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Release Blitz ~ Phoenix Rise by Karina Espinosa

10/17/2020

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Title: Phoenix Rise

Author: Karina Espinosa

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Designer: Covers by Juan

Publication Date: October 16^th, 2020

Hosted by: Lady Amberâ€™s PR

Blurb:
For someone who canâ€™t die, it felt as if I were already dead.

He took everything from me and I donâ€™t have the energy or fight in me

to get it back. Not that I could. What he took is long gone and never

coming back.

The pain of what he didâ€”what I didâ€”will haunt me for the rest of my

life. That is until I met a certain angel in the cell next to mine and

I knew I couldnâ€™t give up yet. Everything might have been taken from

me, but I was not alone. Far from it.

To gain my freedom, I made a deal with the devil, but will that deal

burn me in the end?

Book Links:

Phoenix Burn | Phoenix Rise

Karina Espinosa is the Urban Fantasy Author of the Mackenzie Grey novels and The Last Valkyrie series. An avid reader throughout her life, the world of Urban Fantasy easily became an obsession that turned into a passion for writing strong leading characters with authentic story arcs. When she isn't writing badass heroines, you can find this self-proclaimed nomad in her South Florida home binge watching the latest series on Netflix or traveling far and wide for the latest inspiration for her books. Follow her on social media!

Author Links:

Web | Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Reader Group | Instagram | Bookbub

Book Links:

Phoenix Burn | Phoenix Rise

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Release Blitz ~ The Kingless Crown by Sarah M. Cradit

10/16/2020

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Title: The Kingless Crown
Author: Sarah M. Cradit
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Cover Designer: Regina Wamba
Publication Date: October 13^th, 2020
Hosted by: Lady Amberâ€™s PR

Blurb:
From the USA Today & International Bestselling author of the Saga of Crimson & Clover comes a gripping new epic fantasy world that will leave you breathless to the very last page.

A crown woven together by lies.

A kingdom with the power to unravel them.

Four Reaches. Four brides. Only a fortnight separates the young women from becoming reluctant queens of the usurper king, Eoghan Rhiagain.

Twenty years earlier, King Eoghanâ€™s father cunningly devised marriages between the highborn sons and daughters of the oft-warring Reaches, sealing the unions before they could protest, shattering existing betrothals in place of forced alliances.

Now, Eoghan, the cruel boy king who stole his crown through murder, demands the eldest daughters of these unions. To accept is unfathomable. To refuse is treason.

The lords and ladies of the kingdom have no choice but to prepare their beloved daughters for the horrors ahead. But theyâ€™ll soon discover there are no longer any daughters left to present. All four have disappeared, painting the world with their rebellion.

Theirs is not the only rebellion. Across the kingdom, little fires light within. From the enigmatic sorcerers in the northern mountains, to the magi who both wield and regulate the kingdomâ€™s magic, and beyond... to a place where two prisoners are not what they seem.

As the Reaches ready themselves to face the king, the kingdom hovers on the edge of chaos.

And there are many who recall, in candlelit secrecy, tales of a time beforeâ€¦

NOW LIVE!!

Sarah is a USA Today and International Bestselling Author of fantasy fiction, most known for her Saga of Crimson & Clover world. Her work has been described as rich, emotive, and highly dimensional.

An unabashed geek, Sarah enjoys studying subjects like the Plantagenet and Ptolemaic dynasties, and settling debates on provocative Tolkien topics such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, Sarah has visited over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration (though New Orleans is where her heart rests). She's a self-professed expert at crafting original songs to sing to her very patient pets, and a seasoned professional at finding ways to humiliate herself (bonus points if it happens in public). When at home in Pennsylvania, her husband and best friend, James, is very kind about indulging her love of fast German cars and expensive lattes.

NOW LIVE!!

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#FangirlThursday with Brandy Nacole

10/15/2020

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Did you know that Deep in the Hollow is based off of an urban legend? Join me tonight for a FB LIVE Q&A with author Brandy Nacole. We will be chatting about her book Deep in the Hollow.

Let me share some wisdom with you. There is evil in this world we cannot see. Not because it is hidden from us, but because our minds refuse to accept its existence. Once we are able to get past what everyone says should not be, it becomes our responsibility to stop the evil we now see.

This insight wasn’t given to me until a year after I lost the most important person in my life: Bryce Rowan. Now, after another death at the same spot where he died—the overlook, where the mysterious lights dance amongst the trees—I begin to wonder if they were accidents after all. Lucky for me, I’m not the only curious one in town. Cooper, a ghost hunter (aka chaser), and his sister Jada have moved to town and are starting to ask questions.

The more we uncover about my town, it’s history, and some of its current residents - people I have known my whole life - the more I begin to think there are those who would rather keep the evil lurking around town a secret. Even if it means more will die.

Read for Free in KU!

AMAZON

Author Brandy Nacole weaves an urban legend into a thrilling page-turner in Deep In The Hollow. ~ Lynn

Meet the Author

Brandy Nacole is a writer of paranormal suspense and mystery. She loves keeping readers on the edge of their seats as that's where she likes to stay. Her favorite pastimes are reading, writing, exploring the world, and spending as much time with her husband, kids, and fur babies as possible. She's penned the bestselling novel DEEP IN THE HOLLOW, THE SHADOW WORLD TRILOGY and MURDER IS A DEBATE. Follow along with her on her journey and never miss a bookish moment.

You can find Brandy Nacole on:
Her website: www.brandynacole.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brandy_nacole_
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorbrandynacole
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/BrandyNacole

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Release Blitz ~ Unsought by Daphne Moore

10/15/2020

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Title: Unsought
Author: Daphne Moore
Genre: paranormal romance, slow burn slow build reverse harem
Cover Designer: S M Savoy
Publisher: Vaughn Publishing LLC
Publication Date: October 21^st, 2020
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Blurb:
Arrogant Elves. Aloof Peri. Unpredictable Merfolk.

An unlikely heroine who must master her visions.

As if being middle-aged and plagued by hallucinations since early childhood wasnâ€™t hard enough, Vivian Rivera learns sheâ€™s actually the reincarnation of someone who wasnâ€™t human at all. Her life spirals into a terrifying flight from Goblins, and worse, when she discovers her spiritual heritage and the enemy that pursues her beyond death.

Viv was the Queen of Chaosâ€™ most powerful seer and favorite daughter in a previous life. Now visions invade her dreams, all pressing her to reveal the location of the Keys and begin the Reckoning.

Someone is killing the few remaining seers. Can Viv risk calling attention to herself to help open the gate and allow the Queen of Night and the King of Light to walk our world?

And to top everything else off Vivâ€™s auntâ€¦Fateâ€¦ is matchmaking!

NOW LIVE!

Daphne Moore has been a storyteller from her preliterate days. She writes them down now for those out of earshot.

She lives in Ohio, in a small suburb, raising roses and children. She's an aunt to a bunch of humans and two cute dogs.

Author Links:

Amazon | Goodreads | Bookbub | Twitter

Facebook | Instagram | Website | Reader Group

NOW LIVE!

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Not So Spooky Reads with Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

10/15/2020

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I know not everyone is a fan of creepy horror stories this time of year so for today's Spooktacular Reads I present the less scary version. I L-O-V-E everything Carolyn Ridder Aspenson writes. Her Halloween theme stories include ghosts, psychics, cute pooches, and corn mazes delivered with a dose of humor. Below are a few of her books. You can read them all for FREE in Kindle Unlimited.

Widow Missy Kingston takes on the job of a lifetime—and it’s not the one at her town’s animal shelter.

It’s Halloween season, and the local animal shelter’s pooch adoption manager, Missy Kingston, is excited to show off the available dogs at her town’s Halloween festival!
But when she discovers the festival’s organizer dead in a pile of pumpkins, Missy’s convinced there’s more to the story than meets the eye.
When Missy sets out to investigate the murder on her own, what she discovers could solve the case—but only if the killer doesn’t get to her first.

If you love dogs, and you love small town mysteries, you’ll love Missy Kingston and the Pooch Party Cozy Mystery Series!

Amazon

Halloween is like a free-for-all for ghosts.

I’m pretty new to the whole, "I see dead people" thing. But I’ve never been one not to go with the flow—as a divorced mom, that’s kind of a requirement, right?
So, go with the flow I am. To celebrate the season, I set up a haunted historical tour through my job as the Castleberry, Georgia historical society manager.
What I didn’t expect was to find my own house haunted by ghosts desperate for my help. And they’re in a hurry, which puts a whole lot of stress on me.
Let’s hope I can figure out how to help them before time runs out.
Otherwise, I might just wind up on the wrong side of the living.

If you like Southern paranormal cozy mysteries, you’ll love this stand-alone novella!

AMAZON

A Lily Sprayberry Realtor Cozy Mystery Novella

All of Bramblett County is keyed up and rarin' to go for the annual Abernathy Farm, "It's Fall, Y'all" festival, including realtor Lily Sprayberry and her friends. The haunted corn maze has been decorated with homemade scarecrows. Volunteers are hiding among the cornstalks, ready to scare the festival-goers. And as evening descends, people flock to finally enter.
But something is "off" with the maze this year. Eerie scarecrows have been be-headed, and Lily is spooked to discover what looks to be real blood on the pumpkins. The farther into the maze Lily ventures, the more convinced she becomes that there is more at play than the work of some overzealous volunteers.

Join Lily as she braves the creepy maze to find the answers!

Amazon

Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

Bestselling author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson writes cozy mysteries and thrillers featuring strong female leads. Her stories shine through her dialogue, which readers have praised for being realistic and compelling. Her first novel, Unfinished Business, An Angela Panther Mystery was a Reader's Favorite finalist and reached the top 100 Kindle books sold on Amazon.

Prior to writing fiction, Carolyn was a freelance journalist covering local and national affairs from social events to drug busts in the metro Atlanta area.

Now an empty-nester, Carolyn lives in the Atlanta suburbs with her husband, two Pit Bull-Boxer mix dogs and two cantankerous cats, but you'll often find her at a local coffee shop people watching and listening, plotting her next novel.

Watch for Carolyn's upcoming crime thriller series releasing in fall 2020.

Stalk Carolyn...

Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Website

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Audiobook Review ~ Lust by Daniele Lanzarotta

10/14/2020

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LustThe Sinners Series Book 2
by Daniele Lanzanrotta
Narrated by Jason Clark, Cindy Kay, Tim Paige
Length 4 hrs 19 min
Published by The Audio Flow
Released 8/24/20

After suffering a few life-altering losses, Caden Remington didn’t want to go through that pain ever again.
Once he joined "them", his wish was granted - he would feel nothing but lust. From that moment, he buried his past and didn’t look back. It wasn’t until after he met Rebecca and began to have unexplainable feelings for her that he started to regret his choice.
They may be falling for one another, but in a world where dark magic prevails, and wishes can be turned into nightmares, will their feelings be enough or will their choices continue to haunt them?

AUDIBLE

AMAZON

Review

Audiobook Review
Story 5 Stars
Performance 5 Stars
Overall 5 Stars

As I sit down to type this review I filled with a wide range of emotions - hurt, love, anger; just to name a few. Rebecca and Caden's love story is fraught with obstacles and pain. Their story took me on a roller coaster of emotions. Lust has twist I never saw coming! And that ending!

The narrators, Jason Clarke, Cindy Kay, and Tim Paige, do a superb job bringing the story and emotions to life.

~ Lynn

The Sinners Series

Book 1...
Liam and his childhood best friend Rebecca were raised in a small town. Now living in the city, as roommates, they encounter more challenges than the average college student.

When faced with the reality of having to quit school and move back home, Liam and Rebecca get an odd invitation to move into a mansion with a group of extremely wealthy guys from the college. Liam knows it’s all too good to be true, but he gives into Rebecca’s pleas to take the offer until they get back on their feet.

Weeks turn into months, and as Liam discovers the truth of what happens within those walls and Rebecca finds herself in the middle of a dangerous game between lust and envy, their lives quickly spiral out of control.

AMAZON

Review

The Sinners was an interesting look at a secret society of dark magic. I found the premise to the story intriguing. And that shocking ending left me dying for more! Narrators Cindy Kay and Jason Clarke were excellent at bringing the story to life. The author Daniele Lanzarotta created a diverse and complicated cast of players. I have a love/hate relationship with them all. I didn't know what to expect going into the story but Lanzarotta definitely snagged herself a new fan!

Meet the Author

Daniele Lanzarotta is the author of young adult and new adult paranormal/fantasy/contemporary novels, including the Imprinted Souls Series, Academy of the Fallen Series, Sudden Hope, and A Mermaid's Curse Trilogy.

Daniele is also a filmmaker. She has recently worked on Virginia based short films as the 2nd Assistant Director and Still Photographer. Daniele is currently working on the development stage for the adaptation of her novel, Sudden Hope, which she also plans to film in VA.

She enjoys watching hockey, playing Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and spending time with her husband, two daughters, and the family dog.

Check out more information about Daniele and her novels at:
http://www.danilanzarotta.com
http://facebook.com/danilanzarotta
Twitter @DaniLanzarotta

Click The Audio Flow to check out other great audiobooks.

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Pre-Order ~ Stalkers: A Dark Romance Anthology

10/13/2020

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STALKERS: A Dark Romance Anthology is available for pre-order!

Pre-Order today!
Amazon US: https://bit.ly/StalkersUS

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/StalkersUK

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/StalkersCA

Amazon AU: https://bit.ly/StalkersAU

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/StalkersiBooks

Barns & Noble: https://bit.ly/StalkersBN

Kobo: https://bit.ly/StalkersKobo

You should never fall for the bad guy…

Over thirty of your favorite USA Today and bestselling authors have come together to create an epic collection of forbidden, dark romance stories.

Get lost in this unputdownable mixture of short stories. From heroes to bad guys, there’s something for everyone.

stalk·er

A person who stalks : a person who pursues someone obsessively.

Stalkers is a taboo romance collection jam-packed with captivating stories.

Authors:

Abigail Davies, Yolanda Olson, Ally Vance, Jessica Ames, N. Isabelle Blanco, D.S. Wrights, Faith Ryan, Sam Destiny, S. Firecox, Cole Denton, Ker Dukey, Petra J. Knox, Kara Dawson, Brianna Hale, Alice La Roux, Emery LeeAnn, Raven Amor, Claire C. Riley, Shannon Youngblood, Kat T.Masen, Logan Fox, Cassia Brightmore, Leaona Luxx, William Joseph, A.K. MacBride, K.I. Lynn, Ryleigh Sloan, Erin Trejo, C. Firecox, B.L. Olson, Michelle Pace, M.A. Foster

Pre-Order today!
Amazon US: https://bit.ly/StalkersUS

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/StalkersUK

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/StalkersCA

Amazon AU: https://bit.ly/StalkersAU

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/StalkersiBooks

Barns & Noble: https://bit.ly/StalkersBN

Kobo: https://bit.ly/StalkersKobo

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Cover Reveal ~ With Shield and Ink and Bone by Casey L. Bond

10/13/2020

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Title: With Shield and Ink and Bone
Author: Casey L. Bond
Genre: Upper YA Historical Fantasy
Editor: Stacy Sanford/ The Girl with the Red Pen
Cover Designer: Melissa Stevens at The Illustrated Author
Publication Date: Nov. 13^th, 2020
Hosted by: Lady Amberâ€™s PR

Blurb:
A hard-earned shield.

Days before she is to take her place as a shield maiden, like her mother before her, two deaths alter the course of Livâ€™s future. One belonged to a witch who called her by name, the other a chieftain from the north. Vengeance for the chieftainâ€™s death comes in a wild fury that burns her village and slaughters her family. Left for dead, Liv pleads to Skuld â€“ norn and weaver of the future â€“ to spare her. A deal is struck that will endow her with the dark magic needed to claim her vengeance. But this power comes at an unfathomable priceâ€¦

Ink made from the ashes of loved ones.

After his home is attacked, Calder races to warn neighboring villages of the threat. Little does he know heâ€™s traveling into the path of fate that will lead him straight to Liv. Despite being broken, angry, and overwhelmed by power she cannot contain, itâ€™s her willingness to defend others that draws Calder to her.

Armor forged from the bones of those she held dear.

Together, Liv and Calder discover they are two sides of the same sharpened blade. Rising from the heartache and fury in their pasts, they see a future together worth fighting for. With their strengths and hearts combined, can they become a force powerful enough to defeat the fleet of darkness coming for them? Or will the thread of fate that binds them unravel?

Praise for With Shield and Ink and Bone:

â€œAn exhilarating Viking-inspired fantasy, With Shield and Ink and Bone by Casey L. Bond keeps your nerves teetering on the blade of an ax!â€ - Lani Forbes, award-winning author of the Age of the Seventh Sun series

â€œWith Shield and Ink and Bone is a fast-paced, vivid, and mesmerizing tale that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. If you love Vikings or strong heroines youâ€™ll find lots to enjoy here! Casey L. Bond has woven together unexpected twists, high stakes, romance, and bargains with gods to create this original story for readers.â€ -Victoria McCombs, author of The Storytellerâ€™s Daughter

Casey L. Bond has managed to take a classic genre and make it new and fresh. A page turner that kept me staying up late just to know what was going to happen next. Excellent writing, excellent story. Well done!â€ â€“ Quinn Loftis, USA Today bestselling author of the Grey Wolves series and The Vikingâ€™s Chosen

writing, excellent story. Well done!â€ - Quinn Loftis, USA Today bestselling author of The Grey Wolves series and The Vikingâ€™s Chosen

Casey Bond lives in West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. She likes goats and yoga, but hasn't tried goat yoga because the family goat is so big he might break her back. Seriously, he's the size of a pony. Her favorite books are the ones that contain magical worlds and flawed characters she would want to hang out with. Most days of the week, she writes young adult fantasy books, letting her imaginary friends spill onto the blank page.

Casey is the award-winning author of When Wishes Bleed, the Frenzy series, and fairy tale retellings such as Riches to Rags, Savage Beauty, Unlocked and Brutal Curse. Learn more about her work at www.authorcaseybond.com.

Author Links:

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Audiobookworm Promotions ~ Dark by Paul L Arvidson

10/13/2020

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Author: Paul L. Arvidson
Narrator: Benjamin Fife
Length: 9 hours 2 minutes
Publisher: Mr. PL Arvidson⎮2020
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: The Dark Trilogy, Book 1
Release date: Sep. 14, 2020

In the strange labyrinth of pipes on the planet called Dark, things are falling apart. Dun doesn't want to be a hero, he just wants to find an answer to the terrifying dreams he's been having. But the answers, the real answers, are going to take him places he's never imagined and tear him from the only home he's ever known.
With a half-finished map from his missing father, an old friend, a new friend, and the mysterious Myrch to guide him, he journeys through parts of his world he's never imagined. Are his dreams real foretellings? Who can he trust to be who they say there are? What are the strange forces that seem to be literally pulling their world apart?
As he travels through a world that is much bigger than he thought it was, what he won't know will kill him. And everyone he knows.

Buy on Audible

Listen Here

About the Author: Paul L. Arvidson
Paul Arvidson is a forty-something ex lighting designer, now SFF author who lives in rural Somerset, UK. He spends his non-author time bringing up his children, fighting against being sucked in to his wife’s chicken breeding business and preventing Morris the Dashund contributing to his typing. His SFF works form ‘The Dark Trilogy’. Dark is the first book in the trilogy and came out in 2017. The sequel Darker came out in 2018 and the series will be completed by a final book in 2019. There will not be a prize for guessing it’s title.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram

About the Narrator: Benjamin Fife
Benjamin Fife has always had a passion for learning. With a mind that remembers all sorts of numbers and useless trivia, he regularly wins local radio shows and enjoys confusing people with sci-fi quotes.

Fife grew up in Southeast Idaho. He attended college at Idaho State University, where he met his future wife in their music theory class. They have been married nearly 20 years and now have six children and a whole menagerie of animals. When their oldest daughter was three or four years old they started reading aloud from novels every night at bedtime, and have continued the tradition ever since. The family loves exploring various worlds and topics through Fife’s wonderful reading skills, which get better every year. They all have his Christmas Carol voices memorized (and the older kids are known to quote along with portions), since he has read it to them every December.

Benjamin enjoys all kinds of sci-fi and fantasy - both books and shows, is an extreme eclectic music lover, and prefers his chocolate to be of the 90% cocoa variety. Above all, he loves to be with his family. He loves recording audio books, and is delighted to tell people, “I’ve finally found what I want to be when I grow up!
Website

Interview with Narrator Benjamin Fife

When did you know you wanted to be an audiobook narrator?
Going way back to 8th grade (‘92?) - in my speech class we were required to do a read aloud from a book for the class. I chose the novelization of The Empire Strikes back & did the iconic scene where Darth Vader reveals (SPOILER ALERT) he is Luke’s father. I did it complete with a jar for the Vader echo. Still love that scene. Fast forward a few years & when I met my wife, we started reading aloud to each other. I started thinking about doing it then (early 2000’s), but life was busy happening. We had our first kid in 2003 & from about the time she was 5 or 6 years old, we’ve taken turns picking what we wanted to read as a family every night. We’ve read silly, serious, Fiction, non fiction. I found it somewhat maddening when I read Jane Eyre to the kids - The oldest couldn’t have been more than 11 or 12 - and the two oldest girls were able to guess the plot points before they happened. Right down to (Spoiler alert) “I Bet his wife will jump off the Roof.” Though we do sometimes take turns, I’ve probably read 4/5ths of the books at least. I didn’t really know how to get into doing audiobook narration, but I knew it was something I wanted to do.

How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance?
Almost 3 years ago, I got home from work one day & my wife said, “Hey, you should check out this ACX thing.” That night I set up my account. The next day I attended an uncle’s funeral. When one of my cousin’s I hadn’t seen for probably a decade asked me what I’ve been doing, after the normal update of job, kids etc, on a whim I said “And I narrate Audiobooks.” My first official audition was for one of his books (Prior to the conversation, I didn’t know he was an author). For the record - My audition was abysmal & he thankfully went with a different narrator - however, earlier this year I narrated Walls of Glass for him (J.W. Elliot) My audition for that one he said was head and shoulders above anything else he got. I quit the dayjob in April (which was part of the plan before all the covid junk started happening) and haven’t looked back.
Did you find it difficult to “break into” audiobook narration? What skill/tool helped you the most when getting started?
Short answer - No, not really. I would say the best tool & skill that has helped me to move forward continually & exponentially, is passion though. I LOVE narrating. I LOVE storytelling & bringing books to life. My wife told me I should put on here years & years of practice as well. The biggest thing that helps me now that its my fulltime job - Planning & sticking to it. Focus on what I’m doing & look forward to future projects.
A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
I took Drama for 3 years in High School & I’ve always had a dramatic flare. I’ve never been cast for more than a bit part though, but it’s also not something I’ve ever tried to actively pursue. For years, I kind of felt like I really wasted those 6 semesters worth of time in Drama, but in the last 6 months especially, I’ve come to see that many of my “instincts” were trained then - now over 20 years ago. Including studying dialects and so much more. The acting ability of a narrator is essential however, and now that I am narrating, I’m using a lot of the skills I developed in Kay Jenkins’ Drama class more than 20 years ago. I’ve also always enjoyed improv games that I initially learned in that class. There are 2 main schools of thought I’ve found in audiobook narration - That of the “Strait read” or that of the “Characterized Read.” I’ve listened to both & by far I prefer the latter, but my imagination can fill in the blanks on a strait read as well.
What type of training have you undergone?
Aside from my 3 years in drama studying dialects & the 12 guideposts, I sang in choirs in college at Idaho State University & University of Idaho - both under some brilliant conductors - Scott Anderson (ISU), Rager Moore (U of I), and Dan Buckvich (U of I). Scott & Rager’s rehearsals were more of a group vocal lesson. Dan’s was in a VERY large jazz choir & he was amazing at getting hundreds of people to enunciate incredibly clearly. Years later, my wife & I ran a music store and I had a number of private lessons with Paul Harms, who had been principle tenor of the LA opera theatre for many years. Paul was a very nuts & bolts vocal instructor. I’d also have to say my continual reading to my kids from all kinds of genres is an ongoing training ground.
How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for narrating?
I haven’t gotten incredibly burned out on anything yet. If I do find myself getting burned out on something, I’ll take a break from it. I also find a good way to keep my skills up & enthusiasm up is to keep auditioning for new titles. The downside of that (sort of) is that if I get selected for all of them, I’ll be booked for a decade or so. But I also don’t audition for something unless it interests me at least a little. Since I’ve transitioned to being a fulltime narrator, I’ve improved my editing skills & sometimes I might get a little dragging on a title, but really - I still absolutely adore what I do.
Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
ABSOLUTELY! When my wife & I were in college, we delivered newspapers ridiculously early & would frequently check out books on tape from the library. I’ve gone up & down with listening, much more UP of late. My day job for years was a 40 minute commute, so it’s perfect for listening. Now that I’ve canned the dayjob, I’ve traded the commute for an hour walk every day because I still want my listening time. I’ve listened primarily to classics on Librivox up until recently (in the last 2 years I’ve listened to or read the complete works of Charles Dickens). I now am trying to listen to an audiobook a week from a newer narrator/author. I try to review everything I read & listen to, so I listen to at least some of it at 1x speed. If it’s non-fiction, I’ll pump the speed up to about 1.9 & if it’s fiction I listen at about 1.3. At present though - I’m WAY behind in actually reviewing what I’ve listened to… But I’m right on schedule for my narration gigs!
What are your favorite and least favorite parts of narrating an audiobook?
I LOVE storytelling. I love it when I’m in the recording booth and I’m so into the performance that I’m just… emoting. When I get goosebumps when I’m narrating, its a pretty good indicator that I’m doing it right (and also that the author did their job well. I also LOVE voicing Dragons. On the flip side...I hate waiting. (Inigo, Princess Bride). Waiting to find out if I get picked for the book, waiting for my schedule to free up so I can get to the one I REALLY want to narrate, waiting for the author to get me back any changes, waiting for ACX to approve it & make it live, waiting to see if anybody likes it.

I pretty well love everything else though. But I’m not incredibly fond of when an author is Uber picky in the editing process. I did one (no disclosure here as to what it was/ who wrote it, etc) that if I read “Said [character]” instead of “[Character] said,” they wanted me to fix it. In that book the author gave me basically one correction a minute, some of which were due to their writing errors. Not gonna lie, I got burned out on that title. That being said, I think my accuracy has improved from the experience.
What would you say are your strongest narration abilities?
I’m a really good storyteller. I love doing it & creating characters with the author. One thing I like to do with authors is kind of assemble who they would cast as such and such a character. With Dark, Paul had me listen to Phil Hartmans performance from an animated show - I don’t remember which one - for the characterization on Padg in particular. I’m also pretty darn versatile when it comes to styles and accents. The other day I was chatting online with a publisher from New Zealand. He had listened to samples of most of my books & asked me where I was originally from. He was sure it would have been Ireland, or UK, or at least Eastern Canada. Nope. Born & Raised in Idaho. (I did spend a couple years IN eastern Canada, but aside from that… Just Idaho.) I love doing character voices & I think I’m pretty good at it. There’s a character in Dark, and several other books, where I was essentially told… Saruman… Do Christopher Lee’s Saruman. I don’t pretend that I hold a candle to him, but I love voicing over the top characters. Dragons in particular.

Is there a particular genre you feel unsuited for? Have you ever declined a project because you didn’t think you were right for it? Horror. Erotica. Just zero interest in either. I try to keep my narration to PG-13 or less. But I’ve read about any other genre to my wife & kids & I’ve already narrated a good many different genres. I love it all. I’ve certainly opened audition scripts & decided, “Nope. Not for me.” I have recorded a couple of books under another name for various reasons.

What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator?
I actually approached Paul about it. I read an interview he gave to some online reviewer, it sounded cool, so I emailed him & said, How about an audiobook? Reading some of the reviews & hearing it described as Hobbits in space certainly piqued my interest. He opened it up for auditions & I was a little worried I wouldn’t get it, but, ultimately I got it. I wanted another good SciFi series from another author (C.D. Tavenor is my other SciFi author I’ve worked closely with on Chronicles of Theren).
How closely do you prefer to work with authors?
As Closely as they’ll let me. Though nobody wants to be micromanaged. But I like to be able to pick their brain. And Its THEIR book first & foremost. If they’re not happy with my performance, I want to know why & be able to fix it. I’m very excited for Dark & some of the other projects I’m involved in now because of just how involved the authors are with me.
Who are your “accent inspirations”?
For Dark - Kind of going with Space Hobbits, I did a little bit of Elijah Wood for Dun. Some of my other general inspirations - Bruce Boxleightner, The Star Trek Universe - Avery Brooks, George Takei, Marc Alaimo. It’s something that I’ve never been a “fast reader” because I’m reading aloud in my head even when I’m just reading to myself. I assign an actor to be the voice of various characters in my head (Marc Alaimo has always been my Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn since the 90’s).
How did you decide how each character should sound in this title?
Paul gave me a bit of an “ideal cast” and I started from there. Getting Padg right took a few takes. Was originally going for a Merry & Pippin kind of thing, but then made him more sarcastic after reviewing a Phil Hartman performance Paul recommended (He died way to soon)
What types of things are harmful to your voice?
Guillotines. Sulphuric acid. Goa’uld Symbiotes. Sword Swallowing. Head colds. Allergies. Sometimes Teenagers (or my paternal knee jerk reactions to them - my own teenagers that is).
Has anyone ever recognized you from your voice?
Not yet. If anything, quite the opposite. I have had several friends & family members hear one of my narrations & say “That’s YOU?” I was on a zoom meeting with fans of the Jane Austen’s Dragons series & some of them were chatting & saying “He sounds completely different in person!” To be fair, I don’t normally speak with a British Accent, so right off the bat, I’d sound different from my performance there.
Have there been any characters that you really connected with?
In this series, Dun, Padg & Myrch. In Jane Austen’s Dragons, Lizzy, Darcy, Walker, April, even Longbourn, Kellynch & Laconia. In the upcoming King’s Warrior, I LOVED narrating Brant (he’s got some pretty heavy emotional baggage). I definitely try to get in the head of any of the characters I’m voicing though. I really liked Rabbi Wheaton, Frank & Phil from Father of the Bride of Frankenstein. Herman Rolfe in Earthbound, Theren in First of Their Kind, Raith from Flight of the 500, Yawri & Tisbero from Call to Purpose.
If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
Absolutely. First, I’d want to go to the future when interstellar travel is possible & they’ve worked out all the relativity issues. But I’d love to just be one of the Doctor’s companions for a season. Just get me out of there before I’m killed or have my memory wiped. (As an aside - I wasn’t sure I was going to like the new Doctor. We finally watched her first season. BEST WRITTEN SEASON OF DR. WHO EVER, which is saying something because I loved David Tennant & Matt Smith. But Jodi Whitaker owned it from day one, every bit as much as they did. The writing in 2nd season gets a little bit on the beating a dead horse as far as in your face about how screwed up 21st century earth is. Peter Capaldi was mainly just grumpy & arrogant. More like Doc’s 1-3. Though I adore 2&3 also).
How does audiobook narration differ from other types of voiceover work you've done?
I haven’t actually done other voiceover work yet, though I’d be willing. I have been told by some that narrating audiobooks is the Marathon of the voice acting industry, and I can’t say that I’d argue. I guess when it comes to voice acting, I love marathons. Just don’t ask me to run an actual marathon (You know the first guy who did collapsed dead at the end, right?)
Do you read reviews for your audiobooks?
Daily. I love seeing what people think. I check and see on all my titles if there are more new reviews.
If so, which ones stand out to you most, positive or negative?
Both! One of my favorite comments on Jane Austen’s Dragons: “I’m beginning to think Benjamin Fife is part dragon.” I love to hear that my performance of something brought the book to life. I’ve also had people point out that my pronunciations weren’t right (for Lonbourn for example - Sorry purists - I’ll try to do better, but its set for this series). I had a review on a non-fiction book that I did that the listener said they were distracted by my unique voice. Honestly took it as a compliment since the first book in the series was narrated by the author who was exceedingly dull in his read. (He needed a real narrator). When a review is particularly excellent, OR particularly abysmal, I try to reach out to the reviewer to say thanks & I appreciate their feedback.
What type of the review comments do you find most constructive?
As little recapping of the plot as possible, but specific commentary on the narration style, what they liked, didn’t like, etc. What I don’t like is when they leave a 3 or lower star rating or review & they don’t mention why at all. Or things that are hard to quantify, like “he sounded like he had rocks in his mouth.” I reached out to that one for clarification actually.
Who is your “dream author” that you would like to record for?
Timothy Zahn. I was introduced to him via Star Wars in the 90’s, and I love all of his Non Star wars stuff. He’s got a pretty big list of books with no audio. I’m planning on approaching him/his agent later this year. :) I’d also love to do anything Patricia Wrede or Shannon Hale.
Also Charles Dickens - I’ve already recorded A Christmas Carol. It’s on soundcloud for free here: https://soundcloud.com/user-29643215/sets/a-christmas-carol-by-charles-dickens-narrated-by-benjamin-fife
If you could narrate one book from your youth what would it be and why?
That’s kind of a tough one. All of them? The Chronicles of Narnia at least. Maybe The Westing Game? Or The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper? The Great Brain? Wait you said one. I don’t do well with one.
What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
Grow up. Ok, I wouldn’t really say that, but folks who say this if you ask me have some pretty serious superiority complex issues. Decades ago there were studies showing that kids who were read to daily by their parents were smarter, healthier etc., why would it be any different for adults who are read to? I meet plenty of people who can’t get into audiobooks because they have a hard time paying attention to them, and I get that. It actually takes some concentration. Just like “traditional” reading. But people who do listen to audiobooks listen for any number of reasons. I recently met a librarian who is no longer physically capable of reading due to her eyesight & audiobooks have been a miracle to her.
What bits of advice would you give to aspiring audiobook narrators?
Read copiously. Listen to other narrators. Get your own style. Read what you love. Read to your kids. Don’t be afraid of the microphone. Start with what you can afford/do & go from there. There’s no “1 way” to do anything. There are probably MILLIONS of people who consider themselves authors. There’s a whole lot of material to work with. Rather than viewing other narrators as competition, view them as compatriots.
What’s next for you?
OOh… Lets see… I just finished up 3 books for Brad Swift - A childrens to Middle grade series: The Zak Bates Eco-Adventures. That’s forthcoming along with the first of a fantasy series by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt - King’s Warrior. Those & book 5 of Jane Austen’s Dragons are currently caught in the QC bottleneck at Audible. I’m currently editing my recording of Book 6 of Jane Austen’s Dragons for Maria Grace, Recording a Kids book Tony & The Haunted Goldmine for Steve R Romano with my daughter Rosy, Just starting Finding Home by Jessica Sims (doing a bunch of southern Black voices from the 1920’s - interesting challenge & very moving book), Memoir of the Minotaur by Tom Shachtman (narrating under a different name due to some of the… Greek content…), Darker - The next one in this series - Should be starting on it by the end of the month), then the remaining 3 books of Jenelle’s fantasy series… And whatever else gets in line. :) I love being so booked.
Bonus question: Any funny anecdotes from inside the recording studio?
In the middle of narrating Longbourn - as Lizzie is fleeing Hertfordshire - I was rather into the narration at about 9:30 pm. My studio is a converted prebuilt shed outside our home (If anyone can guess why I call it Rex Iter studio, let me know & I’ll send you a free code to ALL of my books that I still have codes for). It has one little window right off of where I stand to record. So, emotionally fraught chapter, dark & quiet outside. My studio is not quite soundproof, so I’ll hear the occasional thing happening outside. I heard a couple of little bumps or something. So my subconcious brain is going, “If it affects the audio, I can do a retake, but I’m doing really well with this part and will just push on through.” Then I hear the bump-tapping again & look up. Ms. Awesome with Gowron Eyes watching me in the window. Normally, I scream like a girl when startled. What got recorded is a cry of utter terror, followed by her coming in & laughter. Enjoy. This just sums up our relationship. https://soundcloud.com/user-29643215/lonbourn-blooper-reel
In narrating Dark, I tried a few different things to get some of the sound effects, including my own teeth, trumpet, rocks & more. You’ll have to listen & see what you think.

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Cover Reveal & Preorder for Magic Unveiled by Elizabeth Kirke

10/12/2020

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Magic Unveiled
"Part Urban Fantasy, Part Thriller, All Awesomeness"
Available now at a special preorder discount of $0.99!
https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Unveiled-More-serial-Arcanist-ebook/dp/B08J45DWDM

When the lines between good and evil blur...

They say it took one hundred magical beings to defeat the first Arcanist. Great care was taken to ensure the secret to his malevolent power died with him. Now the brutal reign of the Arcanist has become little more than a scary bedtime story. And yet, the descendants of his loyal followers are sworn to find a way to bestow his dark magic upon another. If they succeed, they’ll unleash a new terror upon an unsuspecting world.

As the days pass without any word from her missing friends, Jen knows that their chances of escape are growing slim—assuming they’re even still alive. Yet when she discovers the situation is far more dire than she imagined, Jen has no choice but to put her faith in an unlikely being who has yet to prove if they are an ally... or an enemy.

Magic Unveiled is Book Five in the Urban Fantasy series, Rise of the Arcanist, featuring witches, dark magic, vampires, and more. It is a New Adult spin-off of USA Today Bestselling author Elizabeth Kirke’s award-winning More than Magic series. If you like your books full of plot twists and your magic mixed with a dose of mystery and thrills, get Magic Unveiled now!

Rise of the Arcanist is a six-book serial, with each installment releasing a month apart. You do *not have to read the original More than Magic trilogy to enjoy it.*

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