Breaking Barriers in Audiobook Publishing: Cody Sisco’s Broken Mirror and the Future of Self-Published Audio
Cody Sisco just made history.
His sci-fi novel Broken Mirror is the first full-length book to be fully produced and published using Spoken’s purpose-built studio workflow. In a publishing landscape where audiobooks are expensive and time-consuming to produce, Cody has proved that there’s another way—one that dramatically reduces cost, effort, and time, while expanding creative possibilities for indie authors.
Spoken is revolutionizing self-published audio, and Broken Mirror is the proof. With a stunning 53-chapter production featuring multi-character narration, Cody has unlocked a new kind of immersive storytelling—one that feels less like a traditional audiobook and more like a radio play for the modern era.
From Beta to Breakthrough
Cody first started experimenting with Spoken’s platform last fall. “It was a previous version,” he recalls, “and I could upload a few chapters, but the ability to create a full-length audiobook in chapters—working with it like a real book—hadn’t been implemented yet.” When the full functionality arrived, he knew it was time. “I thought, ‘This is really cool. I can actually do this.’”
The project quickly became more than just an audio adaptation; it became an artistic experiment in casting, performance, and adaptation. Rather than using a single narrator—the standard format for most self-published audiobooks—Cody tapped into Spoken’s library of voice actors to cast his characters, carefully selecting the right voices to bring them to life.
“What Spoken has created with multi-character narration is almost closer to a radio play,” Cody explains. “If the writing and the performance come together in the right way, the characters really come alive. It’s something completely new that indie authors wouldn’t have been able to do before.”
The scale of the project was unprecedented: 54 different character voices. Even Cody didn’t realize just how vast his cast was until one of Spoken’s co-founders, Phil Marshall, pointed it out.
“Phil Marshall did a shoutout today and said there were 54 characters in the book, and I was like, ‘I didn’t even realize that.’”
Building an Audio Cast: The Creative Challenge
Beyond just the number of characters, Cody faced the challenge of choosing the right voices for each role—an experience he describes as an unexpectedly engaging creative exercise.
“It was almost like a casting call,” he says. “I had to match what was possible with what my vision for each character was. Some voices were perfect right away, others I had to tweak. But overall, it was an exciting way to see the story come to life.”
One of the most compelling aspects of Spoken’s system is that when an actor’s voice clone is used, they get paid. While Spoken supports AI-generated narration, supporting actor’s voice clones ensures that human voice actors still have a stake in the future of audio self-publishing.
The Future of Indie Audiobooks
Cody sees Spoken as more than just a tool for production; he sees it as a new kind of publishing ecosystem. “We’re still figuring out what the new creative economy for audio publishing looks like,” he explains.
The platform offers a low-cost, DIY alternative to expensive studio recordings, democratizing audiobook production in the same way self-publishing revolutionized ebooks. Traditionally, an audiobook can cost thousands of dollars to produce, with uncertain returns for indie authors. With Spoken, the cost is a fraction of that, opening the door for more authors to bring their books to life in audio.
“I often tell authors to read their work aloud—it’s one of the best ways to refine your writing. Spoken takes that idea to the next level. You don’t just read it; you hear it performed. You experience it in a new way.”
And Spoken’s potential doesn’t stop there. Cody envisions a future where authors collaborate with their audiences to make creative choices—perhaps even letting listeners vote on which voices suit their favorite characters.
What’s Next for Cody—and for Spoken?
Cody isn’t done yet. With Broken Mirror now live on Spoken, he’s already thinking about what’s next.
“I know I need to take a break,” he laughs, “but I’m already thinking about uploading the sequel. And a related short story. And maybe something brand new. It’s kind of addictive.”
And with a platform like Spoken, it’s easy to see why. The technology is enabling authors to do what was once impossible, and Cody Sisco’s work is the first—but certainly not the last—full-length novel to prove what’s possible.
If you’re an indie author wondering whether Spoken is worth trying, Cody has some simple advice:
“You never know what will give you new insight into your creative process or spark fresh ideas. For me, Spoken did that. So why not give it a shot?”
