Audiobook Narration
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
(Fantasy, Epic)
A Walk in the Woods – Bill Bryson
(Humour, Travel)
Woof! – Allan Ahlberg
(Children’s, Humour)
Best Served Cold – Joe Abercrombie
(Fantasy, Dialogue)
Audiobook Narration is where I get to earn my keep by reading stories to people that really want to listen to stories. What a racket! Audiobooks might just be the most enjoyable type of script that comes across my desk.
It always feels at the other end of the corporate scale to most jobs, which I greatly appreciate in a business-first world. I’m usually interacting at least somewhat with the original author of the book, they’ve invested 100s of human hours into their creation, and I get to make it come alive for them in audiobook form.
What am I most suitable for? Books with a wry or dry humour to them, I reckon. Stories with a lot of internal musing. Then fantasy fiction of course, but that’s my favourite genre, so I can’t be trusted on this one. I excel in representing quick, witty dialogue too.
Like what you hear?
You’re welcome to ask for a quote, or pick my brains about the industry. I know some things.
We all know the answer to this, but it has to be here as the first answer in the FAQ for search purposes. Grumble grumble.
Audiobooks are words on paper, turned into words in air. The above sample “Woof!” was an audiobook I used to fall asleep to every night. On side 3 of the 4 sides it was spread over (cassette tapes), the word “Werewolf” is said. Once, and only once, mind. This mention was enough to scare me off listening to that side ever again, so for the next few years at least, I only ever heard 3/4 of the story.
I continue to be as scared of most things, as I was of this word.
What is interesting to say though, is that audiobooks are much less of a “second-rate” way of consuming literature than they used to be. As the system tries to eke every bit of efficiency out of each second we exist, earbooks fill a vital role in the modern world.
I like my voice, and I do think it specifically is suited for narration. It’s quite easy to listen to, which feels the most important aspect to me when I listen to audiobooks in my own time.
Characters will be consistent, prose will be thoughtfully rendered, and the story will be brought to life by someone who is enjoying reading it as much as you enjoyed writing it.
I don’t treat this business like a factory assembly line, nor am I out to fill my schedule to the brim. Voicework (audiobooks especially) is a fantastic way to earn a living, and I take my time with it.
The job will be given time, attention, and care. I’ll also be quite vocally impressed that you actually finished the book you said you would! I’ve been “writing” the same book for far too long..
I can also tidy the recording up for you, or alternatively I can direct you to one of a dozen or so audiobook producers that have great reputations, and we can jointly spit out a fully finished, fully produced, fully superb noisetome.
On the accent.. I still think the British accent is universally liked, or at least tolerated, even though the world is changing. Mine isn’t too posh, so it’s not exclusive sounding, nor is it particularly regional, thus it doesn’t sound to most of the world like a comical affectation.