May 2026 Meeting Information

 

Join us Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11am

via ZOOM for

Marcus Barton presenting

a combo presentation

From Manuscript to Audiobook

and

The Human Touch:
Why Voice Actors Outshine AI in Audiobooks

Marcus's presentation serves as a dual-purpose guide for authors, detailing both the practical steps to producing an audiobook and the artistic argument for using human narrators. He'll outline the process of bringing a book to market, starting with finalizing the manuscript and preparing a narration-friendly script.

He'll speak to choosing between self-narration and hiring professionals through platforms like ACX or Findaway Voices. He'll compare distribution strategies—exclusive deals with Audible for higher royalties versus wide distribution for broader reach—and offer marketing tips such as leveraging promo codes and partnering with influencers.

And Marcus will also argue strongly for the "human touch" over AI in audiobook narration. While acknowledging that AI offers speed and cost efficiency, Marcus emphasizes that human actors provide superior emotional depth, character differentiation, and storytelling artistry that AI currently lacks.

Human narrators can adapt intuitively to context and direction, whereas AI often struggles with pronunciation, nuance, and delivering a "soulful" performance, offering a more immersive experience for listeners.

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Marcus Barton is a Texas-based voice actor and audiobook narrator known for his deep, resonant, and authoritative voice. A retired combat veteran originally from Missouri, Marcus has established himself in the voice-over industry while also maintaining a career as a high school teacher.

 

May 2025 Meeting Information

 

Join us Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 11am via Zoom for

Great (Editing) Expectations

Thanks for checking us out!

Anne will explore the process of finding a freelance editor. This will include a brief overview of the production process (which service/s you need) and also a discussion of how to vet candidates. You need to find someone who makes the editing process as smooth as possible, an editor you can mesh with who will help polish your manuscript and be a part of your production team for a long time to come.

* * * * *

About Anne:

My name is Anne Victory, and I’m the founder of Victory Editing. The business name isn’t just a gimmick or a catchy phrase–I came by it honestly.

So, how did I decide on editing as a career choice? Like many of my clients, I’ve been an avid reader since I was about five. I read thrillers, mysteries, some horror, true crime, science fiction, and of course, my great loves: romance and fantasy.

I’ve always been a stickler for grammar, and at every job I was “volunteered” (or volun-told) to either write or proofread everything from menus to game manuals to advertising copy. That business writing and editing experience came in handy when I started to work in fiction. I enjoy reading, and I enjoy polishing the written word. Common wisdom says do what you love and you’ll live a long and happy life. With my background in English literature, grammar, and library science, it was a fairly easy decision to work with authors.

In December of 2010, I started offering “final pass” proofreading services (also known as cold reads). Monique Martin jokingly called it “Oops Detection,” and the name stuck. Oops Detection® was an instant hit, and over time I had requests for manuscript-level services as well. In response to that growing demand, I expanded my services to offer editing in addition to after-formatting proofreading. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

May 2024 Meeting Information

 

Join us May 18 at 11AM via Zoom for Alessandra Torres

Authors and AI: What the Future Looks Like

AI can be scary for authors - but there are some exciting tools that it unlocks, ones that won't intrude on your creative process or your book's rights. In this presentation, a bestselling author (and CEO of an AI tech company) will share how she uses AI in her research, marketing, and editorial processes - and how you can best protect your IP while still benefiting from the latest advancements in technology.

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Alessandra (AR) Torre is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty romance and suspense novels. She is an Edgar Award nominee and has sold more than 3M copies of her books.

Since 2020, Alessandra has been the CEO of Authors AI, a company that uses artificial intelligence to aid in the editorial and book discovery process. In addition, Alessandra is the co-founder of Inkers Con, an annual events company for authors.