Interview: Budget-Friendly Ways to Add Audio to eBooks With Matty Dalrymple and Michael Pietrobon

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Aug 13, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Michael Pietrobon, the founder of Foglio, shares budget-friendly methods for enhancing eBooks with audio elements. He discusses the use of sound effects and leitmotifs to enrich storytelling, particularly for genres like children's and fantasy literature. Pietrobon also addresses the challenges of audio integration, effective recording practices, and sourcing royalty-free music. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining compatibility across devices while strategically navigating eBook distribution. A must-listen for aspiring authors!

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INSIGHT

Use Leitmotifs To Differentiate Characters

Leitmotifs are small sound cues tied to characters or themes that enhance reading without full narration.
They add texture and help differentiate voices affordably, especially in children's and genre fiction.

ADVICE

Keep Audio As A Supplement

Make audio an augmenting feature, not the primary format, so readers can still get full value from text alone.
Design enhanced ebooks so audio is optional and the text remains complete without playback.

ADVICE

Choose Fixed Layout For Precise Audio Triggers

Use fixed-layout ebooks for line-by-line or clickable audio hotspots and reflowable ebooks for broad compatibility.
Choose fixed layout when you need precise audio triggers tied to visual layout.

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ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael Pietrobon, founder of Canadian book design and self-publishing company Foglio, about budget-friendly ways to add audio to eBooks without producing full audiobooks. They discuss using sound effects and leitmotifs to enhance stories, technical standards for eBook production, sourcing free audio, AI clean-up, and creating interactive enhanced eBooks. Michael also offers advice on ensuring device compatibility and distribution, while noting that print books should remain a priority for authors.

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This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family.

About the Host

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.

About the Guest

Michael Pietrobon is the founder of Foglio, a Canadian company specializing in high-quality book design and self-publishing services. With more than a decade of experience in typesetting, cover design, and eBook formatting, Michael helps authors bring their books to life—professionally and on their own terms. He works with writers across genres to create print-ready and digital books that meet both creative and industry standards. He is especially passionate about innovations in publishing, including interactive eBooks and audiobook design, and believes independent authors deserve the same design quality and distribution reach as traditional publishers. Michael can be found at foglioprint.com, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.