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!

Giveaway Time!!!!

To enter Katie’s giveaway please fill out the Rafflecopter from below.

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Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Lorelei King on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series. 

Lorelei King is one of the most successful and accomplished American actresses working in the UK today, appearing in numerous films from Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘Notting Hill’ and ‘The Saint,’ to British independent films, such as ‘House of Mirth,’ ’24 Hours in London,’ and ‘Suzie Gold.’

Lorelei has appeared as regular and recurring characters in popular British television shows such as Chef, Cold Feet, Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression, Emmerdale and the saucy Mile High. She has also made numerous guest appearances in British comedies and dramas such as Jonathan Creek, Not Going Out, The Robinsons and Monarch of the Glen.

Once described as ‘the best known American voice on radio 4,’ Lorelei has recorded more than 200 programs for the BBC, including the Marx Brothers tribute, ‘Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel,’ super-hero ‘audio movies’ including ‘Superman,’ ‘Batman’ and ‘Judge Dredd and classic American drama such as ‘East of Eden,’ ‘Ethan Frome’ and ‘A Thousand Acres.’ She appears regularly as a panellist on shows such as ‘Where in the World’ and ‘Wordly Wise’ and has hosted her own talk show, ‘All About Eve.’

Lorelei is a multi- award-winning narrator of audiobooks, recording the works of best-selling authors Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton and Patricia Cornwell among others.

Her work in animation is extensive, and in America she provides the voices for ‘Wendy’ and ‘Packer’ (among others) in Bob the Builder.

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Los Angeles, Lorelei now makes her home in London, where she lives with her husband, actor Vincent Marzello.  Learn more about Lorelei and her body of work here: Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Goodreads.

Lorelei was awesome enough to sit down in front of the mic and answer some of our questions.   For your listening pleasure I present Ms. Lorelei King.

Now that we know a little more about Lorelei, let’s take a listen to some of her work.  Let’s start with First Grave on the Right by the Awesome Darynda Jones (who by the way is over at Enchantress of Books today)

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am Soooo excited to have Molly Harper and Amanda Ronconi on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series. 

Can I just start by saying how much I love love love these two.  Love them!!!! I had the great pleasure of meeting Molly at RT in Dallas this past May.  Molly may regret it, but I had a bit of a fan girl moment and might have gone into stalker mod for a bit…. But that is another story for another time..  But here is my proof that I did indeed met Molly—>>>> 

But enough about me.  Let me introduce you to the ladies. 

When Molly Harper was eight years old, she set up a “writing office” in her parents’ living room, complete with an old manual typewriter and a toy phone. And she (very slowly) pecked out the story of her third-grade class taking a trip around the world and losing a kid in each city. She had a dark sense of humor even then.

When Molly was considerably older, she headed for Western Kentucky University, where she majored in print journalism. After graduation, she landed a job with The Paducah Sun and married her high school sweetheart, David, a local police officer. After six years at the newspaper, Molly took a more family-friendly secretarial position at a local church office.

Her husband worked nights and Molly was alone with their small child in the “The Apartment of Lost Souls.” A big fan of vampire movies and TV shows, she decided to write a vampire romance novel. Molly created Jane Jameson, a bit of an accidental loser. Jane is single, almost 30, and a librarian working in Half-Moon Hollow, Ky. She has become a permanent fixture on her Mama’s prayer list. And despite the fact that she’s pretty good at her job, she just got canned so her boss could replace her with someone who occasionally starts workplace fires. Jane drowns her sorrows at the local faux nostalgia-themed sports bar. On her way home, she’s mistaken for a deer and shot by a drunk hunter. And then she wakes up as a vampire. The three-book Jane Jameson series–which includes Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs,Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men and Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever—was released in 2009.  A fourth and final installment, Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors, was released in 2012.

Molly continues stories in the Jane Jameson universe through her Half-Moon Hollow series,Driving Mr. Dead, The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires, Undead Sublet, and The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire. The next title, The Single Undead Mom’s Club will be released in October 2015. Molly updated her popular Naked Werewolf romance series in 2013. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf, was released in February 2011, quickly followed by The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf. A third installment, How to Run With a Naked Werewolf, was released in December 2013. Her first-ever “haunted house story,” Better Homes and Hauntings, was released in June 2014.

Molly’s books are published by Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. They are available in print, as e-books and audio books at major book stores and on Amazon. Molly is a native of Kentucky. She lives in Paducah with her husband and children.

You can find Molly at Website |Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads |Audible | Tantor

Amanda Ronconi: Amanda is an actress, narrator and writer who divides my time between New York City and Upstate New York.  She has a BFA from NYU where  she studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory.  Amanda has performed in theaters around New York City as well as regionally at The Alley, Capital Rep and many productions at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

Amanda’s Off-Broadway solo comedy, Shirley at the Tropicana, received critical acclaim and was subsequently featured in The New York Times.  Film and TV credits include Daydream Believer (Slamdance 2001’s Best Dramatic Feature winner), The Understudy, Deadly Sins (ID Discovery), IFC’s Get Hit and Chasing Paradise. National network and regional commercials include Chase Bank, Sony and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  Her voiceover work encompasses over 70 audiobooks available on Audible.com.

Amanda’s newest solo show, Kempner, will debut in 2015.  You can learn more about Amanda and her awesomeness here: Website| Facebook | Goodreads | Audible Page 

Kelly: So now that we know a little about the ladies let’s get to the business at hand. 

Kelly: Molly, how did the author/narrator relationship begin?

Molly: I was super excited about the prospect of audio books when NICE GIRLS DON’T HAVE FANGS came out. I only received one audio sample to audition voice actresses, but Amanda was so good, I was totally comfortable with her. But I believe she’d done all four NICE GIRLS books before I asked for her email so we could do a Q&A for my blog. I felt really intrusive doing that, for some reason. But once that communication was established, we felt pretty comfortable contacting each other. Amanda really gets my voice and my humor, so it stands to reason that we would get along well “in real life.”

Of course, now that I know her, I do feel a little guilty, picturing her in a recording booth, reading the sex scenes aloud to some hapless engineer. The words I put in her mouth are somewhat filthy. And yet, I do it anyway. So clearly, I have no conscience.

Let’s listen to a sample from NICE GIRLS DON’T HAVE FANGS.

Molly: Accents are important. We talk about region or country and how pronounced the accent might be. (OH MY GOD, Amanda can do an amazing Russian accent. I am tempted to include a hot Russian guy in every book from now on, just for the listeners’ benefit.) And we talk about certain words or colloquialisms and their pronunciations. Last names and town names can be a little tricky in the south, so she’s always good about double-checking those.

Kelly: Amanda, how do you go about selecting how each of the character are going to sound like?

Amanda:  Well I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore because all characters will now be done with a Russian accent.  No, really, I entirely take my cue from what Molly has written.  Her characters are very specific.  I remember when I got the first Nice Girls script, it was so clear to me what Jane Jamison’s voice should sound like because Molly had written it so distinctly.  I worked for a while to make sure I was capturing her comedic tone.  I was super excited to narrate it.

Kelly:  Amanda, 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?

Amanda:  If it’s been a long time since I’ve done a character I might go back and listen to snippets of the audiobook I last did with them in it.  In general, I try to have a specific person associated with each character (the character, Zeb Lavelle, I decided talks like my brother) that way it’s easy to remember.

Kelly: Amanda, 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?)

Amanda:  I find reading the book two to three times (one of those times out loud) before recording works best.  Mainly because I need to know what the book IS that I’ll be narrating, who the characters are, where the story is going to go so I can lead the listener through it.  On the most basic level, If I didn’t read a book before I narrated it I would have no idea what parts to take my time with, what parts should be faster, slower, etc.  It would also take much longer to record if I didn’t have any familiarity with the script before I sat down in front of the microphone because I would mess up way more.  Because of the wonders of digital recording messing up is no big deal, you just stop and put the cursor back to before the mistake and hit record.  But you want the recording process to be as effortless as possible.  Some days, despite being prepared, you mess up more than others and the stopping and starting can get frustrating.  You just have to stay very Zen and not let the choppiness bother you.  Other days can be so smooth and you really feel like the words are coming straight from your own brain, not just the author’s, and into the microphone.  Those recording days are my favorite, obviously.

I usually have a six-hour recording day.  Sometimes a little longer.  I take breaks for sure.  Usually by the end of the day I feel pretty brain-dead.  I try not to operate heavy machinery after a full recording day.

Kelly: Amanda, authors have writer’s cave, do narrators have something similar?

Amanda: Well the recording studio is actually quite a bit like a cave, a soundproof cave.  Removed from the world. Just a script with a light focused on it and a microphone hanging in front of you.  You even don’t know what the weather is outside.

Kelly: Here’s a fun question for Amanda name that both Viviana and I have been wondering… as a narrator, do you get “oh say it in ‘the voice’” question often?

Amanda: Ha!  No, not one person has ever asked me that.

Kelly: Molly, 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?

Molly: I don’t hear it until it’s available to the public, but again, Amanda’s so good, that I have total faith in her handling of the narration. I know my work is in good hands.

Kelly: Molly, what do you love about having your books in audiobook format?

It’s a great experience for me, as an author, because I get to the experience the book all over again in a new way. When you write and rewrite and go through multiple edits, you lose a sense of the story. Hearing it aloud gives me a whole new perspective.

Kelly: Amanda, of all of Molly’s books, which one has been your favorite to narrate and why?

Amanda:  Wow!  That is a really tough question.  I have absolutely enjoyed them all.  Molly’s dialogue very much captures the nature of conversation, which makes it so fun to deliver.  The main characters don’t take themselves too seriously, sure they have big problems, but they have a sense of humor about themselves, which I appreciate.  Even the sex scenes and filthy words she makes me say often have a moment or two of humor which makes it less embarrassing if I am recording across from a hapless engineer in a night session at Audible.

Kelly:  Ladies, if someone has not listened to any audio book before what would you tell them?

Molly: Do not listen to my books on a treadmill, I’ve been told that is dangerous.

Amanda: But if you do, get the gym membership with the insurance policy.

How about a few more samples of Molly and Amanda’s work.  Enjoy!!! 

The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires:  Book 1 in the Half Moon Hollow series

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf:  Book 1 in the Naked Werewolf Trilogy

One Last Thing (currently a stand alone novel)

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Make sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I would like to welcome Emma Chase to the blog today. 

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Audible

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Now that we have learned a little about Emma.  I am turning the blog over to her to talk about why Audiobooks are so awesome.

Audiobooks are a wonderful thing – but of course you’re here, checking out the Audio Book Lovin’ Series so I’m not really telling you anything you don’t already know. What you don’t know is why I think they’re wonderful, so here we go:

The very first audiobook I listened to was The Lord of the Rings – Fellowship of the Ring. I picked a nice long one, because I had a one hour commute – each way – to work in my car, and if I had to listen to one more morning radio DJ pull a phone scam, I was going to drive my car straight into a freaking telephone poll (not literally, but you get the point).

So, I started listening to The Lord of the Rings…and something amazing happened. I began hoping for traffic. Closed lanes, toll congestion, rubbernecking delays – I wanted it all. I started leaving early for work, not so I could actually go in to work early, but so I could sit in the parking lot and listen a little bit longer. I even started spending my lunch breaks in my car – listening – because I had to know what happened next, had to hear how it all ended. I was thoroughly, fantastically addicted.

I loved how the characters came alive on the audiobook – I could actually hear their voices which made them all the more real. I loved that I could multitask while listening – drive, eat, cook dinner, clean, run on the treadmill. Most of all I loved the captivating performance of the narrator – I didn’t miss a word and caught details I probably would’ve missed had I been reading.

Now, when it comes to listening to my own audiobooks, like The Tangled Series and Overruled and my upcoming release, Sustained: yes, this author listens. I’ve been blessed to work with talented narrators with sexy, fabulous voices and outstanding comedic timing.

And the love scenes – whew – they sound SO MUCH dirtier outside my head (and my scenes are pretty damn dirty inside my head, so that’s saying something)! Most of the time, as I listen, I’m red like a tomato and thinking – did I really write that??

My appreciation for audiobooks has only grown since my Lord of the Rings days. It’s a joy to listen to my favorite books and a thrilling honor to hear my own stories. It’s a whole different literary experience – and like I said – a wonderful, wonderful thing.

Let’s take a listen to a couple clips from Emma’s books.

Here is a clip from Emma Chase’s Tangled series book one Tangled

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Luke Daniels on our Audio Book Lovin’ Series.  I fell in love with Luke while listening to Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles.   He does an amazing job of telling a story to his listeners.    I have to tell you that I had a little bit of a fan girl moment when Luke agreed to do an video interview.  EEEEKkkk.  

Please let me introduce you to Luke:

Luke Daniels was born into a family of actors. Both his father and mother have been performing and teaching for almost five decades. It is because of their influence that, from a very young age, Luke and his two brothers often found themselves in rehearsal halls at repertory theatres all over the country; watching innumerable productions of Much Ado, Julius Caesar, and Midsummer’s.

Luke’s first theatrical role came at the age of 5 as Fleance in a production of Macbeth. He immediately loved the creativity and camaraderie of the theatre. (It also didn’t hurt that he was allowed to miss school for certain performances.)

Over the years Luke has performed at many repertory theatres across the country, including the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Connecticut Rep., and Hope Summer Rep. in Holland, Michigan. Luke has his Bachelor’s from Western Michigan University and his MFA in performance from the University of Connecticut.

Luke has worked professionally as a director, teacher, audiobook narrator, voice-over, commercial, and industrial actor.

But he maintains that the greatest role he has ever played is that of a Father to his kids.

Learn more about Luke and his bodies of work here: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Here is our amazing video interview with the super awesomely talented Luke Daniels

Here is a small snippet from Kevin Hearne’s Two Tales of the Iron Druid Chronicles

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway

Make sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have Angela Dawe our Audio Book Lovin’ Series today. 

Angela Dawe is an audiobook narrator and actress living and working in Chicago, Illinois.  Winner of several Earphones Awards from Audiofile Magazine and narrator of two Audie-nominated audiobooks, Angela is also an accomplished improviser/sketch comedian, and has worked with such theaters as Second City, iO (formerly improvOlympic), and The Annoyance.  You can reach Angela at angela.dawe.voice@gmail.com or learn more about Angela and her body of work here: Website | Goodreads | Tantor | Audible

Kelly:  Now that we know a little about Angela let get to the good stuff. Angela, Welcome to our Audio Book Lovin’ series. I have to tell you that I am totally in love with you being the narrator of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series.  So I hope you don’t mind if we talk about how amazing you are 🙂

Wow, thank you!  I love doing that series.

For those of you who have not listened to or know about this series, this is one of my top 5 all time favorite series.  Here is a little sample from Slave to Sensation narrator by Angela.

In my years of narrating, there have only been a couple of times when I actually communicated directly with an author.  Usually that only happens when there’s a pronunciation question, generally when the word has been made up by the author.  If we do have to bother the author, we try to do it unobtrusively and politely, of course.

Kelly: Angela, what sort of information does Nalini provide to you prior to starting the narrating process of her book(s)?

Prior to starting the narration, I read the book in its entirety, but beyond that, I’m on my own.

Kelly: How do you go about selecting how each of the character are going to sound like?

Characters tend to jump off the page and into my imagination with a voice unto themselves. I hear it in my head and then do my best to bring it to the microphone. And of course things like gender, age, background, etc. come into play, too. But with authors like Nalini, the characters are so well developed that the vocal choice seems obvious to me after I’ve read the book.  I’m not creating Hawke’s voice, for example, becuse Nalini’s wonderful writing did it for me – I’m just doing my best impression of the Hawke I see and hear in my imagination.

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?

Some characters are so memorable to me that it’s easy remember how to voice them from book to book.  I’ve already mentioned Hawke, whose voice is very distinct in my mind (and one of my favorites to do).  But I am only human, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, so I keep files of previous recordings on my computer and will occasionally go and listen back to how I voiced a particular character to make sure I’m staying consistent.

Let’s take a moment to bask in all things Hawke for a moment.  Here is a clip from Kiss of Snow.

Different narrators have very different processes, so I can only speak for myself here. I do read the books ahead of narrating them. For me, that helps me get a handle on the tone the author is going for in the narrative sections, and of course it helps me decide how to voice different characters. Does one character have an accent? Is a character the shy, quiet type, or more brash and bold? How will the characters relate to each other based on their history?

 My daily routine depends on whether I’m in a publisher’s studio, such as the Brilliance Audio studio in Michigan, where I’ve recorded some great series (a favorite: the Kathleen Turner series by Tiffany Snow). When I go into a studio like Brilliance, I work with an engineer and director, and we work from about 8:30 to 5 like most folks do.  Most books on that schedule take an average of three days to record, roughly.  However, for some publishers I record from my home studio, and my schedule is more flexible on those projects because I’m not messing with anyone else’s schedule – I’m flying solo.  So I might record for a few hours in the morning, then do some recording in the evening, rather than putting in eight hours straight.

When I’m recording, I make a LOT of mistakes! What I do in those cases is I go back a few lines in the recording and press play, and at a pause before where I messed up the first take, I “punch in” and re record it, going on from there. So if the line is, “She reached out to him, only to discover he’d already left,” and I mess up that second clause, I will go back, play my original take of the first clause, and then begin recording again with, “only to discover he’d already left.” And on from there (until I make another mistake).

Kelly: Authors have writer’s cave, do narrators have something similar?

Yes, they’re called booths! Booths are very cave-like, usually. Dark and quiet and sort of removed from the rest of the world because of the soundproofing. At home I have a prefabricated booth that’s three feet by three feet by seven feet, with a narrow door on one side. It’s where my equipment is and where I do the bulk of my work.

But I do my prepping everywhere I can bring my tablet. That’s one of the best things about my job – I can work on a book virtually anywhere as far as everything I need to do before getting into the booth. I love working at little coffee shops, or on my back porch in the summertime.

Kelly: Here’s a fun question for you Angela that both Viviana and I have been wondering… as a narrator, do you get “oh say it in ‘the voice’” question often?  Me personally I would want you to talk to me as Judd.  Judd is my favorite.

Hahaha, what a great question! You know, I have never been asked to do a specific character, but a lot of people ask me to talk in accents when they learn what I do for a living.  “Say something with a Scottish accent!”  “Do Australian!”  Come on, guys – I’m not your dancing monkey!  (Just kidding, I’m always flattered and happy to oblige.  I will talk like Judd to you whenever you please.)

And speaking of my man Judd (LOVE Judd) I have have pins to prove my love 

Here’s what just happened in my brain:

Hawke. Oh, but what about Sienna… Oh Krychek, Krychek, Krychek! Oh but Ming LeBon is so fun… Who’s cooler than Mercy, though? Nikita Duncan, maybe…

So I guess my answer is: I have too many favorites!

Kelly:  I totally understand.  So many amazing characters… But I defer back to what I said before Judd is my favorite.

*sigh* Judd

Kelly: Sorry, was distracted for a minute… Angela, of all of Nalini’s books, which one has been your favorite to narrate and why?

I thought about this question for a long time, and I have to say Kiss of Snow. The love story is sizzling, the action is incredible, it’s by turns sweet and terrifying. And I just love Hawke and Sienna!

Kelly: Angela, it was so great to have you on the blog.  And if I meet you person please just talk like Judd the whole time.   So one last questions before I let you go. If someone has not listened to any audio book before what would you tell them?

You’re missing out! Believe me, if they’re half as fun to listen to as they are to record, you’re missing out big-time. And I’d be happy to make recommendations. 🙂

Make sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

Viviana, from Enchantress of Books and I am so excited to have the wonderful Johanna Parker our Audio Book Lovin’ Series. 

Please let me introduce you to Johanna.

Johanna Parker is an Audie Award Winning, Earphone Award Winning actress living and working in San Francisco. Since narrating her first audiobook for Recorded Books in 2002, Johanna has received high praise for her work in all genres, including the young adult Mediator series by Meg Cabot, Earlene Fowler’s Bennie Harper Mysteries, and her portrayal of Sookie Stackhouse in Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vampire books of which Audiofile has said, “Parker personifies Harris’s perky Southern heroine, Sookie Stackhouse. Her splendid pacing allows listeners time to absorb the action and emotions…listeners will be enthralled.”

Johanna received her BFA in Acting from Boston University and studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. She has performed on stages in

London, Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York and has numerous film and television credits. Now a sought after voiceover actress, Johanna has voiced commercials, video games, documentaries and web sites.

Johanna writes: “I love books. I loved them long before I could read them myself and I will love them long past the time I can only listen to them. Telling stories, in whatever way, has always been my passion, and audiobook narration has become the unexpected niche where my love of books and my love of storytelling come together in an incredible, inevitable fusion. I get to play all the parts. I get to truly utilize my training. And my hair can look like #@$%&!”

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads.

So now that we know a little about Johanna what do you say we get started? 

Johanna, Thank you so much for joining us on our Audio Book Lovin’ series *looks down and realized I forgot to hit record.OOPS!!!  Hits record really quick* 

Here is a look at Maplecroft

Another popular novel narrated by Johanna:  Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Make sure you swing over to Enchantress of Books for another fun Audio Book Lovin’ post and more chances to win!!!!

Sterling

The Mageri Series #1

Zoë Merrick lived an ordinary life until the night she was brutally attacked. She narrowly escapes death, rescued by Adam Razor, an ex-soldier who offers her friendship and a place to stay. But something else is different. Zoë is unable to control an unexplainable energy coursing through her body.

Justus De Gradi is a man who can teach her that control. She meets him by chance – a man who’s handsome, arrogant, and not entirely human. He reveals that she’s a Mage – an immortal made of light, not magic. Zoë must now make a choice: Rebuild her life in the human world with the man who saved her, or live with Justus and learn how to use her extraordinary gifts. Justus has sworn an oath to protect her life, but can he guard her from the one man who has a right to claim it?

Zoë learns the price of freedom…and the value of loyalty.

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

Twist

The Mageri Series #2

Months after moving to the mysterious city of Cognito, Silver is developing her gifts as a Mage and learning how to live under new laws. She is forced to give up her old life and live in secret among the humans. There is finally hope of leading an ordinary life . . .

Until Logan Cross walks into it.

Their chance meeting leads her close to discovering the identity of the nameless Mage who once stole her light and discovered the unique power she possesses. That knowledge poses an unimaginable threat to Silver, fueling the search to find out who he is before he finds her.

Lives are at stake. Truths are revealed. And an unexpected passion ignites.

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

Impulse

The Mageri Series #3

Almost one year ago, a Mage attacked Silver and changed the course of her destiny.

Immortals exist, and now she is one of them.

Within the dark and supernatural city of Cognito, Silver is living under the watchful eye of her Ghuardian and dating her mortal enemy. Neither man can protect her from a dark secret, one buried within the contents of a box. As rival factions struggle to gain control, she finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old feud that threatens to drive a wedge between her and Logan Cross, the man who intends to seduce her.

In an explosive turn of events, one life is saved and another is forever altered. Can Silver trust those around her, or are they hiding a dark secret of their own?

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

Gravity

The Mageri Series #4

When a choice is made, it will forever alter the course of our destiny. It cannot be undone, for fate is a river changing direction and carving away the bed of our hearts like everlasting fractures.

A difficult past has left Silver broken, but she is learning to trust again through Logan Cross, a Chitah who has convinced her that a dangerous man can change. Their conviction for each other will be put to the ultimate test when an old nemesis reappears and flips her world upside down. Will Logan be able to tame the animal within, or will he succumb to his impulsive nature?

The ongoing investigation into Breed experiments unveils a shocking secret about Silver’s past. Standing at a fork in the road, Silver is forced to make a decision. Each comes with consequence, and there is no turning back.

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

Shine

The Mageri Series #5

Love is infinite.

Hate is absolute.

In the short span of a year, Silver has gone from becoming a Mage to discovering the truth about her unique genetics. Logan Cross went from her mortal enemy to her immortal lover, but a threat is fast approaching like an inevitable storm. Attacks are underway against the Mageri and one man is behind it—an elusive foe who is an unstoppable force. Nero is not Silver’s only concern as someone close to her is arrested for treason. In the midst of chaos, Silver discovers she cannot protect everyone from the wrath of fate, including her own Ghuardian.

Justus finally opens his heart, but an unexpected turn of events could darken his soul forever. Secrets are revealed that will leave you reeling from one twist after the next. Would you sacrifice everything for love?

Destiny has set sail and once she alters her course, no one’s life will ever be the same in this explosive conclusion to the Mageri Series.

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

It’s been seven years since Lexi Knight lost her brother in a tragic accident. On the anniversary of his death, her brother’s best friend shows up unexpectedly – a man she hasn’t seen since the funeral. He is no longer the boy Lexi once knew, but a dangerous-looking man with tattoos and dark secrets. He broke her trust and abandoned her family, yet what he reveals makes it impossible to stay angry. Lexi has been secretly infatuated with Austin since childhood, so finding out he’s a Shifter just makes him sexier. Dammit.

Austin Cole has returned to the city where he grew up, and just in time. He’s lived a hard life these past seven years, and the shadows of his past are threatening to destroy Lexi’s family. It’s time that she learned the truth about her brother, but there is a shocking twist that Austin never saw coming. Now he must protect her family when her mother and sister wind up in mortal danger. Will Lexi learn to accept the truth about who he is, and can Austin salvage a relationship from the ruins of their past?

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

Six Month

Seven Series #2

April Frost is a compassionate young woman with a steady job and ambitious goals. But the harder she runs away from her past, the more it threatens to destroy her. When three strangers enter her life, April is forced to face her demons and it’s a battle she may not win.

Private investigators in the Breed world are men who take risks, and Reno Cole is no exception. As a Shifter, he’s expected to control his inner animal. But lately his wolf has been venturing dangerously close to the city, and he’s about to discover why. When Reno is reintroduced to a family friend, the attraction is immediate. April captivates him with her secretive eyes and resilient spirit. She’s also in trouble, and despite the fact she’s a human, Reno can’t turn his back on her.

April is caught between two worlds: One that threatens to bury her dreams and another that could fulfill them. Can she trust the wolf at her door and find the courage to overcome her demons?
Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor

Five Weeks

Seven Series #3

Destiny will find you.

Izzy has always loved the freedom and adventure of life on the road, but she’s recently decided to settle down—as much as a rogue wolf can. When her boyfriend gets her a job working at a hot Shifter bar, she runs into the last person on earth she expected to see again.

Jericho isn’t the famous rock star he once was, though he still plays in a local band and loves to party. Beautiful women come and go, but music is his only passion—until a sassy redhead named Isabelle Monroe shows up unexpectedly.

Fate reunites two former friends living with one foot in the present and the other in the past. But will they have a future when one of them is forced to choose between life and death? Old habits die hard, and sometimes the toughest addictions to shake are the ones that control our hearts.

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

Four Days

Seven Series #4

Ivy believes every life must have balance, and during the past year, she’s found harmony living with the Weston pack. When an evil spirit from her past threatens her wolf, it sets off a chain reaction of events that alters the course of her destiny.

Lorenzo Church is a powerful, wealthy Packmaster who rules his pack through intimidation and order. He has vowed to never love a woman because love can destroy an empire. But chaos is fast approaching in the form of a Shifter named Ivy–a Native American, like him, who has invaded his dreams since the moment they met. She is spirited, wise, and unattainable.

In an unexpected turn of events, Ivy must choose whether or not to let go of the one person she has always loved. Lorenzo discovers the root of her courage but will never win her as his mate unless he learns to listen to his heart.

Destiny will find you

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

Three Hours

Seven Series #5

Naya James is a confident woman who also happens to be an exotic dancer. She doesn’t care if people judge her, just so long as they don’t disrespect her. Life has been good, but when two dancers from her club are kidnapped, Naya risks everything to uncover the truth.

Wheeler is the black sheep of the family, evident from his extensive tattoo collection to his dark personality. Nothing like his twin brother, Ben, who can do no wrong. Wheeler’s pack loyalty is put to the test when Austin orders him to act as a bodyguard for a woman he’s despised for years—one who presses his buttons every chance she gets.

A dark secret unravels, uniting two enemies and threatening to fracture the brotherhood of the pack. A tortured soul, a violent past, a fiery romance, and a shocking twist that will leave you breathless.

Destiny will find you

Purchase at Amazon | Audible | Tantor 

   

This is the segment where you learn a little more about who I am, so here’s what I can tell you:  I drink copious amounts of vitamin water placed precariously close to my laptop while writing. These are two healthy habits I have no intention of breaking. I’m a transplant living in the south, but I was born in the 70’s to a military dad who moved us around the world.