Category Archives: Audiobooks

When AI Describes Your Book Better Than You Do

A recent email informed me that somebody who reviewed my Waterspell boxed set at NetGalley had updated their review, more than a year later. Curious to see what had changed, I Googled “NetGalley Waterspell books,” thinking that would be the quickest way to find a web page that I had not looked at in more than a year.

What came up, to my fascinated delight, was a lengthy Google AI Overview of my little publishing empire. I copy-pasted the overview, wanting to save it and, frankly, learn from it. As much as I detest all AI-generated books (a novel should be written by a human, and ONLY by a human), there’s no denying that AI can often do a better job than the author, when it comes to summarizing a book.

For a writer, no question holds more terror the inevitable, “What’s your book about?” We are too close to our own work. We know the nuances. We know that a book is “about” a lot of things. There are subplots, themes, side-quests. Knowing what we know, it’s very difficult for most of us to give a succinct response to the “What’s it about?” question.

Therefore, when AI offers me its take on the matter, for free, I won’t turn up my nose at the help. Here’s how Google’s AI Overview responded to my rather lazy “NetGalley Waterspell books” search query:

“Highlighting the series’ immersive quality and addictive nature”

NetGalley hosts digital review copies for Waterspell, an immersive, cross-genre fantasy series by Deborah J. Lightfoot, featuring the core quartet (The Warlock, The Wysard, The Wisewoman, The Witch) and sequels like The Karenina Chronicles, praised by reviewers for its world-building, characters, magic, and romance. The series is designed to be read in order, following a continuous story, and offers boxed sets for convenience on platforms like NetGalley for reviewers.

Key Aspects of the Waterspell Series:

  • Genre: Epic Fantasy with elements of mystery, adventure, slow-burn romance, and dystopian undertones.
  • Story: A multi-generational saga focusing on family, magic, self-discovery, and overcoming danger in a richly detailed world. (Italics added by me. I like this.)
  • Characters: Compelling, complex, and morally gray characters, with main protagonists Carin and Verek central to the original quartet.
  • Structure: Originally a trilogy, it expanded to a four-book series (Books 1-4) and continues with linked sequels.
  • Readability: Intended to be read in order as one continuous story, though the sequels offer deeper dives into new characters like Nina.

How it Relates to NetGalley:

  • Review Copies: Publishers (like the one for Waterspell) use NetGalley to offer free digital advance reader copies (ARCs) to book reviewers, bloggers, and industry professionals to generate early buzz.
  • Reviewer Feedback: NetGalley hosts reviews from readers who have received these copies, with comments highlighting the series’ immersive quality and addictive nature.

Where to Find It:

  • Official Site: waterspell.net for author info, series details, and sales.
  • Retailers: Available as ebooks, audiobooks, and print on major platforms (Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, etc.).
  • Boxed Sets: Convenient bundles for the first four books are available, often through books2read.com/WaterspellBoxedSet.  

Thank You Kindly!

My original reason for googling “NetGalley Waterspell books” fell by the wayside — I did not find out what “updates” the reviewer had made, more than a year after the fact. But never mind that: I got something useful out of the search. Thanks, AI summarizer!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers, Discoverability

So Many Deals! Book Bargains Galore!

Since I returned to writing and publishing in 2022, my habit has been to run one promo a month, alternating among sites such as Book Barbarian, The Fussy Librarian, and Freebooksy. In 2025, my pattern fell apart because the world fell apart around me. (Damn you, Nazis and Fascists!) Several months passed with no promotional or marketing efforts at all from me. I was busy trying to save Democracy.

When November-December rolled around, I decided on a year-end push to raise my books’ visibility. Without really planning it, just scheduling whatever promos occurred to me, I ended up with:

Here’s hoping this flurry of publicity nets some new readers! The big audiobook sale at Chirp ends December 12, but the half-price sale on ebooks at Smashwords continues through January 1. Spread the word, won’t you? In these difficult economic times (people can’t even afford McDonald’s anymore) every reader of books needs and wants bargains.

2 Comments

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers, Waterspell fantasy trilogy

Going Wide with Audiobook Distribution

As if creating an audiobook isn’t challenging enough, distributing it to retailers is a more complicated and unstable process than it ought to be. In June 2022 when the four-book boxed set of my Waterspell fantasy series was ready for release, I went with Findaway Voices as my distributor because I knew the name. At that time, I had not heard of Author’s Republic. Knowing that I wanted to go wide and not limit myself to the evil Amazon-Audible empire, I liked Findaway for its distribution model. It would get my audiobook into Chirp, Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and a bunch of audio retailers I’d never heard of, like Storytel and Downpour.

INaudio audiobook retailer distribution list
(INaudio’s Supposed Distribution Network)

Change Is Inevitable?

Alas, things kept shifting at Findaway. I had hoped to use them for production services, but Findaway dropped that service without even announcing they were dropping it. Their onetime narrator marketplace just disappeared off their website. Very fortunately for me, I then found the Usound audiobook recording service. From Usound’s roster of top talent, I snagged the amazing Simon de Deney to narrate the Waterspell boxed set, and the wonderful Hannah Eggleton to narrate the linked sequel, The Karenina Chronicles. Both of those professionals did excellent work.

But then, Spotify (yuck!) acquired Findaway in 2022, and I didn’t like Spotify’s reputation for paying musicians a pittance. I stuck around, though, because my audiobooks were still being distributed by the merged Spotify/Findaway entity to all known retailers, and I didn’t much care that my sales at Spotify were nearly nonexistent.

But THEN, in Autumn 2025, Spotify disengaged itself from Findaway, and the old Findaway Voices was rebranded once again as Voices by INaudio (led by Findaway veterans Blake Squires and Ralph Lazaro). I pretty quickly noticed a diminishment in the “off-brand” retailers to which my audiobooks were supposedly being distributed. They disappeared entirely from Libro.fm, and some of the links in INaudio’s “Retailer Link Tool” go nowhere. To be fair, however, I saw no disruption in the distribution to the major players such as Audible, Apple, Chirp, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble.

The Future of INaudio … and Me

I’m sticking with Voices by INaudio, for now, because a review at Reedsy.com says:

  • INaudio executives are reportedly planning to relaunch audiobook production services in the future.
  • They also want to bring back giveaway codes to help authors get downloads and reviews. 

Both of those developments will be very welcome. In the meantime, I’m keeping an eye on my royalty statements from INaudio.

And I’ve said good riddance to artist-abusing Spotify. I have withdrawn my audiobooks from Spotify, to protest that platform’s immoral and tone-deaf decision to run recruitment ads for ICE, America’s racist Gestapo. My audiobooks remain available at other retailers.

(But only at Chirp are they on sale at really low, low prices in Autumn 2025. Such deep discounts will not soon be repeated, so you might want to check out the Nov-Dec sale.)

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers, Writers

Early Black Friday Sale: 5-Star Fantasy Audiobooks

Just in time for your Holiday 2025 shopping and gifting! These are the lowest prices ever on the audiobook editions of Waterspell Books 1-4 (boxed set) and the linked sequel, The Karenina Chronicles: A Waterspell Novel.

Limited-time offer, available only at Chirp, where there’s no subscription fee. You buy only the audiobooks you want, when you want, and at the best prices anywhere. Click the images above, or go to:

These highly rated audiobooks return to their regular prices on December 13, 2025.
Don’t miss this chance to save big!

Reviews

Highly rated for: Captivating Story • Wonderful Character Development • Magical Voice • Detailed Imagination • Unique Twist

• “A riveting series. Well written, excellent world-building with an engaging plot in each book and well-developed characters. I was gripped right from the start with twists I didn’t see and unpredictability.” —Aria, NetGalley

• “Complicated characters, plot twists, romance, adventure, and magic — all written in a voice that immerses you in a fantasy world both foreign and familiar. Get the box set because you won’t want to leave this world.” —Beck Digs It, Amazon

• “Listening to this book has been great. The story has twists and turns, it flows well and is neither too fast or too slow. The narrator is very real conveying anger as well as softness and intrigue. This is the type of audiobook you can listen to for hours and not get tired of.” —Sue, Audible

• “This story has such wonderful character, scene, and story development. I loved going along for the journey with the characters. I’ve read the books and am thoroughly enjoying the audiobook. The magical voice of the narrator makes the already great story even better, a whole new experience! Great read, highly recommend!” —Amanda, Audible

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, BookBub, Books and Readers

Winter Sale for Waterspell Audiobooks

Through 5 January 2025, every book in the Waterspell fantasy series is on sale. The audiobooks are on sale, too! $14.95 for the four-book boxed set; $11.95 for The Karenina Chronicles. That’s $10 off the list price for each.

Available a la carte (without a subscription) at Chirp, Apple Audio, Spotify, and Nook Audiobooks. If you have an Audible membership, each book is 1 credit.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers

Karenina at Kobo and Audible

Such a busy week! And a busy month of August, from Day 1. The Karenina Chronicles (the newest book in the Waterspell series) is featured at Kobo all month in the category of “Science Fiction & Fantasy Under $5.99.”

Plus, The Karenina Chronicles audiobook is now available at Audible as well as all other major retailers.

🎉 I’m breathless with the speed of events. 🥳 If you’re looking for a good read for your August vacation, please check out The Karenina Chronicles: A Waterspell Novel in any format you like: print, ebook, or audiobook. Discover why readers call it “exceptionally vividly realized” and “engaging from page one.”

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers, Waterspell fantasy trilogy

The Karenina Chronicles Audiobook Is Live!

🎉 Already! It’s live!

The brand-new audiobook of The Karenina Chronicles is now available at several retailers including Chirp, Kobo, Apple, and Nook; and at Spotify it’s a STEAL for only $11.49! 🤩 Audiobook retailers set their own prices, and this must be a new-release special price that won’t last long.

Please help me introduce Hannah Eggleton to audiobook listeners who will love to hear her work. This is Hannah’s VERY FIRST audiobook narration, and she has done a beautiful job. Wherever you get audiobooks, you can find it at Books2Read. Thank you for your support! 💙

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers, Discoverability

What’s New in the Waterspell Universe

I haven’t blogged in months because I’ve been traveling the world. The world of Waterspell, that is. The place keeps me busy. Here’s some of what’s happening:

The Karenina Chronicles: A Waterspell Novel by Deborah J. Lightfoot. Audiobook narrated by Hannah Eggleton.

The Karenina Chronicles
A Waterspell Novel
by
Deborah J. Lightfoot

Audiobook narrated by
Hannah Eggleton

Fall 2024

The Karenina Chronicles audiobook is nearly finished! Narrator Hannah Eggleton has done a beautiful job. Hannah has captured Nina’s voice, attitudes, and personality so perfectly that I must keep reminding myself that Hannah is Hannah, not Nina. 😁 We’re aiming for a Fall 2024 release. The audiobook will be available everywhere: Audible, Chirp, Hoopla, Barnes & Noble, Spotify, etc.

Here’s a 2-minute sample to whet your appetite. I love the strong self-confidence of Hannah’s voice.

The Sequel: Fires of Farsinchia

Yes, there’s a sequel in the works. The Karenina Chronicles is itself a stand-alone sequel to the original Waterspell quartet. To follow Nina’s story, you don’t need to have read the first four books. KC takes the saga into a new generation with new characters and conflicts.

But just as Nina demanded that I tell her full story in a chronicle of her very own, several characters from KC have also clamored for more time on the page. The result is turning into yet another Waterspell novel, to be called The Fires of Farsinchia. I’ve been handing out business cards with Fires listed alongside KC, which is putting the cart before the horse since Fires is still months away from publication. It won’t be listed yet by any bookseller.

To give googlers a search result, however, in case any recipient of my card googles the title, here’s the blurb, along with a sneak peek at the cover:

Waterspell: The Nina Sequels by Deborah J. Lightfoot. "The Karenina Chronicles" and "The Fires of Farsinchia."

You map lovers out there will be happy to know that Fires includes a map, this one drawn professionally by Tiffany Munro, cartographer for Feed the Multiverse Studio. This lovely and detailed map will be a great help to readers in following the new story through a complex landscape. I’m thrilled with it! 💙

Map of the Ore Hills and vicinity, detail by Tiffany Munro, cartographer, from The Fires of Farsinchia: A Waterspell Novel by Deborah J. Lightfoot (c) 2024. All Rights Reserved.

Will There Be a Waterspell Book 7?

Possibly. I’m making notes for a book that could take the saga into the third generation. Two young adepts from The Fires of Farsinchia got married, and I’m sure their children will be unusually magically gifted. I may have to tag along on their further adventures, for I’m sure they’ll have many.

I need a break from this world, however. Since 2020, I’ve lived in the Waterspell universe. It has dominated my life. Which isn’t a bad thing at all, except I’m at the stage of life where I really should devote time to clearing out the clutter. My writing room is bursting with old projects, old notes, and files that need to be tossed. My late husband left a garage full of tools and bolts and fasteners of all kinds. It needs going through and boxing up for donation to Habitat for Humanity. Maybe I’ll take a year to declutter before tackling the story of the third generation in this fantasy family saga. Stay tuned!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers, Magic, On Writing

Waterspell Audiobook on Spotify

WATERSPELL: The Complete Series (Books 1-4) by Deborah J. Lightfoot; audiobook narrated by Simon de DeneyThe Waterspell audiobook is distributed by Findaway Voices, and Findaway now belongs to Spotify. Findaway has sent word that they are discontinuing their Authors Direct storefront and listening apps, and will move those services to Spotify.

This won’t affect many of my listeners. Happily, however, the relative handful who redeemed giveaway codes via Authors Direct will get to keep your Waterspell audiobook. Findaway promises to email you a redemption code to unlock each of your previous Authors Direct books on Spotify. Listeners can use Spotify Free and Premium accounts to access those books.

Waterspell by Deborah J. Lightfoot is available on Authors DirectPlease be aware that the Authors Direct listening apps (iOS, Android, and Web) will not be available after June 5, 2023.

Besides Spotify, many other audiobook retailers carry Waterspell, some at a discount off the $24.95 regular price. Audible offers the four-book boxed set (50 hours of audio) for a single credit. Such a deal!

For a complete list of retailers, please see the Audio page: https://www.waterspell.net/audio/

Thanks for listening!

What readers say about the Waterspell fantasy series

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers, Waterspell fantasy trilogy

How to Handle Mean Reviews

They’re inevitable. Every writer gets them. Even rich and famous authors get bad reviews.

Some of the best advice I’ve ever read, on how to handle the trolls, comes from Julia Whelan at Writer Unboxed. I excerpted some of her comments to give ’em the Canva treatment. But every writer will do well to read her entire post.

Julia Whelan quote 1

Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, lifelong actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator of more than 500 titles. Her performance of her own debut novel, the internationally best-selling My Oxford Year, garnered a Society of Voice Arts award. She is also a Grammy-nominated audiobook director, a former writing tutor, a half-decent amateur baker, and a certified tea sommelier. Her new book, Thank You for Listening—about a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator who has lost sight of her dreams and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel—released in August 2022.

Julia Whelan quote 2

Leave a Comment

Filed under Audiobooks, Books and Readers, On Writing, Writers