Kelly, from Books-n-Kisses and I would love to welcome Tara Lain to Audio Book Lovin'!
The Narrator: The Important Middle Layer
Hi everyone. I’m Tara Lain and I write the Beautiful Boys of Romance. I’m delighted to be a part of this fun event. I’m very lucky in that all my audio books are produced for me by my publisher, Dreamspinner Press. I choose the narrator and they do the rest. But choosing that narrator is a challenge in itself.
Books are a collaboration between an author and a reader. The author has characters in mind who have physical presence, a vocal sound, even a scent and touch. We try to communicate our vision of the characters in the words we write, but it’s really the readers who ultimately create the characters in their own minds. I may think I know what Billy Ballew looks like and sounds like, but if the reader thinks differently, then they win! LOL. Once the book has left my hands it belongs to the readers.
When you add in a narrator’s voice, it changes the dynamic. Now the reader is no longer imagining what my guys sound like. A narrator has taken over that responsibility. And not only does he have to represent my main character, he becomes all the characters. In addition, I write my books in what is called Deep Point of View. In DPOV, nothing is communicated that couldn’t be seen, tasted, thought, touched or believed by the point of view character. I want the reader to “become” my character for a period of time. Again, the narrator adds a layer between the reader and the character, so the narrator becomes very, very important.
Just a week ago, I had to select narrators for two of my books, Canning the Center and Knight of Ocean Avenue. These books will be on audio sometime this month. In both cases, I had unique challenges. Both heroes are big men, but at the same time, they’re young. One is 22 and the other 25. A lot of narrators with “big men” voices, sound older. In addition, both characters are, in their own ways, kind and gentle people, so choosing a big, tough voice would give the wrong impression. On top of that, my choice is limited to the narrators who are available at the time my publisher wants to produce the audio books. I think I got two good ones, however. I hope you all agree.
It’s funny. I have a degree in theater and spent many years on stages interpreting the words of playwrights and bringing their characters to life. I loved it. But I will admit that when someone else does that for my words, it’s much harder. It never sounds quite the way I would have said it. But happily, sometimes it sounds better! Enjoy you audio books – and books of every kind!
The Pack or the Panther
ByTara Lain
Narrated by Max Lehnen
Blurb:
Cole Harker, son of an alpha werewolf, is bigger and more powerful than most wolves, tongue-tied in groups, and gay. For 24 years, he's lived to please his family and pack - even letting them promise him in marriage to female werewolf Analiese to secure a pack alliance and help save them from a powerful gangster who wants their land.Cole then meets Analiese's half-brother, panther shifter Paris Marketo, and for the first time, Cole wants something for himself.
When Analiese runs off to marry a human, Cole finally has a chance with Paris, but the solitary cat rejects him, the pack, and everything it represents.
Cole discovers the gangster wants Paris, too, and won't rest until he has him. What started as a land dispute turns into World War Wolf! But the bigger fight is the battle between cats and dogs.
Wolf in Gucci Loafers
By Tara Lain
Narrated by Max Lehnen
Blurb:
Socialite Lindsey Vanessen wants someone to love who will love him back - an impossibility for a gay, half-human, half-werewolf. Too aggressive for humans, too gay for wolves, and needing to protect the pack from human discovery, Lindsey tries to content himself with life as a successful businessman. But when someone starts kidnapping members of wealthy families, Lindsey meets tough cop Seth Zakowsy - the hunky embodiment of everything Lindsey wants but can't have.
Seth has never been attracted to flamboyant men. What would the guys in the department think of Lindsey? But intrigue turns to lust when he discovers Lindsey's biting, snarling passion more than matches his dominant side. It might mean a chance at love for a cop in black leather and a wolf in Gucci loafers.
Blurb:
Winter Thane was raised on the two cardinal rules of werewolf existence: don't reveal yourself to humans under penalty of death, and there's no such thing as a gay werewolf. It's no surprise when his father drags him from his wild life in remote Canada back to Connecticut to meet his old pack in hopes it will persuade Winter to abandon his love of sex with human males. Of course Dad's hopes are dashed when they come face-to-face with the gay werewolves in the Harker pack.
Winter takes one look at FBI agent Matt Partridge and decides bird is his favorite food. Partridge is embroiled in an investigation into drug dealing and the death of a fellow agent. He can't let himself get distracted by the young, platinum-haired beast, but then Winter proves invaluable in the search for clues, a move that winds them both up in chains and facing imminent death. Winter quickly learns his father's motives are questionable, the pack alphas are a bunch of pussies, humans aren't quite what they seem, and nothing in the forests of Connecticut is pure except love.
Winter Thane was raised on the two cardinal rules of werewolf existence: don't reveal yourself to humans under penalty of death, and there's no such thing as a gay werewolf. It's no surprise when his father drags him from his wild life in remote Canada back to Connecticut to meet his old pack in hopes it will persuade Winter to abandon his love of sex with human males. Of course Dad's hopes are dashed when they come face-to-face with the gay werewolves in the Harker pack.
Winter takes one look at FBI agent Matt Partridge and decides bird is his favorite food. Partridge is embroiled in an investigation into drug dealing and the death of a fellow agent. He can't let himself get distracted by the young, platinum-haired beast, but then Winter proves invaluable in the search for clues, a move that winds them both up in chains and facing imminent death. Winter quickly learns his father's motives are questionable, the pack alphas are a bunch of pussies, humans aren't quite what they seem, and nothing in the forests of Connecticut is pure except love.
(Long Pass Chronicles Series, #1)
By Tara Lain
Narrated by John-Paul Barrel
Blurb:
Will Ashford lives in two closets. He meets his wealthy father's goals as both the quarterback for the famous SCU football team and a business major, but secretly he attends art school and longs to live as a painter. And he's gay. But if he can win the coveted Milton Scholarship for art, he'll be able to break from his father at the end of his senior year.
In a painting master class, Will meets his divergent opposite, Noah Zajack. A scarred orphan who's slept on park benches and eaten from trash cans, Noah carefully plans his life and multiple jobs so he has money and time to go to art school. Will's problems seem like nothing compared to Noah's. Noah wants the scholarship too and may have a way to get it, since the teacher of his class has designs on him--a plan about which Will isn't happy.
About the Author
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her bestselling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.
She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!
You can find Tara at
Giveaway
Loving all these exciting audios thanks
ReplyDeleteI love audiobooks! This giveaway is totally awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic giveaway! Love audio books but they are pricey, even when enrolling in audio on Amazon!
ReplyDeleteI love audio books! Thank you for this post! I often have a hard time choosing them. I wish there were more recommendations out there. I'm sure there are, I just need to find them!
ReplyDelete. At this time I have no way to and really can't afford to buy something that I could DL audio. If I did I would listen to many of them.
ReplyDeleteFelicia, a lot of the vendors' app can be downloaded for free on computers and devices. The libraries offer several different options to listen to audiobooks as well. Also, if your library doesn't have your favorite authors, you can request they be added to the catalog! You just have to ask! :)
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