Dean Miller Narration
Working together
What to expect, what you need to provide, and how your manuscript becomes a finished audiobook — step by step.
Dean@DMNarration.com
Response time
24–48 hours
Time zone
Pacific Time
Platform
ACX / Audible
What I handle for you
You focus on the story. I take care of the production end to end:
- Full narration performance
- Character voice development and consistency
- Editing and mastering to ACX technical standards
- Proofing and error correction
- Final delivery of retail-ready audio files
The process, start to finish
Every project follows the same structure so you always know where things stand.
Manuscript & notes
You send the final, locked manuscript (PDF or Word) along with character notes and any pronunciation guide. Changes after recording begins cause delays — the locked version matters.
Character voice list
I compile a character list with notes on age, background, accent, personality, and vocal qualities — based on your input and my read of the text. You review and confirm before recording starts.
Production sample — "The First 15"
I record 15+ minutes chosen to showcase main character voices, tone, pacing, and emotional range. This is the stage to be detailed with feedback. Once approved, performance direction is locked for consistency.
Full recording
I move into production, providing milestone updates along the way. You may not hear from me daily — that means recording is moving forward.
Delivery & review via ACX
Completed audio is uploaded to ACX for your review. You listen through for technical issues and narration errors, then approve or submit revision notes directly through ACX. I complete all corrections promptly.
Payment & release
ACX handles payment directly between rights holder and producer based on your agreed terms (per-finished-hour or royalty share). Once approved on ACX, your audiobook goes to retail on Audible and Amazon.
What to prepare
Character notes
For main and important characters:
- Age
- Background or location
- Accent (if applicable)
- Personality traits
- Any defining vocal qualities
Pronunciation guide
Cover anything non-obvious:
- Character and place names
- Unique or invented terms
- Fantasy or constructed language
If notes are not provided, I make performance decisions from the text — and send a recorded pronunciation list for approval if anything is unclear.
Timeline & communication
- Timeline is agreed upon before recording begins
- I provide milestone updates throughout production
- If anything affects the timeline, I communicate immediately
- I prioritize quality, consistency, and reliability
Optional: live streaming
I occasionally stream recording sessions on TikTok or Twitch. This can build audience interest, create promotional content, and generate early engagement around your release.
You have full control over whether your project is included. Just let me know your preference.
Promotion support
I am happy to support the release of your audiobook with short promotional clips, behind-the-scenes content, social media collaboration, or optional podcast appearances.
If you prefer limited or no promotion during production, that is completely fine — just say so upfront.
Duet & dual narration on ACX
A note on multi-narrator projects
ACX currently supports one rights holder and one producer directly on-platform. For duet or dual projects, the standard setup is to contract with one primary narrator through ACX and handle the additional narrator arrangement separately. ACX independent contractor agreements can help with those off-platform relationships.
ACX: Dual and Duet Narration Overview
ACX's explanation of dual and duet production, including how multi-narrator projects are commonly structured on the platform.
ACX: Independent Contractor Agreements
Helpful when additional narrators, editors, or engineers need separate off-platform agreements.
ACX: How It Works for Authors
Overview of ACX workflow, approvals, and the production process from the rights holder side.
ACX: How It Works for Narrators & Studios
Helpful for understanding producer responsibilities and what retail-ready delivery includes.
Ready to get started?
Send an inquiry with your genre, word count, target release date, and whether you are using ACX royalty share or per-finished-hour.
Free resources
Step-by-step guides
Whether you're an author or an aspiring narrator — there's a guide for you.
Author resource
So you've finished
writing a book.
Now what?
Finishing a manuscript is a huge deal — but it's also just the beginning. What comes next can feel overwhelming: editing, cover design, ISBNs, formatting, choosing between KDP and wide distribution, figuring out audiobooks, marketing, launch strategy...
This guide walks you through every step in order, with honest advice, realistic timelines, and links to the tools and people who can help. It's built specifically for indie authors publishing fiction — and it's completely free.
Follow along step by step, or jump to whatever you're working on right now.
Step 1
Step 2–3
Step 4–5
Step 6
Step 7–8
Step 9
9 steps · skip or jump ahead at any time · completely free