Taking over the world, one book at a time
I am so excited and sad at the same time to share with you the last book cover for Shiloh Walker‘s Grimm Circle series.
I am excited because I have waited along time for Will’s story. And sad because with Will’s story that means no more Grimm Circle books.
So with out further ado……. I give you Grimm’s End
Want to read a snippet from Grimm’s End? Check out Shiloh’s blog HERE
Find the Grimm series here Samhain | Amazon | BN | iBooks | Kobo
Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I have been so excited to host our 1st ever Audio Book Lovin’ Series. Oh my god, what a wild ride this month has been.
Please check out our wrap up video below.
Just a few audiobooks I would like to give a shout out to as we wrap up Audio Book Month.
Check out Blake Crouch’s Wayward Pine Trilogy HERE
Or check out Coreene Callahan’s DragonFury series HERE
Or how about Justin Crone’s The Passage Trilogy HERE
And don’t forget to enter our giveaway
Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Donna Grant on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series.
Donna Grant is the New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.
She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.
Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.
Learn more about Donna and her awesome books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
I had the great pleasure of meeting Ms. Grant at RT in Dallas this past May. She is just as amazing and sweetas she seems online. Oh and she is like a steel trap trying to get spoilers out of her. No she would not tell me anything about Rhi. *shakes head and mumbles* Evil authors…..
Kelly: Hi Donna, Viviana and I are so excited to have you be a part of our Audio Book Lovin’ Series.
Thanks so much for having me, girls! It’s always a pleasure! 😉
Kelly: Donna, what do you love/like about audio books?
I like that it’s another way for readers to be able to get my books. Whether they prefer audio or can only get their book fix while listening to an audio on the way to work, I’m thrilled there is that option out there.
Kelly: Tell us what involvement do you have in getting your novels turned into audiobooks?
I have very minimal involvement. My publisher takes care of getting them made into audio.
Kelly: How is your narrator selected for your novels?
I wish I knew. Lol. Most of my series are read by a male narrator. However my Dark Warrior series was read by a female. I don’t know who decided to change that or why.
Kelly: What information/guidance do you provide to the narrator?
Oddly enough, the male narrator never asked me about how to pronounce anything, but the female did. She made sure to have everything just as intended. The male has messed up a few things that I didn’t catch until just recently, and they’re having to be corrected now. It would’ve been so much easier had he gotten with me as well.
Kelly: Do you listen to your audiobooks after they are finished? Why or why not.
I tried once, but I couldn’t get into the first five minutes. I hear the story differently in my head than how the narrators do it, so it’s difficult for me. Lol. It’s why I didn’t catch those mistakes I mentioned above until recently. And I only caught those because I listened to a sample.
Kelly: If you could pick one person (male or female) to narrator your life who would it be and why?
Hmmmm. Either Sam Heughan or Luke Evans or Benedict Cumberbach would do nicely. J
Kelly: For anyone who has not listened to an audiobook before. What would you tell them to try to convince them to listen?
Oh, that’s easy. Anything written by Karen Marie Moning and read by Phil Gigante!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And don’t forget to enter our giveaway
06.22.15
Audio Book Lovin’ Present: Interview with Lorelei King + a giveaway
Kimberly reviews Wicked Ride by Rebecca Zanetti
06.23.15
Audio Book Lovin’ presents: Kelly’s interview with Katie Reus and Sophie Eastlake + a giveaway
Kelly reviews Wicked Ride by Rebecca Zanetti
06.24.15
Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s Interview with Dianne Duvall & Kirsten Potter + a giveaway
Kelly reviews Finally Found You by Carrie Ann Ryan
06.25.15
Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Kelly’s interview with Roger Wayne + a giveaway
Kimberly reviews The President’s Shadow by Brad Meltzer
06.26.15
Kelly reviews Accidentally Aphrodite by Dakota Cassidy
06.27.15
SINsational Saturday Series
Some secrets are meant to be revealed …
Or so you’ll discover, in three sexy, unforgettable Valentine’s Day stories from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Ryan and contemporary romance stars Candis Terry and Jennifer Seasons.
Waiting for You by Jennifer Ryan
Rancher Grant Devane has waited for Taylor Larson’s return to Fallbrook for more than ten years. Now that the fearless beauty has come home on her terms, he’ll do anything and everything necessary to win back her heart.
Sweet Fortune by Candis Terry
Sarah Randall is tired of being invisible to the opposite sex. So when a leap of faith sends her to Sweet, Texas, and into the path of ridiculously hot Deputy Brady Bennett, she’s determined to catch his eye … even if it means staying hidden just a little bit longer.
Major League Crush by Jennifer Seasons
Professional baseball player Drake Paulson can’t help wanting to know more about his cute, shy neighbor. But when he discovers her deepest secret and she flees, it’ll be up to him to win her trust—and her love—one gift at a time.
The black sheep of Fallbrook is back . . . and he’s in for the surprise of his life.
Former bad boy, now-decorated Army Ranger Brody McBride is home and on a mission: Find the woman he never should have left behind and right the wrong he did eight years ago.
When the man she loved broke her heart and skipped town, Rain Evans picked up the pieces. But along with heartbreak, Brody left her something infinitely better than she could have imagined: two beautiful daughters. One she gave birth to, and the other she rescued from the woman who helped destroy her relationship with Brody.
Brody is shocked to discover he’s a father, and he’s more determined than ever to win back Rain and protect his girls. Can they rekindle the love they once shared and become the family they were always meant to be? Or will a danger from their past return and ruin everything?
The McBrides of Fallbrook return with reformed bad boy Owen. He’ll do whatever he must to protect the woman who’s captured his heart.
Attorney by day, rancher by night Owen McBride conquered his dark past and made it his mission to help the innocent-even at the expense of a personal life. But when a client’s abusive ex-husband targets Owen and his gorgeous neighbor Claire gets caught in the crossfire, his feelings turn anything but professional. The mysterious beauty awakens something in him, and he’ll move heaven and earth to keep her safe.
Coffee shop owner Claire Walsh learned the hard way that handsome men aren’t to be trusted. Owen may be sexy as hell and determined to take care of her, but she’s reluctant to put her heart on the line. His presence in her life puts a target on her back, yet the more time she spends with him, the more she finds she can’t help falling for Owen.
There’s a new sheriff in Fallbrook … Meet Dylan McBride.
Jessie Thompson had one hell of a week. Dylan McBride, the boy she loved, skipped town without a word. Then her drunk of a father tried to kill her, and she fled Fallbrook, vowing never to return.
Eight years later, her father is dead, and Jessie reluctantly goes home—only to come face-to-face with the man who shattered her heart. A man who, for nearly a decade, believed she was dead.
Dylan accepted the position as sheriff of Fallbrook looking for a fresh start and a chance to uncover the truth about Jessie’s disappearance. He knew he’d have to face a few ghosts … he just never thought one would be Jessie, all grown up, stunning … and alive.
The pull between them is instant, but Dylan’s heart has already mourned Jessie, and she has secrets she can never share. Can they escape the darkness of their past for a chance at a bright future together?
Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Karen White on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series.
Karen White has been narrating audio books since 1999, with more than 200 to her credit. Honored to be included in Audiofile’s Best Voices and Speaking of Audio’s Best Romance Audio 2012, 2013 and 2014, she’s also a two-time Audie Finalist and has earned multiple Audiofile Earphones Awards and Library Journal starred reviews. She currently lives with her family in Wilmington, NC.
Publishers Weekly says of Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, “Karen White delivers a stunning reading, her character interpretations are confident and well-rounded, and she forges a strong bond with the audience.”
Speaking of Audiobooks says, “Karen is one of my auto-buy narrators – if I think a book may interest me, her narration will sway me to give it a try.”
Learn more about Karen and her books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter |Email: kewbel@gmail.com
RECENT & UPCOMING RELEASES:
Hornet’s Nest by Patricia Cornwell
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Unrequited: Women & Romantic Obsession by Lisa A. Phillips
Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton
Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott
This is the Water by Yannick Murphy
Here and Again by Nicole R. Dickson
One Mountain Away by Emilie Richards
Murderous Muffins by Lois Lavrisa
The Residence by Kate Anderson Brower
BnK: I know you have narrated a lot of books, but I would like to talk about how does an author/narrator relationship begin with Rebecca Zanetti and the Sin Brothers?
Karen: I’m actually not sure exactly how it went down since I just got an email saying “can you do this book on these dates?”, but I was cast in the Sin Brothers series through an audiobook production company that produced the books for Hachette Audio. Then, Rebecca’s editor at Grand Central (print publisher under the Hachette Group umbrella) introduced us via email, and set up a meeting in person when we were both at RWA in summer 2014. Over coffee we talked about her other series (as well as our kids, etc.) and that fall, when the audiobook rights for the Dark Protector series were up for auction, she contacted me to ask how she might get me attached to those books. Through my contacts on the casting side, I learned that when selling the rights, her agent has to include narrator choice in her contract, and then she has to communicate which narrator she wants to the audiobook acquisition staff to make sure it happens. In the end Audible Studios bought the rights and I recorded the entire Dark Protectors series for them in the first 4 months of 2015 (while finishing up the Sin Brothers series!)
BnK: What sort of information did Rebecca provide you with prior to starting the narrating process of her book(s)?
Karen: We didn’t talk until after I’d recorded the first two books. I didn’t have pronunciation questions, and the characters were so clearly drawn I didn’t need further info. But for the DP, I had a LOT of questions, since there are so many made up words and names. She was also able to give me a heads up on the main characters’ arcs through the series, since it was complete. With the SB, the series was still in process when I started recording the first book.
BnK: How do you go about selecting how each of the character are going to sound like?
Karen: Stage actors are trained to use the text as a guide when creating characters. I use the same process: I read through the entire book and highlight every descriptive word or phrase that’s written about every character. Then I type them all up so that each character, large and small, has a description. I pay attention to obvious things like “deep” or “raspy” voices, but also adjectives that describe people physically, e.g. “birdlike”, “wiry”, “predator” or emotionally, e.g. “calm”, “world weary” or “on edge”. These things help me have a visual picture of every character and help me sort of locate the person in my body. Then when I’m actually recording, I see where my instincts take me with all that information.
BnK: Along the lines of the previous question, how do you manage or what is your process of remember what the character from a previous book sounds like when they reappear in a new book?
Karen: Continuing from above, when I feel like I have “found” the right voice for a character by playing through the dialogue, I will cut and save a snippet for reference. Then I can listen to these anytime I need a reminder, whether it’s later in the same book for those characters that reappear after 200 pages, or in future books if it’s a series. Once I started doing this it made my job so much easier!
BnK: Karen, tell us about the narrating process (i.e. do you read the book before narrating it? How long are the recording sessions per day? How long does it take for you to narrator a book? If you make a mistake while recording, what happens?)
Karen: When I started out doing this work, I would go to a studio and work with a sound engineer and/or director who would mark the script for future editing and make sure everything remains consistent. These days I work almost 100% in my home studio all by myself. My husband is a sound engineer (for TV & film), so I have that resource, but the ProTools software allows me to edit as I go, so if I make a mistake or just want to do something over, I just click the mouse and a few keys. Working alone, I can schedule around my mom duties (chauffeur, cook, laundress, etc.). So after dropping off kids to school, cleaning up the kitchen and walking the dogs, and checking email and social media, I do a vocal warm-up and head into the studio. I record from about 10 – 4:00 with several breaks along the way. In that time I can finish 2 – 3 hours of finished audio. So if a book is 10 hours long, that took me 4 – 5 days. If I’m not in the studio, I’m usually prep-reading a book or on the computer networking.
BnK : Authors have writer’s cave, do narrators have something similar?
Karen: My studio is built in to our attic, so you go through a door into a linen closet and through another door into the attic and then another door into my recording booth, which is very cave-like at 6’ x 6’. Here are some pictures!
BnK: Here’s a fun question for you Karen that both Viviana and I have been wondering… as a narrator, do you get “oh say it in ‘the voice’” question often?
Karen: People sometimes want to hear me do a “sexy guy” voice, or say something in a particular accent. I have actor friends who are amazing at jumping into accents, but I’m pretty terrible at it. I have to really be in the moment and acting out written dialogue or I’m too self-conscious!
BnK: Of the Sin Brother books, which one has been your favorite to narrate and why?
Karen: I think it’s a toss up between BLIND FAITH and TOTAL SURRENDER. Nate was my favorite brother – I just loved his combination of rebel and caretaker. But the last book did such a great job of tying up the stories and was such an emotional roller coaster ride that it was very satisfying.
I had a similar experience with MARKED, the final book in Rebecca’s Dark Protectors series. Since I was recording the whole thing in such a short time, I was really immersed in the world. I’d “known” Janie and Zane, the main characters in MARKED, since they were kids! So the resolution of their story (with all kinds of obstacles of course) was very emotional. I love it when books make me cry.
BnK: Karen, if someone has not listened to any audio book before what would you tell them?
Karen: Two things – find books that are great in the audio format by following bloggers like you guys. Not all audiobooks are successful, so you want your first listen to be a good one. It’s been a long time since my first listen, but I’ve heard people say that it can take time to build up the ability to concentrate aurally, so give yourself time to build up those neurons and get used to reading a book with your ears. Soon, you’ll be reading while driving, exercising, gardening, cleaning like all the other multi-tasking listeners out there!
Let’s take a listen to Fated, book one in the Dark Protector series.
And don’t forget to enter our giveaway
HE THOUGHT HE’D SEEN IT ALL . . .
The rogue’s life has been good to William Somerhall: He has his fortune, his racehorses, and his freedom. Then he moves in with his mother. It seems the eccentric Dowager Duchess of Worth has been barely skirting social disaster-assisted by one Miss Jenna Hughes, who is far too bright and beautiful to be wasting her youth as a paid companion. Now home to keep his mother from ruin, William intends to learn what’s afoot by keeping his friends close – and the tempting Miss Hughes closer still. . . .
UNTIL HE MEETS HER
He’s tall, dark, and damnably intelligent – unfortunately for Jenna. She and the duchess are in the “redistribution business,” taking from the rich and giving to the poor, and it’s going great – until he shows up. But even as William plots to make an honest woman out of her, Jenna will use all her wiles to reveal just how bad a rogue he can be . . .
For a moment, Worth looked stunned. “What the hell did you drop down the front of your dress?” he snarled.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jenna replied placidly. She had gotten herself out of stickier situations than this. Distract and deflect. She dropped her hands again.
“I demand to know what you took.”
“Nothing, Your Grace.”
“You have something in the front of your dress,” he snapped.
“I have since I was twelve years old.”
Worth started in shock before he swiped his hands through his hair angrily. “You think this is funny?”
“A little.” She was forcing a sangfroid she didn’t feel.
The duke let out a string of expletives better suited to the London docks. “You have five seconds to produce whatever you have in the front of your dress, or I swear by all that is holy, I will rip your bodice in half and retrieve it for you.”
“Ah. Is this your area of expertise?”
That stopped him short. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Jenna smirked at him and cocked a brow. “I thought bodice ripping might be part of your overwhelming charm.”
Worth’s eyes darkened even further. “Very well, Miss Hughes, have it your way.”
God’s teeth, he was calling her bluff, and in truth, he had every right to do so. Though she’d be damned if she conceded. “Do your worst then,” she dared.
She watched as the duke’s hands went first to her shoulders, then to the edges of her bodice. She felt the backs of his fingers brush against her bare skin as he curled them under the seam at the top of her breasts. Jenna remained perfectly still, her breath caught in her chest and her heart thundering against her ribs.
He had long fingers. Beautiful fingers, actually, covered in small nicks and scars and calluses that attested to the fact this duke understood physical exertion. And they were tracing the neckline of her dress in slow, sure movements. Her stays were suddenly suffocating. The air around her had thickened. Every muscle in her body had clenched, and it wasn’t in fear. It was in anticipation.
About the Author:
Kelly Bowen grew up in Manitoba, Canada. She worked her way through her teenage years as a back country trail guide and ranch hand. She attended the University of Manitoba and earned a Master of Science degree in veterinary physiology and endocrinology.
But it was Kelly’s infatuation with history and a weakness for a good love story that led her down the path of historical romance. When she is not writing, she seizes every opportunity to explore ruins and battlefields.
Currently, Kelly lives in Winnipeg with her husband and two boys, all of whom are wonderfully patient with the writing process. Except, that is, when they need a goalie for street hockey.
Jennifer’s Review of A Good Rogue is Hard to Find
Review (4.5 Stars): This was such a fun and delightful romance that had me laughing out loud all afternoon. Will had been searching for Jenna ever since their chance encounter at a ball and is shocked to find that she has been living at his mother’s home as her paid companion. Will suddenly decides to stay with his mother to learn more about Jenna and discovers that this beautiful young woman has an agenda to rectify an ongoing injustice in their community. Will must decide to help her or put a stop to her mission while Jenna will do everything in her power to change this handsome duke into a “good Rogue.”
I liked Jenna and Will together because their personalities fit so well together. After spending time with Jenna, I could understand her reasons for what she did and sometimes it is easier to fight fire with fire to get things done. At first, Will seemed like the type of guy who would be against everything that his mother and Jenna had been doing, but you could see that he was basically a good guy and would do anything to help them. A Good Rogue is Hard to Find is the second book in the Lords of Worth series and even though I didn’t read the first one, it was very easy to follow along with this story. Ms. Bowen is a new author to me but I love her style of writing and can’t wait to read more from this talented author.
Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Roger Wayne on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series.
Roger Wayne was born in Wadena, Minnesota. He was raised in rural farm country, and attended K-12 in the small towns of Northwestern MN. He moved on to Community College for a year, and then decided to join the Air Force. Out of 170 that were available, he couldn’t find a job in the military that he wanted. When his recruiter mentioned one last position he could apply for, he was intrigued. This was to be his first ever audition. Roger was escorted into a radio studio, read the given script, and got the part. . . he was on his way to becoming a broadcaster in the United States Military. In the Summer of 2004 he joined the Air Force as a Radio & Television Broadcast Journalist.
After Basic Training in San Antonio, TX, he moved to Fort Meade, MD, to train for military broadcasting, and was then stationed in Osan Air Base, South Korea. He won several awards including Best Radio Commercial military wide in 2006, and Best Feature Story for the Air Force, and his story on the local football team won an award as well. He became close friends with his work partner Luka, who was originally from Poland, but had grown up in Detroit. Through him he gained a respect and appreciation for Arabic, Lebanese, and Jewish culture, and music. To this day his favorite female artist is the Lebanese singer, Najwa Karam.
After completing his tour in Korea, his next assignment was to be in Italy, which is where his father had been stationed when he worked in Intelligence many years prior. At that time, several contractors were taking over positions in broadcasting so Roger made the choice to come back home. With a background in Journalism and a more worldly perspective under his belt he headed back to Minnesota to finish school. During his two years in Community College, he participated in several plays, mostly Shakespeare, and worked with drama teacher Ert Hermerding. Previously Ert had worked with Actor Steve Zahn, who is also from Minnesota.
To satisfy a desire to speak his opinion on the mistreating of civilians in the Middle East and the stereotypes many people had formed over Muslims because of the terrorist attacks, Roger aced his speech class, when he did his final speech on Muslims in the Middle East and America, citing differences between extremists, and normal . During this time he also wrote papers in regards to the mistreatment of the Native Americans, and although patriotism is part of what led him into the military, he felt a need to talk about much of the destruction the United States had caused to such an important culture. He finished his second year in Community College, and then went on to Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN.
He was awarded an Acting Scholarship to attend Augsburg. He completed two shows there, including Checkhov’s “Three Sisters,” where he received praise for his portrayal of ‘Vershinin’. Although he had his scholarship, ultimately the theater program did not hold much interest, and instead attained his degree in Communications & Journalism, and graduated with honors. He then began to work as a Journalist in the Civilian market. Telling stories was a passion, but it wasn’t enough, he wanted to continue playing characters, exploring new worlds, and ultimately take on the life of a professional actor. He made a quick transition, became involved in the local acting scene, and worked with local Talent Agents for Commercials and Print Modeling work. He completed many Independent student, and professional film projects, several commercials, and plays, including work at the Guthrie Theater. He continued to get good marks, while playing roles like ‘Mortimer’ in “Arsenic & Old Lace,” ‘Uncle Louie’ in “Lost in Yonkers,” and others. He also worked with a Voiceover Agent, and started doing Radio and TV Commercial voice work.
After spending two years working in Minneapolis, he knew it was time to make a change, and move to a bigger market. He made the decision to move to New York City. The move has offered him a chance to hone his skills on a much higher level in all aspects of the business.
Roger now lives in New York City, actively working in Voice Industry, Film, Television, and Theater. Roger consistently performs audiobooks for various production companies including Tantor Media, Audible.com, and does voice commercials for Radio, TV, as well as characters for Animation, and Video Games. Voice work has become the backbone of his career. He has also completed several Independent Features and Short Film projects, a Webseries, and is active in the Theater community as well, staying true to his roots and further challenging his craft on the stage. Roger just booked his first TV Co-Star role in 2015 for HBO. He is also the spokesperson for “Renter’s Warehouse.” Recently, the feature film, “The Center,” of which he performed in, executive produced by Jonathan Demme (Silence of The Lambs) , made it’s debut as an official selection at the “Cinequest Film Festival” in San Jose, CA. The film will also be shown as an official selection in the “Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Film Festival,” and is selected for the “Byron Bay Film Festival,” in Australia.
Learn more about Roger and his body of work here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Tantor | Audible
Kelly: Hi Roger, Thank you so much for joining us on our Audio Book Lovin’ series.Can you tell us how does an author/narrator relationship begin?
Roger: Well, typically, for more anyway, it starts with me forming a relationship with the folks at places Audible, Tantor Media, etc., and they find ways of connecting the authors with the narrators in the casting process. For instance with Tantor, who I do most of my books through, submits some samples of my work to certain authors that are looking for my particular style, or they may see a description of a book and think that I would be good for it, and then submit me that way. There have been occasions where, after being cast, I am in contact with the author, maybe asking specific questions, and chatting through e-mail or a phone call.
Also, authors may seek out a certain voice, if they’ve heard the persons work. I’ve had authors specifically say they wanted to have me narrate their book, and that’s always cool to hear. It’s nice to be submitted and picked out of a group of people, but feels even better when someone says, “I already know who I want… that guy!”
That’s how the process has usually started for me, though I suppose I could reach out to an author myself if I would like to narrate their book, that’s something I haven’t done, but generally it’s a casting process like anything else for actors: you’re chosen from a pool of people, and you either get the gig or you don’t!
There is always the possibility of meeting an author in person and forming a relationship from there, but I think more often than not, it comes down to casting.
Kelly: What sort of information does the author you provide prior to starting the narrating process of book(s)?
The main thing is, if I have a question about the material, such as the story, or a particular character, pronunciation of a word.. that’s when I would contact the author. Or, sometimes the author wants to contact me to make sure I say something in a particular way. There are a couple of authors I’ve contacted beforehand, and a few that have wanted to speak with me before, but for the most part, I just do the book, without having a dialogue, unless necessary. Which I kind of like too. I think most authors understand that it’s a different medium. Yes, I’m performing your book, word for word, but, even though I might do a great job, it’s still your book, your baby essentially, and so in that regard maybe it’s never good enough! So I think for that reason, some authors maybe keep a bit of a distance in terms of connecting with the narrator.
Kelly: How do you go about selecting how each of the character are going to sound like?
Like any kind of character work, acting work, you find the essence of the character, find a uniqueness to them, and bring that to life. The thing is, with a book, it’s all there, there’s not much that’s not on the page, especially if it’s well-written. A great book, generally makes a great audiobook, much like a great screenplay makes a great film, (if done properly of course, and not mucked up in the process). Something that reads well, sound good generally. The words are there, but it’s the actors job to find the ‘breath’ of it, I guess you could say. What I mean by that is, the cadence, the timing, the inflection in the voice, and of course the actual sound of it.. all of those things make that character.
It’s about creating that world, thinking about it, forming it in my mind of course, and maybe if I can taking my own life experience, especially with accents. That’s huge. The experience I’ve gained, from being a child to now, using my voice, playing with character, it’s tremendously helpful. And at the end of the day I think that’s how actors get involved with this. When you can really mold your voice, it’s because you’ve been doing it since the beginning of time. There are always challenges, but that ability becomes instinctual over time.
I try my best to make all characters unique, and sometimes, depending on the number of characters, I’m really stretching some limits, because given the genre, you can only go so far. Especially with the main characters, it’s all about giving each and every one that unique personality. Playing with it, molding it, injecting the fun and life into it. With secondary, and very minor characters, my main concern is to make it sound a bit different of course, as much as I can to really separate them from the main cast. But I would say some of the most fun is had by fleshing out the main cast. When you have 4 or 5 distinct characters that all sound very different and have their own mood, it’s great. I love that. I make those distinctions, and just run with it. I have those voices in my pocket, and know them well enough I can just do it, and gel it together, so when those characters have so much dialogue and they are conversing together, it has a nice flow to it. When you have the main character talking to the big Russian guy, the sexy chick, and the pudgy cop all at once, it’s great fun, because those characters are extremely distinct, and fun to do.
On the other hand, if you are voicing three Turkish guys, all within 20 to 30 years of the same age, and they are talking together, along with the main character, and 3 or 4 other major to minor characters, (one Chinese, one German, and others) then things can get a bit complex. I do my best. J
Kelly: Along the lines of the previous question, how do you manage or what is your process of remember what the character from a previous book sounds like when they reappear in a new book?
This is something that us narrators always have to be careful about, and it’s funny this question was brought up, because I was actually chosen to be the narrator of the third book in a trilogy, and when I did it, many folks were NOT happy, needless to say.
It still got decent reviews, but the fans of the 2 previous audio versions, basically hated me, and I don’t blame them.. I mean, I was the ‘new guy,’ what the hell?! But I did what I could do, and I think it stands well on it’s own.
But generally, the voice always comes back to me. Unless it’s been a good long while, I don’t have to go back and listen to anything to get that voice again. But in case I do, it’s just a quick listen, and then I have it. Consistency is important.
Kelly: Roger, can you tell us about the narrating process (i.e. do you read the book before narrating it? How long are the recording sessions per day? How long does it take for you to narrator a book? If you make a mistake while recording, what happens?)
Most of the time, I do not read the whole book before narrating it. Most of the time, there just isn’t the time to do it, because of my schedule, etc. Life gets in the way. Being a full-time actor, and doing plays, film/tv, plus books, it’s a lot to take on. So being able to consume all that material, can be nearly impossible, especially if I’m doing multiple books back to back.
I do my best to go through the material, try to find the clues, and the bits and pieces that inform me about the main characters specifically, and other characters if I can, although there are many minor characters that I come up with on the fly, that happens all the time. The other thing is just technical, researching words I don’t know, things like that, to make the process a more smooth experience
I also like to be surprised a bit when I read, it’s something I enjoy. When I know the characters, it just flows, and the story unfolds whether I know it or not.
Recording sessions are typically 6 or so hrs. a day, but I am generally in the book about 7-8 hrs. a day, for 3 days, on average. A typical book will be around 8 hrs., so you’re looking at about 18-20 hrs. or so in the booth. That of course can change depending on the length of the book, but most books take me about 3 working days to complete, maybe 4, or 5 if it’s REALLY massive.
If I screw up? Not a big deal. Most of the time I engineer my own books, meaning if I make a mistake I can easily go back and re-record. If I’m recording with another engineer, he/ she is listening the whole time to my read, so if I make a mistake, they stop me, and we go again. And mistakes will be made, time and time again, but that’s normal. I try to keep it to a minimum, but there is always an extra session added to do the ‘repairs’ for the book. This is the final stage to patch it up before release.
Kelly: Roger, I listened to Maplecroft by Cherie Priest a few months back. You narrated this book with Johanna Parker. I loved this book. Loved that this book was narrated by a male and female. Can you tell me what it is like to narrate with two narrators? Do you work together? Separately? Do you listen to each other’s work?
Doing a book with two narrators is for the most part I think a cool experience. We’re not actually in the booth together working at the same time, we do it separately, but listening to the final product it’s interesting how it sounds chained together. It’s necessary I think for some titles that have entire chapters from very specific perspectives. It just makes it more real, and fun for the listener. It’s the proper way to do it.
The challenge is making sure that each person is kind of on the same page. That just requires me to speak with the person and say, ok, this is how I’m thinking I’ll do this voice, and so they do something similar, or vice versa. I mean, the books I’ve done with two narrators it’s always been me, and then a woman doing the other voices, so huge differences obviously. Her voice is going to go places that I may not reach, and likewise the other way around, but you try to meet in the middle. As long as one person isn’t doing a wacky accent, that doesn’t match with the other actor, it’s a pretty solid experience. But it’s good to talk to each other, and make sure there are not glaring differences, especially with main characters. You don’t want anything jarring the listener out of the experience.
We do work separately on the book. I do my sessions in the booth, and they do theirs. With “Maplecroft,” Johanna and I e-mailed each other prior to recording, so we had an idea of where we would go with it. I had not listened to her work before, but I listened to some samples and heard what her voice was like, and I was able to hear some of what she recorded for “Maplecroft,” while I was doing it at the same time, so that can inform a little bit as well.
How about a little sample of Maplecroft.
Kelly: We know what authors have writer’s cave, do narrators have something similar?
I guess if I were to say I have a cave, it’s whenever I’m in that booth doing my thing. I’m in my own world, in a bit of a trance, just working, hashing it out. I have my desk at home, my PC, all that stuff, but it’s a pretty basic space, nothing too special. I don’t have any crazy posters, or post-its, or quotations anywhere. Everything just kind of exists in my head. I may make some notes, but otherwise, my cave is my brain, and all the ridiculous things that happen inside it.
Kelly: Here’s a fun question for Narrator name that both Viviana and I have been wondering… as a narrator, do you get “oh say it in ‘the voice’” question often?
Actually, I’ve never had anyone tell me to say it in a particular voice, but I did have one or two authors who eluded to how I should make the character sound. They didn’t say, “do it like this,” but they gave me the clue that I was like, “oh, I see what they’re getting at, he needs to sound like how I did this other character..” that kind of thing. But maybe in the future, as I do more books, more authors will ask to use a particular voice.
Kelly: Roger, of all of books you have narrated, which one has been your favorite to narrate and why?
So far, I would have to say, “Gaining Ground,” by Forrest Pritchard. At first glance, I never thought this title would be such a fun and enlightening read, but there were moments that I really connected with it, that made it a hit for me. There were some really tough emotional parts in the book as well, that brought out a very real performance. I won’t go into what those are, but it worked. The characters are so unique, the story is grounded, real, honest, and hits home on nearly every level, very relatable in a lot of ways. It’s very well-written, and in that way, it practically performed itself. I was fortunate to do it, and the author was pleased with my work. That was a homerun for me.
Kelly, Roger, if someone has not listened to any audio book before what would you tell them?
Listen to one of Roger Wayne’s books… 😉 lol. Hmmm, not sure what I would say. Although I have suggested to people to check out my books if they haven’t before. The first thing I would ask is what kind of books they’re into. That being said, there are good audiobooks in every genre and type so it’s hard to say. I would probably tell them to order it from Tantor Media, because Tantor has been so good to me J
Regardless, I think for those people who are on the move, which is most of us, if you want to still enjoy books, or be educated on the go, audiobooks are a great choice. It’s great for the car commute, the subway commute, while cleaning the house, or have it on outside while gardening, etc. No matter where you are the world, or what your life is like, you can do so many things, while enjoying a book at the same time.
And especially for someone who wants to stay an avid reader, but is just too damn busy, it’s kind of a no-brainer!
Check out more of Roger’s books HERE
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This is a great case to hold your earbuds and keep them from getting tangled up. It is also a great case for coins, lip balm, and other small belongings. Includes a keyring to easily attach to your keys.
Diameter measures about 4 inches
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Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Dianne Duvall and Kirsten Potter on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series. Let me introduce you to the ladies.
Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series and The Gifted Ones series. Her books have twice been nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews. Reviewers have called Dianne’s books “fast-paced and humorous” (Publishers Weekly), “utterly addictive” (RT Book Reviews), “extraordinary” (Long and Short Reviews), and “wonderfully imaginative” (The Romance Reviews).
Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn’t writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she creates in her books.
For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit www.DianneDuvall.com. You can also find Dianne online here: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Tsū | YouTube | Pinterest | Goodreads | Google Plus
Kirsten Potter is an actress and narrator who has performed in dozens of major theaters nationwide, voiced over a hundred audiobooks, and portrayed numerous vixens, villains and polar bears in various video games. Favorite audiobook titles she has narrated include Station Eleven, Madapple, Hattie Big Sky, Brooklyn; and Lisa Gardner’s DD Warren, Diane Duvall’s Immortal Guardians, and Joanna Bourne’s Spymaster series’. She currently voices the Queen of the Reef for the Bungie franchise “Destiny”, a role she likes to imagine she was born to play. Learn more about Kirsten here: Website | Twitter
Kelly: Ladies can you tell me how did the author/narrator relationship begin?
Dianne-My publisher contacted me and let me know Tantor Audio had bought the audio rights to the first three books in my series. I was thrilled. I had been so busy focusing on the paperback and ebook formats that I hadn’t considered the books being made available in audio, too. And Kirsten had an excellent reputation as a narrator.
Kirsten- Tantor emailed me saying they had a new series for me. I was a little apprehensive at first. I had just been offered a swell of romance books by multiple production houses and I didn’t want to get type cast exclusively for that genre. But then I read a short excerpt from the first Immortal Guardians book, and I was hooked! There is so much going on there! An action-adventure-suspense- thriller romance. And really, who wouldn’t want to voice a vampire?
Here is a sample from Darkness Dawns, book one in the Immortal Guardian series
Since Kirsten has narrated every novel in my Immortal Guardians series, she’s already familiar with the major players, some of whom also appear in A SORCERES OF HIS OWN, the first book in my new series The Gifted Ones. So I often simply provide Kirsten with the latest manuscript, then wait to see if any questions arise. Usually the few that do pertain to name pronunciations. Some of the characters in my series are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old and are from foreign countries. The names that were common back then sometimes aren’t used at all today. And those that are may not be used in America, making it difficult to nail down the right pronunciation. J
Kelly: Kirsten, how do you go about selecting how each of the character are going to sound like?
Kirsten- If I’m lucky, as with Dianne’s books, the author gives me a colorful description of the character and that leads me in a particular direction. Dianne’s cast ranges from across the globe, so I make sure to get the regional dialect right first, then I try to take into account what era they come from—those who first surfaced during the Classical Age I thought might have a more articulate edge then the more modern ones. That said I do want to make sure they all sound like they belong in a single book together. I try to make my choices subtle enough to do that.
Kelly: Kirsten, Along the lines of the previous question, how do you manage or what is your process of remember what the character from a previous book sounds like when they reappear in a new book?
Kirsten-I take pretty detailed notes about the voices I’ve chosen. The notes are on pitch (low, mid, high in relation to my natural voice), texture (if I’ve added a little extra roughness to a voice), and where in my throat or mouth I’ve placed the voice (some characters go up in the nose, others way back in the throat.) If a character brings someone I know or a celebrity strongly to mind I will sometimes “cast” someone in the role instead, then do my version of that person’s voice for the role.
Kelly: Kirsten, tell us about the narrating process (i.e. do you read the book before narrating it? How long are the recording sessions per day? How long does it take for you to narrator a book? If you make a mistake while recording, what happens?)
Kirsten-I do like to read the books ahead of time. Sometimes—especially with such fantastical books like Dianne’s—you get surprises about a character revealed later in the book. He or she might mention where they come from 100 pages in, and then it’s—“Oops! She’s from Scottish and I’ve been doing standard American!” I’d rather get all the info up front and avoid the errors. Detective books too. If the murderer is an anonymous voice until revealed at the end, I need to make sure the one who did it and all those red herrings we think might have done it, sound alike enough to be mutually implicated throughout the book.
Kelly: Kirsten, authors have writer’s cave, do narrators have something similar?
Kirsten- I call it “the box”. It is a heavy, dark, black cube that sits in my studio and soundproofs the narration from outside noise. It can be pretty depressing to get in there on a bright sunny day, but I live in Seattle so it’s grey a lot! And once I get started in the story I’m not really too aware of my surroundings anymore.
Kelly: Here’s a fun question for Kirsten that both Viviana and I have been wondering… as a narrator, do you get “oh say it in ‘the voice’” question often?
Kirsten- Not about books so far. I’m the voice of the Queen of the Reef in the video game Destiny though. I get asked to do that one fairly often.
Kelly: I would ask you to talk like Seth… *dreamy*
Kelly: Dianne, once the audiobook has been recorded, do you then listen to it or have final approval or is it automatically done when it’s done recording?
Dianne-I don’t have final approval. That’s all on Tantor’s end, so I listen to the books for the first time when I receive my author copies. And I’ve enjoyed them all. I think Kirsten has done a wonderful job narrating my books. I’ve thrown a lot of accents at her—British, French, Russian, Celtic, Egyptian—and she’s mastered every one. J
Kirsten—I thought Seth and Marcus’ voices were going to kill me! Dianne has created these semi-gods. They hail from multiple continents and centuries and possibly even other dimensions. Assembling a voice majestic enough to encompass all that was daunting.
Kelly: Dianne, what do you love about having your books in audiobook format?
Dianne-I’m always interested in hearing someone else’s take on the characters and how they sound. I read all of the dialogue in my manuscripts aloud several times before I finish editing them to make sure it flows smoothly and admit I don’t mimic some of the accents very well. (And, yes, that’s probably an understatement.) So it’s nice to hear someone else’s take.
And, too, we live in a very busy world. The only way some booklovers out there can get their fiction fix is by listening to audiobooks during the long commute to and from work or while cooking dinner or grabbing some exercise time. Listening to my own books on audio totally hooked me on the format for just that reason. I wasn’t finding any time to read, but now can listen to favorite books on audio, so I’m very happy to provide other readers with that option.
Kelly: Kirsten, of all of Dianne’s books, which one has been your favorite to narrate and why?
Kirsten- That’s a hard one. I suppose I approach audio books much as I approach theater in that my favorite one tends to be whatever I’m currently gnawing on. But trying to think a little more broadly, I think I’ve enjoyed the Sorceress of His Own the most. This book takes us back to the beginning of the legend. We get to learn the origin of these mythical characters we’ve been with throughout the previous series and it’s exciting to have some of their mysteries revealed. I can’t wait to find out where Seth and Marcus really come from!
Speaking of A Sorceress of His Own. Let’s take a little listen into the world of The Gifted Ones.
Dianne-If you’re like me, and aren’t able to indulge your love of reading because of time constraints, I highly recommend you give audiobooks a try. And, even if you do have plenty of reading time, listening to audiobooks can make time pass much more quickly when you’re doing something tedious . . . like waiting in line at the post office. I know some are skeptical and don’t think they’ll like audiobooks. I believed the same thing until I listened to my own. But most sites, like Amazon and Audible, even offer samples you can listen to so you can get a feel for the narrator before buying. A talented narrator can make all the difference
Kirsten- I think having a story read to you taps into something we all connect to from a very early age—since childhood, since our days around a campfire millennia ago. When it’s done well, it gives us the freedom to close our eyes and visualize these people in a very satisfying way. A gifted narrator can transport us to these other worlds. We get to dream while awake.
To enter Dianne’s giveaway for a copy NIGHT UNBOUND audio book (CD set), please fill out the rafflecopter below
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The first in a brand new contemporary romance series starring the men and women who are determined to keep the billion-dollar denim dynasty, Riley O’Brien & Co, on top, but aren’t about to let success stand in the way of love…
Amelia Winger is a small-town girl with big dreams of becoming a successful designer. So when she gets a gig designing accessories for denim empire Riley O’Brien & Co., it’s a dream come true. Amelia can handle the demanding job, but she isn’t quite prepared for sexy CEO Quinn O’Brien. She’s doing her best to keep things professional, but the attraction sparking between them makes it personal. And so does the secret project she’s working on behind his back…
Quinn’s not interested in the new accessories, but he is interested in the woman designing them. Amelia is smart, sexy, and talented, and he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her since they met. Mixing business and pleasure isn’t wise, but that doesn’t stop him from coming up with excuses to spend time with her. He thinks he understands the risk he’s taking when he gets involved with Amelia. But he doesn’t know he’s risking a lot more than his heart.
He realized Teagan was still talking. “. . . knew you were going to be in the office today, so I told her it would be okay.”
“Wait, what did you say?”
Looking down, she tapped her fingers against her bottom lip. He tensed. She was a terrible liar and an even worse poker player because she always tapped her lips when she was nervous or unsure.
He stood. “Tell me,” he demanded when she stayed silent a beat too long.
“I told Amelia Winger you would be available to meet her this morning.”
“Shit, Teagan! You know I hate it when you ambush me with things like this. . . .”
She stopped tapping her lips and started tapping her toe, never a good sign for innocent or not-so-innocent males nearby. “This is a priority, Quinn,” she shot back. “I’ve already worked out all the legal details with Amelia. All she wants is a meeting with you. So it’s not on your calendar. Deal with it.”
“When will she be here?”
“She’s already here.”
“Of course she is,” he said dryly. He ran a hand through his hair before smoothing the mess he had made. “Let’s go get her.”
With Teagan click-clacking alongside him, he made the trek down the hall. He wasn’t looking forward to this meeting, and not just because his sister had sprung it on him. The women’s division limped along like a three-legged dog, and he doubted some new belts and purses would make a difference.
“Are you sure Amelia Winger is the right person to design our accessories?” Quinn asked.
He’d reviewed the information Teagan had provided about the designer, but he still had his doubts, especially since Amelia Winger had no formal design training, and she’d never done any work for a company like Riley O’Brien.
“I’d never heard of her before you mentioned her,” he continued. “Just because her best friend is a country music star and wears her designs doesn’t mean Amelia has any real talent. It just means she’s smart enough to capitalize on Ava Grace Landy’s success.”
“Ava Grace doesn’t wear Amelia’s designs just because she’s her best friend. She wears them because they’re incredible.”
Pushing open the door to the reception area, he ushered his sister through it before following. Frank turned at the sound, winking at Teagan.
The security guard tilted his head toward the only person sitting in the reception area. “There’s your girl,” he said with a smile.
Teagan hurried toward the woman with her arms outstretched. “Amelia, it’s so nice to see you again!” she exclaimed.
The woman dropped the magazine she’d been reading and quickly rose from her orange chair. It clashed horribly with her long red hair, and his heart kicked in his chest as Teagan gestured toward him.
“Amelia Winger, this is my brother, Quinn O’Brien. Quinn, this is the fabulous designer we talked about.”
Amelia released Teagan’s hands and stepped forward to greet him. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said, offering her hand to him. Her voice had a slight twang to it, betraying her Texas roots.
Clasping her hand, he gazed down at her. She couldn’t have been more than an inch or two above five feet tall because the top of her curly head didn’t even reach his shoulders. Her brown eyes crinkled as she smiled, and he noticed a slight gap between her top front teeth.
Her smile wobbled a bit as he stood there silently, staring into a face sprinkled with freckles that reminded him of brown sugar. Finally, he spoke, but when he did, it wasn’t exactly what he had intended.
“Nice ass,” he said.
Damn. Did I really say that out loud?
Jenna Sutton spent most of her career as an award-winning journalist covering business-related topics including healthcare, commercial real estate, retail, and technology. Nowadays she writes about hot, lovable guys and the smart, sexy women who make them crazy. It’s the culmination of a lifelong dream, and she feels so lucky to be able to do it.
Jenna has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.
Jenna and her husband live in a 103-year-old house in Texas.
Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Katie Reus and Sophie Eastlake on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series.
Katie Reus is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. Learn more about Katie and her books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Sign up for Katie’s newsletter | Goodreads
An avid reader her whole life, Audie-nominated narrator Sophie Eastlake happily extends her love of books to her passion for narrating, having lent her voice to Thea Harrison’s Elder Races series, Virginia Kantra’s Dare Island series and many others. She lives in New York, where she survives the subway grind with a book in her hand and drops in on every literary reading she can find, while on a never-ending quest for the perfect cup of coffee.
Learn more about Sophie here: Twitter | Goodreads
Kelly: Ladies, can you tell me how did the author/narrator relationship begin?
Katie: I’m a huge fan of audio books and one of my favorite series to read (and now listen to) is the Elder Race series by Thea Harrison. I only recently started listening to the series though and that’s when I discovered Sophie. When I decided to put more of my books into audio format I knew that I wanted to work with Sophie (and crossed my fingers she’d be open) so I contacted Thea and she connected us. She’s now narrating my Red Stone Security series and when Tantor bought the audible rights for my Deadly Ops series I requested they ask her to narrate. I’m actually not sure if they’d already contacted her before my request though, lol. Because when I emailed Sophie to tell her she’d already been contacted by Tantor. So I think they might have planned to request her regardless. 😉
Sophie: Yes, it all comes back to Thea. In fact, everything comes back to Thea. She’s like Rome.
Kelly: Katie, what sort of information do you provide to Sophie with prior to her starting the narrating process of your book(s)?
Katie: I just send her the book then she comes to me with specific questions she might have, like the pronunciation of a character name or if one or more characters should have a certain accent.
Kelly: Sophie, how do you go about selecting how each of the character are going to sound like?
Sophie: Firstly, I always look for vocal notes that Katie has used to describe her characters. Whether she describes the heroine’s voice as “high” or “husky,” for example. Sometimes I’ll feel that, based on a character’s background, he or she should sound a certain way, maybe have a slight accent. As a series goes on, it can get more challenging to differentiate characters, so I have to get a little bolder in my choices. I always run these choices by Katie first.
Kelly: Along the lines of the previous question, how do you manage or what is your process of remember what the character from a previous book sounds like when they reappear in a new book?
Sophie: I keep a running spreadsheet of character info. Each character’s age, background, biographical notes, and how they’re related to the story. Then, on my computer, I keep sound samples of each character’s voice in a folder labeled REUS.
Kelly: Sophie, tell us about the narrating process (i.e. do you read the book before narrating it? How long are the recording sessions per day? How long does it take for you to narrator a book? If you make a mistake while recording, what happens?)
Sophie: I absolutely read the book before narrating. Not doing so is how disasters happen. You start recording the book and then on page 400 you suddenly find out a main character has an accent, or the character named “Pat” is actually a woman. Once I’ve read it through once, and prepped the book (kept a list of characters, of words I don’t know how to pronounce, etc), I record at least 8 hours per day, taking a break every hour or so. I can usually record about 100 pages per day. Obviously, you try to not make many mistakes, but it’s inevitable. When I catch the mistake myself while recording, it’s simple to stop and go back to the top of the sentence, recording over the mistake. Then, once the whole book has been recorded, I send the raw audio files to a proofer who reads along with the recording and checks for mistakes.
Kelly: Sophie, authors have writer’s cave, do narrators have something similar?
Sophie: Yes… we have a literal cave. My recording booth is a 4’X4’ padded room with a small window to let in some light. So when I’m prepping a book, and I don’t have to be in the booth, I’m usually outside. Or in the winter, at least someplace with a view.
Kelly: Here’s a fun question for Sophie that both Viviana and I have been wondering… as a narrator, do you get “oh say it in ‘the voice’” question often?
Sophie: Ha! Yes, occasionally. The Dragos voice from Thea Harrison’s Elder Races is definitely the most disturbing request. But, honestly, most people don’t recognize narrators from their voice alone, so it doesn’t happen often.
Kelly: Katie, once the audiobook has been recorded, do you then listen to it or have final approval or is it automatically done when it’s done recording?
For the books I’m producing myself through ACX (not through Tantor), yes, I have final approval. But I’ll be honest, I trust Sophie’s process and I usually only listen to the first fifteen minutes before hitting ‘approve’. She has an editor and is such a pro and knows a lot more about the process than me so it’s really nice to just leave it in her capable hands and not worry about the final product.
Sophie: This is where I should probably tell Katie that I did all of the minor security guys’ voices as Care Bears characters. Hope that’s ok. Felt right at the time.
Kelly: Carebears!?!?! Hahahaha!!
Kelly: Katie, what do you love about having your books in audiobook format?
Katie: I simply love giving readers more options to connect with my books. The more platforms, the more likely I am to reach more people and that’s a good thing. And on a personal level, I’m such a huge fan of audiobooks (I’ve always got my iPod on me), it’s just cool that a lot of my books are available in one of my personally favorite reading platforms.
Kelly: Sophie, of all of Katie’s books, which one has been your favorite to narrate and why?
Sophie: Oooh, that is tough! And totally unfair. I enjoy all of them. But, I have to say, Targeted was pretty fantastic. I have a particular weakness for stories of lost loves finding each other again. And Katie’s twist on that story was… well, swoon-worthy.
Here is a clip from Targeted for your listening pleasure
Katie: I would tell them to listen to samples on audible before purchasing. For me, the sample is the best feature because you can hear if the narrator’s voice is right for you. I recently stopped listening to a book by one of my favorite authors about 25% of the way through because the narrator didn’t work for me. (I didn’t follow my own advice and listen to the sample). A narrator can make or break a book in this format so it’s important to connect with them. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for someone else so sampling is the way to go.
Sophie: I completely agree with Katie. The narrator is crucial. I would also say, as great as audiobooks are for multi-tasking (that you can read a book while driving, cooking, cleaning, etc!), they are also an art form in their own right. Somewhere between a book and a movie. So just because you love to read doesn’t mean you’ll love audiobooks; but if you can appreciate them for what they are, that they’re not in competition with the book, but, as Katie said, just another platform by which to appreciate the story, then I think you’ll find them enjoyable.
Katie: Thanks so much for having us here today!
Sophie: Yes, thank you! Happy reading/listening!
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