The Picture Of The Words "The End" In An Audio File...Are Beautiful

It may not look like much, squiggly lines rising above and below a straight line. It's the visual representation of sound and sometimes that visual representation can be beautiful. Case in point, the words, "the end" look like many other words, visually speaking, but like a fingerprint, each word is unique, individual, based solely on the speaker, the way he/she enunciates the words, the pronunciation, the accent, even the way the air moves from the speaker's lungs through the air to the microphone--all contribute to make each word different...like a snowflake.

Tonight I finished working on a project for my publisher, Immortal Works. In December I was asked by the president of the company if I could edit an audiobook. 

I said yes.

Man, that's hard work.

And luckily, the book wasn't that long.

Years ago I worked as a computer audio engineer for a software company. It was a great job. I knew I could edit an entire novel, but I'd never done that before. I thought I could work on it at night and on weekends. And I did, but it took a long time.

Editing the audiobook was also a very educational experience. If a fly were on the wall of that recording studio, then I heard everything that fly heard, every word--intended and unintended, every sound, every page turn, every swallow...everything.

I don't know the process from here. I'm not sure how long it will take until the rest of the world can hear what I've heard. But, when it's available, Kevin L. Nielsen wrote and Zach Bjorge narrated a great little sci-fi book, Colonial Prime: Humanity. Well done Kevin! Well done, Jason! Well done Zach!

Cleaning Up Words...Can Be Exhausting

Back when the Macintosh computer was only four years old, I was hired to work as a computer sound technician. My job was to edit digitized sound bits for a computer program. I enjoyed the job a lot and, truth be told, I think I was pretty good at it.

Unfortunately, the program didn't sell and the company shut down, but I've always remembered that job. Decades have passed and I haven't had the opportunity to edit many things, at least, as far as audio files go.

That changed last month when I was given an assignment to edit an audiobook for my publisher. I was given the audio file and a deadline. I thought it would be tough, but I also thought I could complete the assignment in no time.

Turns out, it's been a lot tougher than I thought it would be. Today I spent several hours editing several chapters of the book. I worked on it off-and-on all day. I'm beat.

I've wondered why it's been so hard. I'm basically doing the same work I did years ago. Then it hit me--back then, I was editing sentences. The entire program maybe had only hundreds of sentences that needed cleaning. With this audiobook, I'm responsible for hundreds, if not thousands of sentences, words, phrases, paragraphs, and chapters.

It's a tad daunting.

But it's also a lot of fun. I love zooming in on a word or phrase and zapping that "click" or "pop" out of existence.

I've got a ways to go yet. Little by little, chapter by chapter, I'm getting it done. There's something wonderful that happens when you listen to an engaging story written by an amazing author and read by a talented voice performer. I'm glad I can be part of that magic. 

Kevin L. Nielsen's "Colonial Prime: Humanity"...On Sale Now

Kevin Nielsen's newest book, Colonial Prime: Humanity is now available through Amazon, the digital version. You can buy it: HERE. I'm excited for this one--it's the newest publication from Immortal Works Press.

Since I haven't read this one yet, I can't really comment on the book, but I can say a little bit about the author. I've known of Kevin longer than I've known him. When I first began writing and attending conventions, I started to get to know many of the local authors, each having achieved various degrees of published success. I've written before about how generous and helpful other authors have been to me, even though they had no idea who I was and my published credits only totaled a few short stories.

Kevin, by comparison, had several novels published with more on the way. I did at the time--and still do--have a lot of respect for anyone who has written a novel. Kevin was always nothing but friendly to me whenever I'd see him at events and conventions. Side note--if you go to these events and conventions, he's easy to spot--always wearing a purple shirt. You can't miss him. 

In the past year especially, I've gotten to know Kevin a little bit better. He and I are both Acquisitions Editors for Immortal Works Press, and now we're both authors from the same imprint. Unfortunately, I've only read one of Kevin's books, Sands, and it is good. I expect no less from Colonial Prime: Humanity.

Here's more on the book from its Amazon page: 

Captain Amara Corrin, hero of the late Solar Wars, commands the first colonial fleet. Full of hopeful dreamers looking for a new home, world-weary ex-soldiers, and those just seeking escape, five ships set out from Earth with the hopes of humanity behind them.

Full of hopeful dreamers looking for a new home, world-weary ex-soldiers, and those just seeking escape; five ships set out from Earth with the hopes of humanity behind them. But Amara soon finds herself with more trouble than she can handle. The Council, Earth's new governing body, has saddled her with their political rivals, exiling them to a place where they can do no harm.

Struggling to find balance, Amara appoints a fresh-faced first officer with a hidden past, Nathan Esquina, as she fights to keep her son, Jaelyn, free of the political machinations of those aboard the ship who would destroy their fragile peace. When a message from Earth alerts them that The Council has fallen, Amara, Nathan, and Jaelyn find themselves in a pitched battle where a single mistake could end not only their own lives, but those of every person aboard their colonial fleet.

Yes--this looks great. If you're looking for something new, give Kevin's latest a try. If you do, you'll probably end up a Kevin Nielsen fan, too.