PROJECT UPDATE
Charles M. Ryan
CREATOR
5 months ago
Project Update: TMNO Audiobook Is Delivering Now
Hi, all—
I have great news: Today I delivered the audiobook for The Mason of New Orleans. If you’ve followed along with the earlier updates, you know it’s been quite a process—but I’m really happy with the results. If the audiobooks are among your rewards, download it now. I hope you really enjoy it!
Now here’s some less good news. I’d hoped to provide you with clear, detailed instructions on how to conveniently access and enjoy this audiobook. Alas, it was not to be. I have found the process to be confusing and inconsistent, and the advice I have to offer is limited. I hate to throw you a file and say “you’re on your own!” but the issue has defeated me. I’ve already delayed this delivery by a couple of weeks trying to solve it, and it seemed better to just get you the files rather than continue the delay.
Here's what limited advice I can give you. There are two versions of the file (M4B and MP3)—they’re both the complete book, just different formats for different apps.
On a Mac:
- Do you prefer to listen via the Apple Books app? You want the M4B file.
- Or would you rather use the Apple Music app? You want the MP4 file.
- In either case, download the file, then double-click it. It should open in the appropriate app.
On an iOS device:
- Hypothetically, if you follow the instructions above and add it to your Books or Music library, it should automatically sync to those apps on your other devices. That never worked for me, unfortunately.
On PC or Andriod devices:
- Your guess is as good as mine. Probably better, actually.
Again, sorry to throw you to the wolves, but I’ve been spinning my wheels on this for well over a week, and I just didn’t want to keep delaying the release of the file. If I can come up with more helpful instructions, I’ll shoot out another update and pass them on.
In the meantime, if any of you have any insight, or find a way to easily install this on a phone or iPad, pass on your advice on The Commandarie Discord server!
Thanks again!
—Charles
PROJECT UPDATE
Charles M. Ryan
CREATOR
6 months ago
Project Update: TMNO eBook and Other Updates
Hi, all—
We closed the pledge manager last week, and this evening I sent out the ebook of the original edition of The Mason of New Orleans. You should already have received an email with instructions on downloading the file. (If you didn't, just log into BackerKit and you should be able to download it.)
The email should also include instructions on opening the ebook on your Kindle, iPad, or similar device. Here’s the overview:
Using a Kindle or the Kindle app on your phone or tablet:
- Go here: https://www.amazon.com/sendtokindle (you’ll have to be logged into Amazon).
- Drag the file into the big gray square. Make sure the "Add to your library” toggle is on (by default it should be).
- Click Send. If all goes well, it should be accessible from your library on your Kindle or Kindle app.
Using Apple Books:
On your Mac, iPad, or iPhone, simply open the file! That should add it to your library, which (depending on your settings) may make it appear in your library on other devices. (So, for example, if you open it on you Mac laptop, it should then appear in your library on your iPad.) If your settings don’t allow that, you can transfer the file to your other device (email or text it to yourself) and open it there.
Using other common ebook readers or apps:
The EPUB format is industry standard, so it will open on most devices and applications. You’ll have to dig out the instructions yourself, though.
Audiobook News
The audiobook for The Mason of New Orleans has been my primary focus for the past couple of months. It’s an interesting process! As I mentioned back in November, I auditioned over 60 potential narrators—at about 10 minutes per audition, that alone was quite a lot of listening! After settling on my choice, I put together a detailed pronunciation guide for the nearly 200 names and terms that might not be familiar to modern readers or listeners.
Then he got to work! He’d deliver chapters, I’d listen and give feedback, and so on. Early chapters sometimes needed two or three rounds, but as feedback was incorporated the process became smoother and smoother. Later chapters often only needed a few revisions.
The audiobook ended up running over 19 hours—a lot of time listening and relistening. I’m very happy with the result, though, and I think you’ll be too!
We wrapped it up about two weeks ago. It’s been in approvals at ACX (the platform that delivers it to Audible and other audiobook apps) since then. It supposedly takes 10 business days to complete. That’s tomorrow. The status currently shows three out of four steps complete—so maybe it’ll be done tomorrow, or maybe it’ll take a bit longer. We’ll see.
As soon as it’s approved on ACX, I’ll download the complete file and get it backers!
What’s Next?
I’m closing in on completion of the revised/improved version of The Mason of New Orleans—just a few bits left on the maps. As soon as it’s done I’ll generate the ebook and send it out to you.
At that time I’ll also send the book to press, along with the character art prints and bookmark. It’ll take a month or so for all of those physical items to get made. Then I’ll start sending them out.
And Then It’s Heads-Down on The Angel of Ecbatana
The Angel of Ecbatana is maybe 40% written. Once the above-discussed rewards are out the door, it will be my main focus. I’m shooting to have it done mid-year, should all go to plan.
Thanks again!
—Charles
PROJECT UPDATE
Charles M. Ryan
CREATOR
9 months ago
Project Update: Pledge Manager and Progress Notes
Hi, all—
I have lots of cool news to share with you. But first:
The pledge manager is now open. This is where you provide me with the information I need to deliver rewards to you, including such things as:
- Your email address and physical address, so I can send you digital and physical rewards
- Your choice of art prints
- For Patron backers, your discord handle, so I can let you into the secret Patron-only chat!
- And so on.
And if you feel so inclined, it’s a chance to upgrade your pledge level, or get extra copies of print books as add-ons. So please check your email, follow the link, and fill it out. It only takes a couple of minutes.
Late Pledges!
If you know anyone who might enjoy my books but who missed the campaign, please let them know that late pledges are now open! That’s right: it’s still possible to jump in and grab the great deals offered through the campaign.
Here’s the link: https://the-mason-of-new-orleans.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders/673460
There have been nearly 30 late pledges since the campaign concluded, and these are very welcome—truthfully, the campaign didn’t quiiiite cover all the costs I’m incurring bringing these books to you, but late pledges are bridging the gap.
Oh, Those Sweet, Sweet Reviews
One of the great things about this crowdfunding campaign is that it drove a lot of interest in The Mason of New Orleans even among people who didn’t back the campaign. In the last couple of months TMNO has received nearly 200 new ratings, and 50 new reviews, on Goodreads—for an average of 4.89 stars!
Sales have also been pretty brisk, with more ebooks sold in the past two months than the previous couple of years.
If you’ve already read The Mason of New Orleans, please take a moment (if you haven’t done so already) to give it a quick review on Goodreads or especially Amazon. (The latter really helps Amazon’s algorithm recommend it to more readers.)
So How Are Things Coming, You Ask?
In addition to getting the pledge manager up and running (honestly, most of the work was done by Tammie Ryan, love of my life, who has extensive experience with crowdfunding reward management), here’s what I’ve been working on over the past month or so:
- TMNO revisions: I made a handful of small revisions to The Mason of New Orleans. These included a rewrite of the opening paragraphs (I hadn’t really found Martin’s voice when I wrote the original opening), updating another short passage in the middle, making a couple of small timeline corrections, and fixing some typos. With the possible exception of the opening paragraphs, these are things most readers probably won’t even notice—but I did, and they bugged me!
- Book layout and typography: I have the full book laid out, and all my typographical decisions made. It just needs the new maps. It’s pretty spiffy, if I say so myself!
- Audiobook: This is what I’ve spent the most time on:
- I finalized the decision on a narrator after reviewing roughly 60 auditions!
- I put together a pronunciation guide for him, with guidance on 150+ names and terms from the book.
- He’s submitted two chapters so far, which I’ve reviewed carefully and sent notes on.
- And as part of that process I’ve started writing up character bios so he has better context when deciding how to voice these characters.
- Community hub: I set up a Discord server, which you’re invited to (see the pledge manager). This is of particular interest to Patron backers!
Next steps include:
- Audiobook: I’m continuing to work with the producer to move this along. It’s a fascinating process! I’m very happy with it so far, and want to ensure the final product is something we will all love.
- Graphics and the TMNO revised edition: I’m starting work on maps and other graphic items for The Mason of New Orleans revised edition. Once they’re in place I can get the ebook out!
- Print book to press: Once the revised ebook is complete, I’ll move on to print book. Most of the layout work was already done for the ebook—that is, I only have to make small tweaks to the layout file to make it print-ready.
- All the other stuff: Once the book is in production, I’ll get the art prints and book marks off to press too. And work on other items such as the alternate opening chapter and Cypher Unlimited incentive.
Then I’ll have the time and energy to dig into writing The Angel of Ecbatana. But don’t worry—I find that I can’t really type out words until they’ve stewed in my head for some time. All the bandwidth I’m putting into this project is keeping Martin’s adventures active in my noggin, and I’ve make a lot of creative decisions for TAOE. I’ll be able to hit the ground running, inspired and full of ideas, when my schedule clears up to start writing.
Thanks again!
—Charles
Includes Follower-Exclusive Content
PROJECT UPDATE
Charles M. Ryan
CREATOR
11 months ago
Project Update: We Did It!
Hi, all—
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support! The campaign came to a wonderful close yesterday afternoon. (If you didn't make it in time, see below.) We didn’t quite make it to the hardcovers, but it was an amazing success even so. I’m so excited to make, for you:
- The revised, upgraded edition of The Mason of New Orleans ebook, with new graphics, maps, and typography.
- A print version, with all those upgrades.
- An audiobook.
- And I’m going to finish The Angel of Ecbatana, and deliver it in all those formats.
- Oh, and let’s not forget the fabulous art prints!
The earliest of those rewards will fulfill later this year, with the last of them (specifically the print version of The Angel of Ecbatana) delivering next summer.
In the meantime, here’s what to expect:
- BackerKit will take a couple of weeks to collect all pledges and provide me with backer data and funds.
- Then I’ll open the pledge manager. That helps me gather critical data to provide you with your rewards. It’s where you’ll pay for shipping—and where you can make upgrades to your pledge, if you so desire.
- When the pledge manager closes (about a month from now) I’ll start delivering the early rewards.
If you backed at the Patron level, sometime in the next couple of weeks I’ll set up a community hub and invite you to it. It’ll be a place where we can chat, I can show off work in progress, and I’ll ask your thoughts when I could use a little creative input for a name or other detail.
Remember, to get any of your rewards, you have to complete the pledge manager. So please look out for an email invitation in about two weeks!
And if you know anyone who missed the campaign but might love these books, tell them they can still make a late pledge. Here’s the link: https://the-mason-of-new-orleans.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders/673460
Thanks again!
—Charles
PROJECT UPDATE
Charles M. Ryan
CREATOR
11 months ago
Project Update: I'm Listening to Audiobook Auditions!
Hi, all—
Here’s some exciting news: for the past two weeks I’ve been receiving auditions for the audiobook narration of The Mason of New Orleans (and eventually The Angel of Ecbatana, as I’d like to have the same person read both).
The process is pretty interesting. I put together a snippet of the book—about 15 minutes’ worth that includes dialog by several key characters and scenes with different moods and pacing. I then posted it as an open call on the ACX marketplace (the back end of the Audible/Amazon platform). After it was approved by ACX (which, due to a glitch, took a few weeks longer than usual) it was available for narrators to audition.
Since then I’ve received 51 submissions (as of this writing—I’m still getting one or two more every day). Some—though really just a few—are pretty awful. Most are pretty good. Some are awesome! I have about a dozen on my short list.
(By the way, 15 minutes times 51 auditions? That’s a looooot of listening!)
This week I’m going to go through that short list and narrow it down to just a handful. Here’s what I’m listening for, starting with (roughly) the most important things and working downward:
- The is voice a pleasure to listen to
- And sounds like Martin, our POV character
- The dialog imparts characterization, but isn’t acting, and doesn’t have heavy accents (every character in these books speaks French—too much accenting will get tedious fast!)
- The pacing matches events in the book—a sense of urgency in action scenes, for example
- The price is right (this sort of work is done on a PFR (per finished hour) basis; The Mason of New Orleans is about 17 hours, and rates run from $100 to $800 or more PRF)
- The voice actor has an audience that may bring readers to my books
When I have it down to my final few, I’ll give them some notes (on how to pronounce names, what character voices might sound like, and so on) and ask each to submit a second audition—probably reading a shorter snippet that contains some different character voices. From there I’ll make my final choice!
I hope to get through all of this in the next few days. If we’re lucky, maybe I can share a snippet of audio before the campaign ends Thursday afternoon!
