If you are an audiobook enthusiast, you clearly understand this fact – making a successful decision to buy (or borrow from your library) the audio version of a book requires much more effort than simply choosing to read the print version. With print, you take into consideration the author and the book’s synopsis. Possibly you read online reviews before finalizing your choice. With an audiobook, significant thought must also be given to the narrator and format with reviews playing a larger role. Not only do you look for reviews on content but the narrator’s performance as well. What are others saying about the production quality? And is the audiobook reviewer one you can trust?
We’d like to know more about how you choose your romance listens. We’ll then report back, offering you a look into other romance listeners’ buying decisions.
The survey is closed. Thanks to all who participated! We’ll be reporting back soon.
Thanks!
Lea Hensley
One thing that wasn’t covered in survey that is very important to me. No matter how much I love an author’s work, if I don’t care for the reader I won’t buy their audios. Won’t even listen on Overdrive or Recorded books via my library.
Good to see your comment. We hoped we had covered that in question five but I see we weren’t that definite. I hope others will chime in too if they feel strongly about some aspect of choosing their listens.
Hi Leslie, same for me. A narrator can ruin a good book
Lea, I’m having a problem with the form. I’ve tried to complete it on both Mac and PC, and each time I select an answer to 6, it removes my answer to question 9. Maybe I should try my iPad.
Anyway, I submitted answers, but I’m not sure they actually came through completely.
Great of you to gather info that may sway publishers to our advantage.
Best,
Lisa
Lisa – I did receive your survey and it looks to be complete. Thanks for sticking with it!
I had this exact same problem on my iPad. Answering one made the other answer disappear. Odd.
Hi Lisa – The iPad issue was an easy fix – I was out of town for several days so it had to wait. Thanks for the heads up and your patience! :)
Please let us know if you encounter any difficulty completing the survey. Thanks!
Hi Lea,
Like Leslie, I wan’t entirely sure that #5 accurately represented my listening patterns. Unless it is one of my few autobuy authors, I will only buy a new author in audio format after reading the print review on AAR. I am inflenced if it is one of my favorite narrators, but even a favorite narrator cannot overcome a mediocre story.
A happy side effect of this survey was that it brought Goodreads to my attention. I currently look for new content by visiting AAR and AudioGals – somehow I missed Goodreads in my old patterns. I’m looking forward to visiting and finding even more reviews.
Thanks!
Kathy
Kathy – do you know about our Romance Audiobooks Goodreads group? Brenda and I started it around four years ago as a place to discuss romance audiobooks in between Speaking of Audiobooks columns. Now it functions more on its own (although we still announce Speaking of Audiobooks events there). It continues to grow and Brenda and I still moderate.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/39149-romance-audiobooks
Thanks Lea – I will definitely check it out!
Also, I completed the survey but am not sure that my responses were recorded. Please let me know if it was not received and I will resubmit it.
Thanks again!
Kathy
Kathy – we didn’t receive it. Please try again!
I had to weigh in on the geo restrictions answer, of course! I can’t believe that in 2014 there are STILL publishers who aren’t able for whatever reason (which I imagine is usually financial) to make titles available outside the US. Tantor is a specific example – I think they’re a terrific company, but when it comes to romance audios, I’d say that at least 75% of their titles aren’t available for purchase outside the US. (I can usually buy CDs from Amazon, but I would prefer to buy downloads.)
And for #5 – I’m the other way around in that If it’s a narrator I like, I’ll listen to practically anything, regardless of whether it’s an author I know or not.
I’m curious. Let’s say a reader lives in the UK or NZ and they have a library card with the Los Angeles Public Library. Would Geo restrictions prevent them from downloading an audiobook via Overdrive?
I have absolutely no idea! I’ve used both Overdrive and One Click Digital here in the UK, but as I only have a UK card, haven’t tried any international sites.
But whatever the answer – it’s ridiculous that those of us outside the US still have to jump through such ridiculous hoops. It’s 2014 and the global market has been with us for quite a while now!
One thing that also makes a difference in choosing which audios I buy is price if I don’t have any Audible credits left.
Thanks Moriah – another consideration we’ll have to look more closely at!
Length also matters. I’m not a huge fan of novellas made into audio with a few exceptions. They just don’t seem worth the price.
Looks like we will be running a Part II survey. Seriously, you all have thoughts we want to add to another survey.
Oh yes Lea! Paert II would be great. Would you please include which books/authors would we love to have in audio format? For ezample one of my all-time favorite romances is Once in a Blue Moon by Penelope Williamson. I love her writing and IMHO that book is a rare treasure. And to my great dissapointment there isn’t even a Kindle version.. I have the paperback copy but it’s so battered from the rereadings that it’s hardly legible anymore. I downloaded Keeper of the Drean and A wild Yearning. Her Westerns are amazing too. I would love to have her backlist on audio. And to the audio fairies out there, please make Kate Reading the narrator!
Apologies for the typos. Digital keyboards are not my thing.
Would love if we could search by steam rating. Is it possible?!
You know Ntallet – we have talked about that. I think it is a great idea and we should be able to set that up without too much trouble. You can’t search by steam rating right now but let me check to see where our project calendar stands.
Audiobooks are an expensive investment especially since I’m not a big re-reader. I rarely, rarely buy any romance audio books unless it is a part of Amazon’s Whispersync duo–purchase the Kindle book and get the WhisperSYnc audio from audible for a deeply discounted price. Most of the time, I download my romance audios from the public library but their eaudio’s are for the romance genre are limited.
Another thought we need to delve into more. We want to eventually feature an article on library audiobooks – how to find all there is. I know expense can be prohibitive. We need to help you all figure out more ways to access lendable audios.
Thank you for this survey, it”s a great idea and I hope the results reach recording companies. I wish to add that I don”thave to deal with geo restrictions anymore but when I did it was extremely frustrating. How I hated that!
I don’t know if this important, but I end up buying or listening from the library if the book was re-released with a new narrator. I have been doing this for the Julie Garwood’s books. I have finished with the historicals and am working towards the suspense ones.
I just tried completing the survey on my iPad and there is a problem with questions #6 and #9 – if you answer one, the other disappears. We’re working to resolve. In the meantime, let us know the missing answer and we will record for you. Sorry!
All fixed – I completed my survey via iPad a few minutes ago – all is back in order after a tiny adjustment.
Love all the input ladies – looking forward to Part II of the survey!