November 28th, 2009 — Between the Sheets, Erotica
Welcome to the second article under Between the Sheets. Here we get to focus on going beyond the printed page to learn more about the industry, the parts usually forgotten by the time the product hits the shelves. Today’s special guest is Olivia Roland, narrator of Land of Falling Stars
. Please join me in welcoming her!
Q. -- How did you get started in book narration?
A.-- I started as a stage actor and learned of an opportunity recording books for the blind from a fellow actor.
Q.-- What's the audition process like for audio books?
A.-- You're asked to read segments from different genres (fiction, non-fiction) and submit a recording and will often do an audition to show your reading skills.
Q.-- Were you required to do anything special for the audition because it was an erotica novel?
A.-- No. We submitted material from a novel with a similar feel.
Q.-- What's your favorite part about narrating?
A.-- I love being able to use all the ranges of my voice, and to be able to put my training with languages and dialects and acting to great use.
Q.-- Did you feel strange narrating erotica at first?
A.-- I've recorded romance novels and historical romances for over a decade and they have many explicit sex scenes, so I was accustomed to some of the material when I began to read for Ravenous Romance.
Q.-- What other voice acting have you done?
A.-- I've recorded hundreds of commercials for radio and television, industrials and training videos. I have also recorded several PBS specials and have been nominated for two Heartland Emmy Nominations for Best Narration.
Q.-- And finally, why should people listen to audio books?
A.-- Audio books are magical to me because you get the advantage of hearing them read by an actor, but at the same time you create all the images and imagine all the people in your mind's eye all on your own.
You get the best of two worlds: an actor's voice and interpretation and your own power of creativity and imagination as you hear a writer's words. It's the best kind of escape, anywhere you choose to have it!
Thank you Olivia! It's been so good to talk with you. I couldn't agree more with why people should listen to audio books. They are definitely magical.
Photo Credits: bondiben
Originally posted 2009-03-25 05:33:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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March 18th, 2009 — Between the Sheets, Erotica
Between the Sheets is a play on words, not only referring to sex and the bedsheets but also to the pages of a book. This section of the blog is dedicated to going beyond the printed page to learn more about the industry, the parts usually forgotten by the time the product hits the shelves. Today's special guest is Rebecca Rogers, the narrator of The Maestro's Butterfly
, to talk about audio books... and more specifically erotica audio books.
How did you get started in book narration?
My family and I own a Renaissance Festival in Washington State. One of our vendors asked me if I had ever thought about recording audio books. I told her that it was a dream of mine. She happened to be one of the cover artists for a local audio book company and was able to get me an audition!
What was the first book you narrated?
My first book was Bound To Die
by Brian Lutterman.
What’s your favorite part about narrating?
I love performing and storytelling. Making a story come alive is like magic!
In your opinion, what is the hardest aspect of the whole narration process?
The most challenging aspect for me is doing the author justice. Not having direct contact with most authors, I have to use my best judgment when developing a character’s voice.
Did you feel strange narrating erotica?
No, I didn’t feel strange at all! It was new territory for me, admittedly, but I had a lot of fun with it. I also wanted to sound genuine. It was a challenge that quite often had me laughing!
What do you do to prep for a new narration?
Research is vital. Most importantly I need to KNOW the characters. I try to nail it the first take to minimize corrections. In order to do this I need to know my pronunciations, know when a character has an accent and be familiar with the setting.
Tell us about the narrating process after prep!
Most recently my process has been relatively solitary. I come to the studio with my water and apple slices having prepared several chapters for recording. I act as my own engineer, punching and rolling when I make a mistake. When my session is done I load my files onto a hard drive for my engineer. Once the engineer has listened and we’ve made any corrections we call it a wrap!
I really enjoyed your rendition of Maestro’s Butterfly, how did you decide on the character voices?
Thank you! Maestro’s Butterfly was especially fun for me. Vampires have intrigued me for many years. I pulled some inspiration from Anne Rice’s vampire Lestat who was also French and had a vicious side. I also enjoyed playing with lead characters who were so diametrically opposed to each other; strong/male/foreign/exotic vs. lost/feminine/naive/southern. Such fun!
Besides Maestro’s Butterfly what other books have you done, either for Ravenous Romance or other publishers?
For Ravenous Romance I have read The Brotherhood: To Slay or to Lay by Elizabeth Miette, Haunted Seduction
by Morgan James and Destiny's Jewel
by Rachel Kenley. With Blackstone Audio I have read Nancy Drew Girl Detective: Framed
by Carolyn Keene, Nancy Drew Girl Detective: Dressed to Steal
by Carolyn Keene, The Shiloh Renewal
by Joan Leslie Woodruff, Foul Play
by Tori Carrington, and many others.
And finally, why should people listen to audio books?
Audio books offer another level on which authors can reach their readers. Audio books are an exciting way to “hear” your favorite characters come to life. They bring you closer to the work.
Thank you so much Rebecca! It's been a pleasure to listen and to talk with you!
Photo Credits: Frederic della Faille
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