Saturday, June 5, 2021

What We're Writing Week: Writing for Listeners as well as Readers

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: If you read JRW, you've heard a lot about what goes into the imaginative grist mill of a writer's mind. Travel to different places. News stories. Real historical events. And the ways we express ourselves: point of view, structure, outlining or organic. In short, there are a lot of items jostling for space on the author's To-Write list.

One of those items on my list is writing for the audio book. I love the audio versions of my series, performed by the wonderful Suzanne Toren, and thinking about how my words will be read has changed my writing in subtle ways. I try to leave off as many "he said," and "she said"s as I can, because when you're listening to the narrator, it's perfectly obvious who said what.

I try to give clues about the differences in people's speech without spelling it out, so instead of, "'I'm perfectly fine to drive myself,' she said in a haughty tone," I'll have "'I'm perfectly fine to drive myself.' Her voice made Russ think of the rich women on the North side of town." Let's face it, the latter is a much more interesting way to describe a person speaking, isn't it?

And because Suzanne is so good at accents, it's pushed me to make my cast more diverse, which, I confess, isn't anything I originally thought of. I know the area my Millers Kill is based on, and it's pretty goshdarn white, inhabited largely by people whose ancestors settled in the lower Adirondacks no later than the 1880s. But there's no reason I can't have a European doctor, or an assistant district attorney whose family came from Vietnam. Or characters who are Black or Iroquois or Quebecois. 

So when I knew I was going to introduce officer Kevin Flynn's family in Through the Evil Days, I decided to make Irish-American Flynn the son of an Irish immigrant father. (There's a whole history. I should write it as a short story some day.) Since one of the plot lines of my work-in-progress, At Midnight Comes the Cry, is the mysterious disappearance of Kevin, I couldn't resist the chance to bring his dad, Sean, back on the scene for a bit.

They had joked about Kevin Flynn being Irish, but Russ had no idea he was Irish-Irish until meeting his father. “This is it. Turn here.” Sean Flynn sounded like a tour guide from the auld sod, but instead of a castle in Limerick, they were approaching a street of small houses hard against the bank of the Seneca River in Baldwinsville. “Here 'tis.” Sean pointed to a small, neat house with a red door and green metal roof. No curb in this neighborhood; Russ parked at the edge of the frost-stricken lawn.

He figured he had been on the road to this house since Hadley Knox had asked him where he thought Flynn might be. Between his former officer and Clare's pointed comments, he decided to do the smart thing and surrender. He was glad he had, though, when he contacted Flynn's parents, who were so worried about their middle son's disappearance, Sean Flynn had volunteered to drive the three hours across New York state to let Russ into the rented house. “I know you'll want to keep it all on the up-and-up, and I have his key and his permission, and I suppose they're both still good, even if he gave them over near a year ago.”

Russ had turned him down, preferring to make the trip in his own truck, but Sean had come along for the ride. Russ grabbed his jacket from the back seat and got out. “Nice little place.”

It's small, but the back garden runs straight down to the river, with stairs and a wee dock. I told him if he wanted to buy, we could expand toward the road here or raise the roof to put in a second floor...” Sean's voice died away. He pulled the key from his pocket and unlocked the front door.

They walked into a mudroom space at the end of a galley-style kitchen. Everything was clean and neat. No clothing waiting in the stacked washer and dryer. He opened the fridge. Condiments, bottled water, a six-pack, but no food left to spoil. The freezer was stuffed with frozen meals and ice cream that had crystalized over.

Does Kevin like to cook? Would he have milk and eggs and that sort of stuff?”

He isn't much to make his own dinner, but he likes cereal and his sandwiches.” Sean paused beside Russ. “That looks cleaned out to me.”

Me, too.”

Is that a good sign?”

Well, it means he probably left of his own accord, and he had enough time to plan his departure and get rid of everything that might spoil.” He shut the refrigerator door. The kitchen opened into a great room beneath a peaked roof, with a TV watching spot on one side and a desk and bookcases on the other. He could see the promised view of the river through a glass-fronted door framed with two wide picture windows. “Why don't you check his bedroom and see what clothes might be missing. I'll take a look at his desk.”

 

What do you think, dear readers? Do you "hear" accents in your head as you read a book, or do you wait for the audio edition? If you're a fan of the latter, who are some of your favorite narrators?

70 comments:

  1. I always hear a voice in my head as I read, and sometimes I'm called on to read my own stories to interested groups. Like you, Julia, I have a background in theatre, so I know a little about what it takes to read things aloud well. I do try to avoid long sentences when I write, or at least give the reader a chance to breathe. I sometimes go for an easier word to pronounce, if it doesn't hurt the meaning of the sentence. It's just lovely to hear a good reader share a good story.

    Now I have a question for those who enjoy audiobooks. What do you do while you're listening? I like to have some hand work ready--knitting or quilting or something that keeps my hands and eyes busy, without engaging my ears or my brain. I find it helps me concentrate on what's being said.

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    1. I really only listen to audiobooks on long solo drives, Gigi - which they are perfect for. I agree that having something mechanical to do while listening is a good way to pay attention.

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    2. that's the only time I listen too, but my hub likes to listen while he's gardening or exercising. I find that I have ideas while I walk so I hate to crowd them out!

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    3. I'm also big on listening while I drive, and since I'm about 20 minutes to a half hour from anywhere, I have lots of opportunities! I used to listen while ironing or cleaning, but since I discovered podcasts on my Alexa, I usually do them as a distraction from chores.

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    4. It used to be that I only listened to audiobooks when I was driving long distances. My husband and I were so riveted at the end of Gone Girl that we sat alongside a bayou in NOLA to listen to the end, rather than continue to the friend's home we were visiting.

      Last year, though, I started listening as I work outside, or while I vacuum. Yes, vacuum. With a whole-house system the noisiest part is out in the garage. I got a lot done while listening to entire books on my headset. This has given me a reason to seek out clothing with pockets that don't dump my phone into the compost pile.

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  2. I have to admit that I’d never really thought about how the writing for the book might affect the audio [although I have listened to Suzanne read each book]. Sometimes I “hear” accents when I read, but not always.

    I am looking forward [can hardly wait!] to reading “At Midnight Comes the Cry” . . . thank you for this excerpt.
    Of course, I’m still wondering where in the world Kevin’s managed to disappear to [and why], but this interaction between Russ and Sean, with its hints of anxiety, makes me even more concerned about Kevin . . . .

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    1. Joan, I hate to be evil, but that's exactly the reaction I want you to have!

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    2. It's not evil, it's compelling . . . .

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  3. Good points, Julia, and good timing for me, being in revision phase of a book that will go to audio. Writing for audio: it's something I hear about and want to pay attention to, and then I forget about it.

    I loved the excerpt. When I read Sheila Connolly's (sniff) Irish series on paper, I could hear her County Cork characters speak as if they were in the room with me.

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    1. You can do so much of an accent with the grammar and rhythm of words, can't you? So you don't have to throw in lots of spelled-out dialect, which can come across as twee and which tends to make the reader stumble. Sheila Connolly was wonderful at it.

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  4. Julia, wish we could start this book tonight and read it all the way through!

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    1. Me, three. That all the way through reading always has me re-reading, ever so slowly the next day.

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  5. Julia, I have to tell you, my husband, who's dyslexic and has trouble reading books, LOVES your audio books. I suggested he try them and now he's working his way through the series.

    And I'm with Roberta. I want to start this new book NOW.

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    1. Thanks, Annette! My brother is dyslexic, and when he was small we would all take turns reading books aloud with him. He's become a great reader, but he still loves audiobooks (all of the pleasure, none of the work decoding.)

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  6. Oh, I do love a good Irish accent. Sean sounds exactly like my Irish cousins. I do read in an accent if it's written well and you nailed it. Bravo.

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  7. I prefer audiobooks and there is many the author who probably writes good books whose books I have not read because I would have to either e-read it or read a real book. I listen to books all day long – working, in the car, eating lunch, wherever. Surprisingly my brain remembers where I was and what I was doing associated with each book.

    My all-time favourite reader was Ralph Cosham who read Louise Penny’s Three Pines books. He had all the characters just as I imagined them. I also like John Lee who reads Ken Follett’s series, but it does surprise me when he reads someone else’s books. Jane Entwhistle is the same – she is in my head for some characters, and then suddenly turns up as someone else.

    There are several things that bother me about audiobooks and I don’t know if it is the fault of the author or the reader. It is not the ‘speaking’ – most readers have a different voice for different characters, or there are different readers for each different character. The problem seems prevalent in books that flip time lines. If you are actually reading the words, there is usually a paragraph break and even a squiggly line so that your brain registers “ahh, we have changed time again”. However, when it is being spoken, there is often not enough of a pause or even a date said that marks we are now back in time, or back to the present or whatever the author is trying to convey. It means that the first part of this section is basically lost in non-translation and your brain is in a fog.

    I have no idea how much it costs for books to be make as an audio. I wish more were – it would mean I would have a bigger to be read pile than I have now!

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    1. Margo, that timeline thing is definitely an issue; I try to deal with it by clearly marking the change in narration with an actual date.

      One thing that's better (for me) in audio than in printed books is when an author is being experimental and writes without diacritical marks ("" in American English and '' in British.) If I don't see them when I leaf through I book, I put it back on the shelf. But when you're listening to a skilled reader, they indicate dialog with their voice, so the lack doesn't drive me batty!

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  8. There are some darn good audiobook narrators out there. The best, I think, was the guy who narrated Three Junes by Julia Glass. The characters are from England, Scotland, Ireland, and America, and he did all the accents perfectly. I instantly recognized the characters by the accents.

    The worst narrator I've ever heard was Toni Morrison reading her own book, Song of Solomon. She was near the end of her life and her voice was simply not strong enough for the job. She read so slowly, and even when I tried speeding up her speech I couldn't bear to listen to it.

    If the speaker is described well enough in the text I do "hear" their accents when I read. Unless the action is intense, and then that usually falls away because taking the time to imagine then distracts from the mounting tension or suspense.

    One of the best nonfiction audiobooks I've ever listened to was Alan Cumming's Not My Father's Son. It is self-narrated, and using his real, Scottish-accented voice. Aside from the narration, it's a heartbreaking and touching story told with great humor.

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    1. Karen, I listened to the audiobook of THREE JUNES as well, and I can't imagine liking it better on the printed page. I just looked it up; John Keating is the narrator. It looks like he does a lot of Irish books and fantasies. Wonderful, wonderful performer.

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  9. Anticipating your next book! When my short story was turned into a KRL podcast, I was amazed how well the narrator did with a cast of characters ranging in age from six to late seventies. Fewer characters would probably make for a better read. I have another one scheduled for 2022.

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    1. Yes, "fewer characters would make a better read" is exactly the kind of audio consideration that I wind up taking when working on my books, Margaret.

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  10. I rarely to never listen to a book except on cross country drives. If I try to listen at home for instance, I fall asleep. Every. Single. Time. In fact, I have a number I put on when I want to fall asleep quickly. But I have friends who use this medium for all books. This is why there are menus in restaurants, right? As for hearing an accent while I read, nope, I don't do that either.

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    1. Ann, that was Ross. Audiobooks would keep me alert on long drives and send him straight to the land of Nod. He would listen to ball games, which made me ZZZzzzz. We made a perfect driving team!

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  11. I always have an audio book in my ears when I am doing housework, driving, or gardening. Really anytime I'm not able to have an actual book in my hands. A book can be spoiled by a reader who doesn't do accents or different voices well.
    Some favorite readers: Dick Hill (Jack Reacher), Jim Dale (Harry Potter), Will Patton (multiple books especially Stephen King). Patrick Tull (Master and Commander series) and the best of them all Susan Eriksen who has done 53 books over 30 years in the In Death series by J.D.Robb (Nora Roberts).
    I'm so looking forward to your new book, Julia. During the dark days of the early pandemic I could not concentrate on new books and felt great comfort in re-reading old favorites. Your Clare and Russ were part of keeping me sane. So thank you.

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    1. Thank you so much, Jackie! It's an honor to be a comfort read; I know how special those books are in my own life.

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  12. I wish I loved audiobooks – – I know everyone does, and they are a fabulous idea for entertainment while you’re driving. But I cannot listen to them. If I am driving, I get completely distracted. If I am the passenger, I instantly fall asleep. To listen to an audiobook while I’m out for a walk seems like I am blocking out the rest of the world, and that’s the time I need to be thanking about my own book.
    And somehow, my brain is always gone faster than the narrator’s, so I always want them to hurry up.
    I do write my own books with audiobooks in mind – – making sure the setting and the speaker are clear in the first sentence of every scene.
    I know I am the outlier here! Roberta has some of the same thoughts, I see it, at least....
    But on audio or on the page, Julia, cannot wait to read this!

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    1. Thanks, Hank! On wanting the reader to go faster - that's why I almost always listen to, rather than read, literary novels. On the page, I get impatient, and want to skip to where SOMETHING happens. But if I'm hearing the words, I can appreciate the language and the writer's skill without wanting to tear my hair out.

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  13. Julia, I cannot wait for your next book. I am very concerned about Kevin. He became one of my favorite secondary characters ever when we found out he'd learned how to "do it" from a book!

    I love audio books. I never thought I'd like them but the pandemic changed that. Since I spend about 3-4 hours a day in the kitchen, that's become my audio book place. I listen to samples before I buy. If the reader cannot handle the accents or perform male-female parts believably then, no thanks. I already hear the character voices and not all readers are created equal.

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    1. Very true, Judy. There are some narrators I like so much I'll listen to a book I might not otherwise have taken out.

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  14. I hear accents in my head when reading a book IF the author makes it quite clear that the character has an accent. I'm currently reading a book set in Scotland and the author uses words in the dialogue that make it clear who's talking so I can "hear" the voices.

    I don't listen to audiobooks so I can't comment on that part of this topic. My local library just lost the director to a new job and he had tried (in vain) to get me to try listening to an audiobook since he started the mystery book club.

    Of course, I did kind of make him happy when I told him I was buying one of the Doctor Who audio dramas from the British company Big Finish. These are original tales set all across the history of Doctor Who. But what makes them special is that they get a lot of the original actors to return to the roles. The reason I broke down and bought the audio drama I did is because it is set during the 9th Doctor's run. They got Christopher Eccleston (who played the role for one season and has vowed to never return to the role in live action form because of behind the scenes drama) to play The Doctor once again. Cost me 50 bucks to order it, but once it arrives I'm sure it will be FANTASTIC!

    That's as close as I'll come to an audiobook.

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    1. Jay, that sounds AWESOME. Well worth the money. I have seen SOME books, rarely, get the full cast treatment, and my local library has a BBC audio set of Shakespeare's Works performed by actors in all the roles. I wish there were more such available, since I grew up listening to radio drama (yes, really!) and still have a soft spot for the genre.

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    2. Adding on another thought - since podcasting is so popular, why haven't we seen a return to "radio theater?"

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  15. Like everyone else here, I cannot wait for your book! I have been wondering about Kevin and I hope we will finally find out his mystery.

    I am not a fan of audio books, with one exception and that is Angela's Ashes, after I had read the book. When I read I hear the voices in my head and so they are the "right" voices. I suppose if I read a new book with new characters I might be able to get into it, but for now at least I prefer the printed page.

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    1. Thanks, Judi. Did the author read the book, or was it a performer? I remember trying to read COLD MOUNTAIN when it was the hot book everyone was talking about and I just couldn't get into it. Then I listened to the audiobook, read by the author in a GORGEOUS North Carolina accent. Suddenly, I loved it!

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  16. And happy birthday to Debs, by the way!

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  17. I do hear accents when I read and loved this scene, Julia. WRITE FASTER. Sort of kidding ;-)

    I don't listen to audiobooks because I don't live alone and it's hard to find alone time. When I listen, I do it to accompany some other activity--like quilting--indoor things. When I'm outside, I'm focused on what's happening around me. I can't listen at all while driving because it's too distracting.

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    1. I do need to write faster, Flora! Fortunately, there's not a lot to distract me this summer, so I expect to get a lot done.

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  18. Oh, Julia, write faster! I am dying to catch up with Clare and Russ.

    Yes, I do "hear" voices when I read, with accents if appropriate. A number of years ago, we had a discussion about this on an online group. The men who participated saw scenes when reading, but did not hear the words. Women, on the other hand, both saw the scenes, and heard the words, accents, and nuances. Interesting differences.

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    1. Kait, that is interesting. I wonder if it has any bearing on the fact that women are the majority of fiction readers by a wide margin?

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  19. When you think about writing for the listener, you stop doing things like starting a chapter with a long bout of dialogue that has the attribution (", John said.") at the end. As a writer you need to think about those folks and not leave them scratching their heads.

    I like audio books and used to listen on long car rides. I listen now when I'm up in the middle of the night, as I often am at around 3 AM. It unhooks my brain from whatever anxiety was keeping me up.

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    1. Hallie, that's an excellent idea. Reading when I can't fall asleep doesn't work, but listening is a whole different part of the brain.

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  20. It’s so interesting that you write with the audiobook in mind, Julia. I had never thought about keeping she said to a minimum. I suppose I do it instinctively as my first writing was radio and TV plays and I often read my failings out loud. I am not a huge fan of audio book, except when driving

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    1. Sorry, that comment was Rhys. Google keeps switching accounts on me!

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    2. Rhys, I didn't know you first wrote for radio and TV! You need to do a blog about that!

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  21. Julia, what a wonderful post!

    Although I have been Deaf since age 2, I get what you mean about accents. My first speech teacher was from Boston and after voice lessons, I came home with a Bostonian accent and said "Cah" instead of "Car". LOL

    However, my next speech teacher was from New York and after voice lessons, NO ONE could understand a word I said. Sheesh!

    After I got my Cochlear Implant, I noticed different accents. I was on an European tour when we were visiting Germany. The Castle had a tour guide who spoke English with a heavy German accent. I asked other people in our tour group who had perfect hearing if they could understand the lady and they all admitted that they had difficulties understanding her. It was an interesting experience.

    And I can hear the difference between a happy voice and an angry / distressed voice.

    On another topic, speaking of Audiobooks, do you also have Unabridged Books on Tape? I am asking because I use books on tape for Auditory training. I would listen for words while reading the book at the same time.

    On another note, one of the Jungle Reds has a birthday today. Happy Birthday!

    Diana

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    1. Diana, I know there are versions of Unabridged Books on Tape available, usually through subscription or through agencies. Youngest's college Spanish teacher had her class doing something similar - listening while reading to improve fluency.

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  22. I cannot wait for this book. I am *so* worried about Kevin!

    I definitely 'hear' accents when I am reading. Audiobooks are all about the narrator's tone and skill, and I can understand that their work is founded on the quality of the writing. So interesting to think about how the audiobook informs the writing, Julia.

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    1. Amanda, I'm delighted Kevin has become such a fan favorite. I love him, too.

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  23. I listen to audio books only on long road trips. In ordinary circumstances I can't sit still to listen. I have a little ADD so even if I tried to listen while doing something my mind tunes out and drifts. Do I do accents in my head when I read? Um....I don't know. I never thought about it. I think I concentrate on the imagery, not the sound. If that makes sense.
    And now a word to the wise: DO NOT HURT KEVIN.

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    1. Pat, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to knock Kevin off. But he may get a little banged up before the end of the book. ;-)

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  24. Confession? I've never listened to audio books. Nope, not ever. And in writing this statement I realize that I do have James Herriot's books on tape. So how old does that make them. A gift I never used. I hear accents when I read if the writing guides me there. A couple comments have been about Shelia Connolly's books and I keep trying to put an Irish accent in Maura's voice instead of Boston. But then maybe her voice is a combination of Irish and Boston. Keep plugging along, Julia, I'm waiting with bated breath for your next book.

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    1. Thanks, Deana! Not all types of reads appeal to all people. My kids aren't audiobook fans, although when they were young they loved to listen to them when we took long car trips. Maybe that's why... they grew to associate them with hours of boredom and being strapped in next to their siblings!

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  25. Great post, Julia! I do think about the narration as I'm writing, and try to put in little accent clues for my narrator without being too heavy-handed. I love audiobooks but don't listen in the car--too distracting driving in Dallas traffic. No earphones, either. I listen on my Alexa devices, in the bath, while getting ready for bed, folding laundry, cooking, etc. I adore my narrator, Gerard Doyle, but my favorite narrator ever is Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, who narrates Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London books. He's fabulous.

    A little tip for Hank and others who haven't learned to enjoy audio books--try listening to a book you've read and love. Maybe A Winter's Tale, Hank? That way you don't get impatient for the story, and can just enjoy it as it unfolds.

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    1. Forgot to mention Jim Dale, who narrates all the Harry Potter books. He is amazing.

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    2. Jim Dale is AMAZING. I saw him play the title role in BARNUM back when I was a high schooler. I can't believe the amazing work he did for Harry Potter - I think he won a Grammy for them?

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  26. I absolutely hear accents, and I enjoyed imagining Sean's Irish one. I am so glad that Kevin's disappearance is being addressed in this book, as I am quite worried about him. I love his character, and I'm hoping that he and Hadley can have a solid relationship.

    There are so many things that authors have to consider and keep in mind as they write. I admit I hadn't given any thought to their consideration of how the audio version would sound. Authors are amazing.

    Happy Birthday, Debs!

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    1. Thinking about the audio book was definitely not anything that occurred to me until after I started listening to my own, Kathy. I do think it's excellent training for any writer, though.

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  27. Getting here late today, joining the “no thanks to audiobooks” group. I’m also a “no thanks” to a film or TV series of favorite books. As I read I see and hear clearly the characters from the written word. Have yet to find a film or TV character who matches the one in my head. Although the reverse seems not to be true: Morse of TV slid right in as Morse as Colin Dexter wrote him. Intrigued by your writing “for audio” Julia. Love the “rich lady” description by Russ. It’s much clearer than haughty ever could be! What a mental picture of how this woman looks and sounds. So please, please keep writing.

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    1. I will, Elisabeth! And there have been many TV or film versions of beloved books I haven't seen for the same reason - I don't want to replace the perfect cast in my head with a bunch of ringers.

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  28. Audio books kept me sane during my commute in Seattle traffic. Now that I'm living in small town New England, I still enjoy them. To me, the narrator makes or breaks the experience. When I heard Julia Whelan narrate her own "My Oxford Year", I was sold on any book that she narrates! I have not tried any of the Russ and Clare books on audio - I'm going to start now and listen to them in order in preparation for the new book!

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  29. I recently retired from my overnight job at Target. I could listen all the time at work, which was wonderful, since the job was sort of boring. Now that I’m retired I don’t have as much opportunity to listen, and my “to listen” list just keeps growing. I still listen in the car (even on short trips), and while shopping and cooking (sometimes). I really miss it. I sometimes listen while walking, but I feel like I miss a lot of the outside world.

    I do enjoy a narrator who makes certain I can tell who is who, via accents and just different voices. I listened to one mystery I had to give up on because the narrator’s Scottish accent was so strong I could barely understand him. It was appropriate to the book, but more than I could deal with.

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  30. First, I'm so excited Kevin lives in Baldwinsville! I read more than I listen because I tend to fall asleep. I have listened to JD Robb books as I walk(a friend has Audible books I borrow). My favorite audio book read was driving with my dad listening to All Creatures Great and Small read by Timothy Christopher who played James Herriot on PBS.

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  31. And I forgot- I can "hear" Kevin's father's Irish accent😊

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  32. Julia, I love your books and your characters. I particularly love that you alluded to my step-father's story, The Cold Equations, in an early book, and that Clare sings Delbert McClinton songs when flying a helicopter. He's one of my favorites. And I spent years flying in helicopters (retired flight nurse).

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