Christine Amsden's Blog: Christine Amsden Author Blog, page 24
October 21, 2013
Help me BOMB Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2)
The much-anticipated sequel to Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective is available NOW in ebook format. The *official* release, which will mark the availability of the print version, is still November 15th. I cannot wait to see what my fans will think of the second volume in the Cassie Scot saga.
Friends, family, and fans…. I am organizing a BOOK BOMB for Secrets and Lies for November 18-19. What’s a book bomb? It’s simple. In an attempt to get those perky little Amazon sales bots to notice my book, I’m asking everyone who is planning to buy the book to do so ON THE SAME DAY. Sales rank goes through the roof… book gets onto the bestseller list… more people notice the series and start reading…. and I get to write more books!
To sweeten the deal, I’ve asked my publisher to reduce the cost of Secrets and Lies for those two days only. So you see, we both win. 
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective will also go on sale for 50% off to celebrate the release of its sequel. Again, it will be for two days only, so if you’ve been thinking about trying the series this is a great opportunity to give it a try.
Sound good? Subscribe to my brand new mailing list and I will make sure to remind you about the BOOK BOMB so you don’t have to keep the dates straight.
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October 18, 2013
Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2) Release and BOMB!
The much-anticipated sequel to Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective is available NOW in ebook format. The *official* release, which will mark the availability of the print version, is still November 15th. I cannot wait to see what my fans will think of the second volume in the Cassie Scot saga.
Friends, family, and fans…. I am organizing a BOOK BOMB for Secrets and Lies for November 18-19. What’s a book bomb? It’s simple. In an attempt to get those perky little Amazon sales bots to notice my book, I’m asking everyone who is planning to buy the book to do so ON THE SAME DAY. Sales rank goes through the roof… book gets onto the bestseller list… more people notice the series and start reading…. and I get to write more books!
To sweeten the deal, I’ve asked my publisher to reduce the cost of Secrets and Lies for those two days only. So you see, we both win.
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective will also go on sale for 50% off to celebrate the release of its sequel. Again, it will be for two days only, so if you’ve been thinking about trying the series this is a great opportunity to give it a try.
Sound good? Subscribe to my brand new mailing list and I will make sure to remind you about the BOOK BOMB so you don’t have to keep the dates straight.
Enter your email address
October 16, 2013
Guest Blogger Scott Eder on Urban Fantasy vs Contemporary Fantasy
Genre Confusion (Doh!) – Urban VS. Contemporary Fantasy
By Scott Eder
Hello. My name is Scott, and I write Urban Fantasy. Wait, no, that’s what I did a few weeks ago, before the revelation, before DragonCon. Today, in my post-DC era, I write Contemporary Fantasy. And the funny thing is that I haven’t changed a thing. I still write the same novels, but my genre perception has shifted thanks to the wisdom presented at Dragon*Con.
I’ve heard the advice not to worry about genre. Let an agent or editor figure out into which Fantasy subgenre the book should fall since the writer is not typically the best judge. That’s all well and good after the fact, once the book is sold and the decisions on how to market it are made. What about when a writer is discussing his work with publishing professionals or other authors?
When talking about my book, framing it in terms of genre is a natural thing. It’s meant to set a certain expectation or set of rules in which the plot unfolds and the characters develop. So, when talking about my book, Knight of Flame, I start off by telling people it’s Urban Fantasy with strong romantic elements. Here’s the kicker…I was wrong.
But, Scott, say it aint so. I wish I could. I feel kinda silly about it, actually. Thank goodness I came to the realization myself instead of having someone have to point it out to me. I don’t claim to know a lot about this industry into which I’m trying hard to break into. In fact, I know fairly little. That’s why I keep asking questions, hanging with those who do know about this crazy business, and attending different cons and seminars. Look out World Fantasy, you’re next.
I got my first inkling of my genre faux pas early on. I’d been trying to identify my niche, my stand-out factor. What made my Urban Fantasy novel unique? I realized that one of the differences is POV. My novel has multiple POVs. I haven’t seen that much in UF. Most UF stories turn upon the axis of a single driving character—typically a badass detective or bounty hunter protecting their slice of the world from the nefarious creatures of the night.
I was good with the multiple POV thing. I started talking that up and building my case on how my book differed from the others. That went well until I started asking questions of NYT bestselling UF authors about it and got some strange looks. Perhaps there’s a reason there isn’t much multiple POV in UF.
It seems that the general consensus about UF is that the pacing is very fast. That single POV ass-kicker drives through the story at a very fast pace. The characters don’t typically amble about smelling the flowers. They find and fight the badies threatening their town. The tone is dark and gritty, like the dirty streets and water of the cityscape in which they prowl. UF is the noire of the Fantasy genre.
And that’s where it all went crazy. Yeah, I see the dark and the grit and the detective aspect of UF stories. Mine decidedly did not have those elements. I realized the only things my novel and UF had in common was that it occurred in a city (for a little while) and brought magical elements into a real-world setting.
Sorry, but that’s just not enough. So, Knight of Flame is not Urban Fantasy. It’s Contemporary or Modern Fantasy. It doesn’t have the grit and dark tones of a Faith Hunter, Jim Butcher, or Kim Harrison novel. It’s more like the sense of wonder and camaraderie of the Companions of the Hall from R.A. Salvatore’s Forgotten Realms books. I loved the interplay between Drizzt, King Bruenor, Wulfgar, Regis, and Cattie-brie. They fed off each other while they saved the world from utter destruction time and again. I wanted to make sure that my characters had that type of relationship and wrote that in from the beginning. Duh. I should have realized.
The book held true to genre, but the writer got lost somewhere along the way.
That’s not the only place I got lost. This being my first trip to Dragon*Con, I spent a fair amount of time wandering the floors of the Hyatt and the Marriott. When I did find the right room at the right time, I learned and I’ll be passing some of those other lessons on in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
Have fun,
Scott
Against the Shadow, burns a noble light.
Author Bio:
Since he was a kid, Scott wanted to be an author. Through the years, fantastic tales of nobility and strife, honor and chaos dominated his thoughts. After twenty years mired in the corporate machine, he broke free to bring those stories to life.
Scott lives with his wife and two children on the west coast of Florida.
Knight of Flame
Fire. The most chaotic of the primal elements. When wielded properly by the Knight of Flame, it burns like the sun. Otherwise, it slowly consumes the Knight, burning away his control, driving him towards dark deeds.
Stationed in Tampa, FL, Develor Quinteele, sixth Knight of Flame, waits impatiently for the predicted emergence of the last Gray Lord, his Order’s ancient enemy. Hampered by a centuries-old tragedy, Dev knows of only one way to control his elemental power—rage. It broils just below his surface, waiting for the slightest provocation to set it alight.
After a brutal attack by the Gray Lord’s minions for which Dev is blamed, he’s stripped of his freedom until he learns to control his violent impulses. With the help of his fellow Knights, can he balance his rage and unlock his true elemental potential to prevent Tampa’s devastation?
“In Knight of Flame Scott re-imagines traditional fantasy and forges something new from old metal—a fast-paced thriller that delivers a healthy dose of wonder. As enjoyable as it is engrossing.” ~ David Farland, International Best-Selling Author
Buy Links:
Nook:
Contact Links:
Twitter: @Scotteder
Blog:
October 8, 2013
Book Review: The Night Drifter
In this second book of the St. Leger series, the bridefinder presents Lance St. Leger with his destined bride, a fanciful lover of Arthurian legends who first meets Lance while he’s night drifting — leaving his body behind at night to wander the earth. She mistakes him for Sir Lancelot and his lost sword for Excalibur.
This premise was awkward. Rosaline falls in love with Sir Lancelot, but dislikes Lance on sight. I had trouble buying this. And when I did manage to suspend disbelief I found Rosalind to be hopelessly silly. I wasn’t even sure I understood why she took such a dislike to Lance. She heard some rumors… didn’t even try to get to know him.
Moreover, Lance’s reasons for being angsty were thin. He did something stupid when he was 18 and has been beating himself up about it ever since. If all 18-year-olds who did stupid things responded that way… well…
I continued to enjoy the subtle magic against the backdrop of a Regency setting. I am very interested in reading about Lance’s twin brother, Valentine, in the final St. Leger volume.
I recommend this book if you read and enjoyed The Bridefinder.
Rating: 3/5
Title: The Night Drifter
Author: Susan Carroll
ISBN: 0449005852
Published February 1, 2000
October 7, 2013
Virtual Tour Service Review: Bewitching
I hired Bewitching Book Tours in September as part of my continuing promotion for Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective. Since Cassie Scot came out in May, this book tour was several months on from its release. Sales were good, but certainly not as strong as they had been in the first few weeks. My goal with this tour was to keep the book in the public eye until the release of its sequel, Secrets and Lies.
Price
Bewitching book tours is a low-cost tour host. Its most expensive package, which was the one I went with, is $155. It includes a month of tours and help finding radio interviews. For a month of regular tour stops you can spend $110, which is extremely competitive.
Value
This was a good value. Please keep in mind that I have no idea how to draw a line from any given promotion to sales. Too many factors come into play, and as I said above — one of my big reasons for scheduling this tour was to keep this book current until the release of book two in the series. It did that, and it didn’t cost that much to make it happen.
Look and Feel
Bewitching came up with several cute banners for me (one of them is pictures at the top). The banner links to my book’s tour page on Bewitching, which was professional, well designed, and attractive.
Giveaway
The tour included a rafflecopter giveaway of two Amazon gift cards (provided by me). Most book tours suggest using a giveaway as a strategy to attract participants, but sometimes those giveaways attract so little interest that I have to wonder if it’s really working, or if it just sounds good. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who entered this contest, especially given that it wasn’t for a super big prize (like the Kindle Fire I gave away with PUYB) and it only lasted a month. Bewitching’s giveaway renewed my faith in giveaways in general, although I have just become more exacting about how they get carried out. Bewitching, you have raised the bar.
Professionalism and Communication
On this point, I can’t say enough good things about Bewitching. I am beginning to think that this is the most important part of a good book tour. That’s mostly what they’re doing, right? Hooking up authors with interested bloggers, setting up a schedule, mailing out reminders, and keeping up with it all is almost entirely about organization and communication. Roxanne was on the ball. She replied promptly and politely to every e-mail I sent her. Plus, I have never had a tour go this smoothly — ever. There was only one no-show all month. I usually feel like I have to be on top of every stop to make sure it has even taken place! For once I just found the daily stop, posted my thank you (always thank your tour hosts), and went about my day.
Miscellaneous
My only nit-pick about this tour provider is that they do not make any promises about your book getting the top spot on a blog. That is to say, a site may post multiple promos on a day, and your book could fall anywhere in the list. For the most part, this was a non-issue. Most days my book was at the top anyway. But twice — exactly twice — my book was so far down that it felt like little more than a footnote. Once in was the fifth post, and the other time I had to click through multiple pages of posts all made on the same day — so many I lost count. Bewitching promotes your post directly on social media, but I still felt like those blogs’ followers were unlikely to see my promo.
Bottom Line
I recommend Bewitching Book Tours. I plan to rehire them, probably as another bridge tour between Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2) and Mind Games (Cassie Scot #2).
October 2, 2013
Book Review: The Bride Finder
The St. Ledgers are all possessed of strange magical powers. Anatole moves things with his mind and sees visions of the future — visions that warn him against a red-haired woman. But when he sends the family bride finder for his intended bride, with a detailed list of what he needed, he is presented with a red-haired woman who seems to be the opposite of everything he wants. Yet this, the bride finder assures him, is the woman he is destined to marry.
I loved the magic of this story, seamlessly interwoven with historical England. The myths and legends came to life as Anatole and Madeleine came together — from curses to visions to ghosts to family enemies who should have been dead.
Anatole was angsty — a bit too angsty for my tastes at the beginning although as the story unfolded we saw the reasons. His mother never should have married his father — she was the wrong woman, not chosen by a bride finder, and in the end she rejected her own son. Anatole sought the love he never received from his parents in Madeleine, but he had idea how to love and ended up keeping her at arm’s length by keeping secrets from her.
My only real complaint here is that I felt Madeleine was a flat character. She came across more as an idea than a real woman, and it hurt the romance.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read. I intend to look for more books by this author. I recommend to paranormal romance lovers.
Rating: 4/5
Title: The Bride Finder
Author: Susan Carroll
Published Published January 30th 1999
ISBN: 0449003884
October 1, 2013
Characters Welcome: Kaida
You could call Kaida’s life a Cinderella story, if Cinderella had a psychopath for a stepsister and a ninja master instead of a fairy godmother.
Kaida is an ama, a pearl diver, living in a tiny speck of a town that clings like a barnacle to the coast of Japan. She has no last name; only nobles and samurai warrant surnames, and in any case Kaida’s village is so small that everyone knows everyone else on sight.
This is how I first met her: as a nobody among nobodies. In that sense she’s totally unlike the other protagonists in Year of the Demon. Detective Sergeant Oshiro Mariko is the only woman in Tokyo’s most elite police unit. Respect is something she has to fight for day in and day out, but Mariko certainly isn’t a nobody. Neither is Okuma Daigoro, a young samurai who must defend his clan against the most powerful warlord in the empire. Daigoro may be outmatched, but he’s still the lord of his house and the head of his clan.
Year of the Demon is three stories in one; it sees Kaida, Daigoro, and Mariko all bound together over some 500-odd years of history. Given the fact that Mariko and Daigoro are anything but nobodies, I’m not sure why Kaida introduced herself to me in the way that she did. But as soon as I met her, I liked her. She’s tough, curious, inventive, thoughtful, but I think what I like about her most is that she’s not content to be a nobody.
Not long ago, Kaida had a very simple life: her father was a fisherman, she and her mother were ama, and together they went to sea every day and returned home every night. Kaida herself can’t explain why she wants more. Most of the girls in her village aspire only to getting married and having children. This is 1533, after all; women are not allowed the luxury of ambition. But for Kaida, even when her life was at its best, it was still a good life in a cage.
Now the good days are gone. Her mother was killed when their family’s boat was dashed against the rocks in a storm. The same accident claimed Kaida’s left hand; now her forearm ends in a scarred stump. She was only twelve when it happened. Now, at thirteen, learning how to dive and fish one-handed is the least of her worries. Her father has remarried, and his new wife seems to have a hypnotic power over him to keep him in her bed. This leaves Kaida alone to contend with her three stepsisters: Miyoko, the ringleader; Kiyoko, always a follower; and Shioko, smallest and youngest of them all, always striving to prove herself.
On their own, Kiyoko and Shioko might have been harmless, but as Miyoko’s lieutenants they are anything but. Miyoko is a sociopath, as Kaida learns when she becomes the object of Miyoko’s obsession. Now more than ever, Kaida needs to escape her village. Miyoko cannot be reasoned with and she doesn’t know when to quit. Being doomed to an average, insignificant life is depressing enough, but Kaida isn’t interested in making a name for herself as the girl who was murdered by her own stepsister.
But getting out seems impossible. Kaida’s village is a cage without bars. Steep cliffs wall it in on three sides, and the fourth wall is the sea itself: cold, relentless, infested with sharks. No thirteen-year-old girl can contend against nature itself, not even one as resilient and resourceful as Kaida.
I think that’s all the introduction I’ll give you for now: Kaida the nobody, desperate to leave her circumstances but unable to see a way out. I know, I know: I haven’t explained how she gets a ninja master instead of a fairy godmother. You’ll have to read Year of the Demon to find out.
Year of the Dragon
Bein’s gripping debut is a meticulously researched, highly detailed blend of urban and historical fantasy set in modern Tokyo. Det. Sgt. Mariko Oshiro is fighting an uphill battle against sexism and tradition in the narcotics division of the Tokyo police. Her antagonistic boss assigns her to a mundane case involving the attempted theft of a sword, but it gets a lot less boring when Mariko winds up on the trail of a ruthless killer. As she learns the hidden history behind a trio of ancient magical swords, she discovers that she may be destined to wield one of them. Alternating segments switch between Mariko’s present-day adventures and other owners of the swords throughout history. Bein’s scrupulous attention to verisimilitude helps bring all the settings to life, respectfully showcasing Japan’s distinctive cultures and attitudes.
Steve Bein is philosopher, photographer, traveler, translator, climber, diver, and award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. His short stories and novellas have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, Interzone, Writers of the Future, and in international translation. His first novel, Daughter of the Sword, was met with critical acclaim, and his second novel, Year of the Demon, comes out on October 1st. You can read more about Steve’s work at www.philosofiction.com, and like Steve at facebook/philosofiction. You can find all of his books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
September 26, 2013
A World of Talking Books
Most of you know that twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a degenerative eye condition that results in loss of central vision. Or, to put it in more practical terms: My world is a blur, and should I ever pass you on the street you will be nothing more than a human-shaped blob of various colors. I write by using 36-pt font on my word processor. I edit the same way. I pride myself on being very good at both of these things, despite my limitations.
But at the end of the day, when I want to relax with a book, it can only be an audiobook.
I listen to over 95% of my books on that machine you see pictured at the top. What you see there is a digital audiobook player provided for free by the National Library Service, which issues audio and braille publications to the blind and physically handicapped. It’s not small. It’s no iPod. It’s about the size of a trade paperback, and weighs about two pounds. I can’t take it with me for a run, although I often place it on the kitchen counter to listen while I cook dinner.
Do I “need” to listen to my books? Could I just use a magnifying glass? Well, here’s a picture of my book and my biggest magnifying glass. It does a fair job of making things bigger. But there are two problems with this magnifying glass. First of all, it’s huge and clunky. This was the reason I didn’t start reading for pleasure with the device years ago, when I entered college. My vision dropped off startlingly at that point, but I only used the magnifying glass to read textbooks. And only because I had to. It was no pleasure.
The second reason is, I’m afraid, that these days it just doesn’t magnify enough. I have an ebook reader I can handle on its largest setting, but magnifying glasses don’t get the print in paper books that big, and even ebooks are a strain at the end of the day.
So for me, it’s audiobooks. It has been ever since I was 21, and finally decided that I couldn’t go the rest of my life without reading. I don’t think I read a book for pleasure between the ages of 18 and 21. College might have been part of that, but only a part.
Looking back, I don’t know why I resisted for so long. Audiobooks are wonderful, whether you have a real need or just want something to listen to while you commute to work. Listening to a book isn’t the same experience. There’s a lot of interpretation on the part of the narrator — no way to avoid that — not to mention, you’re using an entirely different sense (hearing instead of sight). But it’s a wonderful, relaxing way to enjoy a good story.
When my books started getting published a few years back, the one thing I wished for them above all else was that one day they could become audiobooks. Then, a few months ago, a fellow author (Aaron Paul Lazar) told me it was easy. There’s a company called ACX that puts authors and narrators together. We could even agree to work on a royalty-share basis, meaning that instead of paying my talented voice actress up front, she and I split the profits.
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective is now available for purchase. The sequel, Secrets and Lies, will be recorded as soon as it is commercially available. (ACX does not allow for the recording of books before they have a listing on Amazon.)
I will say that commercial audiobooks are largely outside of my experience. I have listened to the same readers through the Talking Books program for so many years that simply hearing another narrator was a bit strange for me. And there are so many different styles to choose from! Do you want your narrator to sound sober, serious? Precise? Loud? Do you want accents? Do you want sound effects?
Out of a list of about a hundred different styles, I chose “engaging” for Cassie, and went with the narrator who most sounded like she was enjoying reading the book.
And here it is, one more time, the first chapter of Cassie Scot performed by Melissa Reizian Frank:
playpausestopmuteunmutemax volumerepeatrepeat offCassie Scot Chapter 1 read by Melissa Reizian FrankUpdate RequiredTo play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
September 25, 2013
Interview with Audiobook Narrator Melissa Reizian Frank
Melissa Reizian Frank is the voice talent behind the new audiobook version of Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective. When I put Cassie Scot up on ACX for auditions, I got over two dozen applicants! After listening to the first few paragraphs of my book that many times, I was getting pretty tired of hearing it. Plus, no one sounded exactly like Cassie. I suppose that was never going to happen, but I had at least hoped for a touch of her attitude.
Then I heard Melissa’s audition. Confession time: I had my hand on the stop button, ready for the tiniest little thing to convince me to stop listening. I mean, after two dozen auditions, it was just time to pick someone already, right? Melissa started speaking, and in the first few seconds I thought, “Nice voice, too mature.” But then something happened: She cleared her throat. I stuttered over that stop button, wondering if it was an accident but then realizing it wasn’t. She’d put it in for dramatic effect right before Cassie tells us that her parents named her (ahem) “Cassandra Morgan Ursula Margaret Scot. You can call me Cassie.”
I moved my hand away from the stop button and kept listening. That’s when something amazing happened. After listening to the same paragraphs over and over again for weeks, I suddenly found them interesting again. Melissa wasn’t just reading the words on the page. She was having fun with the story and character.
In case you missed it yesterday, here is the first chapter of Cassie Scot, read by [hb-Melissa Reizian Frank:
playpausestopmuteunmutemax volumerepeatrepeat offCassie Scot Chapter 1 read by Melissa Reizian FrankUpdate RequiredTo play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
And now, without further ado, here is Melissa Reizian Frank:
What do you love most about narrating books?
Really, it’s the liste ner’s reaction and response that gives me joy after narrating an audiobook. I love doing dialogue-heavy scenes, where I get to play all the characters in an intense conversation. I hope to convey the feel of the old radio dramas. (No, I’m NOT old enough to actually remember them! ) My goal is probably the same as the author’s: to put the ima ge of the story in the reader’s/listener’s mind with words. The best books I’ve read engender actual visual memories in my head of the story.
Tell us a little bit about the career change you made from TV reporting/producing to voice acting. Why did you do it and do you ever look back?
nd of mom I wanted to be. I had big shoes to fill with my own mother being heavily involved in all aspects of my school. So I actually went to grad school, thinkin g I would go into the field of Family Studies and address parenting issues. Turns out I am incapable of doing a 9-5 desk job, and after about 6 months in that field, I knew it was not going to be a good fit for me—I’m very creative and project-oriented. So I had an epiphany one day…many people over the years had commented that it was my voice that really stood out to them in my television work. So I thought I’d give vo iceovers a try. Luckily my research skills as a reporter allowed me to navigate through the business side of the business fairly well and I made a number of contacts who graciously gave me a shot…13 years later, no, I never look back. I do miss it sometimes when a big story breaks and I’m not on the “inside,” but I wouldn’t trade the time it’s enabled me to spend with my sons: Jarod, Gryffin and Kiayl. year after my first son, Jarod, was born, I began to realize that the crazy, long hours of being a TV reporter just did not jibe with my vision of nd of mom I wanted to be. I had big shoes to fill with my own mother being heavily involved in all aspects of my school. So I actually went to grad school, thinking I would go into the field of Family Studies and address parenting issues. Turns out I am incapable of doing a 9-5 desk job, and after about 6 months in that field, I knew it was not going to be a good fit for me—I’m very creative and project-oriented. So I had an epiphany one day…many people over the years had commented that it was my voice that really stood out to them in my television work. So I thought I’d give voiceovers a try. Luckily my research skills as a reporter allowed me to navigate through the business side of the business fairly well and I made a number of contacts who graciously gave me a shot…13 years later, no, I never look back. I do miss it sometimes when a big story breaks and I’m not on the “inside,” but I wouldn’t trade the time it’s enabled me to spend with my sons: Jarod, Gryffin and Kiayl. the ki About a year after my first son, Jarod, was born, I began to realize that the crazy, long hours of being a TV reporter just did not jibe with my vision of the ki
How many books have you narrated so far? Can you tell us about some of your other projects?
I have now finished more than 15 audiobooks. I have done everything from non-fiction to science fiction…with some good old guilty pleasure bodice ripper romances thrown in for good measure…have to admit, those are fun to read! Besides the wonderful Cassie Scot series, my favorite project lately is Stonewiser: the Heart of the Stone, by Dora Machado.
Was it difficult to learn to mimic a variety of accents and voices, or did this come naturally to you?
I am a fairly good mimic, but what I admittedly need to work on in the (near) future are authentic dialects and accents. I would never take on a book that was really heavy on an authentic accent at this point…so no first-person accounts from Ireland, I’m afraid…but when I get a minor character who has an accent, I sometimes will ask a fellow voice actor who is actually from that country to record the lines for me, and then I do a pretty good job at mimicking. I hope! Be kind in your reviews, please!
Do you do any other kind of acting, either voice or live performance?
My focus and steady stream of audiobooks is fairly recent. I mostly have been doing TV and radio commercials, e-learning training, IVR for phone systems…I’m even a bilingual talking supply dispenser at some laundromats! I have done video game voiceovers here and there as well. Last Spring, I was excited to make my triumphant return to the stage, after just a brief 24-year hiatus. I sang and danced in a huge musical review here in Lexington, Kentucky, called “Grand Night for Singing.” It was a blast! I minored in theatre in college, and had done plays all my life, but I had been more of a stage mom (the GOOD kind) for years now to my theatre kids…and to be an “on stage” mom was refreshing.
What kind of books do you most like to read for pleasure? (Not necessarily to narrate.)
I love sci-fi/fantasy…and specifically dystopian and speculative fiction.
What do you do for fun?
Fun, what is this “fun” you speak of? Well, when I’m not locked in my tiny padded room (we call it a “sound booth” ), I love hanging out with my three sons. I love to scrapbook, but haven’t had time in way too long. I love singing karaoke….and I will pretty much play any board or card game. I’m very competitive.
What are you working on next?
I am finishing up a non-fiction book about the ACLU called “How Sex Became a Civil Liberty,” and then I’m staring in on book 2 of the Stonewiser series—“Stonewiser: The Lament of the Stone.” Then, hopefully, I’m going to find out what happens to Cassie!!!!
What did you enjoy most about Cassie Scot: Parnormal Detective?
I loved that Cassie was such a real character. She is flawed. Her life is kind of a mess…she isn’t some cookie-cutter heroine…and you can’t predict where the story was going. It is a real page-turner, and for a narrator, that’s a blessing, because it makes you truly look forward to going to work!
Thank you so much, Melissa!
And here’s where you can buy Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective on audio:
September 24, 2013
Cassie Scot Audiobook Preview
Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.
This audiobook version of Cassie Scot was narrated by talented voice actress Melissa Reizian Frank.
Here’s your free preview of chapter one:
playpausestopmuteunmutemax volumerepeatrepeat offCassie Scot Chapter 1 read by Melissa Reizian FrankUpdate RequiredTo play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
On sale now at audible.com and amazon.com. Coming soon to iTunes.
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