How to Publish on Findaway Voices
Findaway Voices is the primary wide audiobook distribution platform for indie authors — reaching Spotify's audiobook catalog, Chirp (BookBub's audio deals service), Hoopla, OverDrive, Libro.fm, Downpour, BorrowBox, and 40+ other retail, subscription, and library audio platforms. Unlike ACX, Findaway requires no exclusivity — your audiobook can be simultaneously on Audible via ACX non-exclusive and on every Findaway-distributed platform.
What You Need Before You Start
Finished, mastered MP3 audio files meeting Findaway's technical specs (detailed below)
A square cover image — audiobooks use 1:1 square covers, not the portrait ebook ratio
Book metadata: title, author, narrator, description, BISAC category
A Findaway Voices account at findawayvoices.com
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to findawayvoices.com and click Get Started. Create your account, verify your email, and complete your publisher profile. Set up your payment method (PayPal or ACH bank transfer) and complete tax documentation (W-9 for US, W-8BEN for non-US). Findaway pays monthly with royalty reporting typically 60+ days behind the earning period.
Step 2: Add Your Audiobook — Metadata
From your dashboard, click Add a Title. Enter title, series information (use the same series name as all other platforms), author name, narrator's full name (a key discovery signal — listeners search by narrator), description, BISAC category, and language. An ISBN is optional but recommended — audiobooks need their own ISBN separate from ebook and print editions.
Step 3: Square Cover Art — Critical Requirement
⚠ Audiobook covers must be square (1:1 ratio). Your ebook cover is portrait (6:9). You need a separate square version — a square crop or a square redesign — specifically for audiobook distribution. Findaway will reject non-square covers. Create or commission your square audiobook cover before beginning your submission.
Step 4: Audio File Technical Specifications
⚠ Findaway's automated QC checks all uploaded files against these specs. Common failures: VBR instead of CBR bitrate, RMS levels outside the -18 dB target, noise floor above -60 dB, and inconsistent file naming. Use Adobe Audition, Reaper, or Audacity with the free ACX Check plugin to verify your files before uploading. Spec failures delay publication — fix them before upload, not after.
Step 5: Upload Files
Upload your MP3 files in sequence from the Upload section of your title setup. Findaway processes and runs automated QC — results take 24–48 hours. You'll receive notification of pass or fail with specific error details. Fix and re-upload any failing files.
Step 6: Configure Distribution Channels
After files pass QC, configure your distribution channels. Enable all available channels unless you have a specific reason to exclude one. The main exception: if distributing through ACX non-exclusive, Audible is handled there — verify that Findaway is not also distributing to Audible for the same title.
Key Findaway Distribution Partners
Step 7: Pricing and Submit
Set your audiobook retail price. Standard audiobook pricing: $14.99–$29.99 depending on length. Below $9.99, platforms may classify as a short story. Price consistently with comparable titles in your genre and length. Submit for distribution — partner timelines vary from 1–2 weeks (retail) to 2–6 weeks (library platforms).
Step 8: Chirp Promotional Submissions
After your audiobook is live through Findaway, apply for Chirp deal features at partners.chirpbooks.com. Chirp sends deal alerts to genre-specific subscriber lists. Selection is editorial — quality, listener reviews, discount offered, and genre fit all matter. Apply consistently with your best audiobooks. A Chirp feature drives downloads across multiple Findaway-distributed platforms simultaneously — not just Chirp.
Self-Produced Audiobooks on Findaway
Authors who narrate their own books or hire narrators independently can upload directly to Findaway. Home recording requirements: a treated recording space (closet with clothes works), a quality microphone (Audio-Technica AT2020, Rode NT-USB, or similar), recording software (Audacity is free), and post-processing to meet RMS and noise floor specs. Narrate in sessions, edit in your DAW, and run ACX Check to verify specs before uploading.
Findaway Voices royalties sync into ScribeCount once your account is connected. Because Findaway aggregates income from 40+ partner platforms — each reporting on different timelines — ScribeCount's unified dashboard is the only practical way to see your full wide audio earnings alongside ebook income from Kobo, Apple, and other platforms.
Findaway's Narrator Marketplace
Findaway also operates a narrator marketplace where you can find and hire professional narrators. Narrators apply to your posted project; you review profiles and samples, and contracts are managed through Findaway's system. Pay-for-production contracts through Findaway are non-exclusive, preserving your full wide distribution rights. The marketplace is an alternative to ACX's audition system for authors who want Findaway for distribution from the start.
Common Findaway Voices Mistakes
Uploading a portrait-ratio ebook cover — Findaway requires a square cover and will reject non-square files
Using variable bitrate (VBR) MP3 files instead of constant bitrate (CBR) — common automated QC failure
Not verifying RMS, peak, and noise floor before upload — file spec failures delay publication
Enabling Audible distribution through Findaway when the same title is already on ACX — creates duplicate listings
Not submitting to Chirp after distribution — the primary audiobook promotional channel requires a separate application
Not connecting Findaway to ScribeCount — losing visibility into wide audio earnings
Findaway Voices is the infrastructure that makes wide audio distribution practical. Set up your account, get your files to spec, get a square cover, configure your channels, and connect to ScribeCount. One upload — 40+ platforms — no exclusivity required.
-Randall Wood