150 - Sanya Simmons Interview - From Classical Flutist to SAG-AFTRA Audiobook Narrator

IIn this episode, Mike sits down with audiobook narrator and author Sanya Simmons to talk about her path from classical musician to becoming a voice actor and audiobook narrator.

What We Cover:

Building an Audiobook Career:

• Moving from ACX royalty-share projects to working directly with publishers
• The real time investment: why 5-10 hours of finished audio takes 30-40+ hours total
• Prep strategies for fiction vs. nonfiction projects
• Getting family help with research to save time

Using Your Musical Background:

• How Sanya's flute and vocal training helps her narration
• Treating your voice like an instrument for better breath control and phrasing
• Avoiding monotonous reads by "hearing" what the author intended

Networking That Actually Works:

• Why relationship-building beats transactional approaches
• How APA committee work and APAC conferences led to unexpected opportunities
• Staying in touch with producers without being pushy
• The power of showing up consistently

Expanding Beyond Audiobooks:

• Getting into political VO and broadcast narration
• Dealing with union rules in right-to-work states
• The reality of competitive commercial and promo markets

Social Media Without the Overwhelm:

• Building authentic presence with help from others
• Choosing the right platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok)
• Why "good enough" content beats perfect content you never post

From Author to Narrator: Sanya talks about her book "A Single Mom's Guide to Raising Black Gentlemen" and how her parenting experience shapes her storytelling approach. Plus, how her sons contributed to both the book and audiobook.

Key Points:

• Balance active projects with ongoing training
• Reliability builds lasting relationships: communicate early, deliver clean work, say thank you
• Think like a business owner: proper structure, strategic investments, tax planning
• Community matters: connect with mentors, peers, and people you can help

Whether you're starting out or scaling up your audiobook business, Sanya shares practical advice on production, relationships, and sustainable growth.

Connect with Sanya:

• Book: "A Single Mom's Guide to Raising Black Gentlemen" 

Real talk about building a thriving audiobook career while keeping your sanity and artistic integrity.

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