I can't find my .nomedia folder or the folder it is in anymore, but the files still seem to be there
Many thanks to @gertmenkel! I found the hidden files using ES Explorer and deleted out the "." so that the file wasn't hidden anymore.  the audiobooks are still not in my google play music because of the .nomedia file i have in there.  so the "." in the audiobooks file name was overkill.
Btw, I'm too new here and I'm not sure if you get points for posting a good solution @gertmenkel, but if you do i dont want to take yours away so if you post the solution i'll delete my own.  Thanks again!