Adventures in Audiobook Production: Gratitude, Garraty, and Growing Momentum

🎧 Comings and Goings — Our Audiobook Journey Continues

On November 15, I shared some wonderful news with Bryan Haddock, the narrator and producer of Comings and Goings: our audiobook adaptation officially went live on Audible the day before.

The road to publication wasn’t without a hiccup. My original cover design included borders—a detail that ACX doesn’t allow—so the project had to go back through the review process. Once corrected, though, the heart of the audiobook sailed through: Bryan’s narration. Every track passed ACX’s vetting and my own careful listening without a single retake.

Here’s a glimpse of the exchange that captures our excitement:

Nov 15, 9:51 a.m. — My note to Bryan
“Well, we did it! Our audiobook adaptation of Comings and Goings was officially published on Audible yesterday afternoon… Fortunately, the heart of the audiobook—your excellent narration and recording—sailed through both ACX’s vetting and my own evaluation of the individual tracks. As you know, I never needed to ask you to redo a single one.”

Nov 16, 9:44 a.m. — Bryan’s reply
“You’re so kind, Alex. I really appreciate the opportunity to join you in this endeavor. It was a pleasure reading your words. Please keep me posted if you want to work on some more projects together… Congratulations!”

That exchange captures the spirit of our collaboration: mutual respect, creative joy, and the hope of reaching listeners together.

And here’s another milestone worth celebrating: ACX has informed me that Comings and Goings has already sold two copies. It may be a modest start, but for me, those first sales represent something bigger—the moment when Jim Garraty’s voice, as imagined in the Garratyverse stories (Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, and Comings and Goings), begins to reach ears beyond my own.

I’ve been promoting the audiobook on my blogs—especially A Certain Point of View, Too—and across social media. Bryan is working on building up his own website to help drive traffic and sales. Together, we’re hopeful that word of mouth, friends, family, and readers will help this project gain traction in the literary world.

For now, I’m simply grateful: grateful for Bryan’s artistry, grateful for the chance to share Jim Garraty’s voice with listeners, and grateful for the small but meaningful sign that our work is finding its audience.

Here’s to the next chapter in the Garratyverse—and to every listener who joins us along the way.

As the holiday season approaches, remember that Comings and Goings is available not only as an audiobook, but also in paperback and Kindle editions. Consider gifting a copy to friends or family—it’s a thoughtful way to share the Garratyverse with new listeners and readers alike!