Turning Your Book Into an Audiobook

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Maureen Paraventi

In this episode, we get the inside scoop about how to turn your book into an audiobook – from audiobook narrator and voice actor Samantha Norbury. Samantha records books in many different genres, for indie authors and publishers. She explains the process, including how the authors she works with get a 15 minute sample of her work before she voices the entire book, to make sure that that they’re on the same page. Find out about the time it takes and the cost (there is a no cost option, by the way). Also: why the ai-voice narration drive is a big fat fail with listeners.

If you’re considering having your book turned into an audio book with a human voice doing the narrating, this episode is for you!

For information about Samantha Norbury, visit her website https://www.samanthanorburyvo.com

That webinar Samantha mentions is at: https://www.samanthanorburyvo.com/authors

Connect with Samantha on social media:
https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthanorbury_narrator
https://www.instagram.com/samantha.norbury_narrator/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRefmRiSfbbOdiYkWQSpkA
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-norbury-a69149240/
https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaNorburyAudio

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

· A video of the interview in this episode is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriteLikeaBadass

Writing through Truth, Healing through Story

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Maureen Paraventi

Interviewing survivors of Hurrican Helene for her book, Hurricane Helene: Resiliency After the Storm, turned out to be a painful process for Rebecca Wells Phillips (who was affected by the storm as well). Far from being reluctant to revisit their trauma, the people she talked to were eager to tell their stories, to be seen and heard. The result is a deeply felt documentation that one reviewer called, “a poignant account of a catastrophic flood and how a community was able to band together to both survive and heal in the aftermath.”

In addition to the book about Hurricane Helene, Rebecca has written two memoirs (Hating Self and Loving Self), a novel (Butterfly Blossoms) and a number of short stories.

Rebecca brings topics like authenticity, depression, suicidal ideation, abuse, racism, discrimination, destruction, and loss to her writing. She writes, she says, “to uplift and to turn a bad situation into a positive outcome.”

Buy Hurricane Helene: Resilience After the Storm at: https://a.co/d/0hsAkL3k

Connect with Rebecca:

www.rebeccawellsphillips.com

· Facebook: https://facebook.com/beckywellsphillips

· Instagram: www.instagram.com/gaphill184240/

· X (Twitter): https://x.com/RebeccaPhi37526

· TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebecca.phillips53

· YouTube: www.youtube.com/@rebeccaphillips231

· Substack: www.substack.com/@rebeccawellsphillips

· Threads: https://www.threads.com/@gaphill184240

· LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccawellsphillips/

· Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gaphill1842.bsky.social

The Write Like a Badass Podcast is by, about and for writers. Welcome to your tribe!

A video of the interview in this episode is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriteLikeaBadass

All About the Booktok Indie Author Awards

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Maureen Paraventi

Ron Shaw writes dark fantasy / psychological fiction novels. He also puts a considerable amount of time and effort into the Booktok Indie Author Awards, which he founded. In this episode, Ron talks about why it’s importance to bring recognition to indie authors. He also discusses his own writing – and why readers are sometimes confused about the genre of his books (but they still read them and like them!).

Interested in entering your book or nominating someone else’s book for the 2026 BookTok Indie Author Awards? Go here: https://evocativeimpressions.com/booktok-indie-author-awards/. NOTE: The deadline for this year is August 31.

Writing Nonfiction for Love AND Money – a Published Author’s Story

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Maureen Paraventi

What does it feel like to get paid for doing something you love? Paul Vachon writes books about history, which he is passionate about. And – this is going to make many writers, including myself, jealous – publishers reach out to him, not vice versa. How did Paul get started? How does he take a topic and turn it into a full-length book? His books are based on actual people and events, so accuracy is a priority. How much research and fact-checking is involved? Has he ever disagreed with editors about a change they want made?

In addition to my conversation with Paul, you’ll hear from podcast listeners! Writers Megan Cain and Mac McFarland talk about what writing success means to them. Another brave (anonymous) writers reads out loud from their work-in-progress. And you may disagree with this episode’s inspirational quote. Hmmmm.

You can find the Write Like a Badass podcast on all of the major podcast platforms. Subscribe, so you won’t miss anything. Like, review and rate, to help me keep the podcast moving ahead. (Five stars would be very nice!)