Finding the Voice of Queen’s Road

There is something very strange and very beautiful , about hearing your own words spoken back to you by someone else.

When I first uploaded Queen’s Road to ACX, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I wanted the book to exist in audio. I knew my characters had rhythm and tone and breath in them. But I didn’t realise quite how emotional the process of finding their voice would be.

ACX, for anyone who hasn’t stumbled across it yet, is Amazon’s Audiobook Creation Exchange. It connects authors with narrators and producers so independent books can become audiobooks—without needing a traditional publisher behind them. It’s a huge platform, full of talent, and honestly, it feels like opening a door into a creative community I didn’t even know I needed.

Since listing the project, I’ve met several narrators. Each one is different. Each one is generous with their time. Each one brings their own interpretation, warmth, and instinct to the characters I’ve lived with for so long.

It has been one of the loveliest surprises of this whole indie journey.

Some voices leaned into the quiet tension.
Some amplified the humour.
Some found softness in places I hadn’t consciously written it.

And what it reminded me of—gently—is that once a story leaves your hands, it grows.

That said, it hasn’t all been simple.

Audiobooks come with their own challenges. Technical considerations. Accent decisions. Tone consistency. The pacing of dialogue. Making sure the children sound like real children. Making sure Emma’s narration still carries that warm, observant, first-person flow that defines the book.

And then there is the big one: finding the right voice.

Because this isn’t just narration. It’s stewardship.

I want someone who understands the domestic quiet of Queen’s Road. The way fear sits between breaths. The humour that softens difficult moments. The tenderness. The steadiness. The way community feels like a heartbeat rather than a battle cry.

Finding that match takes listening. Reflecting. Trusting instinct.

But here’s what I love: ACX makes it possible. Truly possible. As an indie author, that matters. There is no gatekeeper telling you audio is out of reach. You upload your book, choose your royalty model, write a short project description, and invite auditions. You can offer royalty share, royalty share plus, or pay per finished hour. You decide. You stay in control.

If you’re curious, you can explore ACX here:
👉 https://www.acx.com

And if you’re a narrator thinking about joining, there’s information about creating a profile and auditioning here:
👉 https://www.acx.com/help/narrators

For anyone wondering, "How did you actually do it?”—here's my simple version:

Claimed my book on ACX.
Choose my distribution option (exclusive vs non-exclusive).
Wrote a project brief describing tone, accent preference, and emotional feel.
Uploaded a short audition script.
Waited nervously and listened to auditions.
Replayed them. Several times.
Sat with the feeling of which one sounded like home.

I’m still in that final stage. Listening. Deciding. Protecting the characters. Feeling excited.

Because this is a whole new way for readers—or listeners—to experience the story.

Someone might hear Queen’s Road while driving. While walking the dog. While cooking dinner. While sitting in the quiet after a long day. That idea feels deeply aligned with the book itself. Domestic spaces. Ordinary moments. Human connection.

Audio doesn’t just add another format. It opens another door.

And I’m genuinely thrilled to be stepping through it.

If you’ve ever listened to an audiobook that completely changed how you experienced a story, I’d love to know. And if you’re an indie author considering audio, I can honestly say: it’s a learning curve — but it’s a beautiful one.

More soon, once I’ve found the voice.

Where to Start Listening or Reading

If you’re new to Queen’s Road, this feels like the perfect moment to step into the story.

The ebook and paperback both launch on 1st March, and you can find them here:

👉 Queen’s Road
https://amzn.eu/d/08YcxG9Q

It’s a cosy, character-driven dystopian novel rooted in family, domestic detail, and the quiet courage that keeps people human when everything else feels uncertain.

And if you’d like something shorter to begin with, my speculative short story The Ceremony of Wings is available on ebook for just 99p:

👉 The Ceremony of Wings
https://amzn.eu/d/04Oovbb4

It’s a story about transformation, choice, and the hidden truths we carry quietly. A small read with a lingering echo.

Whether you listen, read on Kindle, or hold the paperback in your hands, I’m simply grateful you’re here. Hearing these stories spoken aloud is opening up a whole new dimension for me and I cannot wait for you to experience it too.

Warmly,
Emma