IIn this episode, Mike sits down with audiobook narrator and author <a href= "https://sanyasimmons.com/">Sanya Simmons</a> to talk about her path from classical musician to becoming a voice actor and audiobook narrator. What We Cover: Building an Audiobook Career: <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Moving from ACX royalty-share projects to working directly with publishers</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">The real time investment: why 5-10 hours of finished audio takes 30-40+ hours total</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Prep strategies for fiction vs. nonfiction projects</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Getting family help with research to save time</li> </ul> Using Your Musical Background: <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">How Sanya's flute and vocal training helps her narration</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Treating your voice like an instrument for better breath control and phrasing</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Avoiding monotonous reads by "hearing" what the author intended</li> </ul> Networking That Actually Works: <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Why relationship-building beats transactional approaches</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">How APA committee work and APAC conferences led to unexpected opportunities</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Staying in touch with producers without being pushy</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">The power of showing up consistently</li> </ul> Expanding Beyond Audiobooks: <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Getting into political VO and broadcast narration</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Dealing with union rules in right-to-work states</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">The reality of competitive commercial and promo markets</li> </ul> Social Media Without the Overwhelm: <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Building authentic presence with help from others</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Choosing the right platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok)</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Why "good enough" content beats perfect content you never post</li> </ul> From Author to Narrator: Sanya talks about her book <a href= "https://sanyasimmons.com/author/">"A Single Mom's Guide to Raising Black Gentlemen"</a> and how her parenting experience shapes her storytelling approach. Plus, how her sons contributed to both the book and audiobook. Key Points: <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Balance active projects with ongoing training</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Reliability builds lasting relationships: communicate early, deliver clean work, say thank you</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Think like a business owner: proper structure, strategic investments, tax planning</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Community matters: connect with mentors, peers, and people you can help</li> </ul> Whether you're starting out or scaling up your audiobook business, Sanya shares practical advice on production, relationships, and sustainable growth. Connect with Sanya: <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words"><a href= "https://sanyasimmons.com/author/">Book: "A Single Mom's Guide to Raising Black Gentlemen" </a></li> </ul> Real talk about building a thriving audiobook career while keeping your sanity and artistic integrity. Check out more episodes over at: <a href= "https://mikelenzvopodcast.com/">https://mikelenzvopodcast.com/</a> Voice 123 15% Discount Code link: <a title="Voice 123 - 15% Discount Code" href= "https://bit.ly/3BsPSaw"> https://bit.ly/3BsPSaw</a>

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150 - Sanya Simmons Interview - From Classical Flutist to SAG-AFTRA Audiobook Narrator

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