From ACX Exclusive to Direct Sales: An Audiobook Success Story

In June, we celebrate Audiobook Appreciation Month—a delightful time, indeed. Anyone who knows me understands my deep passion for audiobooks. A few years back, I was one of the genre’s loudest cheerleaders, but when ACX/Audible began cutting back on indie-support programs, my zeal dimmed. Now, with genuine competition finally emerging, my excitement has skyrocketed.

Breaking my exclusive ties with ACX was immensely freeing—allowing me to sale my audiobooks everywhere audiobooks are sold, not just Audible, Amazon, and Apple. Soon after, I took a leap into YouTube, offering my audiobooks for free to see what would happen. The response has been remarkable—both in listener growth and, surprisingly, in revenue. I’m constantly amazed when someone comments that they’d never heard of my stories before, only to discover they’ve since devoured my entire YouTube catalog and are coming back for encore listens.

Check out my extensively audiobook catalog here.

That early success gave me the confidence to launch my own store, selling audiobooks directly. Admittedly, setting up a storefront felt more intimidating than posting to YouTube, but the payoff has been well worth it. Using a “build it and they will come” mindset, I wondered whether people would actually visit—and they did. Free downloads drew in new fans (even if not everyone completes the process), and paid sales have been encouraging. My bestsellers? Bundles of ten audiobooks for ten dollars and single titles priced at just one dollar each.

Here’s the real eye-opener: at these low prices, my direct-sale profits often match what I’d earn from Audible. As we celebrate Audiobook Appreciation Month, it’s clear that audiences are growing—and they’re doing so on more platforms than ever before. While giants like Audible and Spotify pursue their all-you-can-listen models, both listeners and creators are discovering that the status quo isn’t the only path forward. The audiobook landscape is evolving, opening doors for everyone, not just the biggest players—and that’s something worth celebrating.

Check out my huge list of professionally narrated audiobooks today!