AN AUTHENTIC VOICE
Hiya! I’m Nina Nikolic (she/her), a queer Serbian-Australian female audiobook narrator. With my extensive experience acting for audio fiction and broad range of accents, my performance shines for indie authors looking to bring not just their story, but their characters, to life. My wheelhouse is cosy rom-coms, women-centered memoirs and personal development texts.
FEATURED AUDIOBOOKS
My broadcast quality studio produces a clean, intimate experience for each of your listeners, as well as partnering with the best proofers, editors and producers in the biz to have your audiobook narration polished for publication.
As a child, I lived like Matilda, reading every book I could get my hands on in the library. I adore diverse, whimsical and stimulating stories; throw me all of your thrillers, speculative fiction, cosy romances and … well, all of it, please!
My favourite book genres are thrillers and mysteries (Dan Brown, Fiona Tarr), speculative fiction (The Invincible, The Martian/Project Hail Mary), fantasy (The Witcher) and cosy romances (Sanctuary Sound, Trady Lady series). I also love the opportunity to learn something new through non-fiction in the realms of psychology, the Earth and the universe.
Contact me directly about narrating your book: nina@voicesofnina.com
HAPPY CLIENTS
Nina you are a very important member of the Corkies group. We do it because we all want to make a difference in the World. Laughter is the best medicine!!! So far the response has been positive. Many families around the World are enjoying Eiki’s antics. I really appreciate your talent. Thank you. ❤️
Susan Pease – Australian Children’s Author
Nina was a pleasure to work with and did a great job for us. She was professional and took direction very well. And she turned around the audio file quickly after the recording session.
Lori W. – ServiceNow
FAQ
Q: What’s your turnaround time for an audiobook narration?
It typically takes 1-2 months to deliver a fully mastered audiobook, from preparation time to final approvals from your end.
Q: What genres do you narrate?
I narrate a wide range of fiction and non-fiction, with a particular love for character-driven stories. My favourites are cosy romances, crime thrillers, and fantasy or science fiction novels. The more interpersonal relationships and dynamics at play, the better! I love when humanity is at the core, or I learn something new about a subject or myself.
I love when humanity is at the core, or I learn something new about a subject or myself. Alternatively send me an email with a link to your book or a PDF of the manuscript to review.
Q: What accents and character voices can you perform?
I’m known for strong character work and a broad accent range (including British varieties, General American, European and International English). You can a listen to several character and accent samples here.
If your book needs distinct voices or characters, send me a “casting” breakdown. I love when authors are able to send me samples of how they imagine these characters. This breakdown can include age, accent, vocal characteristics, personality, etc. It’s also helpful to include clips of people (links to interviews, etc.) who embody each character. Put in as much or as little detail as you like!
This helps me get a clear picture of your vision for the world and characters you’ve created. I prepare a “character sample pack” for you to listen to and approve. This ensures characters stay consistent across the whole book or series.
Q: Do you narrate in languages other than English?
I narrate in English, though I have some rudimentary experience with Serbian, Japanese and Spanish.
Usually I’m narrating in my Australian accent. I also narrate in British or American accents!
Q: How much does audiobook narration cost?
Pricing will vary based on the length and complexity of the book, as well as post-production needs. For most audiobooks my rates are:
- $250 AUD PFH – per Finished Hour (on-site with your director & editor)
- $350 AUD PFH (raw punch & roll, ~4c/word from my own studio)
- $450 AUD PFH (fully produced, ~5c/word)
A 50% deposit is required upon approval of a sample of your book in order to proceed with production. Then, the balance payable upon delivery of your finished book.
Q: Do you offer PFH (per finished hour) or royalty share?
I work on a Per Finished Hour basis at this time.
Hybrid options may be available if you are working with a producer who facilitates this. I do not offer this currently myself.
Q: How do I know how long my audiobook will be?
The estimate I use is 9,000 words ≈ 1 finished hour (varies with pacing and genre). If you share your word count, I can give you a realistic estimate of the run time and fee.
Q: Do you provide editing and mastering, or just raw narration?
I can deliver “finished” audio that meets common platform requirements (clean editing, consistent levels, ready to upload). If you already have an engineer, I can also provide raw WAV files to your engineer’s preferred specs.
Q: What audio format will I receive?
Typically high-quality MP3s for fully mastered audio, delivered in clearly labelled chapters with a consistent naming convention. I deliver WAV files for “punch & roll” books, so engineers have more control over the mastering. If you have platform-specific requirements, let me know and I’ll match those.
Q: Where do you record?
I record from a treated home studio, built for professional voiceover and long-form narration. This allows for consistent sound across sessions and faster pickup scheduling if needed. I’m also available for in-studio sessions with your preferred production studio in Melbourne or Sydney, Australia.
Q: Can you match a specific tone or reference narrator?
Usually authors will approach me because I have a unique style that resonates with their story. If you have samples of a tone or style you like, I can provide a recorded sample of my own interpretation. However, I suggest if you like the style of a specific narrator, perhaps it’s worth reaching out to them!
Q: Do you offer a sample read?
Absolutely! I’m able to record up to 3-5 minutes of an excerpt you provide for your consideration.
Q: What do you need from me to get a quote?
A PDF of the manuscript and/or a link to your book if it’s already published is incredibly helpful.
Q: How does the process work from booking to delivery?
Most projects follow this flow:
Pre-Production Phase
- Discovery + quote: We’ll jump on a call or e-mail to chat about your book. If you send through the PDF of the manuscript it’s easiest for me to review and provide a quote and my availability. If requested, I will also offer a 3-5 minute sample at this stage, particularly if the project is still in the casting stage.
- Contract/terms + scheduling: If the timeline and budget work out and you’re happy to move forward, I will provide you with an agreement for the production for you to review and co-sign.
- Materials: Once the agreement is signed, send through your manuscript (PDF and/or .doc are preferred for my workflow), pronunciation guide and character notes (if needed).
Production Phase
- Sample approval + deposit: I will record a fifteen minute segment of your manuscript — not always the first fifteen, as many times more central characters will surface further into the story. In these cases I’ll choose a section that features more diverse dialogue for you to review the “feel” of the performance. If many characters are required, I will also provide those samples and pronunciations for review via Pozotron project link.
- At this stage, I will also provide you with the initial invoice, including the amount to be paid for the deposit. Once the deposit for the production is paid, I will assume the sample is approved and proceed with recording the rest of your book!
- If you’d like changes, we can jump on another call to “workshop” those elements to ensure you’re happy to move forward before paying the deposit.
- Recording: I’ll move forward with recording your book for the next few weeks!
Post-Production Phase
- Proofing + editing: Once the full book has been recorded, I use Pozotron to perform the first round of accuracy checks. If there are any errors that need to be corrected, I go in and re-record those as pick-ups!
- It’s typically during this stage that I encourage authors, particularly of narrative or character-heavy content, to review the recordings in Pozotron. This system allows you to highlight words or passages and include notes for adjustments or clarification (e.g. if there are long strings of dialogue with multiple characters without dialogue tags, I’ll make my best guess as to who’s talking based on context!)
- In this stage, you can ignore inaccuracies, as you can rest assured those will be fixed in editing! I always do another manual pass to clean up the audio, adjust gaps and pick up errant issues that Pozotron may have missed, for final checks.
- Final mastering + file delivery: Your recordings will be mastered, split, named and packaged up to be delivered with your final invoice. The final invoice balance may differ slightly to the initial quote based on the overall pace, and therefore true final run-time of the book.
- This is your opportunity to review and provide final approval. If all is to your liking, pay the outstanding balance within 30 days of receipt!
Let me know if you have any issues with your files and I’ll be happy to work that out with you. I haven’t had a book not pass quality checks so far!
Q: Can I request revisions or pickups after recording?
Yes. A round of pickups is normal for audiobooks, particular for minor errors or pronunciations.
Most narrators offer a “first 15 minutes” approval, where you receive the first 15 minutes of your narrated book for approval, and then may not request performance changes. For me, this is only a strict rule when working through producers, where the relationship with the author is managed through them.
As most author’s I’ve worked with have approached me directly and independently, my process is a little more lenient! I will strongly encourage that you listen to the full book during the pick-up stage, and note any occasional moments that you feel strongly about. For example, if there are exclamations, moments of dialogue or specific beats that you’d like tweaked, I can include those sections when recording pick-ups.
Of course, I will not be re-recording longer passages! But I’m aware there may be moments further along in the book you’d like to “hit” a certain way. I value your trust in collaborating and bringing your characters to life. If this continues not being abused, I can continue offering it! 😉
Q: Will you help with pronunciation (names, places, made-up words)?
Absolutely. I’ll ask for a pronunciation guide up front, and I’m happy to research and confirm anything unclear. For fantasy/sci-fi, a simple glossary goes a long way, and voice notes are our best friend!
Q: Can you narrate multiple POVs or dual narration?
Yes. I can handle multiple POVs solo, and I’m also open to duet/dual narration setups if you’re producing with more than one narrator.
Q: Do you do audiobooks for independent authors and small publishers?
Yes! In fact, most of my books have been just that. I adore working with indie authors, as it allows for strong collaboration with you from prep through to final approval. I also love sending through voice notes on progress, or short video clips throughout production, if you’d like to use those in your marketing! Many listeners love getting a peek “behind the curtain” at the narration process.
I work with indie authors, small presses, and producers. I’m happy to tailor the workflow to your team size and experience level.
Q: Do you offer payment plans?
I’m not able to accommodate payment plans at this time, unless part of a royalty share or hybrid agreement with a publisher.
Q: How do I book you?
Send an email to nina@voicesofnina.com with your book details (blurb, genre, word count, timeline, and where you plan to distribute). I’ll reply with my current availability, quote, and next steps.
LET’S ADVENTURE!
Looking for an authentic, engaging Australian female audiobook narrator? Get in touch with me via email to chat about your story, scope and budget.
Want a ballpark first? See my rates here → Voice Over Rates Australia
We can also schedule a call, get to know each other and discuss your needs more in-depth:
