**Steps up to podium. Clears throat.**
One question: Why are you not listening to audiobooks?
No, no, no, let me guess.
#1 – What are you, rich? Have you seen how much those things cost?
Why yes, I have. But who says you have to purchase them? You have already paid for the use of tens of thousands of them through your property taxes. In TN, we have a fabulous online library system called R.E.A.D.S. Through this system, you have access to copious amounts of audiobooks and eBooks, right at your fingertips. With R.E.A.D.S. you are allowed to checkout up to 15 books at a time, and you are able to keep them for up to three weeks. It rarely takes me more than a week to get through one.
And these aren’t public domain books we’re talking about here. Just a few of the authors available to you through this website include James Patterson, John Grisham, Nora Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, Sue Grafton, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Gillian Flynn…you get the picture.
I also know many people who have subscriptions to Audible. I often consider taking out a subscription myself, but there are so many I need to get through from the library system first, I don’t think I’ll ever need to!
Torrenting audiobooks is also a great option, and there are several options out there. There are private trackers that offer only audiobooks and eBooks, as well as public websites that offer thousands of audiobooks. However, you’ll need a VPN when you download audiobook torrents in order to prevent any potential consequences. It protects you by masking your online activities. In fact, comparisons of Nordvpn vs PIA or other online resources could probably be your best option for finding the best VPN. And if you are the type that feels guilty for not paying for the actual book, show your love to the author by giving a good rating or review if you enjoyed their book. I know that’d be enough for me. The point here is to get people excited about books again. If it takes the public library system to do that, I’m for it!
#2 – CHEATER! You’re not REALLY reading that book. You’re having it read to you. It’s not the same. How dare you count that on your Good Reads page?
Eh, you’re probably right. But I can’t even begin to count the number of authors and books I have been introduced to through audiobooks – none of which I would ever have picked up and read on my own.
As a writer, I am instructed to read every night. Oh-kay. Let’s see. I’ve been at work for 9+ hours, gotten in my daily exercise, showered, dinner, spent quality time with the offspring, unloaded the dishwasher, folded clothes, sat down at 9:30 to write, edit, research, market, blog, address personal emails, etc. until 11:30. Do you see a spot in this day for extracurricular reading? I don’t even watch any kind of regular television anymore! I’m doing all I can here. Give me this one thing, will ya?! **Swallows chill pill. Feels better.**
Audiobooks enable me to maximize downtime with information and entertainment. I listen while I run, drive or clean house. If I’m to be penalized for that because I didn’t sit and actually read the words, well, get our your red sharpies and mark a big ole red X on my face.
#3 – A bad narrator can ruin a great book.
That’s for damn sure! But I find that is less often the case as it is the other way around. I have certain narrators that I’ve enjoyed so much that I have gone searching for audiobooks that they have narrated just because I enjoy their work, which in turn has introduced me to some excellent authors I would have otherwise never known. A few outstanding ones include Cassandra Campbell, Jeannie Stith, Cynthia Nixon, Kate Reading, Rosalyn Landor, Michael Ledwidge and for me, Dick Hill is as synonymous with Jack Reacher as Lee Child himself!
#4 – Eh, you gotta download software and mess with that thingamajig, blah blah blah hassle, yada yada yada too much trouble, #notatechy.
Honestly, it’s not all that. I’m probably the least technologically savvy person you know. I want to pull my hair out in globs every time I attempt to update my website. So if I can do that, trust me, you can do this with one hand tied behind your back (not that you’d want to do that, but you get the picture). You just download the FREE overdrive software to your computer, and you’re good to go. You download the books from the site, then transfer from overdrive to your device (i.e. phone, iPod, whatever). I’m sure you can download direct in some cases and I’ve heard Eurodownload is the best place to find downloadable software, but I’ve found it works best for me to download to my computer first.
So, have I convinced you yet? I know, it’s a lot to take in, but I am super-passionate about this subject. I love books. I love taking them in, any way I can. Can you blame me for wanting to share the love?
I still read plenty of books. I’ve purchased three so far just this month. But I want MORE MORE MORE than I have time to actually sit down and read. I’m greedy that way.
In closing (thank God, right?), the day you see a Melissa Chambers novel available in audiobook format, you will know that I feel, that I have finally arrived as author extraordinaire.