above, but that’s probably not a relatable experience for most people reading this online in 2020. The best description I can give you is that when I was listening, it sort of felt like I’d turned my head away from a TV screen. For me, that was quite enjoyable, as I often will have a background show airing while plugging away on non-writing work.
Which version better supports the author to buy? Bless you folks who open with this sentiment, it’s always a pleasant reminder of the kinds of readers I’m lucky enough to have. As with all my projects, I wouldn’t put something up for sale if I wasn’t comfortable with the terms, so it’s just about the version that appeals to you more. A talented full cast or one incredibly gifted narrator, what matters most is finding the format that makes the tale most accessible for you.
That tackles all the major questions I’ve gotten so far, but if you’d like to know more about the Graphic Audio projects please feel free to leave a question in the comments below. I’ll either answer as they pop up, or if there’s a ton, maybe even do another one of these segments. Until then, hope you folks are enjoying the new style of audiobook!