(From the ACX blog: http://blog.acx.com/2013/03/22/acx-success-story-kevin-pierce)
I had a career path of radio and TV in the 70s, 80s and 90s and full-time voiceover work after that. Near the end of 2012, I read a blog post that mentioned ACX and I checked it out.
Armed with confidence in my related narration and production experience and a copy of the ACX production guidelines, I accepted my first offer, completed the production and got rights-holder and ACX approval.
I, Kevin Pierce, was officially an audiobook narrator and producer.
For the next 100 days straight (weekends and holidays included), I was in my studio auditioning, reading and producing audiobooks, managing as many as 10 at a time. My Thanksgiving Day schedule was to put two 24-pound turkeys in the oven, read and produce two one-hour chapters, then serve dinner for 50. On Christmas Day, my kids, wife and I opened presents before I started opening audio files. I was the ideal designated driver on New Year's Eve, because I would be having a Happy New Year's morning in the audio booth.
Best of all is what's in the amazing books I've read: the history of Spain and the military history of Iran, how to give a TED Talk and how to keep a beehive, why filibusters belong in the U.S. Senate and why the American economy might need to stop growing. I've channeled a fictional voodoo priest, UFO experiencers and a science fiction protagonist with multiple personality disorder (who had voices in his head, just like me!). I doubt I'll ever have the chance to test my knowledge against Ken Jennings on Jeopardy! but I will never run out of material at a cocktail party.
I've had the pleasure of repeat business from publishers like Berrett-Koehler, University Press Audiobooks, Crossroad Press and Callisto Media, as well as a number of authors both self-published and those who have regained audio rights to their previously published works.
All the recording was done my own state of the art, room-within-a-room studio, the audio from which, one delighted outside producer called “pristine.”
More important, I've done enough business (and see enough ahead of me) to be able to move into audiobook narration and production full-time (which provides an answer for the wife and kids to the question, “What exactly does your husband/father do?”).
So now, as an Audible-Approved Producer and narrator (a recognition I inquired about and received after I pressed “I'm Done” on number 50), I'm looking forward to the second 50 and the second hundred and the hours and hours of fascinating storytelling in the months and years ahead.
-- "The 8 Dimensions of Leadership: DiSC Strategies for Becoming a Better Leader (BK Business)" (UNABRIDGED) by Jeffery Sugerman, Mark Scullard, Emma Wilhelm (audible.com),
-- "The Archetypal Imagination (Carolyn and Ernest Fay Series in Analytical Psychology)" (UNABRIDGED) by James Hollis (audible.com),
-- "The Last Deployment: How a Gay, Hammer-Swinging Twentysomething Survived a Year in Iraq" (UNABRIDGED) by Bronson Lemer (audible.com)
-- "Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business" (UNABRIDGED) by Gino Wickman (audible.com)
-- "The E-Factor: Entrepreneurship in the Social Media Age" (UNABRIDGED) by Adrie Reinders and Marion Freijsen (audible.com)
-- "Only the Crazy and Fearless Win Big: The Surprising Secret to Success in Business and in Life" (Unabridged) by Arthur Wylie and Brian Nicol (audible.com)
-- "Ice Palace" (Short Story) by F. Scott Fitzgerald (audible.com)
-- "The Vitamin D Cure" (UNABRIDGED) by James Dowd MD (audible.com),
-- "Reverse Heart Disease Now: Stop Deadly Cardiovascular Plaque Before it's too Late" (UNABRIDGED) by Stephen Sinatra MD (audible.com),
-- "The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools & Strategies for Business Success" (UNABRIDGED) by Lon Safko (audible.com)
-- "Small Packages" (Fiction) by Phil Pino (audible.com)
-- "How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations" by Jeremey Donovan (audible.com)
-- "A Concise Summary of Charles Duhigg's 'The Power of Habit'... in Thirty Minutes" by Garamond Press (audible.com)
-- "The Bee Book for Beginners: An Apiculture Starter or How to Harvest Honey from Your Own Beehives (Backyard Farm Books) by Frank Randall (audible.com)
The fancy checkmark next to my name above means that I am an Audible-Approved Producer.
Audible says it gives this acknowledgement to the best audiobook producers in the business. It represents Audible's seal of approval -- a thumbs-up from Audible.com to show that a narrator/producer is experienced and respected. And they say it can encourage Rights Holders in choosing narrators/producers for their projects (hint, hint).
Audible-Approved Producers have usually narrated dozens of audiobooks that are available on Audible.com and have a verifiable record of achievement in the audiobook industry.
http://blog.acx.com/2013/03/22/acx-success-story-kevin-pierce/