My Chat with Kelsey Navarro

Hello and welcome!

My guest today has a voice that gave me many hours of listening bliss and she is definitely on my ‘eargasm’ voices list. My love affair with her work started in August last year, listening to the voices she gives to the characters and how she gives their emotions life is something to be experienced.

Please welcome Kelsey Navarro!

Do you have a nickname?
I usually go by Kelsey, but Kel or Kels sometimes.

What is one word best describes you?
Optimistic? That’s a tough one.

What makes you laugh out loud?
Memes and sarcasm

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
I LOVE wintery smells and baking anything with cinnamon.

Favourite place to spend time in.
I love being in my booth.

What is your fave genre to read in your spare time? Do you have any spare time?
I am a huge romance fan so I tend to listen to all subgenres of that when I have time. I also love self-help non-fiction. I’m a big nerd for personal development.

Audiobooks! What started them?
I’ve always wanted to be in voice over. But a few years ago I went through demo coaching for Commercial and Narration and found audiobooks. Never looked back from there.

Is there a genre that you would not narrate?
No, not so far. I definitely have preferences but I would narrate any genre.

If you could choose another career what would it be?
I actually had another one prior to this. I was in retail management for 8 years prior to going into voice over full time.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
I do a pretty varied amount of work so I don’t know that there’s a specific emotion or message. I’m a huge fan of keeping the performance as genuine as possible.

Who is your intended audience and why should they listen to your audiobooks?
I do tend to mostly do romance and it’s my favorite genre so those that love that genre would like what I do. I love what I do and hope that shows in my work.
Believe me, it does show.

What is next in your narrating work?
I’m working on a lot this next month! Some Alien romance, a Reverse Harem series, Contemporary romance, a few dual narration and some other great things.

Oh I like the sound of that, looking forward to more hours of ‘eargasms’ 😉
Thank you for chatting with me.

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Thank you all for joining us and I hope you enjoyed the chat.

I listened to 6 books so far and gave all of them 5 stars for performance, more waiting in my library.

The backlist has 32 titles published and by the sounds of it many more in production. Music to my ears.

I am confident you will find something you like to listen to in Ms. Navarro’s growing list.  Here are links to find out more and keep up to date with her work.

website,  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Audible

To start you on your listening journey, Ms. Navarro is giving away an audiobook, winner’s choice from the backlist who will be chosen by Sexy Mr. Random from the comments on this post after 3pm EST on Monday, January 13, 2020. GOOD LUCK!

Until next time… read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with Heather Firth

Hello and welcome!

I am excited to introduce to you a new voice I discovered recently, smooth, scrumptious, rich like fine velvet.

Please welcome Heather Firth!

Do you have a nickname?
Not that I’m aware of. If I do, nobody calls me it to my face.

What is one word best describes you?
Emotional. I’m 100% an emotional empath. It’s not uncommon for me to cry watching a commercial on TV.
Yeah… my son looks at me funny because I cry too.

What makes you laugh out loud?
Hmmm, I’m not sure. But there have been plenty of times when I’ve been listening to an audiobook and laughed out loud. Once I was driving and almost veered into the curb because I was laughing so hard!

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
Definitely vanilla. I’m not really sure why. Maybe something to do with baking? Growing up, my grandma was the master of baked goods.
I love the smell of baking, my Mother used to bake every weekend and she used me as her mixing machine 😀 maybe that is why I hate baking… but I love to eat sweets

Favourite place to spend time in.
Other than my recording studio? That’s definitely a favorite place for me. But outside of that would have to be anywhere in the mountains.  Nothing beats fresh mountain air and mountain views.
I know what you mean. I was born and grew up in the mountains, I miss them.

What is your fave genre to read in your spare time? Do you have any spare time?
I really stick to romance books for the most part. Thanks to my career in narration I have branched out to Sci-Fi as well though. I really don’t have a lot of spare time these days. I used to read 3-4 books a week. Now I’m lucky if I can finish one book in a week. Most nights I fall asleep with my Kindle in my hand.

Audiobooks! What started them?
This one is a long story! It wasn’t one thing, but rather a chain of events. First, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a major in Dramatic Arts. My dream was to move away to a big city and become an actress. Looking back now, I realize I’m not a big city type of girl. Instead I got married, had children and worked jobs that helped pay the bills. In 2015 my friend invited me to see the movie “Fifty Shades of Grey”. I had heard of the books, but never read them. I thought that they “weren’t really my thing”. I even asked my friend, “Are you sure you want to go with me? I was embarrassed watching Magic Mike!” Well, it turns out it was my thing. The day after the movie, I went out and bought the Fifty Shades books in paperback and read them four times. Thus, my love and obsession with romance books was born. Shortly after, I created Naughty Book Blog. I then discovered audiobooks. It was while listening to Colleen Hoover’s November 9 that I had a lightbulb moment. Audiobook Narrators can work from home?! Maybe I can finally find a career I love and put my university degree to use! So I made it my goal to become a voice actor.
I am so glad you did. Your voice must be heard!

Is there a genre that you would not narrate?
At this point, I really have no interest in narrating non-fiction. My heart is with fiction. Although, I probably wouldn’t do anything with excessive amounts of gore. I don’t like horror movies so anything that has content similar to horror movie would be a no go for me because it would most likely keep me up at night or give me nightmares. I’m too sensitive to deal with that kind of imagery.

If you could choose another career what would it be?
If given the chance, I would love to go back to stage acting or even venture into film. I’m also a singer so I’d definitely love the chance to record music.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
I’m not sure there’s a specific emotion or message, but being an extremely emotional person, I think that my real feelings sometimes bleed into my performance. It isn’t uncommon for me to be narrating a scene with a death and I have to stop and collect myself because the emotion gets caught up in my throat and I can’t speak properly. I have to hit the pause button, let the emotion out and then take a couple deep breaths to collect myself. These sort of scenes are really hard for me to get through because I feel it too much sometimes.

Who is your intended audience and why should they listen to your audiobooks?
That’s a great question. I’ve never really given it much thought. Being new to this career, I’m just happy when someone sees my name attached to a title, has no good idea who I am, but is willing to give it a listen! At this point in my career though, I’m focusing on romance projects, so I’d say romance listeners are my target audience.

What is next in your narrating work?

Just finished up the fourth and final book in the Twisted World series by Kate L. Mary, Twisted Fate. It’s a zombie apocalypse with a well integrated love story as well.

Next up is my first romantic comedy, The Fine Line Between Love and Hate by Ashley Erin, a fellow resident of Alberta, Canada!

 

After that is Whole Lotta Frogs by Samatha Harris.

Then I have two very naughty sci-fi romance titles by Sara Fields, Conquered and Mastered.
ooooh yum…. I am looking forward to these ones 😉

Thank you so much Heather for spending time with me. I am looking forward to lots more hours of listening.

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Thanks for joining us and I hope you enjoyed the chat and will give a listen, I promise you, it will be an experience.

I listened to Surviving Eden book 1 in the Surviving Series by Virginia Wine and here is my review:

Story 4 stars
Performance 5 stars

I picked this book because of the voice. Ms. Firth’s is a new voice for me and I really enjoyed listening to the many voices and emotions of the characters. She really pulled off this dual POV story with passion. Her talent is evident and I am looking forward to many more.

New author for me, Ms. Wine gives us a forbidden love story. But when love is present, is this relationship really forbidden? I thought so too at the beginning, but following their story, I couldn’t help but cheer them on as Eden and Theo heal each other and the HEA ending changed my mind. When is the next book out in audio? I hope soon.

Here is a HAWT (explicit) snippet from the audiobook, if you are offended by that type of content, please DO NOT listen to this. There are more samples on the website or on SoundCloud, follow the links at the bottom 😉

Here are the links to find out more and keep up to date with her work.

website • Facebook • SoundCloud • Twitter • Instagram • Naughty Book Blog

To start you on your listening journey, Ms. Firth is giving away an audiobook, winner’s choice from the backlist that will be chosen by Sexy Mr. Random from the comments on this post after 3pm EST on Monday, August 27, 2018. GOOD LUCK!

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with Scott Bennett

Hello and welcome!

Today’s guest has a warm voice that is just right for story telling, it keeps my attention throughout the book, animated and rumbling at times, a pleasure to listen to.

Please welcome Scott Bennett !

Do you have a nickname?
Not since my days in high school. Between my junior and senior year, I went to a summer camp called Boys’ State, sponsored by the American Legion, where I was the coach of our group’s football team.  Other boys said I was trying to act like famous Alabama football coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, so they dubbed me “Teddy Bear.”  Other than that, I’ve never really had a nickname… that I’m aware of… though I’m sure I’ve been called a few behind my back by students in the school where I teach.  Haha

What is one word best describes you?
As a person, in general, I would hope it would be something like kind, friendly, or sincere. As a narrator of audiobooks I recently had to narrow it down, upon request of my coach Sean Pratt, to four:  affable, astute, relaxed, and folksy.  And in case anyone wonders, many audiobook narrators who aspire to improve seek the advice of voice acting coaches, and Sean, who does have a nickname: the Ginger Yoda, is one of the best in the business, having narrated close to 1000 audiobooks.

What makes you laugh out loud?
Many things:  cat/dog videos, good jokes, my own audio outtakes, sometimes I can’t believe the things that come out of my mouth when I try to narrate! … my granddaughter, my students, and I could go on.  I once made the mistake of having my wife listen with me and give feedback as I was trying to edit a somewhat spicy scene in an audiobook I was recording.  She had a fit of giggles and we both got tickled. Needless to say, I only let her listen to finished product now.  LOL

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
I like the smell of bread baking, bacon frying, a campfire on a fall evening, honeysuckle, when I’m riding on my motor scooter I love to ride in the country for this reason alone, and hickory smoke.  When I lived in Kentucky one of the best smells in the world was farmers who were “firing” their tobacco in the barns.  It makes me quite nostalgic.

Favourite place to spend time in.
Well, one of my favourite places to spend time is in my little 4 X 4 booth where I record audiobooks.  I really do enjoy the solitude and reading there.  If you mean where – away from home – I’d have to say in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in a little cabin in the woods.  Gatlinburg is one of the places my wife and I enjoy going to on holiday.

What is your fave genre to read in your spare time? Do you have any spare time?
If I’m reading just for pleasure, not work related – and yes, I make myself carve out time for that, I most enjoy action/adventure and horror.  I’m a fan of authors like Lee Child, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, to name a few.

Audiobooks! What started them?
I enjoyed listening to audiobooks long before I ever attempted to break into narrating them.  I would read aloud to students all the time when I taught reading and English.  One summer, during break from school, I got involved with narrating books for Librivox.org which is a free service to listeners, pubic domain works.  From there, I decided to branch out into books for pay via Amazon’s ACX.

Is there a genre that you would not narrate?
I’m willing to narrate most any genre.

If you could choose another career what would it be?
Audiobooks IS my other career.  If I could do it exclusively, I would probably choose it over teaching – though I have enjoyed it quite a bit. Beyond that, if I could be a full time audiobook listener… that wouldn’t be so bad.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
I try to always capture the emotion or message of the author and convey it.

Who is your intended audience and why should they listen to your audiobooks?
Again, my intended audience is that of the author.  She (or he) is the one who usually has fans and followers.  I just hope I don’t get in the way of them enjoying their favorite author’s work.

What is next in your narrating work?
I am currently recording a book by author C.F. Waller titled Waypoint: A Game of Drones.  It is a thriller and I am excited to be recording it.  The book Tourists of the Apocalypse I recorded is also one of his books and it has been one of my best selling audiobooks.  As well, it was recently named a finalist in the Audiobookreviewer Listener Choice Awards for 2018 in the Sci-fi category. I have a queue of about 5 other books beyond that – most from authors I’ve worked with before.

Congrats on the nomination! Looking forward to more of your audios. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me.

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Thanks for joining us and I hope you enjoyed the chat.

If you hear Mr. Bennett’s voice I know you will agree with me when I say he has a great story teller’s voice. I listened to a few already, among them “Grady Judd” by Ciana Stone and “But Not Forgiven” by BJ Bourg and they all got 5 stars on the performance. Have quite a few on my TBL list: “But Not Forgotten” by BJ Bourg, “Breathe” by  Christine Grey, “The Sorcerer’s Quest” by Rain Oxford are some of them.

I NEED MORE TIME!!! I better buy tickets this weekend, quite a few mills in the jackpot tonight and tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me 😉 then I’ll become full time audio listener!

I am confident you will find something you like to listen to in Mr. Bennett’s growing list in a wide range of genres. Here are links to find out more and keep up to date with his work.

website • Facebook • Twitter • Audible

To start you on your journey Mr. Bennett is gifting two codes (US or UK) and winners can choose from his backlist, GOOD LUCK there are so many choices! Sexy Mr. Random will pick the names after 3pm EST on Monday, April 16, 2018.

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with Aaron Shedlock!

Hello and welcome!

I would like to introduce to you another of my  fave narrators, added recently to my list. A friend of mine recommended and she hasn’t steered me wrong… so far! Thanks M! 😉

Please welcome Aaron Shedlock!

Do you have a nickname?
There is one, I don’t know if I’d call it a nickname. A friend of mine saw a review where a fan called me a “Panty Melter”. Unfortunately it stuck around and is a running joke among my small group of friends.

What is one word best describes you?
Intense

What makes you laugh out loud?
Comedians, physical comedy, pranks, embarrassing and awkward moments.

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
Coffee roasting and bookstores. Reminds me of peace and quiet and places filled with fantasy worlds I’d rather be living in.

source

Favourite place to spend time in.
This will always and forever be bookstores. But I also love cabins in the country, sitting by a stream, or Castle Cavan in Ireland. I love my back patio in the fall and spring. Perfect place to sit back, read a book and drink some excellent coffee.

What is you life motto?
I have two. One that was given to me and one I found on my own. 1.) Don’t wait for something better, make it happen now. 2.) Find something that makes you truly happy and work as hard you can to pursue it.

Audiobooks! What started them?
MacLeod Andrews is my biggest inspiration and the catalyst for me getting into audiobooks. I think I’ve always wanted to be an actor but never had anyone really push me to try. I’ve got one of those quirky personalities and a huge imagination that apparently lends itself to this type of work. The internet and ACX made it accessible and from the moment I read my first audition I knew this was it for me. I found “The Thing” I was meant to do.

Is there a genre that you would not narrate?
I’d narrate within any genre, I love all types of stories. But there are certain themes and circumstances I won’t do. Mainly anything that supports and fetishizes any form of sexual behavior that is immoral, illegal, and non-consensual.

If you could choose another career what would it be?
I’ve done quite a bit career wise. I’m exactly where I want to be. Although, doing voice work for animations, movies, and video games is an area I’ll be exploring in the coming year. Maybe even acting if I can get up the nerve.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
I think every good story has a message/theme and evokes emotion. I like diversity. I don’t like one specific style of story or character. I love them all and enjoy stepping into different or difficult roles and characters. I love anything where I can really sink my passion into the story and make it my own.

Who is your intended audience and why should they listen to your audiobooks?
Anyone who enjoys a good story. That’s the most wonderful part of a story. Everyone interprets the theme or message in their own way. No one can read a book and feel the same exact way about it as someone else because we identify with stories based on life experience.

What is next in your narrating work?
Several books are on the horizon. I just wrapped the third book in a series for D. Laine that is just brilliant. If you love Urban Fantasy with romance, action, and suspense I would highly suggest reading or listening to her Apocalypse Assassin series. I’m co-narrating this with the wonderful Amy Landon. It’s been a very busy year so far. I’ve done at least a book a week since New Years. Some great contemporary romances (Evolution of Us, Your Endless Love, Waiting to Breathe), a Rom-Com centered around wine and a sommelier contest (Legs by Kelly Siskind), a billionaire romance (Clandestine by Ava Harrison), and an MC biker romance (Outlaw by Nicole James). Just a few of the titles I’ve worked on recently. Lot’s of great stuff on the books for Feb, March, April and May.

Wow that is a lot of work. Thank you Aaron for spending some time with me in my corner of the blogging world. Looking forward to listening to more of your work.

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Thanks for joining us and I hope you enjoyed the chat. If you heard any of Mr. Shedlock’s work you know how wonderful is listening to him. If not, you should!

The first audiobook I listened narrated by him was in collaboration with Tracy Marks (who you probably know that I have a voice crush on) titled Savage – The Awakening of Lizzie Danton by L.A. Fiore and and oh boy he was sooo good, his Scot brogue is sexy, his voice is so versatile, that I had to have more. So I have listened to a few more since and all were 5-star audio experiences for me. I added a few more to my wish list too, at the top is Beast, A Bad Boy Marine Romance by Alana Albertson.

I am sure you will find something you like to listen to in Mr. Shedlock’s growing list. Here are links to find out more and keep up to date with his work.

website • Audible • SoundCloud • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Until next time… read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with DC Cole

Hello and welcome!

I am so excited to share my chat with today’s guest. He is my new eargasm crush and if you listen to his voice you will understand why.

Welcome DC!

Sorry ladies, he is shy, so no pictures are shared at this time 😉 Who knows, maybe I’ll catch him at a future signings.

Do you have a nickname?
No, not really. Well, I guess DC is a nickname.

What is one word best describes you?
I guess the depends who you ask! But, since I am the one that is answering, I’ll go with…um…easygoing.

What makes you laugh out loud?
The thing that still gets me every time is when people fall down. I know it’s childish, but it cracks me up every single time. And the more serious the event, the more I laugh. I was at a wedding once where the bride practically face planted while walking down the aisle. Everyone gasped in shock and concern; I had to run out of the church, my hand covering my mouth, barely able to contain my snorts of laughter, tears already at the corners of my eyes. I realized after then that there might be something wrong with me…

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
That is such a hard question! I am feeling a bit nostalgic right now, so I will go with the smell of bacon in a frying pan. It reminds me of Sunday mornings as a kid. Every Sunday morning, I would wake up to that smell.
I don’t know how my mom knew what time I would wake up, or if it was the actually smell of the bacon itself that would wake me, but every single Sunday as a child that would be how I would wake up. I grew up with just me and my mom. Our Sunday routine was always the same, bacon, and other stuff, for breakfast, and then she would crank up the stereo to an obnoxiously loud level and we would clean the house together.
She died a few years ago. But, every time I smell bacon I remember Sunday mornings with mom.
I think it was the bacon waking you up. That is the way I wake up my son on Saturday mornings, the minute it starts cooking, he is there, eyes still closed and hugging me 😉

Favourite place to spend time in.
In the Ocean. Any Ocean. I’m not picky. I like to swim out, just past the point where the waves are breaking, and just float.

Audiobooks! What started them?
I was an actor in the States for a number of years. Then I decided to go on a little trip, which ended up becoming this massive adventure that had me living and owning a bar in Japan for a few years before finally moving to Brazil, where I currently live.
I started listening to audiobooks, and at the same time I was doing a little bit of voice over work, but I paid most of the bills teaching English (which is not something I enjoyed very much). And all I could think of was how much I missed acting. This went on for a year. I worked here and there with my voice, was listening to a ton of audiobooks, and the whole time complained because I couldn’t find a way to be an actor.
Then one day, while listening to Grover Gardner narrate a Lois McMaster Bujold book, it hit me: I should try this. It took me a year and half after that to move into a new home where I could actually make a little studio for myself. And then I just started auditioning.
I for one, I am really happy that you did! Brazil? Beautiful country.

Is there a genre that you would not narrate?
I don’t know… I don’t think so. I have said no to some stuff because I thought I wouldn’t give them a very good performance. I don’t know if that is genre related though.

If you could choose another career what would it be?
Ah…bourbon taste tester. Is that a thing? Maybe run the quality control department for a hammock company.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
I don’t think so. I try to adapt to whatever is happening in the text. The thing that I have always loved about being an actor is putting on the skin of a character. So, that is what I try to do. Of course, like all art forms, the way in which one expresses themselves says a lot about them. If you look at it that way, then I guess a lot of the choices I make are pretty telling about my inner-self. But, that is too deep for me and it’s not something I ever think about.
You do that so well, taking the characters and giving them life with passion.

Who is your intended audience and why should they listen to your audiobooks?
My intended audience is… people with ears. Or not. Haha! I have no idea. Each book has a different audience, but I almost never think about that. At least not with fiction. With fiction, I am just trying to see the story and be the characters. With non-fiction it is a little bit different, then I need to pay more attention to who the audience is. But, for me personally, my audience is whoever can stand listening to my voice for hours on end.
Oh I can stand it, believe me 😀

What is next in your narrating work?
I have a few steamy romances on the calendar coming up. I’m looking forward to jumping in the book for those! Also have a suspense book coming out that I am really excited about “Don’t Look Back” by Vicki Tharp. “Under the Shadows“, book 4 in the Alexander Ranch series by Marla Josephs, released a few days ago.

Thank you DC for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join me in my little corner of the blogging world. Good luck for the future and I am looking forward to more eargasms 😀

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Thanks for joining us today and I hope you enjoyed the chat as much as I did.

My first listen from Mr. Cole was the Karev Brothers trilogy, by Leslie North. Check out my review here. I fell in love with the voice that should be illegal 😉 the passion for his craft really shows.

I’ve been listening to a few more since, I can’t get enough. Among them Marla Josephs‘s “Under Suspicion“, a 5-star listen for me, my review is here and just released “Under the Shadows” for which I wish I could give more stars, see my 5-star review I just posted. You know when you love something you have that urge to prolong the experience…. well.. ya… that’s me… listen, then rewind, then listen some more…. then just that phrase hit the right way and I have to rewind 😉 or get lost in the voice and not hear the words, only emotions.

I added quite a few to my TBL list… The Reluctant Series by Marla Josephs, The Heart of a Hero by Amber Burns.

Here are links to find out more and keep up to date with his work.
website • Audible • Facebook • Twitter • ACX

You have to check out his website, there is some fun to be found there. Love his sense of humour, made me laugh out loud at 7am… and I am not a morning person AT ALL !

To start you on your listening journey, Mr. Cole is giving away the Karev Brothers trilogy audiobook. Winner will be chosen by Sexy Mr. Random from the comments on this post after 3pm EST on Monday, December 18, 2017. GOOD LUCK!

My review for Karev Brothers trilogy – 5 stars “fun, sexy suspense”
I enjoyed listening to the series in one go. Each story had a couple that despite being different and coming from different worlds, thrown together by circumstance, they meshed really well, sparks flying. The stories are short, but fun, suspense with a dash of romance and a few steamy scenes make for an entertaining listen. In the last one the truth behind their father’s murder is revealed, what a twist. Each couple’s story ends in HFN (Happy For Now) and would have been nice to get a glimpse into the future and see where they are.

My first listen from Mr. Cole and I really enjoyed the array of voices and accents, the passion for his craft really shows. I am looking forward to discover more of his work. My fave voice was the one he gave Vlad *sigh*

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with Brian Callanan

Hello and welcome!

My guest today is somebody I came across recently in my adventures in the audiobook world. I am so glad I did take a chance, I really enjoyed his voice and now on my fave list.

Please welcome Brian Callanan!

Do you have a nickname?
I’ve been through a few. “BC” with a number of friends and bandmates. “B-Cal” with a few people I’ve played sports with, though I always thought that sounded more like a vitamin than a nickname. Call me “Bri-Guy” if you’d like to be pummeled.
I’ll make sure not to call you that LOL

What is one word best describes you?
“Versatile” is probably it. I really enjoy challenging myself—with different narration roles/voices, and with most other things in life, too.

What makes you laugh out loud?
Absurdity, of which the world has an abundant and growing supply. I’m a big fan of ridiculous/ridiculously talented bands like Tenacious D and Flight of the Conchords, as well as the written works of John Hodgman. Do yourself a favor and read “The Areas of My Expertise.” I laugh even writing down the title.
I listened to the snippet on Audible, I will have to get that one .. too funny! Thanks for the recommendation.
I also laugh at anything Steve Martin does, even if he’s just walking into a room and sitting down on a chair.

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
The smell of the ground after a rain in the early fall. It’s a relatively common scent where I live in the Pacific Northwest, but it makes me feel at home and very connected to the beautiful, if sometimes soggy, environment that surrounds us.

Favourite place to spend time in.
Hawaii, with my family. We’ve only been there once, but I’m dying to go back. Mainly because one of my daughters thought it was better than Disneyland, which is a sentiment I definitely want to encourage.
Oh Hawaii! It is on my bucket list since I was young. I had planned to go this year for my birthday, but life got in the way, maybe next year.

Audiobooks! What started them?
I’d been considering working in the audio field for some time—I’ve been a TV news reporter for the past 20+ years, and still work in that field today. After a recommendation from a friend, I took a course in 2015 with David H. Lawrence XVII and Dan O’Day, the ACX Master Class, and I’ve never looked back. Audiobooks have proven to be a fascinating side project for me, and something that’s been very gratifying. I love this type of performance. It’s not an easy career to launch, and the work to edit/produce audio can be challenging and time consuming. But I really enjoy it. Connecting with the authors I’ve been able to narrate for has been one of the best parts of the process.

Is there a genre that you would not narrate?
I haven’t flat-out refused any book I’ve been approached with, but I generally stay away from erotica. I’ve found that many of the books I’ve read are plenty steamy, even without that label!

If you could choose another career what would it be?
Professional baseball player. But I’m pretty sure I missed the tryouts a few years back on that one. I’ve also been fooling myself for decades that I’m a long-distance runner, but after three marathons and an Achilles tear, I’ve had to pump the brakes a bit on that career goal, too.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
My work covers a wide range of emotions, depending on the project. But if there is a message that runs through all of my narration, it’s honesty. I’m trying to give an honest, accurate look inside the mind of the author I’m reading for. I take a lot of time with the authors I work with, before I start narrating, to determine the motivation and intent of the characters I’m reading. It’s a critical part of acting, on stage or behind a microphone, and I think it comes across in a performance. Having a good understanding of the motivation of a character helps me develop a voice for that character. Starting with that understanding, rather than, “this guy should sound kind of gravelly” or “this woman’s voice should be more high-pitched” is how I approach my narration work.

Who is your intended audience and why should they listen to your audiobooks?
As I mentioned before, I make it a point to narrate books from all types of genres that can connect with all types of audiences. My intended audience is one that likes a good story. Some of the books I’ve read are more well-crafted than others, but my goal of trying to express an author’s intentions and develop some depth to a character’s emotional backstory never changes. I hope listeners check out work from several genres in my catalog—from romance to nonfiction to poetry to cozy mysteries to science fiction—to understand that great stories can come from any genre. I’m passionate about trying to improve my narration with every book I read, and I hope that comes across to the listener.

What is next in your narrating work?
I’m in the middle of narrating a role-playing game (LitRPG) book that’s turned into quite the fun challenge! I grew up loving this type of Dungeons & Dragons fantasy adventure (nerd alert!) and it’s been very interesting seeing it play out in a literary form. Look for a release from me later in the fall of 2017!
You are in good company here, NERDS are welcome 😉

Also, I’m soon going to be teaching a class for authors who might be interested in the world of audiobooks. Audiobooks now outsell their print and e-book cousins, and I think audio is not only changing the way we consume literature, but also the way authors write. It’s a big concept to wrap your head around, but as the audio industry continues to grow, we need to change with it. I’m never going to lose my love of picking up a book and diving into it. But I think audiobooks add a new dimension to the world of literature and I’m excited to be one of the people, in my own way, who’s helping shape the future. Thanks for listening!

Thank you Brian for taking the time to join me for a chat and I am looking forward to discover more of your books.

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I hope you enjoyed the chat and thanks for joining us.

I discovered Mr. Callanan’s voice while listening to The Rampart Guards, book 1 in the The Adventures of Jason Lex series, by Wendy Terrien and I enjoyed it, so I listened to the other 2 in the series. See my reviews: book 1, book 2 and book 3 .

I also listened to Mack, book 1 in the Black Mountain Pack series by Miranda Lynn. You can check out my review here.

As you will see, he does a variety of genres. Love his various voices, male and female, young or old, the colourful nuances, the emotions behind the words. I am looking forward to many more listens from him. I just added “La Vie en Rose” and “Simple Man” to my wish list.

Here are links to find out more and keep up to date with his work.
Audible • Facebook • Twitter • ACX

To start you on your listening journey, Mr. Callanan is giving away one audiobook to a lucky reader, winer’s choice from his backlist.  Winner will be chosen by Sexy Mr. Random from the comments on this post after 3pm EST on Monday, October 30, 2017. GOOD LUCK!

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with Tracy Marks

Hello and welcome!

Guess who came for a chat? The awesome Tracy Marks, that’s who! 😀

I recently discovered her works, quite by accident I might add, but I am so happy I did.

Welcome welcome!

Do you have a nickname?
I have a couple, but my favorite is that my boyfriend calls me Pancake instead of Honey or Baby.
I would like to hear the story behind that some day, was there whipped cream involved? 😉

What is one word best describes you?
Just one? Ooo that’s hard! Indecisive? 🙂

What makes you laugh out loud?
Lots of things! I love to laugh, and a good movie or book will make me laugh out loud. My boyfriend and I are also total goofballs together, and he makes me laugh on a daily basis.

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
I love the smell of lilacs, it reminds me of growing up. There were a bunch of lilacs on the street of my childhood home, and it’s the sweetest smell during the summer.

Favourite place to spend time in.
I’m a bit of a homebody, I love relaxing at home with my pup and my man.

Is there a genre that you refuse to read?
Nope. I’m voracious and varied in my reading habits… listening habits really, since I consume most books in audio form.

Audiobooks! What started them?
I’ve been acting onstage in film for years, and another actor friend of mine got into audiobooks several years ago. We were out for a drink and she was describing the process to me, and I remember just thinking, “Yes! I want to do this!” I went home that night and started looking into how to get started in audiobook narration.
I am glad you did and I am sure your many fans will agree with me.

Is there a genre that you would not narrate?
Not really! I may say no to a book here or there, but it’s on a case by case basis. There’s no genre that I would say a blanket no to.

If you could choose another career what would it be?
I think part of the reason I became an actor is because there are a ton of careers that interest me! One thing that I would have really loved to get into is dog training. I love animals, and dogs have a very special place in my heart.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
My goal with every book is to honor and translate the author’s tone and vision. So hopefully the emotion and message changes from book to book. I’ve done a lot of dark romance, and I think part of why I’ve been successful in that is that I can bring a strength but also a vulnerability to my work.

Who is your intended audience and why should they listen to your audiobooks?
Romance readers/listeners! I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible authors, so I would say people should listen to my audiobooks because they’ll hear some really great stories.

What is next in your narrating work?
I have several projects coming up! Next out will be Destiny on Ice, a really fun hockey rom-com by S.R. Grey. Then I have a historical romance novella by Lauren Smith and a hilarious, sexy paranormal romance by Eve Langlais.

Elusive by L.A. Fiore was released a couple of days ago; Possession by A.M. Johnson, and LaClaire Nights by Dori Lavelle will be coming out soon. I’ve got more projects scheduled for the late summer and fall – it’s been a busy year!

Thank you so much Tracy for chatting with me in my little corner of the blogging world. I am looking forward to listening to more.

singing you got a fan in me ….

I would also like to thank you for sharing about Aural Fixation on FB, what an awesome group, the energy is sky high and can tell that the members do love their audiobooks and the voices behind them. Talk about being at the right place at the right time… I don’t feel so alone anymore in my addiction LOL

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Thank you all for joining us and I hope you enjoyed the chat and you will find something you like to listen to in Ms. Marks growing discography. Here are links to find out more and keep up to date with her work.

website • Twitter • Facebook • Audible

So far I listened to Boston Underworld series by A. Zavarelli and it is a darker theme than my usual listen but I am so glad I took a chance. I gobbled them up, I came to love Ms. Marks’ extraordinary voice, so flexible and so much passion and I think it has a lot to do with my enjoyment of the stories, 5 stars across the board. Find my reviews on Audible under seelk.

 

I added quite a few to my TBL list, among them is Beast by A. Zavarelli released June 30, 2017 and Reckless Weekend by Eden Summers released July 5, 2017.

To start you on your listening journey, Ms. Marks is giving away 5 audio copies of Crow, book 1 in the Boston Underworld series by A. Zavarelli.

An Irish mobster. A missing friend. Two loyalties, ripping me apart.

I had a plan.

Get in, get my information, and get out. Easy, right?

Turns out, infiltrating the Irish mafia isn’t exactly what I thought it would be. I just wanted a soldier. Someone I could flirt with to get me in the door.

That’s when Lachlan Crow noticed me. Problem was, he wasn’t a soldier. No, he was next in line for the throne of the Irish underworld. And he was determined to hate me from the outset. My sob story about needing a job? Yeah, he wasn’t buying that either.

Too bad for him, I won’t let anyone get in the way of my mission.

Who cares if we have some kind of crazy chemistry? He’s the worst kind of wrong – and I would never in a million years be with a guy like him.

Because they took her from me, and I’m going to make them pay.

My review for it…

Winners will be chosen by Sexy Mr. Random from the comments on this post after 3pm EST on Monday, July 24, 2017. GOOD LUCK!

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

Audiobook Giveaway with Braden Wright

Hello and welcome!

Have some news from Braden Wright, one of my fave narrators. Remember the Chat with him last May? His voice makes me feel warm, like a hug … and the singing he does … *sigh*

I’ve teamed with NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Tanya Anne Crosby on seven audiobooks. 

One of her most popular books — and also our most popular audiobook — is Book 1 of the Highland Brides series, The MacKinnon’s Bride, which tells the story of Page FitzSimon and Iain MacKinnon.

Audible

There were 5 books in the Highland Brides series, and I also narrated Book 5, Highland Song.

Audible

Yet readers were continually asking about an Epilogue to Book One and to the entire series. It is a kind of pivot point as some of the characters introduced in Book 5 carry on into Tanya’s Guardians of Stone series. For years fans have asked for a MacKinnon’s Bride epilogue and here it is, a short story to lend a little cheer for the holidays.

Audible

The MacKinnon’s Hope: A Highland Christmas Carol – The Highland Brides, Book 6

Eleven years later, FitzSimon is a broken man. He is forsaken, alone, a wretch left to wallow in his grief. A scrooge to rival Ebenezer, he is visited by the ghost of his dead wife, who has come to reveal what life has been, what it could be, and where it will end if the candle burns out before FitzSimon has made amends.

Meantime, in the Highlands, the MacKinnon clan faces their darkest hour. Their village destroyed by fire, with with winter on the way, how can they rally when whispers of war have now begun? Malcolm MacKinnon, at 17, is ready to fight, but he most prove himself a man before he can wield his sword and join the Highland Guard. A very unexpected “ghost” may yet help him find his way.

It is, of course, best enjoyed following at least a listen to The MacKinnon’s Bride, and I hope everyone enjoys. In working on the piece, I had great admiration for Tanya’s masterful way of weaving together so many stories and elements as well, and I hope everyone has a fun time with the listen.

My review:
It is a good story that has so many twists, and we get to revisit characters from the series, but what I was most happy about is that Page got her closure with her Father, Hugh FitzSimon, who gets a chance at redemption (not that he deserved it IMO). Ian’s son, Malcolm MacKinnon is all grown up and troubled that his premonition is not believed. Quite a lot is happening in this short book, so I would suggest to read/listen to “The MacKinnon’s Bride”, Book 1 of the Highland Brides series before listening to this.
Braden Wright delivered another great listening experience, his voice is perfect for the story. I could listen to him for hours on end.

And now the giveaway!

Mr. Wright is giving away 4 audiobooks of “MacKinnon’s Hope: A Highland Christmas Carol”, Book 6 in the Highland Brides series. Sexy Mr. Random  will pick the winners after 3pm EST on Monday, March 14, 2016. GOOD LUCK!

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with Saskia Maarleveld

Hello and welcome!

Today I have a lady whose voice is a marvel I discovered and enjoyed immensely while listening to her narrations of Claire Delacroix‘s stories.

Please welcome Saskia Maarleveld!

Do you have a nickname?
My family and good friends call me Sask.

What is one word best describes you?
That is a tough one. I guess energetic, in both my personal life and my work. I don’t drink coffee, so a natural energy definitely keeps me going most days.

What makes you laugh out loud?
My sisters!

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
My mother’s perfume. Since she lives so far away, in New Zealand, sometimes she will mail me something with it sprayed on it so I have a little reminder of her!

Favourite place to spend time in.
I love the outdoors, so anywhere that I can sit on a porch and look out onto mountains and greenery is perfect for me.

Is there a genre that you refuse to read?
I don’t have much time to read for pleasure anymore, since I do it so much for work! But that means I am pretty picky in what I do read, which tends to be mystery/thrillers and fantasy, with some non fiction sprinkled in!

Audiobooks! What started them?
I listened to audiobooks a lot as a child. I am the eldest of 5 girls, and we listened in the car to keep us all quiet. Some of my favorites were G​reek Myths n​arrated by Andrew Sachs, the old BBC version of the Beatrix Potter stories and a wonderful collection of Celtic Fairy Tales. I suppose this subconsciously gave me an appreciation and ear for the craft. I also have always loved reading and I was lucky that both parents read to me from a young age. My accent work has really helped me get my foot in the door at a lot of places. One day I was able to audition for a New Zealand novel being produced by Recorded Books in Manhattan. I got that project and went from there!

Is there a genre that you would not narrate?
Not yet…but who knows…

If you could choose another career what would it be?
Probably a detective or a surgeon.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
I just like to make sure to be a clear storyteller through my narration and portrayal of characters. If I can do that then I’m happy and have done my job.

What is next in your narrating work?
I have a bunch of projects to finish up in the next month before I head home for the holidays. Lots of YA, fantasy and romance to keep me busy!

I am looking forward to listen to more in the future. Wishing you much success. Thank you for spending a little time in my corner of the blogging world.

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Thanks for joining me today and I hope you enjoyed the chat.

Next on my TBL is The Highlander’s Curse, book 2 in the True Love Brides series by Claire Delacroix.

at BookCon 2015

Here are links to find out more and keep up to date with Ms. Maarleveld and her work which is quite extensive and various, over 110 audiobooks.

Audible • Twitter • website • SoundCloud

You can also check out the interview with Deborah Cooke where she talks more in depth about her work.

To start you on your listening journey, Ms. Maarleveld is giving away an audiobook  of the “Blood Fire” , book 1 in the Blood Destiny series by Helen Harper.

Mack might be, to all intents and purposes, a normal looking human, but she lives with a pack of shapeshifters in Cornwall in rural England after being dumped there by her mother when she was just a young child. She desperately wants to be accepted by her surrogate family, not least because a lot of them hate her for merely being human, but for some reason her blood just won’t allow the transformation to occur. With a terrible temper to match her fiery red hair, Mack is extraordinarily useful in a fight, and when her pack alpha is brutally and abruptly murdered, she swears vengeance. Unfortunately, his murder also draws in the Brethren—the leaders of the shapeshifter world—who will slaughter everyone in Mack’s small rural pack if they discover her true identity. Unfortunately Corrigan, the green-eyed muscle-bound Lord Alpha of the Brethren, doesn’t let much slip by him…

Winner will be chosen by Sexy Mr. Random after 3pm EST on Monday, November 30, 2015. GOOD LUCK!

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!

My Chat with Dave Gillies

Hello and welcome!

Today I have the owner of the voice I fell in love with while listening to Amy Jarecki’s audiobooks. His voice is easy to listen to, warm and passionate.

Please welcome Dave Gillies!

Do you have a nickname?
Sorry to disappoint, but not really! I’ve never had one. Not a great start to this interview!

What is the one word that best describes you?
Hmmm… lazy.

What makes you laugh out loud?
Oh, loads of things. My girlfriend. Funny TV shows like Futurama, Blackadder and Rick and Morty. Proper witty things!

What is your favourite smell? What does it remind you of?
Coriander. I love it. It reminds me of putting too much coriander in things!

I love my shower gel, too. It smells like Onken Raspberry yogurt.

Favourite place to spend time in?
Bed, obviously, asleep! But the cinema is great, too.

Is there a genre that you refuse to read?
Actually, no. I did one under a pseudonym once, because it was so incredibly dirty, but in general I’ll do whatever!

Audiobooks! What started them?
Well, my Dad is a voiceover guy (indeed, he’s the master) so it’s sort of the family trade! You can hear his work on Audible – he’s James Gillies.

I went freelance as a composer a few years ago and he suggested I get into audiobooks to supplement my income. Truthfully the narrating has become my main job!
James Gillies is your Dad? I listened to one of his narrations, Highland Fire: Guardians of the Stone, Book 1 by Tanya Anne Crosby and it was amazing. Wonderful story told by a passionate voice.

If you could choose another career what would it be?
Well, composing for huge movies would be pretty sweet. Space battles, intense emotional scenes, car chases etc. I love conducting orchestras, so getting to do more of that would be great!

I’m pretty flighty, tho. What I’ve been doing a lot of, recently, is producing interesting radio drama and short films. So at the moment my main ambition is to become a big shot Hollywood film producer.

Does your work convey a specific emotion or message?
No, I don’t think on those terms. My songwriting (Dirty Keys) has a strong throughline, but I’ll let you work out what that is! In general I do what I’m asked to do. I’m bone idle, so I never do anything unless I’ve been commissioned to.

Who is your intended audience and why should they listen to your audiobooks?
Doesn’t feel like that’s for me to say! The audience depends on the book, and although I’m known for my work in the romance genre, it’s by no means my only area.

What is next in your narrating work?
Lots! I’ve multiple Highland romances in various stages of production for authors such as Amy Jarecki, Vonda Sinclair and Selena Kitt. There’s also a new M/M Aussie romance book for Toni Griffin, and some sci fi, too! But the last book to hit the shelves was book three from Amy Jarecki’s ‘Highland Dynasty’ series, ‘A Highland Knight to Remember’.

Thank you Dave for joining me in my little corner of the blogging world. I am looking forward to listening to more of your narrations.

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Thanks for joining me today and I hope you enjoyed the chat with Mr. Gillies. Hope you will check out the audiobooks, his voice is amazing.

I had the pleasure to listen to two of his narrations.

One of them was “Return of the Highland Laird”, book 4 of “A Highland Force” Novella by Amy Jarecki, see my review here.

An untimely tempest transports two miserable and lost souls to England’s Abbey Wood where they stumble across each other’s paths. Lady Jane, a battered woman and accused murderess – Laird Alexander, fleeing his keep after blaming himself for the accidental death of his wife. Both souls must heal their wounds. Both souls have reason to keep their identities hidden. This misshapen pair discovers each needs the other – though neither is willing to admit dependence. Alexander must return to his kin and resume his laird’s mantle. Lady Jane must clear her name and find forgiveness. But before healing can begin, it is essential they learn to trust…and love.

The other was “Knight in Highland Armor”, book 1 of “Highland Dynasty” series by Amy Jarecki, see my review here.

Grieving from the death of his wife, Lord Colin Campbell listens to the cries of his newborn son while penning a missive to the king. With no marriage prospects, Colin petitions his majesty for help in finding a stepmother. Never again will he fall in love; the death of a woman brings more pain than losing a whole contingent of men on the battlefield.
Feisty, quick tongued, and smart, Margaret Robinson is delighted when her father receives a messenger from the king…until she discovers what news he brings. In a sennight she will wed the notorious Black Knight. Her life is about to end.
Tension builds during the wedding and deteriorates from there until an accident draws them together. Just when their love begins to blossom, a dire request arrives from the pope. Colin must join the crusades at once. Their fragile love is forced to withstand the seductions of hell: Margaret tempted by a scoundrel laird, Colin courted by Satan himself. Aye, the war for Christendom could very well ruin their dreams forever.

Here are links to find out more and keep up to date with Mr. Gillies and his work:

website • SoundCloud • music SoundCloud • ACX • Facebook • Twitter

To start you on your listening journey, Mr. Gillies is giving away an audiobook, the recently released “A Highland Knight to Remember” by Amy Jarecki.

In 15th century Scotland, Gyllis Campbell arrives at the Beltane festival with one thing on her mind – to win the heart of Sir Sean MacDougall once and for all. Astonishingly, Sir Sean would like nothing more than to oblige the lovely lass. But when news of his father’s death arrives, Sean races for Dunollie Castle. Unaware of Sean’s tragedy, Gyllis departs the festival thwarted. Worse, a terrible illness strikes her down, and she’s sent to the cloisters of Ardchattan Priory for healing.

Plagued by raids on his lands and deception in his ranks, Sean is embroiled in a battle to regain control. Worse, pulled in a myriad of directions, adversity runs rampant as Gyllis struggles to regain her health and Sean battles the very demon who covets his title. Fighting for their lives, both must face their demons before their love can blossom.

The winner will be chosen from the comments by Sexy Mr. Random after 3pm EST on September 28, 2015. GOOD LUCK!

Until next time read a book, listen to a book and don’t forget to show your love by leaving a review!