Narration alone versus a finished production

Hiring a narrator buys performance. You are still left with editing, proofing against the manuscript, mastering to retail specification, chapter marking, and the upload itself.

A production absorbs all of that. One party is responsible for the file that reaches the storefront, and one party answers if it is rejected.

This matters most on long books: a 150,000-word novel is many hours of finished audio, and errors compound across every hour.

What the house includes

Directed narration of the complete manuscript, not a cold read.

Casting where the book needs it — 1% of the word count for every 2 voices, so dialogue plays as scene.

Sound design where the world must be heard — 1% for every 5 effects — and a chosen, cut and mixed score for a flat $1,500.

Mastering and delivery specifications suited to the major storefronts, with chapters marked.

What it costs, worked out

50,000 words: $3,500. 90,000 words: $6,300. 150,000 words: $10,500.

A 50% deposit begins the build, or you may pay in full. Add-ons are drawn off the word count, never off the base.

Asked and answered

Is narration priced per hour or per word?

Here it is priced off the manuscript: 7.000000000000001% of the word count. You can work out your own number before speaking to anyone.

Do I need more than one narrator?

Only if dialogue carries the book. Casting is optional and costs 1% of the word count for every 2 voices.

Who owns the finished audio?

You do. The edition is produced for you; the house takes no share of your book.

Can I hear voices before I commission?

Yes — the Reading Room holds listen-only registers so you can choose before anything is built.