In my last post, I mentioned that my wife and I have been working to make the Strongbow Saga available in new markets, and reach new audiences. One of those new markets was the Apple iTunes Store. Since May, all of the Strongbow Saga books have been available in e-book editions in the iTunes store, and links to their pages there are now on the “Books” page of this site.
We have also been working closely over the summer with a very talented voice actor named Jeff Hays to create audio book editions of the Strongbow Saga. The first of these is complete: Viking Warrior, book 1 of The Strongbow Saga, is now available in an audio book edition from Amazon and in the iTunes Store, and is also available as a selection on Audible.com.
Jeff’s skill as a voice actor is remarkable. He truly brings Halfdan and the other characters in the story to life, and carries the listener away into 9th century Denmark. We’re excited to have him as the voice of Halfdan. His performance of Dragons from the Sea, book 2 of the Strongbow Saga, is now in its final phases of production, and should become available sometime in September.
In conjunction with the release of the audio edition of Viking Warrior, we’ve created a new cover for book 1 of the series. Over the coming weeks, the new cover will be added to the e-book and print editions, as well.
To celebrate the release of the audio edition of Viking Warrior, we’re giving away ten copies of the audio book. To request a free copy, send me an email at strongbowsaga @ gmail.com, and I’ll provide you with a code for a free download from Audible.com, with instructions on how to use it. The free copies will go to the first ten email requests received.
08/26/2014 Update: There are still four free copies of the audio edition of Viking Warrior available. And here’s a little surprise that Jeff Hays, the voice actor who produced the audio edition, sent me yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZvYLATIZPo&feature=youtu.be
In case you’re wondering, I did not pour a bucket of ice water on my head. I’m old enough, and have done and seen and been through enough in my life, that I don’t feel a need to answer every dare. But I did donate $100 to the ALS Foundation (and will only do that once–don’t anyone else bother sending another challenge!).
Are you warm yet, Jeff?
09/05/2014 Update: Jeff Hays, who performed the audio book version of Viking Warrior (narrated sounds too dry for the job he did), just donated ten free download codes for me to add to the giveaway, so there are still free copies available. And Jeff is currently giving a live “Ask Me Anything” chat on how he produces audio books, if anyone would like to learn more about how they’re made. It’s at www.reddit.com/r/audiobooks.