The Talking Book
The Talking Book is an Asheville, NC audiobook recording studio founded in 2015 that produces human-narrated audiobooks for indie authors, literary publishers, university presses, and accessibility nonprofits, with distribution across Audible, iTunes, Spotify, and other major platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersAsheville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Talking Book does
The Talking Book is an independent audiobook recording studio and production house based in Asheville, North Carolina, founded in 2015. It produces audiobooks using exclusively human voice actors or author-narrators, with services spanning in-studio recording, remote recording, editing, proofing, mastering, original cover art, and distribution listing across six major audiobook platforms (Audible, iTunes, Spotify, Audiobooks.com, Google Play, Libro.FM). The studio operates a dual structure: a for-profit production arm serving indie authors, university presses, and independent publishers (including New Directions, Coffee House Press, North Atlantic Press, UNC Chapel Hill, and Penguin Random House), and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm (Talking Book Company, established 2018) that records overlooked books and partners with accessibility organizations such as The Jewish Braille Institute.
Revenue is generated through project-based, quote-based professional service fees paid by authors and publishers, supplemented by Patreon and Venmo donations to the nonprofit arm and modest merchandise sales (sweatshirts at $40 plus shipping). The company also operates a literary podcast on SoundCloud and Spotify accepting excerpts, essays, fiction, and poetry, plus an email newsletter and a Squarespace-based website (thetalkingbook.org) functioning as the primary marketing surface. The team is small — fewer than five in-house staff plus a six-person advisory board — and the company is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding.
The Talking Book firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Talking Book
- Legal name
- Talking Book Company
- Website
- https://thetalkingbook.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Talking Book is an Asheville, NC audiobook recording studio founded in 2015 that produces human-narrated audiobooks for indie authors, literary publishers, university presses, and accessibility nonprofits, with distribution across Audible, iTunes, Spotify, and other major platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Talking Book industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Audiobook Production Services
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Studios (51224), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Other Sound Recording Industries (51229)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audiobook Production & Studios (Narration, Recording, Editing, Mastering) (MPAJAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audiobook Self-Publishing & Production Services (Narration, Studio, ACX-style) (MPAJAJAJ), Audiobook & Spoken-Word Streaming Platforms (MPAIADAE)
Keywords
Where The Talking Book is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Asheville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Talking Book business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Audiobook Production Services: Full-service audiobook production including recording, editing, proofing, mastering, and distribution to major channels. Works with professional voice actors and author-narrators.
- Podcast Production: Professional podcast and voice over production services.
- Nonprofit Donations: 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm accepting tax-exempt donations via Venmo and Patreon to support recording of overlooked books by diverse authors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Audiobook Production |
| Subscription | Monthly | Patreon Support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Talking Book product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Talking Book is an indie audiobook production studio that provides professional audiobook recording, editing, proofing, and mastering services using exclusively human voice actors and author-narrators. The studio also handles distribution to major audiobook platforms. Services are offered both in-studio in Asheville, NC and remotely. The company does not use AI-generated voices, positioning this as a core differentiator.
Product overview
The Talking Book operates as an indie audiobook recording studio and production house based in Asheville, NC. The core offering is professional audiobook recording, editing, proofing, and mastering services using exclusively human voices (no AI). Services include author-narrated projects recorded at their mountain studio, casting with professional voice actors, original audiobook cover art, and distribution to major channels. The company maintains a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm (Talking Book Company, est. 2018) for recording overlooked books for indie authors, publishers, and communities in need. Additional offerings include a podcast accepting literary submissions, podcast and voice over production services, and branded merchandise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Audiobook Recording and Production Services Full-service audiobook production including recording, editing, proofing, and mastering with human voice actors and author-narrators, plus distribution to major audiobook channels (Audible, iTunes, Spotify, Audiobooks.com, Google Play, Libro.FM). For indie authors, publishers, and university presses.
- Podcast and Voice Over Production Professional podcast and voice over production services offered alongside audiobook recording, including editing and mastering.
- Nonprofit Publishing (Talking Book Company 501(c)(3)) Nonprofit arm that records overlooked books for indie authors, publishers, university presses, and accessibility-focused communities serving visually impaired, elderly, dyslexic, and underrepresented readers.
- The Talking Book Podcast Podcast accepting excerpts, essays, fiction, and poetry submissions, with audio (MP3) submissions given priority.
- Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including sweatshirts designed by Dani Hartrum, sold at $40 plus shipping.
Companies that use The Talking Book
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Talking Book technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Talking Book partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- North Atlantic PressminorPublisher client for audiobook production services. Talking Book produces audiobooks for North Atlantic Press titles.
- UNC Chapel HillminorUniversity press client for audiobook production. Talking Book produces audiobooks for UNC Chapel Hill Press publications.
- New DirectionsminorIndependent literary publisher client. Multiple New Directions titles produced as audiobooks by Talking Book.
- Coffee House PressminorIndependent press client for audiobook production services.
- Penguin Random HouseminorMajor publisher client for audiobook production.
- The Jewish Braille InstitutecoreKey nonprofit partner serving visually impaired communities. Talking Book's nonprofit arm records books for this organization to increase accessibility for the seeing impaired.
- Bookshop.orgminorPartnership with Bookshop.org for audiobook distribution supporting independent bookstores.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Talking Book competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange): Audible-owned marketplace that connects authors with professional narrators and producers to create audiobooks. Most direct competitor to The Talking Book's indie-author production service, with a far larger global footprint and self-service model.
- Findaway Voices (Spotify): Self-service audiobook production and distribution platform (now owned by Spotify) that enables authors to produce audiobooks and distribute to global channels. Comparable to The Talking Book's distribution-assisted indie author service.
- Graphic Audio: Audiobook production company producing full-cast, dramatized audiobooks from a dedicated studio. Comparable audiobook production studio serving publishers and specialty audiences.
- Deyan Audio: Full-service audiobook production studio offering recording, editing, and mastering with professional narrators. Directly comparable to The Talking Book as a boutique studio serving indie authors and publishers.
Broad incumbents
- Tantor Audio: Established audiobook publisher and producer with large catalog and in-house recording capabilities. Competes with The Talking Book for author and publisher audiobook production contracts at much larger scale.
- Recorded Books: Long-standing audiobook publisher and producer with extensive library and dedicated production capabilities. Represents a larger-scale competitor in the audiobook production space.
- Penguin Random House Audio: In-house audiobook production division of the world's largest trade publisher. Both a current client of The Talking Book and a powerful internal competitor as publishers consolidate audio production.
- Podium Audio: Major audiobook publisher specializing in sci-fi/fantasy/non-fiction with in-house production. Represents the larger-scale, vertically integrated model that competes with independent studios like The Talking Book.
- Macmillan Audio: In-house audiobook publishing arm of Macmillan Publishers with dedicated production. A vertically integrated incumbent that competes with independent studios for high-volume contracts.
Emerging players
- Author's Republic: Indie audiobook distribution and production platform helping authors publish audiobooks to major channels. Comparable to The Talking Book's distribution and indie-author focus with a tech-platform model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Talking Book social profiles
Digital presenceThe Talking Book financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Talking Book leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
The Talking Book funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Talking Book M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Talking Book
What does The Talking Book do?
The Talking Book is an indie audiobook production studio that provides professional audiobook recording, editing, proofing, and mastering services using exclusively human voice actors and author-narrators. The studio also handles distribution to major audiobook platforms. Services are offered both in-studio in Asheville, NC and remotely. The company does not use AI-generated voices, positioning this as a core differentiator.
Is The Talking Book a public or private company?
The Talking Book is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Talking Book founded?
The Talking Book was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Talking Book based?
The Talking Book is headquartered in Asheville, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Talking Book make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Audiobook Production Services are the primary driver. The others are podcast Production and nonprofit Donations.
Who are The Talking Book's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange), Findaway Voices (Spotify), Graphic Audio and Deyan Audio. Broad incumbents are Tantor Audio, Recorded Books, Penguin Random House Audio, Podium Audio and Macmillan Audio. Author's Republic is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Talking Book have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Talking Book.
What industry is The Talking Book in?
The Talking Book's product category is Audiobook Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAIAB, Audiobook Production & Studios (Narration, Recording, Editing, Mastering), with a secondary code of MPAJAJAJ, Audiobook Self-Publishing & Production Services (Narration, Studio, ACX-style). Its NAICS code is 51224 and its SIC code is 3652.