Tip O'Day #456 - The Voice Behind the Book

Guest blogger Kellie Kamryn on the challenges of narrating an audio book.

When I first began my writing career, I was fortunate to be asked to guest on this Wredheaded Writer blog, and I’m very pleased to be back. Thank you, Dixon!

Since that time, I’ve written and published twelve romances ranging from very erotic to sensuous and sweet, plus a story featured in a holiday anthology. I’m also a narrator of audio books for Romance Divine and The Killion Group, as well as for freelance clients.

Narrating is a lot of work. I absolutely adore my jobs, but as all authors know, writing a book isn’t simply typing words into the computer. Figuring out your process, plotting, grammar, following sentence structure rules, and polishing a manuscript all take focus and determination, not to mention being your own sales staff, which is a whole other process.

The same can be said of narrating. A publisher invited me to narrate a book I had written, and since I enjoy a challenge, I accepted. The learning curve was HUGE! Narrating is not just about reading a book. Proper pronunciation, enunciation, inflection, drama, along with use of software and equipment set-up are all part of the job. Over the past two years, I’ve learned the production end of things, and how time consuming that is as well.

I never discourage anyone from learning something new, so if you are serious about voice acting, ask questions of other professionals. Take acting classes, as I did, to learn more about the art of voice acting, vocal hygiene, and warm-ups to keep your voice in shape. Auditioning for other voice acting jobs taught me that I had more to learn about the industry. While I plan to keep on learning, for now I’ve got a full roster of audio books, along with my own writing to keep me busy.

Just as in writing, where not every publisher or agent will like your work, don’t take it personally when someone doesn’t feel your voice is right for their piece. Ask all the questions you want, but at the end of the day, remember that you are responsible for your career.

Following is a blurb for the re-release of erotic romance Pleasure Island, available in audio and eBook:<

Chelsea Hunter didn’t come to the resort looking for sex. Jake Davis intends to change her mind. Will they be able to turn up the heat, or will their visit to Pleasure Island leave them cold?

After finalizing her divorce, Chelsea Hunter came to the resort island of Paradise for some peace and quiet so she could figure out what her next step would be. She hadn’t expected to find herself at an exotic hotel dedicated to pleasures of the flesh. Too bad she doesn’t want sex.

Jake Davis is back in Paradise after visiting a year ago when his own marriage fell apart. This time his fantasy is to guide a woman through her sexual journey. He hadn’t counted on being paired with the only woman in Paradise who prefers privacy over pleasure! Will Jake be able to discover what Chelsea truly needs, or will their journey to Paradise remain unfulfilled?

Comment on this blog post for a chance to win one of Kellie’s backlist in audio or eBook (depending on available format). You can check out her website at www.kelliekamryn.com or her novel Pleasure Island on Kindle here.

Tip O'Day #282 - How Do You Choose a Book?

How three readers select what to read:

Tami Kidd - I have a lot less time for reading now, but when I do I read what I think I will enjoy. I usually stick to mysteries, paranormal, some romance. I have a two hour commute to work every day, so audio books have been a blessing.

Cathy Speight – I’ll read anything, especially if it is a genre I have not tried before. Review list aside, I have a somewhat eclectic taste in books. I only read e-books (clarity, font size, etc). I download heaps of free books. Unlike some, I don't believe free = crap. (I also pay for books, within reason.) I glance at the ratings. If they are consistently poor, I will probably give the book a miss, but if they are mixed or consistently good, then I'll give it a go. I buy books on recommendation, also.

Deborah J. Hughes - I look at the cover, of course, but what determines it for me is the blurb. If the blurb is not written well, I expect the book won't be either. So that's it. I buy a book on personal recommendation, reviews and their ratings, and a well-written blurb.

Three more readers speak up tomorrow.

Tip O'Day #277 - Audiobooks

Guest blogger Judith Deborah on cruising with your favorite books.

I adore a good story, and am a hopelessly smitten movie buff with fangirl-esque attachments to certain actors and actresses. I'm also a mother of young children with very little quiet time in which to read. All this has made me an ardent proponent of the audiobook. My iPod is loaded with them, and I've burned more books to CD than I can count. I've thus been kept happily entertained through many an evening's cooking or afternoon of shuttling around town from one after-school activity to another.

A monotonous or uninspired narrator can crush a book, so tread carefully. Actors, particularly British actors, are often an excellent choice, as they are trained at accents and stage performance and are able to bring a whole range of voices to life. Performers like Robin Suchet, Juliet Stevenson, Derek Jacobi, and Alan Cumming are a joy to listen to; their performances are so fine, and so carefully thought out, that they bring new layers of nuance to the material. Juliet Stevenson's reading of Barbara Pym's wonderful novel Excellent Women, for example, is pitch-perfect, as is Patrick Tull's reading of The Hound of the Baskervilles and Robin Bailey's reading of Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. At the top of the heap is the incomparable Jeremy Sinden, whose readings of a handful of P.G. Wodehouse's novels are all hilariously on-target.

Fans of twisty mystery stories can find Judith’s newly released novel, A Falling Knife, available in paperback and for the Kindle. Also, check out her website.