Your voice, your story, your narration

Why self-narrating your audiobook is the smartest move for authors in 2025

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Feb 26, 2025

Hi,

I’ve been self-narrating my non-fiction audiobooks since way before it was cool, and my friend Cindy Gunderson happens to be one of the most knowledgable humans I know about this specific topic. We got to talking recently and I asked her to write a primer about why people should think about self-narrating, and why it’s not as daunting as it might otherwise sound.

Cindy Gunderson is a voice actress and award-winning author. Since she has commitment issues, she writes sci-fi and fantasy, plus contemporary romance and women's fiction under the pen name, Cynthia Gunderson.

After 25+ years of performing, voiceover and commercial work, instructing piano and vocal performance, and directing children's theater, she turned to audiobook narration and production. She's narrated, mastered, and produced over forty-five audiobooks since 2020 in her home studio and has created a massive audio listener following/community on TikTok, YouTube, and other various audiobook platforms.

You can find more about her at www.CindyGunderson.com.

There’s a revolution happening in the book world, and it’s not on the printed page. It’s in the spoken word. The audiobook industry is exploding, and all the reasons indie authors have balked at audiobook production in the past (massive upfront cost, searching for narrators, lack of distribution options) are no longer relevant.

I’m not talking about AI, though that can be a great option for many. I’m talking about self-narration.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “I’m a writer, not a voice actor.” Or maybe, “I hate the sound of my own voice” or “I wouldn’t even know where to start.” But before you dismiss the idea outright, let’s discuss why self-narration is one of the most powerful moves you can make as an author in 2025.

The audiobook industry was valued at over $6.8 billion in 2023, with projections soaring to $35 billion by 2030. That’s a staggering 26.2% compound annual growth rate. In contrast, traditional book reading is in decline. In 2022, only 48.5% of adults reported reading at least one book that year, a downward trend from previous years.

But audiobooks? They’re on absolute fire. Over 52% of U.S. adults have listened to an audiobook, meaning nearly 137 million Americans are potential listeners. They’re not casual consumers, either. The average listener finishes about seven audiobooks a year, often while commuting, exercising, or doing household chores.

I’m not big into fear-based reasoning, but if your book isn’t available in audio, you’re missing out on an enormous, hungry audience.

I realized this when I started publishing in 2019. Everyone I knew was consuming podcasts and finding audiobooks through the newly popular Libby app connected to their local libraries. I knew I wanted to do audio, but I hit the wall most new authors did. I wasn’t making any money, and it was exorbitantly expensive to hire a narrator.

However, unlike most authors, I’d been performing (musical theater, voice-over, commercial work) for thirty years. The idea of mastering and editing an entire audiobook was daunting, as was finding a way to sound-treat some non-existent space in my very busy home (I have four kids).

In the end, the numbers above were just too compelling. I had to find a way to make it happen. Now, five years later with a six-figure author business built mostly on audio (I publish audio first and have built multiple social media platforms on my live narration and audiobooks), I can tell you that it was absolutely worth the initial learning curve, and here’s why:

The Power of Author Narration

Listeners crave authenticity. In an era where people are obsessed with connection, there is no substitute for an author reading their own work. When you narrate your book, you deliver it exactly as it was meant to be heard. Your cadence, your emphasis, and your passion comes through in a way that no hired voice actor, no matter how talented, can replicate.

Take a moment to think about some of the biggest author-narrated audiobooks. When Michelle Obama narrated Becoming, it was an instant hit. Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights blew up, in part because his distinctive voice and storytelling style made it feel like he was speaking directly to the listener. Even fiction authors are jumping in and narrating their own work to critical and commercial success.

Why? Because no one understands the rhythm of your words like you do. No one else can emphasize the lines that matter most, pause at the perfect moment, or capture the emotions you poured into every page.

Listeners can tell when a narrator believes in the story they’re telling, and there’s no stronger believer than you.

If you’re an author in today’s digital age, you’re also a brand. Readers don’t just want books. They want experiences. They follow authors on social media, listen to their podcasts, and engage with their stories on multiple levels. When you narrate your audiobook, you’re strengthening that personal connection.

Your voice becomes part of your brand identity. It gives you a competitive edge in a crowded market where thousands of books are published daily. Think of it as an extension of your author platform. People who listen to you narrate your book will recognize your voice in interviews, podcasts, and social media clips. I’ve had many experiences where people have stopped me in public places, asking why they know my voice and making the connection. It’s one of my favorite things!

More importantly, self-narration builds trust. It tells your audience: I care about this book so much that I didn’t hand it off to someone else. I wanted to be the one to tell you this story.

Cost-Effective and High ROI

Audiobook production doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. Sure, if you hire a professional narrator, book a studio, and pay for sound engineers, it can cost thousands of dollars. But self-narration slashes that cost significantly. With a decent microphone, some simple soundproofing, and free or affordable editing software, you can produce a high-quality audiobook at a fraction of the price.

And let’s talk about return on investment. Audiobooks often command higher price points than ebooks, and they hold their value longer. They aren’t subject to steep discounts the way ebooks are. They also open the door to new revenue streams, which I can absolutely attest to.

Initially, I went exclusive with ACX, then branched out and went as wide as possible. My YouTube channel has been an invaluable asset for bringing new readers into my brand, and Findaway Voices with Chirp deals and now access to Spotify has seen explosive growth.

I personally see a third of my income coming from audio sales in my Shopify store. In the past year, there have been even more audio distributors joining the marketplace, and I’m excited to see how those take off.

Self-published and indie authors have a massive advantage when it comes to audiobook self-narration. Unlike traditionally published authors, who often have little say in their audiobook production, indie authors control the entire process. You decide how your book is read, produced, and distributed. As mentioned above, you’re not locked into one platform. You can experiment with alternative distribution channels,

In both my experience and and the collective experience of the hundreds of other authors I’ve spoken with about this topic, audiobook sales often boost ebook and print sales (and vice versa). Many audiobook listeners will grab a Kindle or paperback copy simply because they loved the audio version. It’s all about maximizing your reach and leveraging multiple formats to engage different audience segments.

Time is Money

Correct. But. What if you could improve your books by integrating self-narration into your process? Many authors know the secret that reading your book aloud during final edits is the best way to find your blind spots. Even after multiple rounds of editing, there are usually still a few typos or possibly larger errors (ie: missed character description or inconsistency) that need to be fixed. We’ve all gotten those emails from readers haven’t we?

Self-narration gives the perfect last pass. When I finish recording, I feel confident that my book is as clean as possible, and I LOVE that feeling when I press submit on that e-book and paperback file. Yes, it takes time to narrate, but it takes time to edit in general. For me, this process has produced better finished product while also giving me another revenue stream. That’s a no-brainer for me.

“But I’m Not a Voice Actor”

If you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing there’s still an elephant in the room: fear. Many authors hesitate to narrate their own books because they don’t think they have the right voice. But guess what? Neither did most of the successful author-narrators at first. I certainly didn’t, either.

Narration is a skill. Like writing, it gets better with practice. You don’t need a Hollywood voice; you need authenticity. A warm, engaging tone that makes the listener feel like they’re hearing the story from a friend. And if you’re writing nonfiction, this becomes even more crucial. If a reader picked up your book to learn from you, why would they want to hear it from someone else?

The good news? There are countless resources available to help you improve your narration skills. Breathing techniques, pacing exercises, and simple vocal warm-ups can all enhance your delivery. And with today’s technology, minor imperfections can easily be edited out…

But you have to know the imperfections before you can correct for them, which is why I spend so much time talking to authors about self-narrating their audiobook. Whether it’s to save money, build a deeper connection to your audience, give a final check to your book by reading allowed, or some combination of them, everyone seems to be excited about self-narration.

Because of this, I started formally teaching people how to narrate their own books. If all of this sounds exciting but intimidating, I have the perfect resource for you: Audiobooks for Authors. This is my course launching on March 1st, and it covers everything we’ve discussed.

Acting and breathing techniques
Manuscript and character prep/organization
Studio setup and equipment recommendations at every price point
Tutorials on DAW’s (Digital Audio Workstations, both free and paid)
Editing and mastering made simple
Distribution and marketing options (including ACX, Findaway Voices, YouTube, and direct sales via Bookfunnel)

It takes less than two hours to work through, and at the end, you’ll have all the information and resources you’ll need to feel confident jumping into self-narration. You can see more details on the course below.

Course link

The audiobook market isn’t just thriving. It’s dominating. More people are consuming books via audio than ever, and that trend isn’t slowing down. As an author, tapping into this market is no longer optional to maximize your book’s reach and revenue.

And while you could hire a narrator, why would you when you have the most passionate, most authentic, most real voice for your story? Your readers want to hear from you. They want your words in your voice. They want to connect with you in a way that no text on a page can replicate, and by learning from those of us who’ve paved the way, the learning curve is smaller than ever before.

So, take a deep breath, lean into the mic, and tell your story. Your audience is waiting.

Cindy Gunderson (romance pen name Cynthia Gunderson)

www.CindyGunderson.com

What do you think?

Have you ever considered narrating your own audiobook?
What’s your biggest hesitation about self-narration—tech setup, voice confidence, or something else?

Let us know in the comments.