2 Girls & A Book
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Lynn Shaw
  • Review Policy
  • Fangirl Moments
  • Author and PR Services

Pen Pals by CK Timber

8/10/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Author: CK Timber
Narrator: Ginger MacGregor
Length: 1 hour 4 minutes
Producer: Audiobook Empire
Publisher: CK Timber⎮2022
Genre: Romance; Erotica
Release date: June 2, 2022
Jase is an average joe who lives in England, and Elizabeth, five-thousand miles away, lives in California. They met online and began writing to each other. It was an innocent exchanged. After a while, their pen pal relationship blossomed into a series of erotic rendezvous, both in pen and in each other's arms. Fulfilling their fantasies, they explore love from a distance and from the perspective of a thirty-year age gap.
Listen Here
Goodreads

Behind the Audiobook

​About the Author: CK Timber
CK Timber is an author of paranormal romance, cozy mystery, time travel, and epic fantasy adventure short stories, novellas, and novels. Along with her other works she pens the occasional collaborative novel with author Jesse Bond. 
A horse trainer and massage therapist by trade,  CK Timber jumped ship at sixty-five years of age to follow her lifelong dream to write engaging stories for the young and old alike. Three years later her bodies of work include clean, fun and adventurous stories for middle-grade and young adult readers, and cheek blushing content for adults.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

About the Narrator: Ginger MacGregor
Ginger MacGregor is a storyteller with over 20 years of experience acting on stage and screen. She received her BA in Theatre Acting & Directing from Colorado Mesa University, trained as a classical actress with the British American Drama Academy and earned an MA in Applied Theatre Arts from University of Southern California. A native midwesterner who grew up in Wisconsin and Colorado, Ginger now lives in Los Angeles teaching voice and acting classes in between theatre, film and narration gigs.
Specializing in romance, Ginger’s strong, grounded voice shines in urban fantasy romance, romantic fantasy and paranormal romance, while her playfulness and warmth shine in historical romance. She is not afraid to bring the spice, and loves telling stories of characters tapping into their inner strength to be something greater than they thought possible. 
When she’s not in the booth, Ginger can be found spending time in nature and with her animal friends, including connecting with her roots in the highlands of Scotland, playing in her garden, riding horses at her sister’s farm in Colorado and hanging out with her two kitties, Luci Fur and Maze.
Instagram

About the Producer: Audiobook Empire
At Audiobook Empire, audio reigns supreme, narrators are hailed as heroes, and headphones are worn with pride.
Marrying pomp and circumstance with quality you can count on, Audiobook Empire is a full-service production house that produces and promotes audiobooks with gusto.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram
0 Comments

Emmie and the Tudor King by Natalie Murray

7/13/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture



​Author: Natalie Murray
Narrator: Shakira Shute
Length: 9 hours 37 minutes
Publisher: Natalie Murray⎮2021
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Series: Hearts and Crowns, Book 1
Release date: Oct. 27, 2021
Picture
Listen Here
​One moment, Emmie is writing her high school history paper; the next, she is lost in 16th century England, where she meets a dreamy but dangerous Tudor king who is destined for a dreadful fate.
Able to travel back to her own time but intensely drawn to King Nick and the mysterious death of his sister, Emmie finds herself solving the murder of a young princess and unravelling court secrets while trying to keep her head on her shoulders, literally. 
With everything to lose, Emmie will come to face her biggest battle of all: how to cheat the path of history and keep her irresistible king, or lose him - and her heart - forever.

​
Buy Links
Buy on Amazon⎮Audible⎮iTunes⎮Kobo⎮Nook

​
About the Author: Natalie Murray
Natalie Murray is the award-winning author of Emmie and the Tudor King (2021), Emmie and the Tudor Queen (2021), and Emmie and the Tudor Throne (2022) from Midnight Tide Publishing.
A cross between Outlander and The Other Boleyn Girl, the romance trilogy follows a high school girl to a reimagined Tudor England, where she meets a doomed – but dreamy – Tudor king destined for a dreadful fate.
Emmie and the Tudor King was an award-winning finalist in the 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in the New Adult Fiction category and has received acclaim from Foreword Reviews, YA Books Central, and popular authors Brigid Kemmerer (A Curse So Dark and Lonely) and CJ Flood (Infinite Sky), among others.
Website

About the Narrator: Shakira Shute
Shakira Shute is a full time audiobook narrator and voice actor and is an alumni of the internationally acclaimed National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.
In a previous life (before relocating with her family to Canada 7 years ago), Shakira was a commercial litigation lawyer in London, England. 
Shakira has had the privilege of narrating projects for Penguin Random House, Tantor Audio, Dreamscape Media, Findaway Voices, Orange Sky Audio, Audio Sorceress and East House Productions. She has also narrated books in collaboration with Oxford University Press and MIT.
She is able to perform character voices, multiple UK regional accents, as well as a general American accent.
Website
1 Comment

A Fallen Hero by Sara A. Noe

7/13/2022

2 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Author: Sara A. Noë
Narrators: A.J. Shuck, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
Length: 18 hours 50 minutes
Producer: Audiobook Empire
Publisher: On the Cobblestone Road LLC Audio⎮2022
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Chronicles of Avilésor: War of the Realms , Book 1
Release date: Apr 9, 2022
Listen Here
Cato is the only true half-human, half-ghost hybrid in existence. He's powerful and unique with two divine powers instead of one. 

The United States government believes he is the key to developing a devastating weapon that will give humankind an advantage when war inevitably erupts between the Human Realm and Avilésor, the Ghost Realm. 

After being an unwilling test subject in Project Alpha for two years, Cato and the rest of his "lab-family" survive a transport accident to find themselves stranded and powerless in the middle of the wilderness. Hunted every step of the way by ghostly Shadow Guards with supernatural abilities and human Agents desperate to recapture their prisoners, the eight young fugitives are drawn to Cato's hometown where the Rip between Realms connects the worlds. 

Cato wants nothing to do with his past, but as his enemies close in, he realizes he's willing to do anything to protect his lab-family . . .
even kidnap the daughter of a ghost hunter and make a dangerous deal to become a mercenary.


Buy Links
Buy on Audible⎮Author’s Direct
Kobo⎮Scribd⎮Nook⎮Audiobooks.com

​

A Word From The Author

Why Did You Decide to Turn Your Book into an Audiobook?

I want my stories to be discoverable and accessible to everyone, regardless of personal taste, convenience, time limitations, travel, or physical restrictions.
Personally, I always prefer to read print books. There’s something about holding an actual book in my hands, turning the pages, being able to flip back to earlier sections, and visually seeing my progress (and how many pages are left) that completes the experience for me. My imagination takes hold, and I’m fully immersed. Also… the smell of books. Fellow bookworms know exactly what I mean!
But publishing is about more than my own personal tastes. Even though I don’t read ebooks myself, I know that’s a format many people enjoy. I can certainly see the appeal of having your entire library digitized in one convenient device that’s easy to store and carry. For this reason, I always release my books in hardcover, paperback, and ebook options to cover all bases. I want readers to be able to enjoy my stories in whichever format they prefer.
Audiobooks are a separate, rapidly growing market. As much as I wanted to release A Fallen Hero as an audiobook so every format option was available to readers, that wasn’t feasible early in my writing career. Audiobooks are expensive to produce, especially when hiring a good narrator. I knew recording the audiobook myself wasn’t ideal. I didn’t have the time, training, experience, equipment, recording space, vocal range, or editing software to produce a high-quality audiobook. I needed to save up and hire a professional who could handle various character voices and read the book in a compelling, entertaining way. 
Thanks to the Indiana Arts Commission, I recently received a state grant as part of the On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program. This phenomenal opportunity broke down the financial barriers for me and finally opened the door to an audiobook.
I’m so excited to tap into the audiobook market and open my story up to new readers who need or prefer audio! Not only do audiobooks provide an opportunity for people who are visually impaired or simply don’t have time to sit down and focus on a book, but they also change how people experience the story when a talented narrator puts on a performance. 
Partnering with Audiobook Empire, A.J. Shuck, and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw to make this project possible was such an insightful learning experience! I really didn’t know what to expect with the audiobook, and I’m so amazed and impressed by how my extremely talented narrators brought the characters and story to life with unique voices, dramatic storytelling abilities, and pure passion for what they do. The first time I listened to the audiobook, I found myself on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next chapter even though I knew what was going to happen next in the story. They elevated A Fallen Hero to a whole new level, and I can’t wait to share this new rendition of the award-winning book with the world!
About the Author: Sara A. Noë
Sara A. Noë is an award-winning author, artist, and photographer. She has had poetry, short fiction, and memoir works featured in various anthologies and journals since 2005, and her poetry is now available in the Indiana Poetry Archives. Notable art achievements include her photograph "Aftermath" published on the cover of Voices Literary Journal in 2018, photograph "Spiraling" awarded Best Still Life in a 2019 juried gallery exhibit, and charcoal artwork "The Raven" displayed in the Uptown Arts District of Michigan City, Indiana.
A Fallen Hero, the first novel in the Chronicles of Avilésor: War of the Realms series, was published in 2018 and has been critically acclaimed by NAM Editorial, The Prairies Book Review, Literary Titan, and Chronicle Focus Editorial, among others. The novel made book reviewer Lauren Gantt's list of Top 10 Favorite Books of 2019 and won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award in 2020. The series sequel, Phantom's Mask, was released in July 2020 and won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award less than two months after its release.
As an artist, Sara creates her own covers and graphics. She lives in a little cottage with her calico cat, Calypso, who has a fondness for chewing pens and being as loud and sassy as possible.
Website

About the Narrator: A.J. Shuck
A.J. Shuck is an Audiobook Narrator and Producer with 3 years of experience in Audiobooks and more than a decade of experience in stage acting and musical theatre. He fell in love with performing at the age of 13 when he premiered as Nerd #3 in a local production of High School Musical. He has a passion for books and reading especially YA Fiction and Mysteries. He believes strongly that the right words at the right time can change the world, certainly, they've changed his world. He is a proud member of the APA (Audio Publishers Association). He currently lives in Oklahoma City with the love of his life and their 3 beautiful daughters who have him wrapped around their little fingers.
Website

About the Narrator: Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
Mia Hutchinson-Shaw is an actor and narrator based in NYC. Mia creates soulful, saucy, and lovable characters with her arsenal of accents and flare for the fun. Mia comes to narration with her background in classical and period-drama theater Off Broadway and Regional Stages. She trained in the UK at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, BA Acting with Honors (UK Equivalent to BFA) and was raised between Massachusetts and Montana. When not working as an actor, Mia is thrifting for her next outrageous, colorful clothing item, getting on her soap box about low-waste living, or hunting handmade jewelers for a new item for her collection of giant earrings. Her favorite is a pair of hot pink Galahs (a bird from Australia).
Website

About the Producer: Audiobook Empire
At Audiobook Empire, audio reigns supreme, narrators are hailed as heroes, and headphones are worn with pride.
Marrying pomp and circumstance with quality you can count on, Audiobook Empire is a full-service production house that produces and promotes audiobooks with gusto.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram
2 Comments

MUTE by ML Nystrom

7/9/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Author: ML Nystrom
Narrator: Annalee Scott
Length: 5 hours 22 minutes
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing⎮2022
Genre: Motorcycle Romance
Series: Dragon Runners, Book 1
Release date: May 4, 2022
Listen Here
“He loves long, loves hard, but he don’t love easy.”
Katrina Vega is set on one thing: finishing college. She's determined not to let anything or anyone distract her, especially not hot, brooding bikers. On her mission to stay focused, she doesn't expect to be pulled into the fold of a motorcycle club, let alone into the arms of Alec "Mute" Stillwater. 
Unable to keep her guard up, Katrina soon discovers that beneath the hard and rough exterior of a family she's grown to care for, there's also loyalty and passion she's envious of. But falling for the club's enforcer will not only threaten her plans, but quite possibly her life.


Buy Links
Buy on Audible⎮iTunes⎮Google⎮Audiobooks.com

​
Picture
​About the Narrator: Annalee Scott
I grew up in a small town in New England home to renowned authors like Louisa May Alcott and Henry David Thoreau. I also lived next to a library until I was 18. This instilled in me a love of stories that lit the path toward my career as an actor and audiobook narrator. I'm available for hire as an audiobook narrator and audiobook producer through ACX, findaway voices, fiver, and upwork.

Books are my passion! ​I'm part of a book club that I adore and review ARC's for fun so you could say reading goes beyond being a casual hobby for me. My experience as a professional actor in LA and my formal training from Emerson College inform my work but it's my love of reading that really drives my narration.
Website
Picture
​About the Author: ML Nystrom
ML Nystrom had stories in her head since she was a child.  All sorts of stories of fantasy, romance, mystery, and anything else that captured her interest.  A voracious reader, she’s spent many hours devouring books; therefore, she found it only fitting she should write a few herself!  
ML has spent most of her life as a performing musician and band instrument repair technician, but that doesn’t mean she’s pigeon-holed into one mold.  She’s been a university professor, belly dancer, craftsperson, soap maker, singer, rock band artist, jewelry maker, lifeguard, swim coach, and whatever else she felt like exploring.  As one of her students said to her once, "Life’s too short to ignore the opportunities."  She has no intention of ever stopping... so welcome to her story world. She hopes you enjoy it!
Website

Interview with ML Nystrom 

Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.
There’s not much to tell.  I’d been thinking about audiobooks already when my publisher, Becky Johnson, the executive editor from Hot Tree Publishing, emailed me about the possibility.  I’m still relatively new to the world of writing and publishing, and I believe it’s best to rely on the people in the industry who know what they’re doing.  I signed the contract with HTP and let them handle everything.  I was included in the process of choosing a narrator, deciding on Annabelle because of her fabulous voice and tone, listening to the samples, and approving the recording, but the heavy-lifting was done by HTP and Findaway Voices, who I believe were supportive and user friendly..

Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing? 
Not even close.  The story behind writing Mute is simple.  When I turned fifty, I had an epiphany.  For years, I’d thought about someday projects.  Someday-I’ll-do-this, someday-I’ll-do-that, someday-I’ll-get-to-it; all of those somedays needed to be turned into todays.  I’ve wanted to write a book for years, decades to be exact.  Mute came to me in complete form.  He and his story popped into my head one morning during my daily commute to work.  I got him on paper and started the journey into the author world.  The original goal was to publish a book.  I had no idea Mute would go this far.

How did you select your narrator?
The nature of the book helped to determine the best voice type.  The setting, the main female character, the fact that the main male character has no speaking voice, all pointed towards a single female narrator, young soprano, slight American Southern accent without being annoying, and some diversity in voicing characters.  It wasn’t hard to determine what sound would fit the book best.  We heard some samples and found exactly who fit the book.

How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters? 
I didn’t have to do a lot.  Annalee Scott is very professional and did such a good job, there was very little I had to say.  Her pacing, her understanding of the characters and the story, her voicing, all of it was wonderful.

Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing? 
There’s always a real life inspiration as many of the characters in my books are modeled after real life events or people.  For instance, Mackie’s character in Mute, was modeled after my late step-dad, Mr. Donald Fields.  He was an army veteran of Vietnam who lost his right arm in order to save his fellow soldiers, and developed Parkinson’s as a result.  He spent his life as an inspiration to many even through the disease which took his life.  Mackie’s character pays homage to Don.

How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
My writing time waxes and wanes, but I’ve not lost my enthusiasm yet.  My occupation as a band instrument repair technician has passed the thirty-two year mark and I’m still passionate about what I do in this field.  I think that’s because there is always something new to learn, a new challenge, or a new skill set to develop.  I love what I do as a tech.  I believe the same is true of writing.  There’s always a new story, a new character, a new genre.  So far, my passion for writing hasn’t hit burn-out, but if it does, I’ll take some time off, then come back when it’s fresh and new again.

What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
No, I don’t believe listening to an audiobook is cheating any more than I think reading a paperback is better than using an e-reader.  It’s up to the reader which format works best for their lives and lifestyle.  I’m thinking of sales reps who spend hours driving their cars, workers at repair benches or assembly lines, moms who only get a break while running errands or grocery shopping, and other such situations.  I love reading nightly, but it’s also nice to listen to a book while I’m folding laundry or digging in the garden.

In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series? 
Tough one.  I think readers prefer series over standalones, but I believe the characters dictate the story.  When I write a secondary character, I ask “does he/she have a tale to tell.”  In the case of Mute, Stud was born, then Blue and Table.  Brick came from a reader who wrote to me asking about a prequel, and I found one.  However, there are some stories that are completed in one book.  So far, I’ve not published a standalone, but that may come one day.

What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
The same advice that was given to me by another author.  
Write something everyday. 
 Do not finish what you write.
That keeps the ideas flowing and your progress moving forward.  Other tips would be to research your publishing options carefully, get a good editor, and be open to your beta readers.  Don’t try to do everything on your own.  Getting the book on paper is the easy part.  It’s the publishing part that gets hard.

Do you have any tips for authors going through the process of turning their books into audiobooks?
Matching the narrator’s voice to the main character and setting of the book is essential.  Annalee’s light soprano was perfect for Mute.  An older woman’s smoky alto would not have fit well.  Pronunciations of names, accents, character diversity, pacing are all important, but the underlying vocal tone is what sets it all up.

 What’s next for you? 
Right now, I’m revisiting my first series with some new material, then I have another new series sketched out. Perhaps I’ll try a different genre.  Whatever pathway hits my head and draws my attention is where I’ll go.  We’ll see where I end up.


0 Comments

The Wheels of Cady Grey by Paul L. Arvidson

6/30/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Author: Paul L. Arvidson
Narrator: Sarah-Jane Rose
Length: 6 hours 43 minutes
Publisher: Paul L. Arvidson⎮2020
Genre: Thriller
Series: Cady Grey Mysteries, Book 1
Release date: November 7, 2020

​
 Get in the way of ruthless people and it’s gonna get you killed.
“Forget all you know about disabled people. This novel will blow everything you knew out of the window. A story of strength, intelligence, love and disability.”
Cady Grey is invisible. One of the ‘perks’ of being in a wheelchair. Sometimes it’s better that way, ‘specially when you’re a sweary, spitty teenage girl who’s main aim is getting through high-school in one piece. But when a sinister shell company wants to knock their school down and is prepared to stop at nothing. Cady and her friends are the only ones invested enough to care and smart enough to investigate. Regardless of the danger, Cady finally gives up being invisible to fight. And she discovers that getting in the way of politicians and their schemes might just get her killed.
“Cady, with spark, snark and enthusiasm will capture your heart in such a way you will want her to be your best friend. She is a voice, hero and visibility for a young disabled generation, a guide for us all and a mystery to solve. Grab your copy of a thriller unlike any other!”
Buy Links
Buy on Kobo⎮Google⎮Scribd⎮Chirp⎮Nook⎮Author’s Direct

​
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 its title.
Website


About the Narrator: Sarah-Jane Rose
I trained as an actor in London and spent almost 30 years in the Theatre. During that time I also worked in the Wine Trade with restaurants and sommeliers to create great wine lists. I always tried to keep my two lives separate, but for 2021 I am bringing my two worlds together in perfect balance. I am not two people, I am one person who works as a narrator and voice actor, as well as a wine consultant.
 
Join me this year as I am embark on Wine and Words, a place to bring together my two favourite things. I will be providing live feeds and online events about books and wine, follow me on Instagram for regular updates and live feeds @sarajaneroseuk.
Website
0 Comments

The Tailor of Riga by Jonathan Harries

6/20/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Author: Jonathan Harries
Narrator: Jeff Bachar
Length: 6 hours 54 minutes
Publisher: Jonathan Harries Ink⎮2022
Genre: Historical Fiction; Action/Adventure
Series: Tales of the Sica, Book 1
Release date: May 26, 2022​
 had absolutely no intention of getting into the family business. As I told my father the night he enlightened me on what my ancestors had been up to for over a thousand years, “Sticking a curved dagger into someone’s liver ain’t quite my cup of tea.”
As it turned out, I had no choice. When your family’s been assassinating reprobates and other loathsome individuals for seventy generations, you have a certain obligation. 
So, while it was a little disconcerting to hear how dear old granny would have become a prostitute if Grandpa Joe hadn’t whacked one of Germany’s top agents just before the start of World War I, it certainly piqued my interest. Of course, as I discovered, prostitution and murder were pretty de rigueur for my family.
After all, it was my great-grandfather who was hired by the British secret service to kill Jack the Ripper and my mother’s cousins who took part in the attempted assassination of Lenin. 
My only regret when I finally took up the family sica was not eliminating Jean-Bedel Bokassa just before he crowned himself Emperor of the Central African Empire and ate my two friends.
But we all make mistakes.

Buy Links
Buy on Audible⎮Chirp⎮Nook⎮Libro.fm

A Word with Jonathan Harries 

Before working with Jeff on The Tailor of Riga, I’d only turned one other novel into an audiobook.
The experiences were totally different. Jeff was collaborative, open to suggestions, and very thorough with his research into characters and accents. We communicated early and often and he was always willing to change anything that made me uncomfortable. In my previous experience with an audiobook they sent me a bunch of chapters to listen to rather than comment on and I felt more like an observer than a participant.



All of the family members in the book are real and were present at the places mentioned in the time frame. As I wrote in the preface, the story is about what could have happened rather than what did. There was very little fodder in the genealogical studies I did on my family. In fact it was only when I learned that my great grandfather had immigrated to England from Riga at the same time of the Jack the Ripper murders, changing both his name and profession, that the idea of a 2000-year-old family assassination business popped into my mind



I suffer more from disappointment than burnout. I have two or three manuscripts that are perhaps a few chapters from completion that I suddenly lost interest in. I think most of the issue had to do with the characters in the story. As much as I tried to know them, I think they always ended up being somewhat elusive that left them feeling like strangers.



I am not an audiobook listener but that is not by choice. I’d love to listen to audiobooks, but I suffer from ADHD. I walk a lot which is the perfect venue for listening, but I find my mind wandering and I end up missing so much content that it becomes impossible to follow the story. For some reason I can focus when I read and so that’s the medium that works best for me.

 I’ve only written one stand-alone novel and I certainly hope to write more. The obvious answer – at least to me – with a series, is getting to develop the characters. Even though my great-uncle Leon is only briefly mentioned in the Tailor of Riga, I am now on book three using him as the central character. I only knew him briefly as a child, but he had such a powerful personality and repertoire of stories of exotic travels and mysterious women that his character flows seamlessly through whatever situation I insert him into.



Food and drink feature prominently in my books—mainly Indian food, which I absolutely love. My father lived in India for about five years and developed a taste for both Northern and Southern Indian cuisines. Luckily Indian food is one of the dominant cuisines of South Africa, and so he got me into eating it from an early age. I’ve visited India countless times both on business and vacation and have learned to cook different dishes. Both my sons are curry fanatics, too, which I find very gratifying. In my first series, the Roger Storm books, you’ll find the characters knocking back martinis. I absolutely love martinis – although I’ve stopped as I got to love them a little too much during the early days of COVID – and think of them as the quintessential drink. I prefer gin martinis, though I will substitute vodka on occasion. The thing that bugs me most about some restaurants is when they serve a martini in a round or stemless glass. There is no more perfect glass than the traditional V-shape with a long stem and round base. I consider it a crime to serve a martini in anything else.

My own question: Describe your writing style.
I always think of myself as an Uber driver. I drop my characters off at a certain location, pick them up when they’re done, and transport them to the next place.



 I certainly don’t consider listening to books as “cheating,” or see it as inferior to “real reading.’’ That’s like thinking emails are a lazy person’s answer to letters or texts the tools of the loafer.  On the contrary, they are simply the utility of the electronic age, which you can either embrace or be swallowed up by.



When I write I am totally focused on the words as they appear on the page and never even consider what they’d sound like in an audiobook or if they’d appear on a TV series. If I did, I think it would be better to write the story in a script format, which would at least be cleaner. If I did have “audiobook” in mind, I might write less dialogue and use more descriptive language, which I think – and this is pure conjecture – may be easier for the narrator. I’d love to know the answer to this question.


 I always try to start the “next” novel as soon as I feel like I’m getting to the end of the one I’m currently writing. This generally means there is no actual moment for celebration. I’ve also found that friends and family who were all full of congratulations and good wishes after the first few books now barely batter an eyelid when I announce that I’ve just finished the next one. Jerry Della Femina, a famous old ad guy that you’ve probably never heard of, said, “Creative people always put their faces up to be kissed and end up getting them slapped.” That’s not to say that if I hit a million sales I wouldn’t break out a bottle of 1996 Dom Perignon from my imaginary cellar.


About the Author: Jonathan Harries
Jonathan Harries began his career as a trainee copywriter at Foote, Cone & Belding in South Africa and ended it as Chairman of FCB Worldwide with a few stops in between.
After winning his first Cannes Lion award, he was offered a job at Grey Advertising in South Africa, where he worked as a copywriter and ended up as CEO at age 29, just before emigrating to the US. Like most immigrants in those days, he started once again from scratch. After a five year stint as Executive Creative Director of Hal Riney in Chicago, he was offered a senior position at FCB. Within ten years, he became the Global Chief Creative Officer and spent the next ten traveling to over 90 countries, racking up 8 million miles on American Airlines alone.
He began writing his first novel, Killing Harry Bones, in the last year of his career and transitioned into becoming a full-time author a year ago, just after retiring from FCB. He’s been writing ever since while doing occasional consulting work for old clients.
Jonathan has a great love of animals, and he and his wife try to go on safari every year. They’ve been lucky enough to visit game reserves in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Tanzania, India, and Sri Lanka.
Website


About the Narrator: Jeff Bachar
Jeff Bachar is a professional voice artist who delights in helping authors bring their stories to life for listeners. He studied acting at the North Carolina School of the Arts and has a BFA from DePaul University’s Theatre School. In addition to audiobooks, Jeff specializes in commercial and political voiceover as well as museum audio tour narration. With a master’s degree in Public Health, he excels at health-related narration for corporate videos, e-learning, and explainer videos. When he is not in his recording studio, Jeff loves to explore the world and its many diverse cultures with his family. He can be reached at jjbachar@me.com

0 Comments

Cassius & Ellendarra by D.C. Armstrong

6/11/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture




​Author: D. C. Armstrong
Narrator: Nathaniel Priestley
Length: 7 hours 44 minutes
Publisher: D. C. Armstrong⎮2022
Genre: Fantasy
Release date: Apr. 19, 2022

​
Listen Here
Cassius alone stands between the realm of Evlontus and complete destruction in this riveting tale of swords, magic, and deception that rewrites the classic theme of good versus evil.

Imprisoned within Cassius’ soul lives a terrifying dark force threatening to destroy all existence. As his control over it weakens, it is up to his brother, King Magnus, along with his deceitful machinations, to repress and vanquish the evil entity and restore balance to the realm. Total annihilation looms over Evlontus, and the brothers’ efforts begin to unravel due to the interference of two soldiers, Japheth and Ellendarra.

When the truth is finally revealed, destiny takes them down an unexpected path toward the ultimate battle between good and evil.

Buy Links
Buy on Audible
DREAMCAST

  • Magnus – Oscar Isaac
  • Ellendarra – Jessica Chastain
  • Cassius – Ian Somerhalder
  • Japheth – Ricky Whittle
  • Raven – Zoë Kravitz
  • Basil – Charles Dance

​About the Author: D. C. Armstrong
D. C. Armstrong is the author of Cassius and Ellendarra, and the upcoming sequel The Last King of Evlontus. A fan of character-driven stories, her work is light in the details and fast-paced but epic in scale nonetheless.
Website


About the Narrator: Nathaniel Priestley
Narrator for Penguin Random House, W.F Howes, Strathmore Publishing, Audible Studios, StoryTec, HarperCollins, RNIB and many independent authors.
As heard on Qatar Airways, Lenor Europe, Rockwool, Radio Manx, Channel 103 and many more.
Website
0 Comments

Love and Other Sins by Emilia Ares

6/7/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Author: Emilia Ares
Narrators: Karissa Vacker, Will Collyer
Length: 10 hours 7 minutes
Publisher: SERA Press⎮2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Young Adult
Release date: Nov. 11, 2021
Listen Here
Mina’s life is going according to plan; she’s acing AP Calc and is perfectly content with her nonexistent social life. Though only a high school junior, Mina knows time is an investment, and she’s putting all her capital into academics. Oliver, a child abuse survivor who grew up in the foster care system, is ready to burn down his old life and start from scratch - complete with a new name and emancipation papers - in LA. When the two are thrown together through circumstance and develop an unexpected connection, they discover how hard it is to keep the past in the past.
​
Content warning: sexual assault, recollections of child abuse, discussions of suicidal thoughts, and mention of miscarriage.

​
Buy Links
Buy on Amazon⎮Audible⎮iTunes⎮Google⎮Scribd⎮Chirp⎮Nook⎮Kobo

​
About the Author: Emilia Ares
Emilia Ares is an American film and television actress known for American Horror Story (2011), NCIS (2003), Bosch (2014), and Follow Me (2020). Love and Other Sins is her debut novel. She graduated UCLA with a BA in Economics, and a minor in Russian. Literature and storytelling have always been her true passion.
Website

 My Top 10 Favorite Audiobooks 
1.     Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
2.     Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
3.     We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
4.     The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5.     The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
6.     The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
7.     A List of Cages by Robin Roe
8.     The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
9.     Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
10.  Love and Other Sins by Emilia Ares (I’ve listened to my book over ten times now. I love it so much. If you don’t enjoy your own story, then what’s the point, right?)
 




About the Narrator: Karissa Vacker
Karissa is an Audie Award Finalist and AudioFile Earphones award winning narrator based in Los Angeles by way of Texas.  She is a classically trained actor with credits from major regional theaters and also enjoys a career in film and TV. 
Karissa has narrated over 100 books in-studio for Penguin Random House, Hachette, Brilliance, Tantor,  Dreamscape, Harper Collins and Scholastic, among others.  She excels at narrating YA fiction, women's fiction, and suspense/thrillers.
Website
​
About the Narrator: Will Collyer
Will Collyer, an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a film, television, and stage actor. He has starred in television shows such as Melrose Place, Charmed, CSI: Miami, and Boston Public, as well as numerous films and plays. He holds a BA in theater arts from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television.
Website
0 Comments

Woman Over The Edge by Quinn Avery

6/3/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Author: Quinn Avery
Narrator: Raquel Beattie
Length: 8 hours 59 minutes
Publisher: Jennifer Naumann⎮2022
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release date: Apr. 21, 2022
Listen Here
Perfect for fans of Don’t Lie To Me and The Night She Disappeared, award-winning author Quinn Avery’s newest book, Woman Over the Edge follows Mia’s decades-long search for her sister’s killer.

Mia Hughes is only 16-years-old when she loses her sister after a summer storm catapults their boat into the rocky shoreline. Only Ben, Mia’s best friend along for the boat ride, is conscious after the crash. When he goes looking for help he discovers Mia covered in blood...and no sign of Bella. With no memory of what happened before she was found, Mia spends the next 22 years haunted by Bella's disappearance, only to encounter a series of tragedies that she knows have to be tied to her sister...and to Ben.
​
Blending the non-stop action of Those That Wish Me Dead, the shocking revelations of The Couple Next Door, and the deceptive family drama of The Last Thing He Told Me, Woman Over the Edge will most definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.
​

Buy Links
Buy on Audible⎮Libro.fm⎮Chirp⎮Nook

​
                              Quinn Avery                                                    Raquel Beattie
​About the Author: Quinn Avery
Quinn Avery is an award-winning author who has written 38 novels, both romantic suspense and mystery/thriller. An avid fan of the beach, a good book, and Dave Grohl, she enjoys traveling and spending her free time with her favorite people and biggest fans...her husband and children.
Quinn also writes romantic suspense as Jennifer Ann.
Website

​
About the Narrator: Raquel Beattie
Raquel Beattie speaks conversational Spanish and she’s comfortable with beginning French. She can do a range of voices and select accents, including American Southern and Mexican. She loves the craft of storytelling and has narrated over 45 books from her home studio. She loves spending time with her husband and three kids, getting outside in nature, hanging with friends, dark humor, and eating good food. “I’m not a foodie per sé, but I really appreciate simple and tasty meals,”she says, as she goes to Whataburger for the hundredth time. Hey, one can like their burgers and still have a discerning palate. She’s complex that way.
Also narrating as Allie Lake.
Website

Interview with Raquel Beattie

​
  1. What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator? I love thrillers and mysteries and the audition manuscript was enough to get me hooked! I wanted to know what happened! Just from the audition script, I knew this would be a fun book to immerse myself in.
  2. How did you decide how each character should sound in this title? Definitely a character's personality and attitude informs how they will sound. Sometimes I'll use a similar character I've seen in a movie or someone I know, but many times, the author has given me enough to really see that character.
  3. How do you manage to avoid burnout? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for narrating? Even though I love my job, it's still a job. I have 3 kids, so I schedule work carefully in order to keep a good work/life balance. I don't take myself too seriously, I take breaks, and I take time for other hobbies.
  4. Have there been any characters that you really connected with? Yes! Actually there have been many characters who I've resonated with. One book I narrated had a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story that reminded me of mine and my husband's story.
  5. Who is your “dream author” that you would like to record for? Blake Crouch! His books are incredible.
  6. What bits of advice would you give to aspiring audiobook narrators? Get coaching, keep growing, and keep going. Don't give up. Be a clear and reliable communicator, and be kind.
  7. How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance? I stumbled on it by chance! I moved to a new state and I felt lost. I got an adult education course newsletter in the mail and thought this might be a good way to meet people in a new place. I found a course titled "Make Money With Your Voice." I had some acting background and it sounded fun, so I signed up. I loved it, kept learning and getting coaching, and it snowballed from there.
  8. Did you find it difficult to “break into” audiobook narration? What skill/tool helped you the most when getting started? I don't think I'd be where I am today if I wasn't so stubborn. I did one book, then another, and I didn't think about "failing." I just thought, "Where do I want to be in 5 years? Regretting that I didn't keep going, or doing my nth book?" Also, actively learning and seeking out expert information gave me confidence and expertise to start and keep going.
  9. A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theater. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career? There are some fabulous narrators who don't have a background in theater, but invested in coaching and are now killing it. Even people with acting backgrounds should get some narration specific coaching.
  10. What type of training have you undergone? I have trained with many renowned narrators who also coach and I have attended many narrator conferences and workshops. Coaching and continuing education is an investment worth making.
0 Comments

The Synesthete by S.L. Michaels

6/3/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Author: S. L. Michaels
Narrators: Loganne Digma, Jackson Lawrie
Length: 7 hours 21 minutes
Publisher: S. L. Michaels⎮2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance; YA
Release date: Mar. 30, 2022
Listen Here
 It wasn't supposed to be this way....

For Alina LaRosa, what was supposed to be the start of a glorious new life at a new life at Ravenswood Academy quickly spirals into a disaster. Bullies, rich arrogant guys, and to top it off, she discovers she's homeless!

With no one to turn to and no where to go, until who should offer a helping hand but her teacher...Mister Thorburn.

To Nicolai Thorburn, Alina LaRosa was supposed to be just another student, but time spent living together caused his "professional " façade to crumble...and one fateful day, in his sunset-drenched classroom, a very dangerous emotion is born. But how long can one man turn a blind eye to his heart?

Can you keep a secret?
​
Buy Links
Buy on Amazon

​
Meet S.L. Michaels (Author) & Narrators ​Loganne Digma, Jackson LawrieIt
About the Author: S. L. Michaels
Hey, hey, hey, I'm S.L. Michaels, and I wrote The Synesthete.
Growing up in the 90's, I loved reading. Taking trips to the library was better than going to Disney World.  My favorite books were the entire series of The Classics of Wishbone.  Frankenstein and The Odyssey, Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, and The Babysitters Club Little Sister Series.
After a tragic breakup in 2011, I turned to writing when a night-in with my family watching the movie Inception motivated me to write. Inspired, I took to writing Inception Fanfiction and from there my passion for writing has only continued to grow.
I love story telling. I love crafting new ways for a couple to get together, what are their obstacles going to be, and how are they going to overcome those obstacles so that they can be together
I live a quiet life in the forests of Northeast Florida, with my four-old-son.  Nothing means more to me than my family and I cherishes every moment spent with them.
 You can find me on YouTube at my channel 'write on'. 
Website

About the Narrator: Loganne Digma
​LOGANNE DIGMA is a passionate voice actor, director, and singer based in Orlando, Florida.
Starting at the young age of 13, Loganne found herself interested in the art of voiceover and began pursuing it as a hobby throughout various forms of media on social platforms. After voicing in an animated web series named "Twelve", she went on to audition for other indie projects ranging from animated films to audiobooks.
It wasn't until the age of 15 when she decided she wanted to continue voice acting as a career path. With 2 years of experience and projects now under her belt, she began researching a proper studio setup, equipment, and spent more time developing and harnessing her skills. On top of building her acting capabilities, she took an interest in audio engineering and video editing which soon grew to support her financially as a part-time job.
She's the director of an online dubbing studio named "Helvetica Dubs" that has received millions of views. Through this studio, she was able to even further develop her voice acting skills and gain additional experience from voicing in her own projects. Furthermore, she has expanded her skills into producing content as a WEBTOON Ambassador.
Loganne continues her training and practice in acting by taking remote classes and workshops that dive even deeper into the art of voiceover. Through these classes, she has further developed her skills and booked roles in video games and animated projects.
She attends the University of Central Florida for a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Studies with a minor in Marketing.
One of the biggest takeaways Loganne has gained in her journey as an actor and producer is that age does not limit one's talents. As long as you have the passion, enthusiasm, persistence, and drive, anyone can accomplish their goals.
Website

About the Narrator: Jackson LawrieIt's been quite the journey since I started back in 2015, and I feel as if I've grown so very much since those days of old. I have had the wonderful opportunity to have met and befriended so many amazing people through my involvement in the voice acting/animation community on YouTube and otherwise, and truly it has been a grand ride! To those out there feeling depressed, lost, or oppressed, I ask you to stay strong and challenge you to find your passions in life, to feed off of them and use them to give yourself a greater purpose in the tough world that we live in. 
I have found my passions through my struggles,  and through hope, and I desire to develop them into something grand. I enjoy participating in stories in any way that I can, and so voiceover has been a great outlet for me to thrive. I thank all who watch and enjoy my content for what it is, and will do my best to give flavor to any projects I have the blessing to be a part of!

​
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    1 Year Anniversary
    An AudioBook Worm Promotion
    Audiobook Reviews
    Audiobook Tours
    Author Spotlights
    Black Spot Books
    Blog Tours
    Cover Reveal
    Crystal's Reviews
    Fangirl Thursday
    Haunted-by-magic
    HEA PR
    Hot Tree Promotions
    Lady
    Lady Amber's Reviews & PR
    Love Affair With Fiction
    Lynn's Reviews
    New Release
    Ouab-2016
    Preorder
    Reviews
    Sales
    Sales Alerts
    #ScareFest2015
    Siren Press
    Sleuthing Women!
    Spooktacular Reads 2020
    Spooktacular Reads 2021
    The Audio Flow
    Welcome

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    RSS Feed

    Picture

Thank you for visiting 2 Girls & A Book.

Picture