Voice: Audiobooks

A first-time author/narrator … multi-title narrators … Hans Solo, Leia and Chewbacca … the voice of vampire erotica – all revealed fascinating tips and advice for audiobook narrators at a recent BookCon panel. VO pro/narrator Tom Dheere was there to capture it for us …

Marking up a script is common in voice acting – but there’s a big difference between how you mark up text for voicing a 30-second commercial vs. a 12-hour audiobook. Veteran voice actor, narrator-coach Dawn Harvey details methods for marking up an audiobook script that will improve your read without being ludicrously time-consuming …

Audiobook narrators should sound “interested” in what they read – not just “interesting” to listen to, says veteran narrator/coach Jim Conlan …

This is the “Truth, people. Look out!” says Randye Kaye – voice actor, narrator, actress, author – who observes what can happen to a narrator of non-fiction audiobooks. For starters, “playing the author” and inhabiting characters can make one an instant expert and, well … “Don’t ever let me take a role as a bitchy broad. You’ll have to run for the hills” …

Yesterday, Part 1 of audiobook narrator/coach Sean Pratt’s in-depth review of how to prepare a non-fiction title for your narration focused on the Macro – or big picture – level. Today in Part 2, Sean concludes with the Middle and Micro aspects … all of which will help you stay true to the author’s intent – and keep your listeners engaged …

You can narrate a non-fiction audiobook as a disinterested bore – or bring life to it by gathering as much information as possible about the project before you hit RECORD. Acclaimed and prolific narrator/coach Sean Pratt reveals how to thoroughly prep the book – Part 1, the Macro level …

Why are some non-fiction audiobooks so deadly boring? Narrator/coach Sean Pratt advises that non-fiction DOES NOT mean non-acting. It’s still the non-fiction narrator’s job to be entertaining and engaging, and Sean says a perfect way to prepare is to imagine giving a TED Talk – with your book as the script …

Audiobook narrator: Can you make more money by outsourcing production – the time-consuming drudge work of proofing, correcting and packaging? Narrator Tim Danko shares how to evaluate that, regardless of where you are in your narrating career …

As an audiobook narrator, take a break for a few moments and imagine yourself switching seats with a producer – with someone who is seeking a narrator for their next book (perhaps a role you’d savor!). To help, see Part 2 of Tom Dheere’s interviews with audiobook publishers/producers …

Audiobook publishers/producers are a very special, if not masochistic, lot. They love audiobooks and are on a never-ending quest to find the right narrators for their next books – as well as pull the best performances possible from those narrators. So – what qualities do they seek in a narrator? What would make them want to hire that narrator again? Voice talent/narrator Tom Dheere asks six publishers/producers (Part 1) …